• Articles

    Evaluation and Treatment of Acute Low Back Pain

    SCOTT KINKADE

    Most cases of low back pain have no serious underlying pathology and can be managed with reassurance, pain medications, and advice to stay active. Selected patients with “red flag” findings need a more thorough evaluation and may require urgent referral to a surgeon.

    Late Pregnancy Bleeding

    ELLEN SAKORNBUT, LAWRENCE LEEMAN, PATRICIA FONTAINE

    Potentially serious causes of late pregnancy bleeding include placenta previa, placental abruption, and vasa previa. Management involves rapid assessment of maternal and fetal status, fluid resuscitation, replacement of blood products if necessary, and an appropriately timed...

    Primary Care of the Patient with Cancer

    GEORGE F. SMITH, TIMOTHY R. TOONEN

    Continued involvement by a family physician is often a welcome and comforting addition to the care of a patient with cancer. Family physicians can have a role in treatment decisions, psychological support, treating intercurrent disease, preventive care, and recognizing and...

    Noninvasive Cardiac Imaging

    JENNIFER H. MIERES, AMGAD N. MAKARYUS, RITA F. REDBERG, LESLEE J. SHAW

    Noninvasive cardiac imaging tests play an important role in diagnosing and treating patients with coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and acute coronary syndromes. Establishing the diagnosis, extent, and severity of coronary artery disease, as well as the...

    Inside AFP

    New Feature Focuses on Patient-Physician Relationships

    JOYCE A. MERRIMAN

    In this issue of AFP, we present a new feature—Close-ups: A Patient's Perspective (see page 1177). This department will focus on the human side of medicine. A patient's story, told in his or her own words, is accompanied by commentary from the patient's physician and...

    Newsletter

    Newsletter

    States Prepare for SCHIP Reductions As Congress Moves to Fill Shortfalls | California Chapters Help Refine Health Reform Proposal | Federal Legislation on Health Care Information Technology Introduced | Primary Care Physician Shortage Increases Medically Disenfranchised |...

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    SHERRI DAMLO

    A study published in Pediatrics suggests that unmarried parents with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection may be unlikely to legally identify a future guardian for their children. Researchers interviewed 100 married and 222 unmarried parents with HIV infection. When...

    Editorials

    Is There Benefit to Coronary Calcium Screening?

    JANELLE GUIRGUIS-BLAKE, KENNETH W. LIN, MARY B. BARTON

    Risk assessment and targeted risk factor modification are critical to the disease prevention paradigm in family medicine. Because coronary artery disease (CAD) represents the leading cause of death in the United States, prevention efforts have tremendous potential to reduce...

    Close-ups: Introducing a New Feature

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    In this issue we introduce “Close-ups: A Patient's Perspective,” a feature that focuses on the personal side of medicine. The major component of this feature is a patient's story, told in his or her own words. In these stories, patients speak about the challenges they face in...

    Close-ups

    A Fall in the Dark

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    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.

    Point-of-Care Guides

    Predicting Mortality Risk in Patients with Acute Exacerbations of Heart Failure

    MARK H. EBELL

    Accurate risk stratification in patients with heart failure can help physicians choose the most appropriate place for hospitalization (general hospital ward or intensive care unit) and the intensity of care needed.

    Photo Quiz

    Large, Silvery Plaques

    SABRINA GUILLEN, AMOR KHACHEMOUNE

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

    STEPS

    Pramipexole (Mirapex) for Restless Legs Syndrome

    COURTNEY I. JARVIS, JEREMY GOLDING

    Although many patients with RLS do not need pharmacologic therapy, pramipexole is one option for treating moderate to severe symptoms. As with other agents used to manage RLS, potentially serious adverse reactions are possible.

    Tips from Other Journals

    Alcohol Increases Bone Mineral Density in Older Men

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    What Is the Best Treatment for Tennis Elbow?

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Treatment of IBS with Nonabsorbable Antibiotics

    RICHARD B. SISSON

    Extended Oral Contraceptives Decrease Premenstrual Symptoms

    KARL E. MILLER

    Practice Guidelines

    ACOG Releases Guidelines on Hormonal Contraceptives in Women with Coexisting Medical Conditions

    CARRIE ARMSTRONG

    Guidelines on the use of hormonal contraceptives in women with underlying medical conditions are available from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). In some women, drugs taken for certain chronic conditions may alter the effectiveness of hormonal...

    Practice Guideline Briefs

    Practice Guideline Briefs

    LAURA COUGHLIN

    Indications for Renal Arteriography at the Time of Coronary Arteriography

    Practice Guideline Briefs

    LAURA COUGHLIN

    ACOG Guidelines on Vulvodynia

    Letters to the Editor

    Clarification About Smoking Cessation Interventions

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Low Back Pain

    Low back pain is when you feel sore or uncomfortable in your lower back or buttocks.



    Disclosure

    All editors in a position to control content for this activity, AFP journal, are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships. View disclosures.


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