If you’re having heart issues, you may be concerned—and you may have many questions. Depending on what your symptoms are, your doctor may recommend heart valve surgery. In that case, take the time to gather all the information that you can.

How Do the Valves Work?

When your heart is functioning properly, blood flows through valves to reach the chambers of your heart. It also flows out of your heart through valves to reach your arteries. There are four valves: aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonary.

Problems occur when the valves do not work correctly. For instance, if a valve becomes loose or torn, it won’t close all the way, and the blood leaks backwards. This is known as regurgitation. Or a valve may have become hardened and stiff, which prevents it from opening all the way. This is called stenosis, which results in restricted blood flow. In either case, the heart has to work harder to pump the same amount of blood.

When Is Surgery Needed?

There are many reasons why your doctor may think that heart valve surgery is the best option:

• You’re experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting spells.
• According to test results, your valve function is causing heart failure.
• One of your heart valves has been damaged by infection.
• You’ve had a heart valve replaced before, and it is not working well.
• You’re having open-heart surgery, and your doctor wants to replace or repair a valve at the same time.

During the operation, a valve may be repaired. This means the valve is shortened, tightened, or made stronger. A valve may also be replaced with a prosthetic valve. The prosthetic valves are either mechanical (made of metal and other manmade materials) or biological (taken from pig, cow, or human donors).

What Are the Risks?

As with any surgery, it’s important that you consider the side effects before agreeing to the procedure. The risks for heart valve surgery can include the following:

• Adverse reactions to anesthesia
• Blood clots that can form and spread to the lungs
• Infection
• Heart attack
• Irregular heart beat
• Kidney failure
• Stroke

Your doctor can give you blood-thinning medication to avoid blood clots, and you can also take antibiotics to avoid infection. The other risks listed are primarily quite rare.

What Are the Benefits?

As worrisome as the risks may sound, the success rate for heart valve surgery is very high. The procedure can alleviate your symptoms and help you live a longer life.

To learn more about heart valve surgery and how it can help you, contact JFK Medical Center. Visit us online or call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-800-616-1927. We’re here to help make your heart a healthy one.

SOURCES
University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine
National Institutes of Health

Some will tell you that the best way to man’s heart is through his stomach. Ask your cardiologist and he might tell you that the best way is actually through cardiac catheterization. We all know that the heart is one of the most important organs in the body so having a healthy heart should be a part of everyone’s wellness plan. Cardiac catheterizations are one of the ways that doctors can get a better idea about how the heart is performing and find out if there are any potential problems that need to be addressed.

During a cardiac catheterization, doctors locate a vein in either the patient’s arm or leg. They insert a plastic catheter, which is in essence a tube, into the vein and use a camera that is in the catheter to guide it to the heart. Once the catheter is in place, doctors are able to test for multiple cardiac functions and get a solid picture of how healthy the patient’s heart is. This is done by injecting a dye into the bloodstream. Doctors can watch how the dye progresses through the heart and make some useful, and often life-saving, conclusions.

Cardiac Catheterization helps

• Detect disease in the heart muscle, heart valves and aorta
• Determine how well the heart and heart valves are pumping blood
• Determine whether a patient may need a more extensive cardiac procedure
• Show that a birth defect in the heart that should be addressed exists

Although this procedure might sound a little daunting, do not worry. Physicians have been performing variations of today’s procedure since 1929. As technology in general has advanced, the safety of cardiac catheterization has improved. Recent studies have shown that the risk of serious complications developing as a result of the procedure is at 2%. That meant that 98% of the time there are no major problems. Today, the process involves anesthetic to control any pain that the patient may experience. Fluids are also provided intravenously to keep the patient stable. Medical experts keep an eye on how the patient’s body is doing by way of monitoring heart functions through an EKG and a pulse oximeter. The EKG records the electrical activity of the heart and the pulse oximeter reports pulse and blood oxygen levels. In addition to technology, patients have experienced cardiologists, general practitioners and nurses present to monitor their well being.

Knowing what is going on in the body is one of the best ways to prevent trouble down the road. Medical tools such as cardiac catheterization provide doctors with knowledge of exactly what is going on in the body. This knowledge allows them to provide the best diagnoses for their patients. If your doctor recommends the procedure for you or a family member, it will be one of the best was to get accurate information about the condition of the heart.

If you would like to know more about cardiac catheterization, visit JFK Medical Center online. We host one of the most comprehensive cardiac catheterization centers in South Florida. If you have any other medical questions, call our Consult-A-Nurse® hotline at 1-866-4-HCA-DOCS.

Your neck no longer aches, and you can finally twist from side to side again. You feel like a new person, and you think your physical therapist has superhuman powers. In fact, those “powers” are evolving every day.

You know that physical therapy can help you alleviate pain and regain movement, but what are the other advantages? As technology changes, physical therapy offers more options, which can benefit more people.

• Premature babies. When babies are born early, they may experience developmental delays. So physical therapists are now getting involved in infants’ lives right away. They provide education to the families and work with the babies to stay on track.

• Pain sufferers. Often it’s hard to put weight on a painful joint, so water therapy may be the answer. By exercising in water, patients can strengthen muscles with resistance, without feeling the pressure.

• Cancer patients. During and after cancer treatment, patients can benefit from physical therapy. Exercises can help maintain mobility and flexibility, while massage can help reduce stress and pain.

• Stroke victims. After a stroke, many people can’t move certain muscles, so physical therapists might use electrical stimulation. Sending a low electrical current through the patient’s body can help tone muscles and prevent pain.

• Victims of vertigo. Some people can feel as though everything is spinning, even though all is perfectly still. To target this problem, physical therapists can use vestibular rehabilitation. This process helps the inner ear better react to changes in the body’s position.

• Older patients. When people age, they can suffer from injury and disease, which can lead to pain and reduced range of motion. Physical therapy techniques are improving to combat those issues and help patients prevent bone loss, falls, and other health problems.

If you have questions about how physical therapy could improve your health, contact Columbia Hospital. Visit us online or call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-888-256-7694.You never know what new treatments are being developed each day.

The overall health of your heart is one of the most important health factors to consider. The heart regulates blood flow which is necessary to life. Improper circulation can cause a wide variety of health problems, so keeping the heart healthy should be on the top of your list of health goals.

Aerobic exercise is most important for increasing cardiovascular health. The word aerobic means “oxygen producing”. Oxygen is important because blood pumps oxygen throughout your body. Aerobic exercise is any kind of activity where you move around for an extended period of time. Three to four thirty minute periods of aerobic exercise per week should suffice for the aerobic portion of your exercise plan. (We will discuss anaerobic exercise at a different time) There are many things that you can do to get aerobic exercise, so there is something that everyone will enjoy.

• Jogging
• Hiking
• Bike Riding
• Swimming
• Playing Basketball
• Dancing

Aerobic exercise is great for your heart. It increases the rate at which your heart beats, making the heart muscle itself stronger. The stronger your heart, the better your overall health. In fact, studies have shown that

• A physically active person’s heart can pump the same amount of blood in 45 to 50 beats as an inactive person’s heart can do in 70 to 75 beats. That’s an incredible difference!
• Men who are the least fit are actually more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than active men who smoke. Considering smoking is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, this statistic speaks for itself.

Exercise is one of the best things you can do to improve and maintain the health of your heart. It directly lowers blood pressure and reduces your risk of heart disease. It also helps those who are overweight slim down. The more you weigh, the harder your heart has to work to pump blood throughout your body. Fat is unnecessary body mass that causes unnecessary strain on your heart.

Be sure to be careful when you exercise. While the rewards for your heart, and the rest of your body for that matter, are great you don’t want to overdo it. Follow these steps when exercising:

• Warm Up- Stretch thoroughly and begin with mild activity. It is important to get your heart rate up to speed slowly. Starting too quickly can lead to cramps and poor overall exercise.
• Exercise- This part is fairly obvious. It is when you are running, swimming or taking part in your aerobic exercise of choice. This is when your heart and body actually receive the benefits of your chosen activity.
• Cool Down- After a workout, you need to bring your heart rate back to normal. Reduce the intensity of your exercise without completely stopping. This will help your heart return to a normal pace and is the best way to finish an aerobic workout.

If you have any questions about heart health or exercise, visit JFK Medical center online or call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-866-4-HCA-DOCS.

Heart disease – also referred to as cardiovascular disease – is called a silent killer because there are no symptoms. Many people learn they have it only after they develop chest or head pain – or worse.

According to the American Heart Association, most instances of cardiovascular disease are related to atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of a fatty material called plaque in the arteries. Over time, atherosclerosis can narrow or completely block arteries that feed blood to the heart and brain. If a clot forms in these arteries, it can trigger a stroke or a heart attack.

Other forms of cardiovascular disease include heart failure, in which the heart is pumping but the body isn’t getting the oxygenated blood it needs; arrhythmia, a disorder characterized by the heart pumping too fast or too slowly; and stenosis, a condition where the heart’s valves do not close as they should, so blood doesn’t move through them properly.

Finding answers

The Heart and Vascular Care center at JFK has been diagnosing and treating heart disease for over 20 years. The following tests are among those used to identify cardiovascular disease:

• Electrocardiography: Also called ECG or EKG. Records the electric activity in the heart.
• Echocardiography: Uses ultrasound waves to create images of the heart’s structures, including chambers and valves.
• Holter monitor: This is a portable electrocardiograph machine worn by a patient over a 24-hour period. The patient takes notes about their general health and these are compared with the data collected by the machine.
• Stress testing: The most widely used heart screening procedure, the patient’s heart rate, blood pressure and breathing are monitored as they increase their speed on a treadmill.
• Cardiac catheterization: A thin plastic tube is threaded from a groin artery into the coronary arteries or the heart itself, and images are taken to confirm narrowing or blockage of the arteries.

JFK Medical Center also offers a non-invasive AngioScreen^® ultrasound procedure that can identify narrowed or blocked arteries in the neck and legs, which increases a person’s risk of stroke. The screening is quick – about 15 minutes – and you may remain in your street clothes.

Heart treatment options

When diagnostic tests are completed and the results analyzed, the patient’s physician will determine a treatment plan. Depending on the patient’s condition, initial treatment may consist of diet and exercise adjustments, medication and monitoring.

However, if the patient’s cardiovascular disease is more advanced, a cardiologist will likely recommend cardiac catheterization to treat narrowed or blocked coronary arteries, or open heart surgery to correct defects.

Catheterization is the use of a thin plastic tube inserted into a groin artery and threaded into the coronary arteries or the heart itself.

This minimally-invasive procedure can be used as a diagnostic tool to find narrowed or blocked arteries. It can also be used to insert a stent (mesh tube) into narrowed and weakened coronary arteries to strengthen them; to remove clots; and to push arterial plaque back against the arteries using an inflatable balloon at the tip of the catheter.

Finding out you have cardiovascular disease can make you anxious. But the caring and skilled physicians, nurses and support staff at JFK Medical Center will help put you back on the road to good health.

If you would like a referral for a cardiologist, contact Consult-A-Nurse^® at 1-888-256-7723, or visit JFK Medical Center online.

When accidents happen or severe medical conditions arise, the life-saving efforts of your local Emergency Medical Service are invaluable. The term Emergency Medical Service, refers to a coordinated group of professionals. EMTs and ambulances are a huge part of this life saving network, but they are not the only ones involved.

The service starts when the first responder (who may have medical background or may be a police officer, fire fighter, family member or good Samaritan) contacts a dispatch unit that send medically trained personnel to the scene. It ends at the hospital, after the patient has been delivered and the personnel have given pertinent information to the hospital’s medical staff. The local EMS is a vital link between emergency patients and the medical care that they vitally need at the hospital.

Who’s on the EMS Team?

Many people work to save patients. Some of the positions in the EMS network are:

· Dispatchers- These personnel are at a central location. They manage the communication efforts between the first responder, the response team and even the hospitals. They must understand how to question a potentially distressed caller in order to assess the situation offsite, in order to dispatch the correct onsite personnel. They must gage the seriousness of the injury and send help accordingly. They brief onsite personnel to prepare them as they race to the scene.

· Ambulance Driver- This position requires the skills in not only driving, but communication between dispatch and the hospital in addition to having the medical training to assist with injured patients. Drivers are often cross trained and may serve more than one purpose.

· Ambulance Care Assistant( Or EMT Basic)- This position works directly with patients under EMTs. They assist in moving patients and backing up the EMTs. They work at accident scenes, in the ambulance and upon arrival at the hospital to save lives.

· Paramedic(Or EMT Advanced)- This position represents the most advanced level of onsite responders. An advanced EMT is in a position to administer medications, start IV’s, and assess the patient’s situation. These responders will communicate with doctors and emergency room staff about the state of the patient.

Why are EMS Staff Important?

For hospitals and other medical facilities, it is increasingly important to have sound working relationships with multiple EMS providers. They are our patients’ first lifeline. Their services save lives and prepare patients to be received by the hospital. Their actions can stop or minimize damage that may otherwise occur as time passes between injury and arriving at the hospital. They collect valuable information about the patients, their current condition and their medical history that the doctors at the hospital require. If you are ever in a position in which you are being assisted by such personnel, we advise that you cooperate fully as their efforts support ours. EMS workers are our allies in the field.

For people with cancer tumors in places that are hard to reach, or whose health is so poor that surgery is not an option, the prognosis can be grim. This is especially true if their cancer is at an advanced stage when it is discovered, or has recurred after prior treatment.

But an innovative weapon in the battle against cancers once considered inoperable is helping doctors save patients – while sparing them the side effects and complications that can follow traditional cancer treatments. And it’s available right here at JFK Medical Center.

The kindest cut?

It’s called the CyberKnife^®, and it’s a non-invasive, robotic system that delivers precise doses of radiation to kill cancerous and non-cancerous tumors in difficult-to-reach parts of the body, or close to vital organs. With CyberKnife, there are no after-effects, as there often are with chemotherapy, or a need for recovery time, as there is with regular surgery.

CyberKnife sessions take from one to two hours, and are done daily for no more than a few days. Patients wear their normal clothing, can listen to music, and depart with only a little tiredness, if anything. Best of all, they can return to their homes and continue to participate in their usual activities.

With a CyberKnife system, physicians have the technology to attack tumors of the lung, spine, brain, prostate, pancreas, liver and kidneys with targeted doses of radiation. It has proven to be highly effective in reducing the size of, or eliminating, tumors.

(See a video of how the CyberKnife operates.)

How it works

Depending on the type of tumor, a body mold or, in the case of a brain tumor, a mask is made. This helps keep the patient as still as possible during the CyberKnife sessions.

A CT scan is taken of the area to be treated, to help physicians pinpoint exactly where the CyberKnife will be aimed. The scan provides an exact shape, size and location of the tumor. The CyberKnife software is then programmed so the robot delivers the designated number of radiation pulses, the strength of the pulses, and the direction they will be aimed. (The patient may or may not have the treatment the same day as the preparations.)

Patients wear street clothes, but cannot wear jewelry. They may bring reading material, a CD to listen to, and a bottle of water. Many people say that they are pleasantly surprised at how easy the CyberKnife procedure is, and how comfortable they are while it’s taking place.

(Hear a CyberKnife patient tell her story in this video.)

Weighing the options

Some patients choose CyberKnife after standard cancer treatments have not worked. Others have had successful treatment, but their cancer has come back.

Then there are men and women who simply do not wish to undergo any more invasive procedures. Some of them found CyberKnife when researching the remaining treatment options available to them.

Here are some common questions people ask about CyberKnife.

If you or someone you love, or a friend, neighbor or coworker, has a cancerous or non-cancerous tumor that has been diagnosed as inoperable, the CyberKnife could be the answer.

You can talk to someone at JFK Medical Center about this promising, non-invasive technology, or receive a physician referral, by contacting Consult-A-Nurse^® at 1-866-4-HCA-DOCS, or you may visit us online.

The following is a Q & A with Dr. Edgard Pereira, a specialist in neurointerventional surgery and interventional radiology at JFK Medical Center.

Q: What is an interventional neurologist? What kind of training or background is required?

A: An interventional neurologist is a specialist who treats neurological diseases using catheters and x-ray imaging. It requires many years of training after medical school. It takes four years of residency in Neurology, then two to three years in critical care neurology and/or vascular neurology, then two years in a neurointerventional fellowship.

Q: What kinds of conditions do interventional neurologists treat?

A: The neurointerventionalist treats many diseases, such as brain aneurysms, brain and spinal cord vascular malformations, facial vascular malformation, brain and spine tumors, acute stroke, and carotid and cerebral artery blockages. He also treats spine fractures with kyphoplasty.

Q: What’s the most common condition you treat? How can patients prevent developing this condition?

A: The most common conditions treated are brain aneurysms and vascular malformations, acute stroke that cannot be treated with IV clot busters, and carotid artery blockage. Many of these conditions have risk factures for their development. Atherosclerosis plaque, for instance, is closely related to high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and use of tobacco. A healthy diet consisting of vegetables, fruits and plenty of water, regular daily exercise, and avoiding consumption of alcohol should be everybody’s goal. Needless to say, avoiding use of tobacco is a must. Also, if there is a close relative such as a sibling or parent who has suffered from a brain aneurysm, one should have a screen MRI/MRA or CAT scan.

Q: Neurointervention uses thin tubes called catheters to treat patients. What are the advantages of this kind of procedure? What were previous treatment options?

A: One of the main advantages is that this is a minimally invasive approach to a variety of conditions. For instance, someone who has a brain aneurysm can be treated through a small skin cut at the groin, be sent home the very next morning and return to work in the next day or so. Many of the neurointerventional techniques offer treatment that would not be possible otherwise, or would carry a high risk of terrible complications. Take, as an example, someone with a stroke caused by a blood clot blocking a major brain artery. Even with medications to dissolve the blood clot, many stroke patients continue with the blockage. In those cases, we have now special catheters and devices that allow the interventional neurologist to re-open the blocked artery and re-establish blood flow, preventing the progression of or reversing the stroke. In the past, large brain aneurysms that can now be treated successfully with special glue or stents would require extensive open surgery, or even permanent occlusion of a brain artery.

Q: What is the connection between heart health and neurological conditions like stroke and aneurysm?

A: High blood pressure, high intake of alcohol and consumption of tobacco are not only risk factors for heart attack, but also for stroke. Many patients with irregular heartbeat and myocardial infarction are also at high risk for stroke. Some diseases of the blood vessels may also predispose one to the development of brain aneurysms.

Q: After neurointerventional surgery, how quickly—and to what extent—do patients recover?

A: In most cases, he or she can be discharged home the next day, and return to his or her normal activities one or two days later. Some patients with stroke may require some weeks of rehabilitation, depending on their initial condition.

Q: How have these neurointerventions changed the prognosis for patients with spinal injuries and illnesses (e.g., spinal tumors)?

A: Many conditions that in the past could not be effectively treated by open surgery, or had no surgical option, can be now managed by neurointerventional techniques. For being less invasive, neuroinervention offers a faster and more complete recovery.

Q: What’s one thing that you wish patients knew before they came to see you?

A: He or she should look for information on the Internet; and discuss it with his or her primary care provider or with friends, so the expectations are based on rational grounds.

Q: Please share a patient story, where neurointerventional surgery significantly improved the patient’s prognosis, quality of life, etc.

A: I once treated a young woman post-partum (following delivery of a baby),who came to our emergency room in a coma because of a massive stroke. She arrived within a few hours of the stroke’s onset. She was immediately placed in the angio room and had a catheterization, which showed a blockage of a main artery in the back of her brain. A device called Merci, like a corkscrew, was then used to remove the blood clot and re-open her artery. This girl was sent home with her newborn a few days later, and she was completely normal.

Q: Why did you choose to go into this field?

A: I always believe in cutting-edge medicine to help my patients, and I believe that minimally-invasive procedures are the future of surgery. About 20 years ago, I foresaw that procedures used by cardiologists, such as stents, could be used in the brain to treat patients with stroke. I remember being criticized when I became one of the first neurologists in the U.S. trained in neurointervention. This is a wonderful specialty, full of rewards that give me tremendous professional and personal satisfaction.

Q: Any other details or information you’d like to share?

A: Visit the website of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) and view this video.

Dr. Pereira and the other members of the JFK Medical Center Neurosciences team are committed to helping patients with illness or disorders of the central nervous system. They employ traditional and surgical techniques, and non-surgical procedures such as catheterization and imaging.

To learn more about the neuroscience options here, or to get a referral for a physician, contact Consult-A-Nurse at 1-561-548-DOCS, or visit JFK Medical Center online.

The following is a Q & A with Dr. Edgard Pereira, a specialist in neurointerventional surgery and interventional radiology at JFK Medical Center.

Q: What is an interventional neurologist? What kind of training or background is required?

A: An interventional neurologist is a specialist who treats neurological diseases using catheters and x-ray imaging. It requires many years of training after medical school. It takes four years of residency in Neurology, then two to three years in critical care neurology and/or vascular neurology, then two years in a neurointerventional fellowship.

Q: What kinds of conditions do interventional neurologists treat?

A: The neurointerventionalist treats many diseases, such as brain aneurysms, brain and spinal cord vascular malformations, facial vascular malformation, brain and spine tumors, acute stroke, and carotid and cerebral artery blockages. He also treats spine fractures with kyphoplasty.

Q: What’s the most common condition you treat? How can patients prevent developing this condition?

A: The most common conditions treated are brain aneurysms and vascular malformations, acute stroke that cannot be treated with IV clot busters, and carotid artery blockage. Many of these conditions have risk factures for their development. Atherosclerosis plaque, for instance, is closely related to high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and use of tobacco. A healthy diet consisting of vegetables, fruits and plenty of water, regular daily exercise, and avoiding consumption of alcohol should be everybody’s goal. Needless to say, avoiding use of tobacco is a must. Also, if there is a close relative such as a sibling or parent who has suffered from a brain aneurysm, one should have a screen MRI/MRA or CAT scan.

Q: Neurointervention uses thin tubes called catheters to treat patients. What are the advantages of this kind of procedure? What were previous treatment options?

A: One of the main advantages is that this is a minimally invasive approach to a variety of conditions. For instance, someone who has a brain aneurysm can be treated through a small skin cut at the groin, be sent home the very next morning and return to work in the next day or so. Many of the neurointerventional techniques offer treatment that would not be possible otherwise, or would carry a high risk of terrible complications. Take, as an example, someone with a stroke caused by a blood clot blocking a major brain artery. Even with medications to dissolve the blood clot, many stroke patients continue with the blockage. In those cases, we have now special catheters and devices that allow the interventional neurologist to re-open the blocked artery and re-establish blood flow, preventing the progression of or reversing the stroke. In the past, large brain aneurysms that can now be treated successfully with special glue or stents would require extensive open surgery, or even permanent occlusion of a brain artery.

Q: What is the connection between heart health and neurological conditions like stroke and aneurysm?

A: High blood pressure, high intake of alcohol and consumption of tobacco are not only risk factors for heart attack, but also for stroke. Many patients with irregular heartbeat and myocardial infarction are also at high risk for stroke. Some diseases of the blood vessels may also predispose one to the development of brain aneurysms.

Q: After neurointerventional surgery, how quickly—and to what extent—do patients recover?

A: In most cases, he or she can be discharged home the next day, and return to his or her normal activities one or two days later. Some patients with stroke may require some weeks of rehabilitation, depending on their initial condition.

Q: How have these neurointerventions changed the prognosis for patients with spinal injuries and illnesses (e.g., spinal tumors)?

A: Many conditions that in the past could not be effectively treated by open surgery, or had no surgical option, can be now managed by neurointerventional techniques. For being less invasive, neuroinervention offers a faster and more complete recovery.

Q: What’s one thing that you wish patients knew before they came to see you?

A: He or she should look for information on the Internet; and discuss it with his or her primary care provider or with friends, so the expectations are based on rational grounds.

Q: Please share a patient story, where neurointerventional surgery significantly improved the patient’s prognosis, quality of life, etc.

A: I once treated a young woman post-partum (following delivery of a baby),who came to our emergency room in a coma because of a massive stroke. She arrived within a few hours of the stroke’s onset. She was immediately placed in the angio room and had a catheterization, which showed a blockage of a main artery in the back of her brain. A device called Merci, like a corkscrew, was then used to remove the blood clot and re-open her artery. This girl was sent home with her newborn a few days later, and she was completely normal.

Q: Why did you choose to go into this field?

A: I always believe in cutting-edge medicine to help my patients, and I believe that minimally-invasive procedures are the future of surgery. About 20 years ago, I foresaw that procedures used by cardiologists, such as stents, could be used in the brain to treat patients with stroke. I remember being criticized when I became one of the first neurologists in the U.S. trained in neurointervention. This is a wonderful specialty, full of rewards that give me tremendous professional and personal satisfaction.

Q: Any other details or information you’d like to share?

A: Visit the website of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) and view this video.

Dr. Pereira and the other members of the JFK Medical Center Neurosciences team are committed to helping patients with illness or disorders of the central nervous system. They employ traditional and surgical techniques, and non-surgical procedures such as catheterization and imaging.

To learn more about the neuroscience options here, or to get a referral for a physician, contact Consult-A-Nurse at 1-561-548-DOCS, or visit JFK Medical Center online.

Unless you’ve injured them, you probably haven’t given much thought to your feet and your ankles. But they play a critical role in our lives, bearing the weight of our bodies, and allowing us to be mobile and flexible.

Your feet also provide you with balance. As a result, they are extremely useful – and very important.

At the JFK Medical Center Orthopedic Institute, highly-trained professionals diagnose and treat foot and ankle injuries and conditions. Our team includes physicians who specialize in orthopedic care, skillful surgeons and rehabilitative staff. It’s all designed to keep you healthy and moving freely.

Complex structures

Because the human foot has many bones, joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons, there is the potential for a number of conditions and illnesses, according to the National Institutes of Health.

You may not realize this, but foot and ankle conditions can affect other parts of the body, and vice versa. The following are some better-known conditions of the feet and ankles:

• Sprain: Excessive stretching of a ligament or tearing creates a sprain. Mild sprains can be self-treated, but more serious ones will require medical attention or possibly surgery.
• Break: A crack in or complete fracture of a bone. There are many different kinds, ranging from a simple fracture that occurs beneath the skin, to a compound fracture where bone is visible. Treatment usually includes setting the bone and wearing a cast.
• Arthritis: Inflammation of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can occur in children as well as adults. Medication, exercise and/or surgery are used to combat its effects.
• Dislocation: Usually comes on the heels of a strain, sprain or broken bone. Putting the bone back in the joint socket can be done manually or surgically.
• Flat feet: When there is no arch underneath the foot. Some people have no problems, while others experience pain while standing or walking.

Sole responsibility

Here are some of the things you can do to help keep your feet and ankles injury and illness free:

• Examine your feet, especially if you have diabetes
• Wash feet daily and dry them
• Cut toenails straight across to reduce the chance of infection
• Wear comfortable shoes
• Don’t overstress your feet
• See a doctor for any lingering pain

Kids/teens and foot injuries

Like adults, children and teenagers suffer foot and ankle injuries. With youngsters, they are often caused by sports or fitness-related activities. Injuries can be sudden and caused by an impact; or happen gradually over time, from overuse.

No matter what has caused your foot or ankle problem, we have the people and the technology to treat it. To contact the JFK Orthopedic Institute, call (561) 548-3460. To find a physician, contact Consult-A-Nurse^® at 1-866-4-HCA-DOCS, or visit JFK Medical Center online.

SOURCES:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/footinjuriesanddisorders.html

http://www.livestrong.com/article/6389-need-ankle-dislocation/

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00150

http://www.apma.org/MainMenu/Foot-Health/FootHealthBrochures/GeneralFootHealthBrochures/FootandAnkleInjuries.aspx

http://jfkmc.com/our-services/orthopedics.dot

http://jfkmc.com/our-services/service-detail.dot?id=c1375535-6852-4941-aa00-8041bfc73795

http://jfkmc.com/home/index.dot