AFP CLINICAL ANSWERS APRIL, 2026
This is the second article based on information presented the American Family Physician journal’s section titled “Clinical Answers.” The April issue of the journal has five short paragraphs highlighting recommendations for various medical disorders. As presented in the journal, they are intended for physicians who treat these disorders nearly every day so they read like treatment or diagnostic recommendations. However, I will alter them to sound more like choices patients should make to achieve better outcomes. Each of these will be informative for those patients with the disorder mentioned.
Post Exercise Muscle Soreness: Exercise is good for what ails us and is highly recommended. However, a person must suffer consequences when resuming exercise after a period of inactivity, and that is generalized muscle soreness and aching that starts the same day or next. To prevent muscle soreness and ache, immersing oneself in a tub of ice water, for 10-15 minutes, immediately after exercise can delay the onset or lessen the severity of symptoms. The challenge is finding a big enough tub and enough ice to immerse your whole body.
HIV Testing in Post-Menopausal Women: All women under age 65 should be tested for HIV infection “at least once.” This is probably an often-ignored recommendation and is highly influenced by the patient’s lifestyle and sexual habits.
Opioid Use Disorder Treatment is Helpful: Buprenorphine (Suboxone) should be taken for at least one year by patients with opioid use disorder, and may be taken safely for an indefinite length of time as long as it is helping. It is a lesser-addicting, safer drug to lessen opioid dependence.
NO, To Albuterol for Acute Bronchitis: If you’re being treated for acute bronchitis, you do not need to use the bronchodilator albuterol, unless asthma, COPD, or wheezing and reduced expiratory volume are also present.
Nasal Foreign Bodies: Kids put foreign objects in their noses far too often. Why they do that is unknown, but it can be both accidental and intentional. The family doctor is often the first medical professional the child sees for this because parents frequently don’t know Johnny has put something in there! So it is the FP who gets first crack at removing the object. The first technique involves closing off the unaffected nostril and then asking Johnny to forcefully blow out through the blocked side. This will usually remove the FB, but if it doesn’t, the experts say your FP is capable and qualified to try removal of the FB with an instrument. Two attempts are permitted before referring the child to an ENT doctor.
From here on, I plan to report from this reference every month. It provides simplified recommendations that patients can use to improve treatments.
Reference: AFP Clinical Answers Am Fam Phys 2026 April;113(4):312.
