June 1, 2006

Low-carbohydrate diets induce greater weight loss at three and six months than traditional low-fat diets. However, there is no significant difference in maintained weight loss after one year.

All patients with hypertension or prehypertension should undertake lifestyle modifications to help lower their blood pressure. These include reducing dietary sodium, increasing exercise, moderating alcohol consumption, following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension…

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease refers to a spectrum of diseases of the liver ranging from steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis to cirrhosis. Physicians should recommend regular exercise, gradual weight loss, and appropriate treatment of risk factors for cardiovascular…

Most patients with peripheral vascular disease present with subtle findings and lack classic symptoms, which makes diagnosis difficult. Treatment may include lifestyle, medical, and surgical therapies.

Early and specific diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism and prompt initiation of appropriate therapy are the best determinants of outcome for affected infants and children.

The medical editors of AFP work as a team under the direction of Editor Jay Siwek, M.D., to bring together the best information for each issue. This final part of a three-part profile looks at four editors based in different parts of the country who contribute to the success of…

West Virginia and Kentucky Institute Medicaid Program Changes | Stable Formularies Guaranteed for Medicare Part D Beneficiaries | HHS Awards Contracts to Develop Cell-Based Influenza Vaccine | AHRQ Partners with Business Coalitions to Improve Diabetes Care | Annual Report…

People who see the glass as half full rather than half empty may be less likely to die from heart disease or stroke. According to a study in Archives of Internal Medicine, optimists may have this added benefit because they exercise more and can deal with misfortune better than…

Dieting is a national pastime in the United States, yet this preoccupation has done little to stem the tide of the obesity epidemic. In the past two decades, the prevalence of obesity in this country has doubled.1

Tricyclic antidepressants, particularly amitriptyline, are effective for the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy and post herpetic neuralgia, and may be beneficial in other neuropathic pain syndromes, but they should be used with caution in patients at increased risk of…

An antidepressant such as imipramine (Tofranil) or sertraline (Zoloft), possibly with the addition of an antipsychotic, is the preferred initial pharmacologic treatment for psychotic depression.

Long-Acting Beta2 Agonists as Steroid-Sparing Agents

This statement summarizes the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and the supporting scientific evidence.

What are the effects of treatments in mild to moderate or severe depression? Which interventions reduce relapse rates? What are the effects of interventions to improve delivery of treatments?

There is no evidence that anticoagulation with warfarin, initiated after a noncardioembolic ischemic stroke, significantly reduces stroke recurrence. Furthermore, anticoagulation significantly increases the risk of fatal and nonfatal hemorrhagic stroke and extracranial…

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

Physicians often overestimate a terminal patient's life expectancy.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released recommendations on healthy weight-control behaviors in young athletes to address counseling issues that physicians may encounter in caring for these patients. Children and adolescents often are involved in sports in which…

The American Society for Nutrition (ASN), the North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO), and the Obesity Society have issued a joint position statement that includes a review of concerns related to obesity in older persons and weight management guidelines for…

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released a policy statement revising its 2001 statement on screening examination of premature infants for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Foods get their calories from protein, fats, and carbohydrates. Most of the calories you eat come from carbohydrates and fats. Carbohydrates are starches and sugars, which are in foods like bread, pasta, and sweets. Low-carbohydrate diets (or low-carb diets, for short) cut down…

High blood pressure is when the pressure in your arteries is higher than it should be. If you have high blood pressure, you are more at risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. You also are more at risk of getting kidney disease and even of dying.

NAFLD is a buildup of fat in the liver. NAFLD can be harmless, but sometimes it may cause the liver to swell. It is a common condition that has many causes, including some drugs and genetic disorders. The most common causes of NAFLD are obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol…