Primary Care Reports
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Osteoporosis Review
Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder in which bone density and quality are reduced. Patients experience loss of bone mass, deterioration of bone tissue, and a decline in bone quality, which leads to increased bone fragility and a higher risk of fractures. It is imperative that primary care providers address this challenge by implementing practices to screen patients for onset of osteoporosis to prevent and/or treat the disorder.
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Deciphering Medical Marijuana
The expansion of the sanctioned use of marijuana for recreational and medical purposes has exploded in recent years and warrants a critical appraisal of the primary care physician’s role in providing advice to and counseling patients.
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Common Foot Problems in Primary Care
Foot problems are a common complaint to primary care physicians and often mirror the patient’s general health, such as autoimmune disorders, endocrine disorders, neuropathies, and vasculopathies.
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Lifestyle Modification for the Prevention and Reversal of Cardiovascular Disease
Lifestyle is a critical determinant of the common risk factors for cardiovascular disease (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and smoking) that have been well-known to predict disease outcomes. Lifestyle medicine can be used in conjunction with traditional medications to provide the best care to patients. Clinicians need to act now to prevent being overwhelmed with the eventual increase in coronary artery disease following the obesity/diabetes epidemic.
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Influenza Cases Rising: What Clinicians Need to Know
The burden of influenza is significant. So far in the current 2018-2019 season, about 7 million Americans have been affected, with half of those people seeing a physician. Between 69,000 and 84,000 people have been hospitalized for flu-related illness.
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Insulin Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes: Social, Psychological, and Clinical Factors
The choices for insulin therapy are ever increasing with the development of new products that provide greater flexibility, greater range of effectiveness, lower risk of hypoglycemia, and lower pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variability. These allow for individualization of treatment to match a patient’s daily life but typically at greater cost. This article will review the psychological, social, and clinical factors pertaining to the various insulin products, as well as strategies to initiate and intensify insulin therapy, to help clinicians supplement and enhance their clinical practices in diabetes management.
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Homeopathic Remedies and Dietary Supplements in 2018: Weighing Benefits and Risks
More than half of Americans are using supplements or over-the-counter medications. Practitioners need to understand how their patients are using supplements and be able to provide accurate, factual advice on dietary supplements and homeopathic preparations. This article will evaluate each category for benefits and risks and provide details on how to research each product for available information. In addition, the article will assess various recommendations, including examples in weight loss, energy enhancement, and performance products.
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Evaluation of Hair Loss in a Primary Care Setting
Hair loss is a common complaint for both male and female patients, who often first present to their family physician for evaluation. However, the vast array of underlying etiologies can present a diagnostic challenge for physicians. Reviewing the main principles of hair biology will help provide a better understanding of the basic science behind hair loss. One of the most important steps in patient evaluation is conducting a thorough history and physical exam. This article will discuss key questions to ask, as well as how to interpret exam findings. In general, hair loss is categorized into scarring alopecia, non-scarring alopecia, and structural hair disorders. This article will focus on the most common causes of scarring and non-scarring alopecia that will be encountered in a primary care setting, as well as first-line treatments for each.
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Use of a Low-carbohydrate, Ketogenic Diet to Treat Obesity
Overweight and obesity have reached epidemic proportions in the United States. For individuals affected by obesity, clinical studies have shown that carbohydrate restriction, including a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet, can be a safe and effective treatment. This article includes a narrative review of clinical research studies and a practical description of implementing a “keto” diet for obesity.
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Therapeutic Strategies for Hypertension
This article on hypertension will cover treatments (pharmacological and nonpharmacological), initial therapy, relationship to various disease conditions (diabetes, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease, ischemic stroke, stroke prevention, atrial fibrillation, valvular heart disease, aortic regurgitation, sexual dysfunction), resistant hypertension, hypertensive crises and emergencies, preoperative management, and adherence strategies.