Frankly Speaking About Family Medicine

Corticosteroids are often prescribed for short-term use for conditions such as asthma exacerbation, contact dermatitis, gout, and Bell’s palsy. Adverse effects from chronic use of corticosteroids is well known, but many clinicians believe that the risk of significant adverse effects from short-term use is minimal. A recent retrospective cohort study was done reviewing the records of 1.5 million adults to assess the adverse effects of treatment with corticosteroids for less than 30 days. Learning Objectives:  Review the conditions for which corticosteroids may be used for short-term treatment Understand the potential risks associated with short-term treatment Understand the magnitude of the potential risks relative to possible benefits

Is Alternate day fasting the future of weight loss?  Maybe not... Learning Objectives Understand how Alternate day fasting is practiced Appreciate why Alternate day fasting might make physiologic sense Review the recent literature on its strengths and weaknesses

When patients present with symptoms of a sore throat, an option for managing the pain  that is sometimes used is corticosteroids. A randomized trial of a 1-time dose of 10 mg in patients with moderate to severe pharyngitis who were deemed to not need antibiotics found higher rates of symptom resolution at 48 hours. Learning Objectives: Understand potential benefits of corticosteroids for treatment of pain of acute pharyngitis Understand limitations of evidence for benefit Understand other options for symptom relief

Sensitive and important conversations with your adolescent population include contraceptive options.  How do long acting reversible contraceptive methods (LARC’s) fit into your conversation?  Let’s discuss a recent review and update your talk! Learning Objectives: Discuss the use of long acting reversible contraceptive methods (LARC’s). Describe the efficacy or LARC’s compared to other birth control methods. Describe communication strategies useful in discussing contraception with adolescents. 

Based upon CDC data of death, narcotic prescription length of less than 5 days provided the best outcomes and the lowest risk of continued narcotic use. Learning Objectives: Understand the scope of the death attributable to narcotics Learn how to prevent a patient from becoming dependent upon opioids Consider methods to wean off opioids and use other proven agents for chronic non-cancerous pain

Oxygen is frequently  given to patients routinely during the initial treatment of a myocardial infarction, but there is a lack of data to support or refute this. A recent systematic review found no benefit in patients who did not have baseline hypoxia. Oxygen therapy continues to be indicated for those with hypoxia and needs to be used with caution in COPD patients with carbon dioxide retention. Learning Objectives Understand the role of oxygen in the management of acute myocardial infarction Understand the potential for harm of unnecessary oxygen therapy

What are your evidence-based strategies for managing acute, subacute and chronic low back pain?  A review of the current American College of Physicians Clinical Practice Guideline can renew your toolkit as you help your patients with back pain maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Learning Objectives Review the latest guidelines on acute, subacute and chronic low back pain (ACP 2/2017) Discuss non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic therapies available to the primary care provider

Most patients who suffer an acute gout attack should be started on urate lowering therapy. It is known that starting urate lowering therapy can itself precipitate a gout attack and concern for not worsening the acute symptoms has been the reason some guidelines recommend waiting until after the acute episode has subsided to start urate lowering therapy. A look at recent data indicates waiting for the acute attack to subside may not be necessary Learning Objectives: Understand the principles of urate lowering therapy for preventing gout attacks Be familiar with the risks and benefits or starting urate lowering therapy during an acute gout attack

In this week's podcast episode, we will review recent literature on ineffectiveness of laxatives and learn about indications for newer agents. 

In this podcast episode, we will discuss current guidelines for a concussion evaluation or work-up as well as return to activity following a concussion. We will also put into context this paper and consider what impact this should have on your practice.

In this podcast episode, we will talk about how systolic hypertension effects outcomes, put into context a recent JACC systematic review paper on the topic and JNC 8 and discuss NNT and NNH.

In this week's podcast episode, we will identify the known health risks of OSA and outcomes of OSA treatment, discuss the new USPSTF screening recommendations on OSA and consider application of the new recommendations, known risks and outcomes of practice.

In this podcast episode, we will consider the rationale for using non-fasting labs to screen for ASCVD as well as review the controversies around their use and talk about the differential diagnosis of hypertriglyceridemia.

In this podcast episode, we will talk about the benefits of alpha antagonists on passing larger kidney stones as well as discuss the need for stone collection and analysis to prevent future stones. We will also learn how to effectively counsel patients about alpha antagonist use including risks and benefits.

In this podcast episode, we consider the premise of overdiagnosis and how it applies to women being screened for breast cancer and highlight ways to mitigate the risks of overdiagnosis of breast cancer.

Objectives: Appreciate the data on different exercise timelines Learn new options when counseling patients for exercise Understand the need to include exercise counseling for most adults

Have a patient with Statin Induced Myalgias? This episode will give you the best evidence on a simple and cost effective solution, and dispel common myths about this problem.

Can peanut allergy be prevented in children? This podcast will review the newest AAP recommendations on feeding in the first year of life, with a special emphasis on preventing atopic disorders. After listening to the podcast, listeners will be able to summarize essential points of current AAP EBP guidelines for introduction of complementary foods to infants and current EBP recommendations for introducing potentially allergenic foods, specifically peanut products, to low risk and high risk infants. 

This episode will build on the previous podcast with a focus on how to apply the management guidelines in Asthma with a focus on critical features to know for board preparation.

This episode will review the basics of asthma diagnosis and management, covering the critical content for both patient management and board preparation.