Acute Stroke Diagnosis

KENNETH S. YEW, ERIC CHENG

Common signs of stroke include speech disturbance and acute onset of unilateral weakness or numbness. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging can help distinguish between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.

Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much: An Evidence-Based Guide for Primary Care Physicians

MARK L. WILLENBRING, SUENA H. MASSEY, MAUREEN B. GARDNER

Excessive alcohol use is a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality, although few patients receive treatment. Primary care physicians should be prepared to screen for, assess, and treat at-risk drinking and alcohol use disorders.

Diagnosis and Management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

DAVID C. SERLIN, ROBERT W. LASH

Diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made by using a screening glucose challenge test followed by a diagnostic glucose tolerance test for women with a positive screening test. Management includes glucosemonitoring, diet control, exercise, and medication, if necessary.

Identifying and Using Good Practice Guidelines

KENNETH W. LIN, DAVID C. SLAWSON

Good practice guidelines are based on systematic reviews of patient-oriented evidence, have a transparent development process, identify potential conflicts of interest, and offer flexibility in various clinical situations.

AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

Manufacturers Move Forward with Development of H1N1 Virus Vaccine | Obama Administration, Physician Groups Propose Medicare Payment System Reform | Study Reveals Annual Costs of Contracting with Patients' Health Insurance Plans | NHSC Begins Loan Repayment Program for...

Making a Difference with Patients Who Drink Too Much

WILLIAM R. MILLER, BRONWYN E. WILSON

Patients often present to family physicians with a range of modifiable behaviors that influence the incidence, course, and outcomes of acute and chronic illnesses. Physicians know that smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity are risk factors that can be addressed with...

Dopamine Agonists for Early Parkinson Disease

NATHAN HITZEMAN, FLORA RAFII

Dopamine agonists, such as pramipexole (Mirapex), ropinirole (Requip), pergolide (formerly Permax), and apomorphine (Apokyn), improve the motor fluctuations and dyskinesias that commonly occur with levodopa, but at the expense of increasing nonmotor adverse effects and...

Anticoagulation for Long-term Treatment of VTE in Patients with Cancer

JANELLE GUIRGUIS-BLAKE

For patients with cancer and venous thromboembolism (VTE), is low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) or an oral anticoagulant (vitamin K antagonists warfarin [Coumadin] or acecumarol [not available in the United States]) more effective for preventing recurrent VTE?

Multiple Pulmonary Nodules

WEI CHEN, WU-HUEI HSU

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

When a Patient's Chronic Pain Gets Worse

MATTHEW HOLLON

This case encapsulates many of the significant challenges in providing care for patients with chronic noncancer pain.

Practice Parameters for Managing Allergic Rhinitis

MARA LAMBERT

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI); the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI); and the Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (JCAAI) have created “The Diagnosis and Management of Rhinitis: An Updated Practice Parameter.”

Early Interventions May Prevent Adolescent, Adult Obesity

DAUSEN HARKER, AARON SAGUIL

Low-Dose Topical Estrogen for Vaginal Atrophy Treatment

AMY CRAWFORD-FAUCHER

Simple Charts Compare Health Risks for Adults

KENNETH W. LIN

Mental Health Issues Undertreated in Older Persons

CAROLINE WELLBERY

Symptoms and Signs of Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack

A stroke is like a “brain attack.” In a heart attack, not enough blood gets to the heart. In a stroke, not enough blood gets to the brain. Parts of the brain can die during a stroke if blood is cut off for more than a couple of hours. If the blood is cut off for a shorter...

Gestational Diabetes and Nutrition

Gestational (jess-TAY-shun-ul) diabetes is a type of diabetes some women get during pregnancy if they have too much sugar in their blood. This happens because the body cannot manage glucose (blood sugar) the way it should. Your doctor can check the amount of sugar in your...