Article
How should you treat the newly diagnosed hypertensive patient?
- Author:
- Gary Debrino, MD
- Michael Grover, DO
- William Nichols, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: IT DEPENDS ON THE PATIENT’S RISK FACTORS, physical condition, and preferences. All hypertensive patients can potentially...
Article
Does heat or cold work better for acute muscle strain?
- Author:
- Sean N. Martin, DO
- Christopher P. Paulson, MD
- William Nichols, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Cryotherapy is better than heat for treating acute muscle strain (strength of recommendation [SOR]: C, consensus, usual...
Article
How much can exercise raise creatine kinase level—and does it matter?
- Author:
- Joshua Latham, DO
- Darren Campbell, MD
- William Nichols, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Moderate-intensity exercise (maintaining heart rate between 55% and 90% of maximum) may elevate creatine kinase (CK) to...
Article
What is the best way to screen for breast cancer in women with implants?
- Author:
- Patricia Goodemote, MD
- Deana Mitchell, DO
- William Nichols, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Mammography is best. It is considered as effective for screening women who have undergone augmentation mammoplasty as those...
Article
Does birth weight predict childhood obesity?
- Author:
- Robert K Persons, DO
- Tristan L. Sevdy, MD, FAAFP
- William Nichols, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Yes. A birth weight greater than 4,000 g is associated with an increased risk of obesity in both childhood and adolescence...
Article
What’s the most effective treatment for giardiasis?
- Author:
- Jeffrey D. Kiser, MD
- Christopher P. Paulson, MD, FAAFP
- William Nichols, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: A single 2-g dose of tinidazole is the best treatment (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, based on meta-analysis). Other...
Article
When should travelers begin malaria prophylaxis?
- Author:
- Steven L. Clark, MD
- Paul Crawford, MD
- William Nichols, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Travelers should start on chloroquine 1 to 2 weeks before entering an area without chloroquine resistance (strength of...
Article
Which nondrug alternatives can help with insomnia?
- Author:
- James D. Whitworth, PhD
- Brian K. Crownover, MD, FAAFP
- William Nichols, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions—particularly stimulus control and sleep hygiene—are well-validated,...
Article
Should we use appetite stimulants for malnourished elderly patients?
- Author:
- Robert K. Persons, DO, FAAP
- William Nichols, MLS
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Probably not. Only 1 appetite stimulate, megestrol acetate oral suspension (Megace) at 400 mg or 800 mg daily, has been...