March 1, 2004

Basic spirometry can be performed in the family physician's office with relative ease and inexpensive equipment. Knowledge of appropriate reference values is essential. A simplified and stepwise method is key to interpreting spirometry.

Treatment options for patients with palmoplantar hyperhidrosis include topical and systemic agents, iontophoresis, and botulinum toxin type A injections, with surgical sympathectomy reserved for use in severe cases. Although the safety and effectiveness of treatments have…

Diagnosis of urticaria and angioedema can be challenging, especially if symptoms are chronic or minimally responsive to therapy. A thorough medical history, physical examination, and methodical investigation are necessary to uncover diagnostic clues.

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is the preferred modality for evaluation of patients suspected of having gastric cancer. Accurate staging is important for prognosis and appropriate treatment.

Left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea in infants and children can cause failure to thrive, poor academic performance, behavior problems, enuresis and, in severe cases, cardiopulmonary disease. Treatment options include antibiotics, continuous positive airway pressure, weight…

Treatment of nausea and vomiting involves correcting the underlying cause when possible. With an understanding of the pathophysiology of nausea and the mechanisms of antiemetics, family physicians can improve the cost-effectiveness and efficacy of therapy.

Intestinal parasites cause significant morbidity and mortality. Diseases caused by Enterobius vermicularis, Giardia lamblia, Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus, and Entamoeba histolytica occur in the United States. E. vermicularis, or pinworm, causes irritation and sleep…

Partly inspired by the stomach viruses going around this time of year, and partly inspired by the amount of work on our desks, we've decided to dub this our heartburn issue. Here in these pages you'll find a tour d'horizon of gastrointestinal problems ranging from nausea…

HHS Launches Campaign to Educate Seniors About Medicare Benefits | Study Shows Link Between Diabetes, Obesity, and Other Chronic Illnesses | AAFP Establishes First Combined Family Medicine Residency/MBA Program | Fact Sheet Examines Effects of Being Uninsured on Access to…

A connection between stress and Alzheimer's disease? As reported in The New York Times, researchers surveyed 800 priests, nuns, and monks (average age: 75 years) in the Religious Orders Study on their “distress proneness” (i.e., how likely it was that reactions to stress would…

As a result of a number of recent studies on exercise in pregnancy, the debate over the risks of aerobic exercise in pregnancy has waned. In January 2002, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued an opinion report stating that “In the absence of…

Primary care physicians provide the majority of reproductive health care services for minors.1 As family physicians, we need to emphasize the primary role of the family as an irreplaceable health resource. Ideally, parents play an integral and supportive role in the health of…

The term “food security” refers to the concept of people having access to enough food, including the ready availability of nutritionally adequate, safe foods for an active, healthy life and the ability to acquire these foods in socially acceptable ways.1 When individuals and…

If he had his druthers, Andy Zeno would spend his every waking moment fishing. Three days earlier, the 71-year-old man was reeling in a fish when he suddenly felt extremely weak. He lay on the beach for over an hour, hoping the sensation would pass. Somehow, he managed to drive…

What are the effects of measures to reduce mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)?

Case study: MT is a 23-year-old woman visiting your office for her initial prenatal checkup. She has a family history of diabetes and is obese. MT developed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during her previous pregnancy, and because she is concerned about having GDM, she…

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

ACC/AHA and ASNC Release Guidelines for the Clinical Use of Cardiac Radionuclide Imaging

ACOG Releases Report on Dystocia and Augmentation of Labor

Diagnosis and Treatment of Anal Fissure | Scientific Exhibit Deadline for AAFP Assembly | Ongoing Care After Cancer Treatment | Online Resources to Combat Obesity, Boost Health | Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery | Call for Papers of Family Medicine Research Presentations…

Over the past decade, the promotion of narcotics for control of malignant and non-malignant pain has been advocated by specialists in the pain community. While most physicians accept the use of aggressive narcotic analgesia in patients with cancer-related pain, the use of…

Over-the-counter (OTC, for short) medicines are medicines that you can buy without a prescription from your doctor. OTC pain relievers for adults can be divided into two groups: acetaminophen (one brand name: Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, for short).

The palms of your hands and the soles of your feet have more sweat glands than any other part of your body. Some people have hands and feet that sweat a lot. This problem is common and can be very embarrassing.

Stomach cancer, which is also called gastric cancer, is the growth of cells that are not normal in the lining and wall of the stomach. The stomach is the organ where food is digested.

Snoring happens during sleep when the throat muscles relax and the airway narrows. When the throat muscles relax, the nose is blocked. Snoring is common in children and may be a cause for concern.

Nausea and vomiting are common when you are sick. They also can be side effects of certain medicines. Some people have nausea and vomiting after surgery. Many pregnant women have nausea and vomiting in the first three months of pregnancy.

It is safe for most adults older than 65 years to exercise. Even people with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis can exercise safely. Many of these health conditions get better with exercise. If you are not sure if exercise is safe for you or if you are…

In osteoporosis (say “os-tee-oh-por-oh-sis”), the inside of the bones becomes weak because of a loss of calcium. This is called losing bone mass. Bone weakness makes your bones more likely to break.

Arthritis is the name for inflammation of the joints. Arthritis causes pain and usually limits movement of the joints that are affected. There are many kinds of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common.

Tell the receptionist if calling your name is not the best way to tell you that the doctor is ready to see you.

Anyone can fall, although the risk is higher in older people. Each year, falls occur in about one third of people 75 years or older who are living in their homes. This increased risk of falling may be the result of changes that come with aging plus other medical conditions…