• Articles

    Vision Loss in Older Adults

    ALLEN L. PELLETIER, LEDY ROJAS-ROLDAN, JANIS COFFIN

    Family physicians have a critical role in identifying persons who are at risk of vision loss, which affects nearly 25% of adults older than 80 years in the United States. Regular comprehensive eye examinations may be appropriate for some patients 65 years and older; however,...

    Treating Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: An Update

    MATTHEW J. SNYDER, LAWRENCE M. GIBBS, TAMMY J. LINDSAY

    Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy is an often undertreated nerve disorder that affects as many as 25% of patients with diabetes mellitus. It causes a significant decline in quality of life as patients experience burning pain, paresthesias, and numbness that progress from...

    Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

    SABRINA HOFMEISTER, SETH BODDEN

    Premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder consist of psychological and physical symptoms that cause significant impairment during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, but resolve shortly after menstruation. Patient-directed recording of symptoms is helpful...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    AAFP News: AFP Edition

    Medical Groups Urge Changes to Proposed MACRA Rule | CMS Addresses Senate Concerns on Medicare Part B Payment Proposal | Groups Press CMS to Expand Rural Training | HHS Grant Helps Small Practices Move to Value-based Models

    Editorials

    How to Prescribe Fewer Unnecessary Antibiotics: Talking Points That Work with Patients and Their Families

    KATHERINE E. FLEMING-DUTRA, RITA MANGIONE-SMITH, LAURI A. HICKS

    Appropriate antibiotic prescribing is a quality-of-care issue; all clinicians have the responsibility to provide the right treatments to their patients while minimizing harm. Effective communication, public commitments, and delayed antibiotic prescriptions are evidence-based...

    Curbing Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing: What Works?

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    The reasons for antibiotic overprescribing are multifactorial, so efforts to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing should combine shared decision making, incentives, quality-control measures, and similar interventions designed to improve clinical practice.

    Cochrane for Clinicians

    Acetaminophen for the Treatment of Pain in Newborns

    DONNA COHEN

    Acetaminophen does not significantly reduce pain associated with heel lance, eye examinations, or assisted vaginal births in newborns. Acetaminophen may reduce the total amount of morphine a newborn needs in the first 48 hours following major abdominal or thoracic surgery.

    Capsaicin for Nonallergic Rhinitis

    ANNE L. MOUNSEY, CATHY M. FELLER

    Intranasal capsaicin is safe and effective for reducing symptoms of nonallergic rhinitis (number needed to treat = 4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1 to 22). There is insufficient evidence to compare the effectiveness of capsaicin to other topical or systemic medications.

    FPIN's Help Desk Answers

    Exercise to Improve Functioning in Patients with Dementia

    MARGO HARRISON, ROBERT MARTIN

    Exercise programs lasting at least two months moderately increase the ability of patients with dementia to perform ADLs.

    Photo Quiz

    Acute Onset of Elbow Swelling

    KIYOSHI SHIKINO, YOTA KATSUYAMA, YOSHIYUKI OHIRA, MASATOMI IKUSAKA

    A patient presented with spherical, fluctuant elbow swelling without redness or tenderness.

    Practice Guidelines

    Cardiomyopathy and Myocarditis in Competitive Athletes: Recommendations from the AHA/ACC

    LISA HAUK

    The American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) have provided recommendations regarding eligibility and disqualification of competitive athletes with cardiovascular abnormalities. This summary focuses on cardiomyopathy and myocarditis.

    Medicine by the Numbers

    Acupuncture for Frequent Tension-Type Headaches

    PAUL CRAWFORD, MICHAEL KIM

    Studies show an NNT of 3 to have at least a 50% reduction of headache frequency compared with routine care. Want to know more?

    Letters to the Editor

    Optimal Technique for Application of Corticosteroid Nasal Spray

    KEVIN C. KELLEHER

    Responsiveness to Adenosine Does Not Confirm SVT Diagnosis

    DANIEL FIRTH

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Nerve Pain in Diabetes

    Nerve pain with diabetes is called neuropathy (new-ROP-uh-thee). It is common in people with uncontrolled diabetes. It usually starts in the feet and may go up the legs. It may cause burning pain or a loss of feeling.

    Premenstrual Disorders

    Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) causes symptoms in the week before your period. You may have physical symptoms (like cramps, bloating, or headache) or mood symptoms (like feeling more tense than usual, having trouble concentrating, or being irritable). You may crave certain foods...

    Corrections

    Correction

    Incorrect Drug Classification/SORT rating. The article “Sexual Dysfunction in Women: A Practical Approach” (August 15, 2015, p. 281) contained an error in Table 2 (p. 283), which incorrectly identified trazodone and venlafaxine as examples of monoamine oxidase inhibitors....



    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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