Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has a major impact on patients’ quality of life (QOL) but has often been underestimated by physicians and researchers. In this article, Carol Antequera, MMS, DMSc, PA-C, discusses best practices for managing care and improving QOL for patients with IBS.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a monoclonal disorder characterized by the clonal expansion of small mature-looking CD19+, CD23+, and CD5+ B cells that accumulate in the blood, bone marrow, and lymphoid organs.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a clonal hematopoietic stem cell cancer with diverse clinical presentation and progression, is characterized by overproduction of myeloblasts along with decreased production of red blood cells, platelets, granulocytes, and monocytes.
Obesity is among the most common chronic diseases affecting adults in the United States. Without treatment, obesity worsens and leads to anatomic, metabolic, and psychological complications that significantly impair health and quality of life and shorten life expectancy.
The United States is in the midst of an epidemic of mental illness. Mental disorders, including depressive and anxiety disorders, were one of the leading causes of disability in the United States prior to 2020.
When counseling patients on COVID-19 vaccine decisions, factors to consider include patient age, underlying medical conditions, contraindications, and vaccine availability.
Shared decision-making in plaque psoriasis must address the potential risks and benefits of each treatment option, location and extent of disease, patient preference, and access to care.
By identifying hardships and fears, dispelling myths and misunderstandings, and finding individualized treatment options, we can help patients relieve some of the burdens of chronic disease and improve longevity and quality of life.
Approximately 70% to 80% of women in their reproductive years develop fibroids, which can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, anemia, and poor quality of life.
Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurologic disorder in the United States. Approximately 3.4 million people in the United States have epilepsy.
Adherence to follow-up care in HIV treatment is important for improving health outcomes for people living with HIV and decreasing the number of new HIV infections.
Clinicians need to discuss the types of atrial fibrillation (AF), assessment tools used to designate stroke risk, and best treatment options to prevent stroke when the diagnosis of AF is made.
Dysphagia affects more than half of older patients and often necessitates a change in how oral medications are delivered.
Providers should be prepared to discuss rosacea in patients suspected of having the disease. Early recognition and proper therapy can improve the quality of life of patients with rosacea.
One of the most common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea is excessive daytime sleepiness, which is why it is often confused with narcolepsy.
Effective implementation of HIV prevention strategies begins with appropriate patient-clinician communication, and one of the most important things a nurse practitioner and physician assistant can do is normalize the conversation.
Peripheral artery disease is one of the most underdiagnosed entities in vascular medicine, and clinicians should look for specific patient risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia when screening for this disease.
As dyspareunia may cause distress or interpersonal conflict between women and their partners, healthcare providers should routinely ask about discomfort during intercourse, especially in menopausal patients.
For optimal results, a multifaceted approach should be used for management of patients with atopic dermatitis.
