Tag Archives: family physician

Recent medical “pearls”

If a rapid strep test is negative, no back up culture is needed.  It is now known that the rapid strep test for streptococcal pharyngitis has a sensitivity of 86%. This means that it will pick up 86% of active … Continue reading

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There’s now a Pill to Increase Female Libido!

Here are the specifics… There is a once a day pill, flibanserin, which is to be taken daily by women to increase sex drive.  The monthly cost of this drug is $830.  The study of 2375 premenopausal women showed an increase … Continue reading

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Acne… the dreaded teenage rite of passage

Acne is so commonplace … and it makes being a teenager more difficult.  The AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) has new guidelines for acne therapy. The key is that monotherapy is not recommended AND that antibiotics should always be coupled … Continue reading

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Shingles pain relief

There are a “Big Three” of shingles treatment: antivirals, rest, and pain management.  At a recent American Academy of Dermatology meeting treatment of shingles was discussed.  The Big 3 will help halt the progression of the disease and decrease viral … Continue reading

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Stop using nasal flu vaccine

In a stop-the-presses media blast, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee has voted to stop the use of the live attenuated influenza  (nasal flu) vaccine for this 2016-2017 flu season.   The recommendations state that “no live attenuated … Continue reading

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Does chewing gum help after abdominal surgery?

Yes!  Chewing gum reduces the time to the first flatus (first time passing gas) after an abdominal surgery and it decreases the time to the first bowel movement.  Gum has helped these two actions occur sooner so that the patient … Continue reading

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Are you considering an oral appliance for your mild sleep apnea?

The short answer is that the oral appliance used while sleeping may help some symptoms of sleep apnea, but not others. An oral appliance that helps push the lower jaw forward to make more room in the back of the … Continue reading

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Does your sore throat need a throat culture?

Most likely not.  We, physicians, often check to make sure that your sore throat isn’t “strep throat.”   We specifically check for strep as there can be complications if the streptococcus isn’t treated with an antibiotic. The good news is that our rapid … Continue reading

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Does exercise increase miscarriage?

Regular exercise for up to seven or more hours per week is NOT associated with increased rates of miscarriage in the first or second trimester.  Woman can do low or high-intensity exercise including aerobics, jogging, cycling and swimming without risk of … Continue reading

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Cradle cap?!

Oh my!  Many parents bring in their babies with a thick, scaly crust on their head.  This is usually cradle cap.  The fancy (medical) name for this is seborrheic dermatitis.    The scaling, redness, and itching occurs most often on the … Continue reading

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