Hyperthyroidism: Diagnosis and Treatment

IGOR KRAVETS

The most common causes of overactive thyroid are Graves disease, toxic multinodular goiter, and toxic adenoma. Typical manifestations include adrenergic symptoms, such as palpitations, tremor, and diaphoresis. Cardiovascular, neuromuscular, ocular, and cutaneous symptoms may...

Aortic Stenosis: Diagnosis and Treatment

BRIAN H. GRIMARD, ROBERT E. SAFFORD, ELIZABETH L. BURNS

The cardinal symptoms of aortic stenosis include dyspnea and other symptoms of heart failure, angina, and syncope. Aortic valve replacement is recommended for most symptomatic patients with evidence of significant aortic stenosis on echocardiography. Watchful waiting is...

Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women

LINDA M. SPEER, SAUDIA MUSHKBAR, TARA ERBELE

Chronic pelvic pain is defined as persistent, noncyclic pain lasting more than six months. Often no specific etiology can be identified. It is typically associated with other functional somatic syndromes and mental health disorders. Diagnosis is based on findings from the...

AAFP News: AFP Edition

Research Shows Complexity of Primary Care | AAFP Urges Changes in Chronic Care Policy | Report: PCMH Model Shows Steady Progress | AAFP Urges CMS to Bolster Network Standards on Federal Exchanges

Human-Animal Health Interactions: The Role of One Health

MICHAEL J. DAY

The underlying principle of the One Health initiative is that physicians and veterinarians should work collaboratively for optimal global human and animal health. Such collaboration crosses medical, scientific, and sociopolitical subdisciplines, and thus creates more...

The Impact of Contraception on Lactation

DREW C. BAIRD

Use of hormonal contraception does not appear to shorten breastfeeding duration or negatively impact infant growth, based on inconsistent evidence of moderate quality. It is unclear if hormonal contraception negatively impacts breast milk volume or composition. Overall, there...

Influenza Vaccination for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

MELANIE RAFFOUL, KENNETH W. LIN

Influenza vaccination may reduce cardiovascular mortality in patients with established cardiovascular disease. The effect of vaccination is unclear among patients in the general population without known cardiovascular disease.

When Physician Family Members Are Involved in Patients' Care

ANJALI CHANDRA, PARAG BHARADWAJ, KATHERINE T. WARD

It is not unusual for physicians to care for patients who have physician family members. This can be advantageous for patients, their families, and the clinical team because physician family members often better understand the clinical situation, its severity, and the...

An Annular Lesion on the Elbow

ALEXANDER K.C. LEUNG, BENJAMIN BARANKIN

A woman presented with a fleshy-erythematous eruption with an annular configuration on her elbow.

Transitional Care Interventions to Prevent Readmissions for Patients with Heart Failure

JANELLE GUIRGUIS-BLAKE

Home visiting programs and multidisciplinary clinic interventions for adult patients with heart failure reduced all-cause readmissions and mortality over three to six months. Structured telephone support reduced heart failure–specific readmissions and mortality over three to...

In Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and CV Disease, Empagliflozin Reduces CV and All-Cause Mortality

MARK H. EBELL

In patients with established CV disease and type 2 diabetes, the addition of empagliflozin to standard therapy reduces all-cause mortality and CV mortality. This is notable because empagliflozin is the only drug other than metformin to demonstrate a mortality benefit, albeit...

No Difference Between Oxycodone/Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen for Acute Extremity Pain

DAVID SLAWSON

This study found no significant difference in the management of acute musculoskeletal extremity pain, including fractures, with oxycodone/acetaminophen vs. hydrocodone/acetaminophen. Adverse events, including nausea and dizziness, occurred significantly more often with...

ACCP Provides Updated Recommendations on the Management of Somatic Cough Syndrome and Tic Cough

JENNIFER WILKES

A cough that has no medical diagnosis and does not respond to treatment is sometimes labeled as psychogenic cough, habit cough, or tic cough. These disorders should be distinguished from other forms of chronic cough, but there is little consistency or evidence on how to best...

Controlled Cord Traction During the Third Stage of Labor

EMILY M. CULLINEY, PAMELA M. WILLIAMS

The overall risk-to-benefit ratio of controlled cord traction is unclear. Find out more.

Overactive Thyroid Gland (Hyperthyroidism)

The thyroid (THI-royd) gland is an organ in the lower front part of your neck. The gland makes thyroid hormones, which help control your body's use of energy, its temperature, and how your organs work.

Aortic Stenosis: What You Should Know

It is the narrowing of the aortic valve, a doorway-like opening in your heart that allows the blood to flow from your heart to other parts of your body. This narrowing (called stenosis) makes your heart work harder to pump blood. Aortic stenosis may get worse over time.