October 15, 2007

There are multiple individual and combined treatment regimens for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with options including anticholinergics, beta2 agonists, smoking cessation, and steroids. All patients benefit from short-acting bronchodilators as needed; use of other…

Infants born prematurely are at increased risk of growth problems, developmental delays, and complex medical illnesses. Each well-child examination should include developmental surveillance, and in most cases, routine vaccination should proceed according to chronologic age.

Adverse effects of methamphetamine use may include myocardial infarction, stroke, and seizures; chronic use is associated with neurologic and psychiatric symptoms, and use while pregnant can cause placental abruption or preterm birth. Treatment of acute intoxication is…

Pharmacogenetics is a growing field of research that focuses on the interaction between genetics and drug treatment. As advances in technology allow for faster and more affordable gene analysis, defining drug response phenotypes in well-powered trials will be important for…

Most ear and nose foreign bodies can be removed in the physician's office using forceps, irrigation, or suction. Removal of throat foreign bodies more commonly requires referral to a subspecialist or surgery.

The AFP medical and professional editors and staff held their annual meeting in early September at the Academy headquarters in Leawood, Kan. The agenda for this meeting is always packed with discussion and action items aimed at reviewing AFP's preceding year and planning for…

Conferees Support Senate's SCHIP Bill: Physician Payment to Be Tackled Later | Study Finds Medicare Part D Reduced Numbers of Seniors Without Coverage | Match Analysis Supports Increasing Funding for Public Medical Schools | MinuteClinic Waiver Request Prompts Proposed…

Study results presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society suggest that it is possible to perform a “community urinalysis” to test for widespread prescription and illicit drug use. Researchers from Oregon State University tested the wastewater from 10 U.S. cities for…

A summary of new guidelines on the diagnosis and management of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism appears in the Practice Guidelines section of this issue of American Family Physician.1 These recommendations have been formulated by a panel with representatives…

Here is a scenario you may have seen in your office: a teenager or young adult, usually male, who is suddenly failing at life. He may be having anger problems, personality changes, and sleep or appetite changes. He may have gotten good grades in school and is now failing all of…

The personal side of medicine told from the patient's perspective. The patient's story is followed by commentary from a physician and a list of resources.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend that pregnant women with a single previous cesarean delivery and a low-transverse incision be offered a trial of labor.

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

Aliskiren provides a new pharmacologic approach to treating hypertension; however, short-term studies have not identified a unique role. It is more expensive than commonly used first-line diuretics, and long-term safety has not been demonstrated.

Recommendations on diagnosis and management of venous throm-boembolism (VTE) have been published by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the American College of Physicians (ACP).

ACOG Publishes Guidelines on Hemoglobinopathies in Pregnancy

AAP Releases Guidelines on Treatment of Anaphylaxis

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a lung disease that makes it hard for you to breathe. Over time, your lungs become irritated or damaged. Mucus may block the airways. This makes it hard for air to get through. The air sacs in the lungs may become stiff and…

Your baby is premature if he or she is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy or more than three weeks before he or she is due.

Methamphetamine (meth-am-FET-ah-meen), or meth, is an addictive drug. In small amounts, it can be given by doctors to treat some illnesses, but it is often sold by people illegally in very dangerous forms.