December 15, 2000

Family physicians should identify patients who are caregivers and have a systematic approach for assessing the degree of caregiver burden.

Paraphimosis is a urologic emergency requiring prompt treatment to reduce edema and relieve constriction of the glans penis.

Apart from smoking, all reversible risk factors for coronary artery disease are more prevalent in patients with diabetes. Aggressive interventions are warranted.

Mass psychogenic illness involves people with real symptoms that are often triggered by misunderstood or false information. Physicians should consider this diagnosis when faced with a cluster of unexplained acute illnesses.

This feature represents the last part of a year-long series of excerpts and special commentaries celebrating AFP 's 50thyear of publication. Excerpts from the two 1950 volumes of GP, AFP 's predecessor, appeared along with highlights of 50 years of family medicine.

This issue represents the last one published in Y2K, ending a yearlong celebration of AFP's 50th anniversary of publication. On page 2572, you'll find the final piece in the “AFP 50 Years Ago” series, a commemorative section of excerpts and special commentaries that has…

Selected policy and health issues news briefs from AAFP News Now.

Women who snore may not only annoy their husbands, they may also be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CHD). A study published in Women's Health in Primary Care found that snoring almost doubles a woman's risk of CVD. Questions regarding frequency, sleep position and…

Long-term care given by family members is a central component of our current health care system and, thus, a critical social policy issue.1 In this issue of American Family Physician, Parks and Novielli2 make a compelling case for family physicians to play an important role in…

WLL has been pleased with the effectiveness of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) in dosages of 12.5 to 25 mg every eight hours in treating nausea of pregnancy. When this is not effective, he will increase the dosage to 25 to 50 mg orally three to four times a day in combination with…

(52nd Annual Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Family Physicians) According to results of a cross-sectional study of 357 consecutive adults with type 2 diabetes (formerly known as non–insulin-dependent diabetes) who presented to six family residency practice…

(Australia—Australian Family Physician, July 2000, p. 639.) The incidence of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is about two per 1,000 adults per year. CAP causes about 2 percent of overnight hospital admissions for adult patients and has a mortality rate of up to 10 percent…

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has developed an educational bulletin on perinatal screening and intervention for psychosocial risk factors.

The Committee on Adolescence of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued a policy statement on suicide and attempted suicide in adolescents. The statement updates a previous AAP statement and is intended to help the physician in the identification and management of…

You're a caregiver if you give basic care to a person who has a chronic medical condition. A chronic condition is an illness that doesn't go away.

Paraphimosis (say: para-fim-oh-sus) is a serious condition that can only happen in men and boys who haven't been circumcised. Paraphimosis means the foreskin is stuck behind the head of the penis and can't be pulled back down into a normal position.

People with diabetes are more likely to get heart disease because diabetes can have a bad effect on your blood vessels. Some of your lifestyle habits may also raise this risk. Here are some things you can do about your lifestyle habits:

Sometimes people in a group start to think they might have been exposed to something dangerous, like a germ or a toxin (poison). They might get signs of sickness like headache, dizziness, faintness, weakness or a choking feeling. If many people in the group start to feel sick…

Antibiotics are strong medicines that can stop some infections and save lives. When they aren't used the right way, antibiotics can cause more harm than good. You can protect yourself and your family by knowing when you should use antibiotics and when you should avoid them.

Nasal sprays come in two different kinds of containers: pressurized canisters and pump bottles.

A runny nose usually starts when your child's cold is starting to get better. When the cold virus first infects the nose and sinuses, the nose starts making lots of clear mucus. This mucus helps wash the virus out of the nose and sinuses.