Polypharmacy results in medication overload for many patients with chronic diseases; it is especially prevalent in the elderly. A recent report from the Lown Institute refers to this as ‘An Epidemic of Too Much Medication.’ We will review the data behind this claim and discuss how clinicians can work to minimize such problems.

This episode will review how to best care for patients who present with respiratory symptoms during the fall and winter.

This session will discuss the latest evidence on concussion occurrence among high school athletes and review return-to play-guidelines and laws. It will also provide a nuanced and realistic discussion of concussion prevention.

The New England Journal of Medicine recently published an evidence-based review of the benefits and harms related to caffeine and coffee consumption.

Achieving a euthymic state can be very challenging for individuals with depression and anxiety. Many people live with residual symptoms even while on anti-depressive medications. Changing pharmacotherapy, escalating doses, and adding medications are common. Join us while we discuss the results of a recent RCT of primary care patients, which demonstrated improved resolution of residual depressive symptoms for those who used a web-based CBT tool as adjunctive therapy.

A recent study highlighted the lack of implementation of the 2017 guidelines for the prevention of peanut allergy in pediatric practices, highlighting the need for more awareness of these strategies in caring for children.

Times are stressful. Recent evidence has shown that stress, anxiety, and depression experienced by pregnant women may have a negative impact on the wellness of the newborn. Stress management is constrained during pregnancy due to concerns that pharmaceutical approaches may be harmful to the baby. Non-pharmaceutical approaches are accessible and safe. Join us as we review recent evidence on the effectiveness of mind-body interventions (MBI) in reducing stress and decreasing depression and anxiety in pregnant women, and discuss how MBI can be incorporated into patient care.

The available evidence on alcohol consumption and its relationship to health is abundant, varied, and often conflicting. The evidence that excessive consumption is associated with poor outcomes is consistent; however, evidence on low-to-moderate alcohol consumption has ranged from poor outcomes to no impact to improved outcomes. Join us while we discuss new evidence that reveals an association between low-to-moderate alcohol use in white middle-to-older aged adults and improved cognition.

Clinical practice guidelines from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommend against routine Pap smears and bimanual exams in adolescents. This recommendation includes those planning on starting oral contraceptives or with possible sexually transmitted diseases. A recent study found nearly half of all such exams in this age group lack indications. While the evidence indicates a new direction, clinicians have been slow to change their practice. Join us as we discuss the reasons for these guidelines and review appropriate indications for these exams.

Rates of electronic cigarettes or vaping in teens has increased exponentially over the last 3 years. Prior to the introduction of the sleek 4th generation vaping device, tobacco use in the teen population was decreasing, and rates were low. Recent evidence indicates that teens with low intention to smoke, once they start vaping, are at increased risk of smoking cigarettes in future. Join us as we discuss the implications of this new evidence on our clinical practice and discuss strategies to reduce risk to adolescents.

The Infectious Disease Society of America in conjunction with the American Thoracic Society have updated their guidelines on diagnosing and treating Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in adults. Recommended changes from the 2007 guidelines include how to address the growing issue of antibiotic resistance. We will review this latest recommendation, focusing on the best approach for outpatient care.

Listen to this Q&A session about special topics on COVID-19 infection, including COVID in pregnancy and pediatric patients