Sleep Disorders

A 34-year-old woman complains of headaches that interfere with work. Her first headache episode, approximately 6 yearsearlier, was relatively mild. Initially, she experienced attacks only once every 3 to 4 months and managed them effectivelywith over-the-counter (OTC) agents. However, in the last 6 months the attacks have become more frequent-they occur atleast twice a month-and are so severe that she misses work.

ABSTRACT: The most common errors in measuring blood pressure (BP) are using the incorrect cuff size, not having the patient relax for 5 minutes before the measurement, and deflating the cuff too quickly. Observer bias may compound technical errors. When patients use the proper procedure, home BP measurements may be more reproducible than office measurements. Brachial artery-based monitors are more accurate than finger- or wrist-based instruments. To ensure that patients measure their BP correctly, observe their technique with their own monitors. Counsel patients to measure their BP at predetermined times and to have their monitors validated periodically.

The diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA) is primarily clinical. Key historical clues to idiopathic OA include patient age greater than 45 years, joint pain that increases with activity and is relieved with rest, morning stiffness of 30 minutes duration or less, and involvement of one or more of the following: hips, knees, cervical or lumbar spine, basilar thumb joints, interphalangeal joints of the hands, midfoot joints, and first metatarsophalangeal joints.

ABSTRACT: Topical agents can provide temporary relief from osteoarthritis symptoms with little or no risk. Acetaminophen is first-line oral therapy. Be alert for risk factors for NSAID-induced GI toxicity, such as concurrent use of prescription and OTC agents. Tramadol, narcotic analgesics, muscle relaxants, and antidepressants are options when NSAIDs are ineffective or contraindicated. Intra-articular injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronan are appropriate for patients who have a single joint exacerbation. Total knee and total hip arthroplasty are considered the most effective surgical interventions.

ABSTRACT: The main therapeutic goals for patients who have an acute coronary syndrome are to reestablish normal epicardial flow and to increase distal myocardial perfusion. Fibrinolytic treatment with tissue plasminogen activator within 70 minutes of the onset of symptoms dramatically reduces the mortality rate from myocardial infarction. Other fibrinolytic agents include reteplase, which is given as a double bolus, and tenecteplase, which is given as a single bolus. In most hospitals, fibrinolytic therapy is more readily available than percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA); however, PTCA may be the preferred approach if it is available within an hour and a half. Antiplatelet drugs, such as glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists, are used to improve distal myocardial perfusion. If follow-up coronary angiography is not available to assess whether epicardial blood flow and distal myocardial perfusion have been restored, a 12-lead ECG can provide valuable information. The resolution of ST-segment abnormalities is a marker for improved perfusion.

ABSTRACT: Unless the cause of back pain is obvious, order anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the spine, a complete blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and urinalysis. If you suspect infection, tumor, or bony abnormalities, obtain an MRI or CT scan. MRI has surpassed bone scanning as the gold standard for diagnosing spinal infections, because it confirms a specific anatomic diagnosis. Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis are 2 of the most common causes of back pain in adolescents; the diagnosis is made with plain radiographs, which show slippage on the later-al view in patients with spondylolisthesis and fracture through the pars interarticularis on the oblique views in those with spondylolysis.

ABSTRACT: Patients can greatly reduce the risk of traveler's diarrhea by drinking only bottled water and eating only hot foods prepared in sanitary conditions or peelable fruits and vegetables. Antibiotic prophylaxis for traveler's diarrhea is no longer routinely recommended; reserve it for patients who may have to consume food and beverages of questionable safety, those with reduced immunity, and those likely to experience serious consequences of illness. Adequate hydration is the first step in treating traveler's diarrhea. Drug therapy-loperamide or fluoroquinolones in adults and bismuth subsalicylate or azithromycin in children-can ameliorate symptoms and speed recovery. Recommend that patients who are prone to motion sickness take an antiemetic/antivertigo agent before symptoms begin. Acetazolamide can be used both to prevent and to treat altitude sickness. Contraindications to air travel include a resting oxygen saturation of less than 90%, pregnancy of more than 36 weeks' duration, pneumothorax, recent myocardial infarction or chest or abdominal surgery, active infectious diseases, and poorly controlled seizures or sickle cell anemia.

ABSTRACT: A thorough history and physical examination can establish the diagnosis of tension headache; further evaluation is generally unnecessary. In contrast, the workup of cervicogenic headache includes standard radiographs, 3-dimensional CT, MRI, and possibly electromyography; nerve blocks may also be used to confirm the diagnosis. Episodic tension headache can be treated effectively by trigger avoidance, behavioral modalities, and structured use of analgesics. Reserve opioids for patients with intractable headaches. Chronic tension headache is treated primarily by prophylactic measures, such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants, and behavioral and physical therapy. Treatment options for cervicogenic headache include analgesics; invasive procedures, such as trigger point injections, greater or lesser occipital nerve blocks, facet joint blocks, segmental nerve root blocks, and diskography; spinal manipulation; and behavioral approaches.

Persistent pain is common in older adults but tends to be underrecognized and undertreated. Up to 50% of community-dwelling older persons have significant painand up to 80% of nursing home residents have substantial pain that is undertreated.

A 12-year-old boy with a history of atopy complained of pruritus and severe dryness of the hands. Over-the-counter moisturizers failed to resolve the condition. The patient did not wash his hands frequently and had no hobbies that exposed him to environmental irritants or allergens.

Approximately 2 weeks earlier, a pruritic,papular eruption had developed overthe abdomen of a 33-year-old womanwho was 34 weeks' pregnant. Therash was confined mainly to the striaedistensae (Figure 3). Because thesite was severely pruritic, the patientwas unable to sleep. Based on theclinical presentation, pruritic urticarialpapules and plaques of pregnancy(PUPPP) was diagnosed.

Many of my older women patients think theyare at much higher risk for breast cancer thancoronary heart disease (CHD). How can we raise women'sawareness about their risks of CHD and therebyencourage them to take measures to prevent it?

ABSTRACT: A focused history taking and physical examination directed toward uncovering signs that suggest a serious underlying cause of low back pain are crucial. "Red flags" include pain that lasts more than 6 weeks; pain in persons younger than 18 years or older than 50 years; pain that radiates below the knee; a history of major trauma; poor rectal tone; constitutional symptoms; atypical pain (eg, that which occurs at night or that is unrelenting); the presence of a severe or rapidly progressive neurologic deficit; and a history of malignancy. These markers provide a cost-effective means of guiding your selection of laboratory and diagnostic imaging studies.

Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) improves both the length and qualityof life of hypoxemic patients with COPD. It is the only therapy thatclearly increases survival for selected patients with advanced stable COPD.

For 3 days, a 36-year-old woman has had a painful rash on the dominant lefthand. She had noticed a tingling sensation before the lesions erupted. Thepatient is otherwise healthy and takes no medications. She is a teacher.

Q:Many of my patients appear to have white-coathypertension: their pressure is elevated whenmeasured in my office-but normal when measured athome. Am I ignoring significant hypertension if I do nottreat these patients? Or am I overtreating if I do treat?

Over the past 20 years, obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and throughout the world. The need for effective prevention and treatment is thus more urgent than ever.

The extent of mucosal or transmural intestinal necrosis varies. Pneumatosis progresses from the submucosa through the muscular layer to the subserosa. The distal ileum and proximal colon are most frequently involved.