The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF),a  volunteer group of physicians determines the best practices for the wellness and prevention services that are provided in medical offices around the country.

Testosterone is the male hormone that helps maintain and improve:

• Bone density, thereby preventing osteoporosis

• Fat distribution

• Muscle strength and mass

• Facial and body hair

• Red blood cell production

• Sex drive

• Sperm production

On May 3rd, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Arexvy for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV in adults 60 and older.  This is the first-ever vaccine approved by the FDA for this disease.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a highly respected group of preventive medicine experts, recently updated the recommendations for breast cancer screening in women of average risk of developing breast cancer.

The average woman has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer.  Mammograms, or breast x rays, aid in the early detection of breast cancer, when it’s small, has not spread and is therefore easier to treat successfully.  Some mammograms clearly show abnormal areas needing biopsies, while others reveal uncertain areas that require further imaging, such as with ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).  Fortunately, less than 10 percent of those called back are found to have cancer.

With the COVID-19 public health emergency set to expire on May 11, the AAFP is preparing members for coming changes and working to preserve innovations that have helped family physicians protect their patients and their practices through the pandemic.