As P4P strategies gain popularity, the need for accurate assessment tools becomes more and more apparent-many physicians support PCP but believe that current measures are inaccurate. A common problem is that physicians appear to be penalized if they treat the elderly or patients who have reduced access to care or drug treatment.
This study was a randomized, controlled trial of 240 adults with metabolic syndrome who were assigned to follow either the single-component dietary recommendation of increased fiber consumption (≥30g/d), or the multi-component American Heart Association (AHA) dietary guidelines. The primary outcome measure was weight loss at 12 months.
A mother brought her 1-year-old daughter to the emergency department and reported that the child had swallowed a coin. She had vomited once without recovery of the coin. The mother said the baby had not been coughing or wheezing and had no respiratory distress, but she refused to eat.
Patients, especially young patients with some of the rarer forms of epilepsy may benefit from taking cannabidiol for their conditions. While based from marijuana plants the medication does not have many of the traits of other forms of medical marijuana.
A recent study conducted of patients with multiple sclerosis showed that a change could be coming in the field. Just as patients said they wanted to be more involved in their choice of treatment options, their healthcare professionals said they encouraged feedback from the patients.
A 51 year-old man with a history of well-controlled hypertension presents to his primary physician's office for an acute care visit with chest discomfort that would come and go.
As part of the overall picture of multiple sclerosis treatment optic neuritis is one of the early stages of the condition. The studies looked at sodium channels that show promise for future multiple sclerosis patients even if it is not in the field.
In last month's Pain Perspectives, I discussed the importance of assessing patients with chronic pain for depression – as it is extremely prevalent in this population and has been found to interfere with physical treatment. This month, we will begin to look at what the primary care physician can do to ensure that their patients with chronic pain have their depression addressed adequately.
A 38 year old female lab technician is seen for "being nervous all the time". She complains of being unable to relax. She relates to you that he has been a "worry wart" for as long as she can remember, always fearing that something is going to go wrong. Although her doctor has told her she is in excellent health, she relates that she sees him frequently for episodic stomach pains and palpitations.
As new medications and agents are developed organizations like the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association update their guidelines on treating a variety of conditions. Recently work was completed to help doctors treating acute coronary syndromes.
Sometimes even the most routine appearing patients can have results on their EKG that that can catch even the most veteran cardiologists off guard. This can be especially true for people who have had relatives suffer an unexpected cardiac fatality.
For patients with schistosomiasis, Oregon State University (OSU) and Universite de Perpignan Via Domitia investigators claimed a species of snail resistant to the disease-causing parasite could provide worthwhile treatments.
This 76-year-old woman presented to clinic with 8 weeks of severe scalp itching. She had previously been treated with emollient lotion, baby oil, a dandruff shampoo containing pyrithione zinc, and hydroxyzine. Her past medical history includes eczema, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, paroxysmal SVT, GERD, and depression. She is retired, volunteers at an elementary school, and does not drink alcohol, smoke tobacco, or use recreational drugs.
Antimicrobial stewardship programs are becoming more popular across the country, particularly in larger facilities. A recent push has worked to extend that effort into small hospitals and outpatient facilities as well.
With primary care physicians treating such a broad spectrum of conditions they also have a number of medications they can prescribe to help their patients. While some of these are more beneficial than others it is important to consider which might be more effective for patients.
A new review of existing research on hypogonadism suggested that testosterone replacement therapy can ameliorate the morbidity associated with renal failure in many men.
Exposure to electromagnetic fields had been recently found to reduce the amount of testosterone men produce, potentially reducing their fertility.
The next step in reducing and preventing neuropathic pain has been identified, according to researchers from UC Davis.
New research indicated adolescents are twice as likely as younger kids to suffer from anaphylaxis and other severe allergic reactions while they are in school.
Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are more likely to experience sudden cardiac death, according to a team of Dutch researchers.
Fluticasone furoate/vilanterol (Breo Ellipta/GlaxoSmithKline and Theravance Inc) approved for the once-daily treatment of asthma in patients aged 18 years and older.
In a multicenter observational study reported April 29 at the Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology Congress 2015, held in Abu Dhabi, researchers examined the relationship between the severity and presence of coronary artery disease in male patients and the number of wives they have. The more wives, the more heart disease.
Sometimes symptoms of CIDP can closely resemble those of other conditions. In light of this it is important for doctors to take a closer look to ensure a proper diagnosis is made.
For patients with Androgenic Alopecia (AGA), Finasteride is a popular treatment option.
Vascular aging may play a substantial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and brachial artery pulse pressure is a well-established marker of vascular aging.
