Evaluation of the Asymptomatic Systolic Murmur In the outpatient setting, systolic murmurs are often noted incidentally in otherwise asymptomatic patients. Although many asymptomatic murmurs are due to conditions of no…
Evaluation of Chest Pain The patient who presents with chest pain in the outpatient setting poses a diagnostic challenge. The spectrum of diagnostic possibilities ranges from life-threatening cardiac, pulmonary, and…
Evaluation of Hypertension Hypertension represents one of the most common, yet most eminently treatable of the major cardiovascular risk factors. As such, its detection, evaluation, and treatment are primary care…
Primary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease Primary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) represents one of the most important preventive tasks in primary care, given the prevalence of the condition,…
Prevention of Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease Rheumatic fever and its cardiac complications of carditis and valvular damage are potentially serious consequences of infection with group A β-hemolytic streptococcus…
Infective Endocarditis Prophylaxis Once universally fatal, infective endocarditis remains a serious disease, with a mortality rate of about 25%. The pathogenesis of endocarditis suggests that individual infections might be prevented…
Screening for Hyperlipidemia and Associated Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in American men and women, making identification and treatment of…
Screening for Hypertension Hypertension ranks among the most important of conditions to screen for in adult primary care practice, given its prevalence, ease of detection, associated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality,…
Approach to the Patient with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection Stephen L. Boswell Despite the fact that a cure remains elusive, the management of the patient infected with human immunodeficiency…
Evaluation of Lymphadenopathy Of the nearly 600 lymph nodes throughout the body, only a few are normally palpable, including small nodes in the submandibular, axillary, and inguinal regions. Nevertheless, lymphadenopathy…
