Controlling hypertension in patients with diabetes.

Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are common diseases in the United States. Patients with diabetes have a much higher rate of hypertension than would be expected in the general population. Regardless of the antihypertensive agent used, a reduction in blood pressure helps to prevent diabetic complications.

Management of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are at high risk for acute exacerbations. Strategies that may prevent exacerbations are smoking cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation, and influenza vaccination. Therapy includes bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and antibiotics.

Effect of pharmaceutical care on optimum colestipol treatment in elderly hypercholesterolemic veterans.

We conducted a prospective trial to determine whether a formal, integrated pharmaceutical care plan can enhance patient acceptance and compliance with colestipol therapy and improve outcomes. Forty patients with hypercholesterolemia were equally divided and assigned to either a usual care or pharmaceutical care group. In the pharmaceutical care group compared with the usual care group, after 52 weeks, colestipol therapy resulted in a greater reduction in total cholesterol (12.