Club Drugs: What You Should Know - American Family Physician
Jul 15, 2018 - ...use meth, they feel excited and have a lot of energy. This feeling lasts about six to 24 hours. But using meth can cause heart attack, stroke, high body temperature, or seizures. Women who use meth while they are pregnant can harm the baby or go into labor early. What happens if...
American Family Physician : Patient Handout
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0715/p85-s2.html
Insufficient Evidence on CVD-related Screening, Risk Assessment
On July 10, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released two final recommendation statements and accompanying final evidence reviews related to screening for cardiovascular disease using the ankle-brachial index and other nontraditional risk factors.
AAFP News : Patient Care
https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/0180711uspstfcvdscreen.html
Statins Effective for LDL 190 mg per dL or Higher, Regardless of Risk Level - POEMs - ...
Jul 1, 2018 - These results confirm that the use of statins for men with an LDL cholesterol level of at least 190 mg per dL, regardless of calculated risk, is associated with a clinically and statistically significant reduction in cardiovascular events and probably cardiovascular and all-cause ...
American Family Physician : POEMs
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0701/p54a.html
CDC Says Obesity Higher in Rural Versus Urban Counties
Research reported in the June 15 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found the prevalence of obesity was higher among U.S. adults living in nonmetropolitan counties than among those in metropolitan counties.
AAFP News : Patient Care
https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20180622mmwr-obesity.html
Localized Prostate Cancer: Treatment Options - American Family Physician
Jun 15, 2018 - In the United States, prostate cancer will be diagnosed in one out of seven men in his lifetime. Most cases are localized, and only one in 39 men will die from the disease. Prostate cancer is most often detected using serum prostate-specific antigen testing. The National Comprehensive ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0615/p798.html
USPSTF: Don't Use ECG to Screen Low-risk Adults for CVD Events
On June 12, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force posted a final recommendation statement on screening for cardiovascular disease risk with electrocardiography. Based on the available evidence, the task force recommends against such screening in asymptomatic, low-risk individuals.
AAFP News : Patient Care
https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20180614uspstfecgcvd.html
Advocating for Myself: My Journey Through Poststroke Depression - Close-ups - American ...
Jun 1, 2018 - Although the association between stroke and depression is well known and prevalent, it is often overlooked.
American Family Physician : Close-ups
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0601/p706.html
Exercise Is Medicine. Here's How I Get Patients Started
Ninety percent of Americans don't meet recommendations for physical activity. Alex Mroszczyk-McDonald, M.D., has seen the good that exercise can do, and in this Fresh Perspectives blog post he shares ways to get more patients off the couch.
AAFP News : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20180516fp-exercise.html
Colorectal Cancer Screening and Prevention - American Family Physician
May 15, 2018 - Colorectal cancer is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Most colorectal cancers arise from preexisting adenomatous or serrated polyps. The incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer can be reduced with screening of average-risk adults 50 to 75 years of ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0515/p658.html
General Parenting Strategies: Practical Suggestions for Common Child Behavior Issues - ...
May 15, 2018 - Parents often seek guidance from physicians on child behavior problems. Questions may range from general parenting strategies to managing specific child behaviors. Physicians and their staff can identify problematic parent-child interactions or behaviors within the office setting and ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0515/p642.html
Preserve Clean Power Plan to Protect Health, AAFP Urges
A proposal to roll back regulations on carbon emissions from power plants would harm the health of high-risk populations, the AAFP recently warned the Environmental Protection Agency.
AAFP News : Advocacy and Government
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180509cleanpower.html
Top 20 Research Studies of 2017 for Primary Care Physicians - American Family Physician
May 1, 2018 - Based on systematic surveillance of more than 110 medical journals, 247 studies met criteria as POEMs (patient-oriented evidence that matters) in 2017. Members of the Canadian Medical Association identified 20 of these POEMs as most relevant to practice. This article reviews the ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0501/p581.html
What If Everyone Had a Family Physician?
Securing funding for vital primary care programs is a start, but Leonard Reeves, M.D., writes in this Leader Voices Blog post that the fight continues for the kind of physician workforce our country needs.
AAFP News : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/leadervoices/entry/20180501lv-whatif.html
EvidenceNOW: Advancing Heart Health in Primary Care
Early research findings about how to help small- and medium-sized primary care practices with cardiovascular disease prevention are available in an Annals of Family Medicine supplement.
AAFP News : Patient Care
https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20180420ahrqsupplement.html
Routine Oxygen Supplementation After Acute Stroke Does Not Improve Functional Outcomes ...
Apr 15, 2018 - For nonhypoxic patients with acute stroke, routine oxygen therapy for 72 hours, either continuously or at night only, does not improve functional outcomes at 90 days. Long-term outcomes were not assessed in this study, and the question remains whether 90 days is an adequate length of ...
American Family Physician : POEMs
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0415/p533.html
Edoxaban (Savaysa) for the Prevention of Thromboembolic Events - STEPS - American ...
Apr 15, 2018 - Edoxaban is an alternative to warfarin and other oral anticoagulants for the prevention of stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and for the treatment of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
American Family Physician : STEPS
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0415/p529.html
Clarification for Apixaban Dosing in Patients with Impaired Renal Function - Letters to...
Apr 15, 2018 - ...(anti–factor Xa activity) data.2,3 The dosing the authors list in Table 1 is most similar to dosing guidelines for reduction of the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. However, t hat recommendation requires an adjustment to the...
American Family Physician : Letter
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0415/p496.html
Geometric Rash on the Leg - Photo Quiz - American Family Physician
Apr 15, 2018 - A healthy 62-year-old woman presented with a pruritic rash on her ankle three days after applying a lidocaine patch.
American Family Physician : Photo Quiz
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0415/p531.html
Hormone Therapy for the Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions in Postmenopausal ...
Apr 15, 2018 - The USPSTF recommends against the use of combined estrogen and progestin for the primary prevention of chronic conditions in postmenopausal women and the use of estrogen alone for the primary prevention of chronic conditions in postmenopausal women who have had a hysterectomy.
American Family Physician : U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0415/od1.html
Hormone Therapy for the Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions in Postmenopausal ...
Apr 15, 2018 - D.M. is a 52-year-old woman who presents to your office for a well-woman visit. She has been menopausal since 50 years of age and has no significant medical or surgical history. She is up to date on her recommended screenings, with normal mammography and colonoscopy results, and has no ...
American Family Physician : Putting Prevention into Practice
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0415/p541.html
Qvar for Treatment of Chronic Asthma - Medicine by the Numbers - American Family Physician
Apr 15, 2018 - Learn the results of a Cochrane review which studied the effectiveness of Qvar in two sets of patients with chronic asthma: those receiving oral corticosteroids and those not receiving them.
American Family Physician : Medicine by the Numbers
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0415/p538.html
Research Shows Perceptions of E-cigarettes Are Changing
A recent analysis of results from two national surveys shows that increasing numbers of American adults are aware of the risks associated with e-cigarette use, with many now viewing them as at least as harmful as combustible cigarettes.
AAFP News : Patient Care
https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20180415e-cigsurveys.html
Use of Niacin for Primary or Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular or Cerebrovascular ...
Apr 1, 2018 - Prescription niacin (nicotinic acid, vitamin B3) does not reduce myocardial infarctions, strokes, or overall mortality when used for primary or secondary prevention.
American Family Physician : Cochrane for Clinicians
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0401/p436.html
Diagnosis Coding for Value-Based Payment: A Quick Reference Tool -- FPM
Apr 1, 2018 - Use this cheat sheet to identify diagnosis codes that are weighted for risk adjustment.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/0300/p26.html
Is Your Diagnosis Coding Ready for Risk Adjustment? -- FPM
Apr 1, 2018 - As payment models change, diagnosis coding is more important than ever. Here’s how to be sure your codes capture your patients’ severity of illness.
Family Practice Management : Articles
https://www.aafp.org/fpm/2018/0300/p21.html
Syncope Evaluation and Treatment Guidelines from ACC, AHA, and HRS - Practice ...
Apr 1, 2018 - The American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA), and Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) have released guidelines to assist physicians in evaluating and treating syncope.
American Family Physician : Practice Guidelines
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0401/p478.html
Stable Coronary Artery Disease: Treatment - American Family Physician
Mar 15, 2018 - Stable coronary artery disease refers to a reversible supply/demand mismatch related to ischemia, a history of myocardial infarction, or the presence of plaque documented by catheterization or computed tomography angiography. Patients are considered stable if they are asymptomatic or ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0315/p376.html
Evaluation of Suspected Dementia - American Family Physician
Mar 15, 2018 - Dementia is a significant and costly health condition that affects 5 million adults and is the fifth leading cause of death among Americans older than 65 years. The prevalence of dementia will likely increase in the future because the number of Americans older than 65 years is expected ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0315/p398.html
High Blood Pressure: ACC/AHA Releases Updated Guideline - Practice Guidelines - ...
Mar 15, 2018 - The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) recently updated their guideline on the prevention, detection, evaluation, and treatment of high BP in adults. The ACC/AHA recommendations were based on a systematic review that addressed four questions ...
American Family Physician : Practice Guidelines
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0315/p413.html
ACC/AHA Hypertension Guideline: What Is New? What Do We Do? - Editorials - American ...
Mar 15, 2018 - Choosing a threshold and target for treatment should be based on the science supporting CVD risk reduction, while considering the benefits and harms in individual patient circumstances and respecting patient choice.
American Family Physician : Editorials
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0315/p372.html
ACP Calls for Moderate Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes
On March 6, the American College of Physicians published new evidence-based guidance statements in Annals of Internal Medicine that focused on loosening glycemic control targets.
AAFP News : Patient Care
https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20180309acpdiabetes.html
FDA: Clarithromycin Risky for Patients With Heart Disease
The FDA is warning clinicians about prescribing clarithromycin to patients with heart disease because of the risk for serious cardiac and other complications -- and even death -- that persists years later.
AAFP News : Patient Care
https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20180301clarithromycin.html
Acute Migraine Headache: Treatment Strategies - American Family Physician
Feb 15, 2018 - Migraine is a primary headache disorder characterized by recurrent attacks. Acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, triptans, antiemetics, ergot alkaloids, and combination analgesics have evidence supporting their effectiveness in the treatment of migraine. Acetaminophen ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0215/p243.html
'I Am Convinced Family Medicine Is the Solution'
Watching a family member struggle with illness and access to care inspired third-year family medicine resident Kristina Dakis, M.D., to pursue a career in medicine.
AAFP News : Family Doc Focus
https://www.aafp.org/news/family-doc-focus/20180212focus-dakis.html
Tremor: Sorting Through the Differential Diagnosis - American Family Physician
Feb 1, 2018 - Tremor is an involuntary, rhythmic, oscillatory movement of a body part. It is the most common movement disorder encountered in primary care. The diagnosis of tremor is based on clinical information obtained from the history and physical examination. The most common tremors in patients ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0201/p180.html
Beta Blockers Compared with Other Drug Options for the Treatment of Hypertension - ...
Feb 1, 2018 - Although beta blockers seem to have a positive impact on patient-oriented evidence that matters in patients with hypertension, they appear to be inferior when compared with other medications.
American Family Physician : Medicine by the Numbers
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0201/od1.html
Evidence Lacking on CVD-related Screening, Risk Assessment
On Jan. 16, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released two draft recommendation statements and accompanying draft evidence reviews related to screening for cardiovascular disease, finding a paucity of evidence to recommend for or against either practice.
AAFP News : Patient Care
https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20180122uspstfcvdscreens.html
Your Family Medicine Practice Is Whatever You Make It
A new physician survey prompted our bloggers to reflect on their scope of practice and how they've tailored their work to fit the needs of their patients and their own interests.
AAFP News : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20180116fp-scope.html
Screening for Preeclampsia: Recommendation Statement - U.S. Preventive Services Task ...
Jan 15, 2018 - The USPSTF recommends screening for preeclampsia in pregnant women with blood pressure measurements throughout pregnancy.
American Family Physician : U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0115/od1.html
AAFP Delivers Useful Clinical Resources for 2018
The AAFP offered a wide range of clinical recommendations and resources throughout 2017 -- including practice guidelines, immunization guidance and preventive services recommendations -- that members can use in 2018 and beyond.
AAFP News : Member Resources and Tools for 2018
https://www.aafp.org/news/resources-tools-2018/20180103yir-clinical.html
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Outpatient Insulin Management - American Family Physician
Jan 1, 2018 - In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin may be used to augment therapy with oral glycemic medications or as insulin replacement therapy. The American Diabetes Association suggests the use of long-acting (basal) insulin to augment therapy with one or two oral agents or one ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0101/p29.html
Stents for Stable Coronary Artery Disease - Medicine by the Numbers - American Family ...
Jan 1, 2018 - Most published trials fail to show a benefit from coronary stenting in patients with stable obstructive coronary artery disease. However, stent technology has evolved significantly in recent years, and it is possible that newer-generation drug-eluting stents may offer different results.
American Family Physician : Medicine by the Numbers
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0101/od1.html
Palpitations: Evaluation in the Primary Care Setting - American Family Physician
Dec 15, 2017 - Palpitations are a common problem in the ambulatory primary care setting, and cardiac causes are the most concerning etiology. Psychiatric illness, adverse effects of prescription and over-the-counter medications, and substance use should also be considered. Distinguishing cardiac from ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/1215/p784.html
Statin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults - Putting ...
Dec 15, 2017 - L.D., a 66-year-old generally healthy white man, presents for his annual physical. He has no history of cardiovascular disease (CVD); he has had consistent systolic blood pressure measurements of 140 mm Hg; he is not taking any medications; he does not smoke; he exercises three times ...
American Family Physician : Putting Prevention into Practice
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/1215/p805.html
Acupuncture Is Ineffective for Treatment of Low Back Pain - Letters to the Editor - ...
Dec 15, 2017 - ...4. Zhao XF, Du Y, Liu PG, Wang S. Acupuncture for stroke: evidence of effectiveness, safety, and cost from systematic reviews. Top Stroke Rehabil. 2012;19(3):226–233. 5. Bergqvist D. Vascular injuries caused by acupuncture. A systematic review. Int Angiol. 2013;32(1):1–8. Read the...
American Family Physician : Letter
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/1215/ol2.html
Hoarseness in Adults - American Family Physician
Dec 1, 2017 - Hoarseness is a common presentation in primary care practices. Combined with other voice-related changes, it falls under the umbrella diagnosis of dysphonia. Hoarseness has a number of causes, ranging from simple inflammatory processes to less common psychiatric disorders to more ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/1201/p720.html
Glucose Management in Hospitalized Patients - American Family Physician
Nov 15, 2017 - Glucose management in hospitalized patients poses challenges to physicians, including identifying blood glucose targets, judicious use of oral diabetes mellitus medications, and implementing appropriate insulin regimens. Uncontrolled blood glucose levels can lead to deleterious effects ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/1115/p648.html
Gout: Diagnosis and Management - Implementing AHRQ Effective Health Care Reviews - ...
Nov 15, 2017 - What is the accuracy of clinical decision tools and imaging for the diagnosis of gout in the primary care setting, and how effective are medications used to treat and prevent gout?
American Family Physician : Implementing AHRQ Effective Health Care Reviews
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/1115/p668.html
Behavioral Counseling to Promote a Healthful Diet and Physical Activity for ...
Nov 15, 2017 - The USPSTF recommends that primary care professionals individualize the decision to offer or refer adults without obesity who do not have hypertension, dyslipidemia, abnormal blood glucose levels, or diabetes to behavioral counseling to promote a healthful diet and physical activity.
American Family Physician : U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/1115/od2.html
Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: Diagnosis and Management - American ...
Nov 1, 2017 - Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, also referred to as diastolic heart failure, causes almost one-half of the 5 million cases of heart failure in the United States. It is more common among older patients and women, and results from abnormalities of active ventricular ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/1101/p582.html