Type 2 Diabetes Therapies: A STEPS Approach - American Family Physician
Feb 15, 2019 - A concise way to evaluate pharmacotherapy options for type 2 diabetes mellitus is to use the five patient-oriented STEPS criteria: safety, tolerability, efficacy, price, and simplicity. The first-line treatment option, metformin, is safe and fairly well-tolerated, has excellent ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0215/p237.html
Treatment of the Common Cold - American Family Physician
Sep 1, 2019 - Acute upper respiratory tract infections are extremely common in adults and children, but only a few safe and effective treatments are available. Patients typically present with nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sore throat, cough, general malaise, and/or low-grade fever. Informing patients...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0901/p281.html
The Changing Climate: Managing Health Impacts - American Family Physician
Nov 15, 2019 - Concentrations of greenhouse gases continue to accumulate in the atmosphere at increasing rates, heating the Earth’s surface and destabilizing climate. Health impacts from climate change may include increased morbidity and mortality from worsening cardiopulmonary health, worsening ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/1115/p618.html
Migraine Headache Prophylaxis - American Family Physician
Jan 1, 2019 - Migraines impose significant health and financial burdens. Approximately 38% of patients with episodic migraines would benefit from preventive therapy, but less than 13% take prophylactic medications. Preventive medication therapy reduces migraine frequency, severity, and ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0101/p17.html
Anticoagulation: Updated Guidelines for Outpatient Management - American Family Physician
Oct 1, 2019 - Anticoagulation therapy is recommended for preventing, treating, and reducing the recurrence of venous thromboembolism, and preventing stroke in persons with atrial fibrillation. Direct oral anticoagulants are first-line agents for eligible patients for treating venous thromboembolism ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/1001/p426.html
Laceration Repair: A Practical Approach - American Family Physician
May 15, 2017 - The goals of laceration repair are to achieve hemostasis and optimal cosmetic results without increasing the risk of infection. Many aspects of laceration repair have not changed over the years, but there is evidence to support some updates to standard management. Studies have been ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/0515/p628.html
Acute Coronary Syndrome: Current Treatment - American Family Physician
Feb 15, 2017 - Acute coronary syndrome continues to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Family physicians need to identify and mitigate risk factors early, as well as recognize and respond to acute coronary syndrome events quickly in any clinical setting. Diagnosis ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/0215/p232.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
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
Severe Asymptomatic Hypertension: Evaluation and Treatment - American Family Physician
Apr 15, 2017 - Hypertension affects one-third of Americans and is a significant modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke, renal disease, and death. Severe asymptomatic hypertension is defined as severely elevated blood pressure (180 mm Hg or more systolic, or 110 mm Hg or more ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/0415/p492.html
Probiotics for Gastrointestinal Conditions: A Summary of the Evidence - American Family...
Aug 1, 2017 - Probiotics contain microorganisms, most of which are bacteria similar to the beneficial bacteria that occur naturally in the human gut. Probiotics have been widely studied in a variety of gastrointestinal diseases. The most-studied species include Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/0801/p170.html
Kidney Stones: Treatment and Prevention - American Family Physician
Apr 15, 2019 - Kidney stones are a common disorder, with an annual incidence of eight cases per 1,000 adults. During an episode of renal colic, the first priority is to rule out conditions requiring immediate referral to an emergency department, then to alleviate pain, preferably with a nonsteroidal ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0415/p490.html
Opioid Use Disorder: Medical Treatment Options - American Family Physician
Oct 1, 2019 - Opioid use disorder is highly prevalent and can be fatal. At least 2.1 million Americans 12 years and older had opioid use disorder in 2016, and approximately 47,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses in 2017. Opioid use disorder is a chronic relapsing condition, the treatment of ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/1001/p416.html
Ingrown Toenail Management - American Family Physician
Aug 1, 2019 - Ingrown toenails account for approximately 20% of foot problems in primary care. The great toe is most often affected. Ingrown toenails occur most commonly in young men, and nail care habits and footwear are most often contributory factors. No consensus has been reached for the best ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0801/p158.html
Deep Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism: Current Therapy - American Family Physician
Mar 1, 2017 - Pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis are the two most important manifestations of venous thromboembolism (VTE), which is the third most common life-threatening cardiovascular disease in the United States. Anticoagulation is the mainstay of VTE treatment. Most patients with deep...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/0301/p295.html
Gastroenteritis in Children - American Family Physician
Feb 1, 2019 - Acute gastroenteritis is defined as a diarrheal disease of rapid onset, with or without nausea, vomiting, fever, or abdominal pain. In the United States, acute gastroenteritis accounts for 1.5 million office visits, 200,000 hospitalizations, and 300 deaths in children each year. ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0201/p159.html
Stuttering: Understanding and Treating a Common Disability - American Family Physician
Nov 1, 2019 - Childhood-onset fluency disorder, the most common form of stuttering, is a neurologic disability resulting from an underlying brain abnormality that causes disfluent speech. Stuttering can lead to significant secondary effects, including negative self-perception and negative perception ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/1101/p556.html
Insomnia: Pharmacologic Therapy - American Family Physician
Jul 1, 2017 - Insomnia accounts for more than 5.5 million visits to family physicians each year. Although behavioral interventions are the mainstay of treatment, pharmacologic therapy may be necessary for some patients. Understanding the risks and benefits of insomnia medications is critical. ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/0701/p29.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
Testosterone Therapy: Review of Clinical Applications - American Family Physician
Oct 1, 2017 - Testosterone therapy is increasingly common in the United States, and many of these prescriptions are written by primary care physicians. There is conflicting evidence on the benefit of male testosterone therapy for age-related declines in testosterone. Physicians should not measure ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/1001/p441.html
End-of-Life Care: Managing Common Symptoms - American Family Physician
Mar 15, 2017 - Physicians should be proficient at managing symptoms as patients progress through the dying process. When possible, proactive regimens that prevent symptoms should be used, because it is generally easier to prevent than to treat an acute symptom. As swallowing function diminishes, ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/0315/p356.html
The Pregnant Patient: Managing Common Acute Medical Problems - American Family Physician
Nov 1, 2018 - Women often see their primary care physicians for common acute conditions during pregnancy. These conditions may be caused by pregnancy (obstetric problems) or worsened by pregnancy (obstetrically aggravated problems), or they may require special consideration during pregnancy because ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/1101/p595.html
Lice and Scabies: Treatment Update - American Family Physician
May 15, 2019 - Pediculosis and scabies are caused by ectoparasites. Pruritus is the most common presenting symptom. Head and pubic lice infestations are diagnosed with visualization of live lice. Nits (lice eggs or egg casings) alone are not sufficient to diagnose a current infestation. A no-nit ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0515/p635.html
Polypharmacy: Evaluating Risks and Deprescribing - American Family Physician
Jul 1, 2019 - Polypharmacy, defined as regular use of at least five medications, is common in older adults and younger at-risk populations and increases the risk of adverse medical outcomes. There are several risk factors that can lead to polypharmacy. Patient-related factors include having multiple ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0701/p32.html
Oncologic Emergencies: Recognition and Initial Management - American Family Physician
Jun 1, 2018 - Most oncologic emergencies can be classified as metabolic, hematologic, structural, or treatment related. Tumor lysis syndrome is a metabolic emergency that presents as severe electrolyte abnormalities. Stabilization is focused on vigorous rehydration, maintaining urine output, and ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0601/p741.html