December 15, 2006

The cardinal physical signs of Parkinson’s disease are distal resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and asymmetric onset. Although levodopa is the most effective treatment, adjuvant therapy may be needed if levodopa-related motor complications develop.

Three new anticholinergic drugs for the management of overactive bladder have attributes that could reduce adverse effects. Head-to-head studies of the newer agents and older, immediate-release drugs have suggested similar effectiveness across the class, but comparisons with…

Being aware of trends in contraception use, effective vasectomy techniques, postsurgical follow-up criteria, and risk of long-term complications can help physicians counsel patients about vasectomy and improve outcomes.

Physicians can play an important role in the early identification of children with reading difficulties by obtaining patients’ developmental, educational, and family histories and by assessing standardized test results. Children who are diagnosed with reading difficulties…

Newsletter (also known as the “yellow sheet”) is AFP’s longest-running department. In the very first issue of General Practitioner (April 1950), the publication that later became American Family Physician, the Newsletter promised “hot news” about “significant developments on…

Medicare Beneficiaries Advised to Review Drug Plan Changes for 2007 | AAFP Federal Advocacy Efforts Will Focus on Physician Payment Reform | Pay-for-Performance Incentives Used by One Half of Surveyed HMOs | HHS Releases Update on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Planning…

Forget the lemonade stand—bring on the orange juice! Research published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology suggests that orange juice helps prevent the formation of kidney stones better than other citrus fruit juices such as lemonade. Four patients…

Vaccines rank as one of the top three public health successes of the past 100 years, along with sanitation and clean water. These public health measures have saved innumerable lives and have been a major contributor to the increased longevity of the American population. More…

Headache is a common reason for primary care office visits and is a complaint in more than 1 percent of patient visits. The prevalence of migraine headache in the general population is approximately 6 percent in men and 15 percent in women, peaking at 40 years of age and then…

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

Pregabalin is safe and effective for the management of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Drawbacks include the cost and the lack of studies demonstrating equivalence or superiority to other treatments. However, pregabalin’s ease of dosing…

The 2007 adult immunization schedule reflects new recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for varicella, influenza, hepatitis B, and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination.

Strength Training Levels Fall Short of National Goal

CDC Releases Report on Rate of Autism in the United States

Parkinson’s disease causes your brain to make less of a chemical called dopamine (DOPE-uh-meen). This affects how your brain controls your body movements.

A vasectomy (vass-ECK-toe-me) is an operation that stops men from being able to get a woman pregnant. During the surgery, your doctor will permanently seal off tubes called the vas deferens (see drawing). This stops sperm from getting into the semen when you have sex. After the…

Increasing your activity level can help you live a longer life and improve your health. Exercise helps prevent heart disease and many other health problems. Exercise builds strength, gives you more energy, and helps reduce stress. It is also a good way to curb your appetite and…

Talk to your doctor about how much exercise is right for you. A good goal for many people is to work up to exercising four to six times a week for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. Remember, though, that any amount of exercise is better than none.

This is a tough question to answer. Even though many people talk about weight, what really matters is how much of your body weight is fat. Your doctor can help you decide what weight is right for you.