• Articles

    COPD: Management of Acute Exacerbations and Chronic Stable Disease

    MELISSA H. HUNTER, DANA E. KING

    Step-wise therapy using beta2 agonists, anticholinergics, corticosteroids, antibiotics and oxygen can help control the inexorable symptomatic progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

    Commonly Missed Diagnoses in the Childhood Eye Examination

    JOHN W. SIMON, PAMELA KAW

    Children may present special challenges in screening and diagnosis of eye disorders. Eight conditions—amblyopia, small-angle strabismus, leukocoria, glaucoma, ocular inflammation, eye trauma, nystagmus and systemic conditions that affect the eye—are specifically discussed.

    Recognizing Spinal Cord Emergencies

    DAISY ARCE, PAMELA SASS, HASSAN ABUL-KHOUDOUD

    Early diagnosis and treatment of a spinal cord injury are critical to the possible prevention of permanent neurologic deficits. Physicians must look for “red flags,” key historical and clinical clues that increase the likelihood of a serious underlying disorder.

    Assessment and Treatment of Depression Following Myocardial Infarction

    THOMAS P. GUCK, MICHAEL G. KAVAN, GARY N. ELSASSER, EUGENE J. BARONE

    Approximately 65 percent of patients with acute myocardial infarction report experiencing depression. Physicians can assess patients for depression by using any of several easily administered and scored self-reporting inventories. A combination of cognitive-behavior therapy...

    Inside AFP

    ‘Practical Therapeutics’ Contributions from the Medical University of South Carolina

    Janis Wright

    This August 15 edition of AFP features the first in a series of “Practical Therapeutics” updates from the Department of Family Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. The series, coordinated by William Hueston, M.D., opens on page 603 with the cover...

    Newsletter

    Newsletter

    Rosemarie Sweeney, Matthew Neff

    Guidance Issued on New Federal Protection Rules on Patient Privacy | Participants Are Needed for Prostate Cancer Prevention ‘SELECT’ Trial | Document Compares Five Federal Prescription Drug Coverage Proposals | HHS Awards $75.4 Million in Grants to Reduce High Infant...

    Quantum Sufficit

    Just Enough

    Sarah Morgan, Lori Parry

    “Alpha-hydroxy-acid? What is that? And is it really good for skin?” A Web site on cosmetics produced by the Food and Drug Administration reports that many of the compounds found in skin care products can cause more problems than they cure. While alpha-hydroxy acids are added...

    Clarification

    Clarification

    In the article “Evaluating the Febrile Patient with a Rash” (August 15, 2000, page 804), the prodrome of erythema infectiosum is described on page 808 as possibly consisting of fever, anorexia, sore throat and abdominal pain, with the classic facial rash appearing once the...

    Editorial

    Depression and Heart Disease

    DONALD R. FREY

    The battle against heart disease has frequently taken center stage among the major public health concerns of the past 20 years. The importance of early detection and aggressive treatment of cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, elevated cholesterol levels and...

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    ASW has long known the importance of a good history for accurate diagnoses; what she didn’t know is that even animals can sometimes assist in this process. She recently saw a woman with allergic rhinitis whose symptoms started shortly after the purchase of a talkative and...

    Conference Highlights

    Conference Highlights

    Joanne E. Chatfield

    Tegaserod Demonstrates Efficacy in Improving IBS Symptoms | Study Compares Antidepressant Therapies and Depression-Free Days | Study Evaluates NSAID in Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain | Researchers Report Relief of IC Symptoms with Pentosan Polysulfate | Foradil Aerolizer...

    Tips from Other Journals

    Combined Inhaled Bronchodilators in COPD

    KARL E. MILLER

    Low-Dose Aspirin vs. Vitamin E in Cardiovascular Disease

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Sputum Studies in Community-Acquired Pneumonia

    KARL E. MILLER

    Uterine Fibroid Embolization: An Alternative to Surgery

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Targeted Tuberculin Skin Screening in Children

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Low Back Pain in Primary Care: Is It Cancer-Related?

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Infections Caused by Lawn Mower Injuries in Children

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Gynecologic Procedures

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Family Practice International

    Family Practice International

    Anne D. Walling

    Update on Community-Acquired Pneumonia | Thrombosed External Hemorrhoids | Lattice Corneal Dystrophy | Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

    Practice Guidelines

    Principles of Appropriate Antibiotic Use: Part III. Acute Rhinosinusitis

    Genevieve Ressel

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed guidelines for evaluating and treating adults with acute respiratory disease. The recommendations in part III of the guidelines present an argument for a conservative approach to antibiotic use in patients...

    Clinical Briefs

    Clinical Briefs

    Monica Preboth

    AAP Report on Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia | Safety and Efficacy of St. John's Wort | Blood Test for Diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure | NIAMS Issues Booklet on Sjögren's Syndrome

    Letters to the Editor

    Physicians' Desk Reference: 50 Years Later

    JAMES PARKER

    Primary Prevention of Lead Poisoning in Children

    C.M.G. BUTTERY

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

    COPD is a chronic lung disease. It blocks the large and small airways of your lungs (see picture below). COPD includes two main illnesses: chronic bronchitis and emphysema (say this: em-fa-see-ma). There is no cure for COPD.

    Depression After Heart Attack-What Should I Know?

    Depression is a mood disorder. The symptoms of depression include these:

    Corrections

    Corrections

    Corrections



    Disclosure

    All editors in a position to control content for this activity, AFP journal, are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships. View disclosures.


    Tag Legend

    Legend

    CME Continuing Medical Education Credit
    POC Point-of-Care Resource
    FREE Free Access
    Alg Algorithm
    DDx Differential Diagnosis
    PtEd Patient Education