September 1, 2003

In the past decade, the management of hypertension has evolved with the publication of several large clinical trials firmly positioning thiazide diuretics as the drugs of first choice in the treatment of hypertension. Treatment of systolic hypertension, particularly in elderly…

Inhalant abuse is a prevalent and often overlooked form of adolescent drug abuse. Prevention should be the physician's primary goal.

Prompt diagnosis of failure to thrive prevents malnutrition and developmental problems. Family physicians should be aware of the social and medical factors that may contribute.

With the resumption of smallpox vaccination in civilian health care workers and the U.S. military, family physicians and their staff must be prepared to properly administer the smallpox vaccine, recognize normal and adverse reactions to the vaccine, and provide proper treatment…

A careful history and a focused physical examination are essential to determining an accurate diagnosis in patients who present with knee pain. Radiographs and laboratory tests are indicated in selected patients.

Factors that can help the family physician narrow the differential diagnosis of knee pain include the patient's age and the anatomic location of the pain.

Ginkgo biloba is a commonly used herbal product that may be effective in the treatment of symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, intermittent claudication, and tinnitus.

It's back-to-school time already and fall is just a few weeks away. That means it's time for a fresh crop of viruses and other infections to bring patients to your office with complaints of sore throat. This year, though, you can be armed with a better way of deciding how to…

AAFP President's Letter Addresses HIPAA Transactions Deadline | AAFP's Positions on Legislative Issues Available Online | IOM Issues Report on Increasing Access and Availability of Vaccines | HRSA Releases Updated Statistical Report on Women's Health in the United States | HHS…

How many glasses of cranberry juice per day does it take to keep the cardiologist at bay? Three glasses, suggests a small study presented at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society. The nutrients found in cranberry juice may reduce the risk of heart disease by as…

In this issue of American Family Physician, Anderson and Loomis1 provide a timely review of the prevalence and consequences of inhalant abuse in children and adolescents. Although this form of substance abuse poses serious health risks, it may be overlooked when family…

Warning: What goes up must sometimes come down. I never miss an opportunity to encourage my patients to exercise. So, you can hardly blame me if I was feeling pretty good about myself and my patient when 67-year-old Annette credited me with her newfound interest in cycling. She…

Compared with placebo, leflunomide improves clinical outcomes and delays radiologic progression of rheumatoid arthritis. After two years of treatment, leflunomide is as safe as sulfasalazine and more effective. Leflunomide's efficacy and adverse events are similar to those of…

What are the effects of treatments?

Photo Quiz presents readers with a clinical challenge based on a photograph or other image.

The probability of GABHS pharyngitis as the cause of sore throat is greatest in children younger than 15 years, especially those younger than 10.

Although discomfort during exercise is a principal reason that patients with heart failure seek medical care, exercise training is safe and can benefit these patients, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

AHRQ Report on Cancer Control Interventions | Guidelines on Diagnosis and Management of ADHD | Global Developmental Delay in Children | AHRQ Review of Disability and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Although usually it's just the in-flight movie and food we get to fret about, unfortunately, in-flight emergencies are a frequent occurrence.

You can help lower your blood pressure by eating foods that are part of a healthy diet. If you want to keep your blood pressure normal, the best diet is one that is low in salt, sugar, and fat, and high in calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

An inhalant can be almost any aerosol or liquid solvent. Oven cleaner, model glue, spray paint, correction fluid, paint thinner, and polyurethane are just a few of the household products that young people may try to inhale. They breathe in the fumes of the product directly from…

Failure to thrive (FTT) is a growth problem in children, especially those younger than two years. A child who fails to thrive is behind in physical growth or size or doesn't gain enough weight. There are many possible causes of FTT, such as poor appetite, poor diet, or a…