April 1, 2007

An objective of the athletic preparticipation examination is to identify cardiovascular abnormalities that may contribute to sudden death. the cardiovascular assessment should include a review of symptoms, a thorough patient and family cardiac history, blood pressure…

Work-related eye injuries can be prevented with proper eye protection. irrigation, initial evaluation, and foreign body removal can be performed by a family physician, with referral to an ophthalmologist when needed. allergic conjunctivitis is common in the workplace, and…

Peppermint oil may be modestly effective in relieving some of the most common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and in reducing colonic spasm during gastrointestinal procedures. Peppermint oil in combination with caraway oil may be effective in the treatment of nonulcer…

To effectively manage outpatient anticoagulation therapy, physicians must understand the indications for warfarin and heparin, the goals and duration of treatment, how to initiate therapy, and how to troubleshoot common issues.

The Academy offers many sources of continuing medical education (CME) for members and nonmembers, including most articles published in AFP each year. The value of AAFP CME is further enhanced because the Academy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical…

Primary Care Organizations Agree on Principles of Medical Home | CMS Will Use Physician Data to Drive Quality Improvements | Medicare Advisory Commission Presents Report on Physician Payment | AAP Issues Policy Statement on High-Deductible Health Plans | AHRQ Finds Improvement…

It's no April Fools' joke—your patients could be radioactive enough to set off the “dirty bomb” detectors at the airport. Every day, nearly 60,000 patients undergo radiation treatment that leaves enough radioactive material in their bodies to trigger positive responses from…

In 2005, representatives from six medical organizations (i.e., American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and…

Recently, the American Heart Association (AHA) published an update to its 2004 guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in women.1 A summary of the update is available in this issue of American Family Physician.2

Eight to 60 days of opioid therapy for the treatment of neuropathic pain effectively reduces pain scores as measured by a visual analog scale. A lack of response to opioids in the first 24 hours should not be used to predict whether longer-term opioid therapy might be…

Decongestants and Antihistamines Do Not Relieve Symptoms of Otitis Media with Effusion

Effective Topical Treatments for Nongenital Warts

What are the effects of drug treatments in persons with early stage Parkinson's disease? What are the effects of adding other treatments in persons with motor complications from levodopa? What are the effects of surgery and nursing and rehabilitation treatments in persons with…

There is no clearly superior oral agent for glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

During a well-child examination, the mother of a two-month-old adopted infant expressed concern about a patch that she had recently noticed on the baby's skin. The infant had normal health, growth, and development up to this point. On examination, a solitary, ovoid…

The basic questions asked in the scenario are whether physicians should always “practice what they preach,” and whether a physician's personal life should be accessible and relevant to patients. Professional role models are important.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has released guidelines on the appropriate use of antibiotic prophylaxis in women undergoing gynecologic procedures.

Guidelines presented by the American Heart Association (AHA) represent the most current clinical recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women 20 years and older.

Postpartum hemorrhage is responsible for almost 140,000 deaths per year worldwide and can cause serious morbidity. It can occur without warning; therefore, all physicians should be prepared to manage it properly. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG…

A work-related eye injury is an injury that you get while at work. These injuries are most likely in people who work outside, in construction, or with machinery.

The article “Retinoblastoma” (March 15, 2006, page 1039) contained an error in the legend for Figure 2 on page 1041. The figure legend incorrectly identified the figure as an ultrasound B scan of the left eye rather than a computed tomography scan. The figure legend should have…