Minnesota medicine
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This article reports on 4 patients who were not properly evaluated in the emergency room when they presented with acute chest pain. All were discharged and eventually died from a ruptured ascending aorta. It calls attention to a serious problem that when mishandled can lead to a fatal outcome.
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Obesity has been recognized as a preventable and treatable disease by medical experts in Minnesota and elsewhere, and there is a growing evidence base showing the efficacy of various clinical strategies for its management. It has been shown that losing as little as 5% to 10% of body weight can help patients improve their glycemic levels, blood pressure, and lipid levels. This article discusses how to recognize obesity, identify patients who are at the greatest risk from complications of the disease, and determine which patients might respond best to certain treatments including behavior modification, diet, exercise, medication, and surgery.