• Articles

    Essentials of the Diagnosis of Heart Failure

    FADI SHAMSHAM, JUDITH MITCHELL

    A systematic approach can improve overall accuracy in diagnosing heart failure. Keys to the diagnosis include a history of coronary artery disease and the presence of dyspnea, tachycardia and an S3 gallop.

    Treatment of Nonmalignant Chronic Pain

    DAWN A. MARCUS

    Chronic pain is associated with disabling physical and emotional symptoms. The treatment of chronic pain should address the physical pathology that initiated the chronic pain and the social and psychologic sequelae of chronic symptoms.

    Approach to the Vaso-occlusive Crisis in Adults with Sickle Cell Disease

    STEVEN H. YALE, NAHED NAGIB, TROY GUTHRIE

    The vaso-occlusive crisis is a common painful complication of sickle cell disease in adolescents and adults. It is important to recognize a pain crisis early, correct the inciting causes, control pain, maintain euvolemia and, when necessary, administer adequate hemoglobin to...

    Cervical Cancer

    TIMOTHY P. CANAVAN, NIPA R. DOSHI

    Although cervical cancer is preventable, 12,800 women were diagnosed with this disease in 1998, and 4,800 women died as a result of it.

    Using Tissue Adhesive for Wound Repair: A Practical Guide to Dermabond

    THOMAS B. BRUNS, J. MACK WORTHINGTON

    The tissue adhesive Dermabond offers certain advantages in the repair of superficial wounds.

    Managing Menopause

    TONI M. CUTSON, EMILY MEULEMAN

    Hormone replacement therapy may benefit patients with many of the immediate long-term consequences of menopause, but scientific studies are incomplete and often disagree. Current treatment options allow individualization of a plan.

    A ‘Stages of Change’ Approach to Helping Patients Change Behavior

    GRETCHEN L. ZIMMERMAN, CYNTHIA G. OLSEN, MICHAEL F. BOSWORTH

    All family physicians should understand how to recognize the stages of change behavior in patients and be able to help them with this process.

    Somatizing Patients: Part II. Practical Management

    DAVID SERVAN-SCHREIBER, GARY TABAS, N. RANDALL KOLB

    The treatment of patients who somatize is based on a solid relationship with a single primary care physician. Brief but regular and frequent visits are the foundation of successful management.

    Appropriate Use of Psychotropic Drugs in Nursing Homes

    TATYANA GURVICH, JANET A. CUNNINGHAM

    Federal guidelines specifically limit the indications and dosing for antidepressant, anxiolytic, sedative-hypnotic and antipsychotic medications in residents of long-term care facilities.

    AFP 50 Years Ago

    This feature is part of a year-long series of excerpts and special commentaries celebrating AFP's 50thyear of publication. Excerpts from the two 1950 volumes of GP, AFP's predecessor, appear along with highlights of 50 years of family medicine.

    Inside AFP

    A Focus on Mental Health in 2000

    Janis Wright

    January 2000 ushered in the AAFP's new Annual Clinical Focus (ACF), an educational initiative on mental health. This program, developed in cooperation with the National Institute of Mental Health, American Psychiatric Association, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    Newsletter

    Rosemarie Sweeney, Verna L. Rose

    Selected policy and health issues news briefs from AAFP News Now.

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    Jessica Greene

    Alternative remedies are gaining ground with more than two-thirds of Canadians convinced that natural herbal supplements can be as effective as over-the-counter remedies or even prescription drugs. According to a survey released by Traditional Medicinals, more than 50 percent...

    Editorials

    Early Diagnosis and Empathy in Managing Somatization

    KATHERINE L. MARGO, GEOFFREY M. MARGO

    A two-part article on somatization, one part appearing in this issue of American Family Physician1 and the other appearing in the previous issue,2 examines diagnosis and treatment of this illness in primary care. Somatizing patients have symptoms caused by emotional distress...

    Options and Issues in Managing Menopause

    JANE L. MURRAY

    With the advent of unprecedented numbers of women baby boomers now entering the perimenopausal and menopausal years, family physicians will increasingly be called on to discuss options and issues concerning menopause. Information that is widely available in the popular press,...

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    During the cough and flu season, the treatment of URIs is our bread and butter. Although we see many cases each day, we try not to be lulled into a sense of complacency. Indeed, each patient seems to add a new wrinkle to an age-old problem. Today, a particularly familiar...

    Photo Quiz

    Purple Pubis Syndrome

    MARC S. BERGER, Marc S. Berger, SON VU

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

    Family Practice International

    Family Practice International

    Anne D. Walling

    (Canada—Canadian Family Physician, November 1999, p. 2607.) Best's disease, or vitelliform macular degeneration, is an autosomal dominant disease of the macula. This disorder usually presents in childhood or adolescence as visual distortion or central loss of vision. The...

    Practice Guidelines

    Management of Pain in Sickle Cell Disease

    Monica Preboth

    The American Pain Society (APS) has released a new guideline to aid physicians and other health care professionals in the management of patients with acute and chronic pain associated with sickle cell disease.

    American Thoracic Society Updates Statement on Pulmonary Rehabilitation

    Sharon Morey

    The American Thoracic Society (ATS) has updated its statement on pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic respiratory impairment. The report outlines the scope of pulmonary rehabilitation and provides data on its benefits, patient assessment and the essential...

    Clinical Briefs

    Clinical Briefs

    Monica Preboth

    The Committee on Native American Children and the Committee on Injury and Poison Prevention of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) completed a subject review of the prevention of unintentional injury among American Indian and Alaska Native children. The report appears in...

    Curbside Consultation

    Bending the Rules to Get a Medication

    ROBERT L. DICKMAN

    The scenario described above will become increasingly familiar to most practicing physicians over the next few years. Currently, we are witness to at least 40 million “medically indigent” patients without insurance and the number continues to increase.

    Multimedia Review

    Book Reviews

    ANNA DURKIN, CLARISSA C. KRIPKE

    Also Received

    Letters to the Editor

    Raloxifene Therapy in the Reduction of Fractures

    Use of the Word ‘Accident’ in Injury-Causing Events

    DEB DOYLE

    Tips from Other Journals

    Deaths Associated with Small Children Sleeping in Adult Beds

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Is Lying to Insurance Companies Acceptable?

    BARBARA APGAR

    Alcohol Consumption and Sudden Cardiac Death

    COURTENAY BROOKS

    A Comparison of Treatments for Basal Cell Carcinoma

    BARBARA APGAR

    Obtaining Scalp Cultures in Children with Tinea Capitis

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    No-Scalpel Technique vs. Standard Incision Vasectomy

    KARL E. MILLER

    Hospitalization Admission Criteria for CHF

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Identification of Cancer Risk in Boys with Cryptorchidism

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Should Family Physicians Do Screening Breast Exams?

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Gastric Irritation Effect of COX Inhibitors vs. NSAIDs

    JIM NUOVO

    Effect of Calcium Supplements on Fetal Bone Mineralization

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Treatment of Giant Duodenal Ulcers with Omeprazole

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Diagnosis and Treatment of Nonulcer Dyspepsia

    JIM NUOVO

    Transmission of Hepatitis C Virus Through Breast-Feeding

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Is Genital HPV a Transient Infection in Women?

    KARL E. MILLER

    Treating Anginal Symptoms in Patients with Syndrome X

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Using PSA Testing for Prostatectomy Follow-Up

    KARL E. MILLER

    Using PCR Testing to Diagnose CNS Infections

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Treatment of Helicobacter pylori in Nonulcer Dyspepsia

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Proximal Injection Therapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Respiratory Infections in Children Attending Day Care

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Nephropathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Lower Methotrexate Doses for Rheumatoid Arthritis

    KARL E. MILLER

    Enoxaparin for Prevention of Thromboemboli in Acute Illness

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Does Salmeterol Use Interfere With Emergency Albuterol?

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Water Aerobics Can Alleviate Leg Edema During Pregnancy

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Comparison of Four Nicotine Replacement Treatments

    BARBARA APGAR

    Cholecystitis Is Complicated by Delayed Diagnosis

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Management of Lacerations to Avoid Infection and Scarring

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Osteopathic Manipulation vs. Standard Care for Back Pain

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Testing for Myocardial Recovery After AMI

    KARL E. MILLER

    How to Reduce Blood Loss During Cardiac Surgery

    ANNE D. WALLING

    The Use of Growth Hormone Therapy in Children

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Management of Ingested Coins in Children

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    Ultrasonography in Evaluation of Postmenopausal Bleeding

    BARBARA APGAR

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    How to Get Relief from Chronic Pain

    Pain is what you feel when you've been hurt or have a disease or illness. There are two types of pain: acute and chronic. Acute pain doesn't last long and usually goes away as your body heals. Chronic pain lasts a long time (at least 6 months) after your body has healed....

    Practical Tips for Preventing a Sickle Cell Crisis

    Sickle cell disease is a hereditary problem that causes a type of faulty hemoglobin in red blood cells. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in the blood.

    When You Have Chronic Unexplained Medical Problems

    People with chronic unexplained medical problems may have a condition that is called “somatization.” These people are usually more sensitive than the average person to changes in the way their body works. If you have this condition, you may have pain or other symptoms....

    Depression—You Don't Have to Feel This Way

    When doctors talk about depression, they usually mean major depression. Someone with major depression has symptoms like those listed below nearly every day, all day, for 2 weeks or longer. If you are depressed, you may also have headaches, other aches and pains, digestive...

    Depression: How Medicine Can Help

    Depression is a medical illness like diabetes or high blood pressure. People don't choose to be depressed. They aren't weak or “crazy.” Depression is an illness. It affects about 17 percent of people at some time in their lives. It's twice as common in women as in men.

    Anxiety and Panic—Gaining Control Over Your Feelings

    Anxiety can be a normal “alarm system” alerting you to danger. Imagine coming home and finding a burglar in your home. Your heart beats fast. Your palms get sweaty. Your mind races. In this situation, anxiety can be helpful. It can add an extra spark to help you get out of...

    Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: What It Is and How to Treat It

    Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an illness that traps people in endless cycles of repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions). Although we all have habits and routines that help us organize our daily lives, people with OCD develop patterns of behavior...

    Seasonal Affective Disorder

    Seasonal affective disorder (also called SAD) is a kind of depression that follows the seasons. The most common type of SAD is called winter depression. It usually begins in late fall or early winter and goes away by summer.

    Corrections

    Corrections

    Corrections



    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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