Do you have a problem wound
Dr. Viktoria Totoraitis
health of the heart. “With younger patients, we may do an esophageal ECG,” says Dr. Totoraitis, “to get a bet- ter look at the heart.” With an esopha- geal ECG, the probe snakes down through the esophagus, right next to the heart, meaning it gives a closer and more detailed look at the heart. Doctors will also perform bloodwork on a young stroke patient to look into not only auto- immune disorders but also blood clot- ting abnormalities, and to round out the picture of what is going on medically. As with any disorder, Dr. Totoraitis says, she talks to the patient about his or her family history as well as his or her own medical history. She would want to know if anyone in the family has had an early stroke (or a stroke at all), as genet- ics can play a role, and whether the patient has had any autoimmune disor- ders or a previous transient ischemic attack (TIA, or a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain). She will also dig into the lifestyle fac- tors such as smoking, diet, exercise and blood pressure, all of which can contrib- ute to an early stroke. WHATTO LOOK FOR So, how do you know if you are at risk for an early stroke? The truth is you can- not know for certain, but you can look for a few things. You can be on the look- out for out-of-control migraine head- aches, says Dr. Totoraitis, to the tune of a few a week. Migraines can slightly increase the risk of stroke. “If you have
that just won’t heal?
Our specialty trained Board Certified Physicians at the NCH Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Centers provide compassionate care and the most advanced therapies. From simple to complex wounds, our multi-disciplinary team creates an individualized treatment plan to safely return you to everyday activities and optimal health. We have three centers conveniently located throughout Collier and South Lee counties. Start your healing today! The NCH Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Centers are here to help!
Naples: 239-624-0650 • North Naples: 239-624-0630 Bonita: 239-624-0900
www.NCHmd.org
26 NAPLES HEALTH APRIL - JUNE 2019
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