Last updated 3 months ago
During the month of March, you may hear a buzz about colon cancer and the need for colonoscopies to control this dangerous disease. March is National Colorectal Cancer Month, so it is the perfect time to assess your risk for colon cancer and schedule a colonoscopy if you are over the age of 50. This video from the American Cancer Society will serve as a reminder for you to talk to your doctor about colon cancer and take the essential steps for prevention—including screening.
If you want to learn more about the threat of colon cancer, explore the awareness events happening at MountainView Hospital this month. You can find our calendar of events online or call us at (702) 233-5474 to schedule services at our facilities.
Last updated 3 months ago
Are you suffering from ongoing pelvic pain, irregular menstrual cycles, or extreme fatigue? If so, you could be one of many women with a common reproductive health issue known as endometriosis. This condition occurs when the endometrium, or uterine lining, begins to grow outside of the uterus on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, or cervix. Abnormal growth of the endometrium is problematic, because this is the tissue that becomes inflamed and bleeds during the menstrual cycle. When this process takes place outside of the uterus, it can be painful and irritating to other organs in the pelvis.
Causes
There is no specific known cause of endometriosis, but there are several conditions that can increase your risk. Poor immune health, hormonal imbalance, and frequent yeast infections are all risk factors for endometriosis, but they can be managed with regular care from your physician.
Symptoms
Some women with endometriosis have no symptoms at all, but it is more common for women to experience pelvic pain, discomfort during intercourse, and severe menstrual cramping. Other symptoms such as pain during urination, diarrhea, and nausea can also occur if the endometrium has grown on the bladder or bowel. Infertility is another complication of endometriosis, and it is often what causes women to seek treatment.
Treatment
Treatment for endometriosis is a highly personalized process dependent on your symptoms and plans to have children. You may feel relief through conservative therapies such as medication and lifestyle changes, but surgery can become necessary if you are still experiencing symptoms. Endometriosis resection with da Vinci Robotic Surgery is an excellent surgical option that is minimally invasive and low-risk. However, some cases will require the complete removal of the uterus through hysterectomy, which can also be performed with da Vinci technology.
MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas is proud to feature da Vinci Surgical technology for our women’s care, and we can help you decide if these procedures are right for your needs. Explore all of our women’s health and surgical services on our website, or schedule a surgical consultation by calling (702) 233-5474.
Last updated 3 months ago
The switch to Daylight Savings Time this Sunday, March 10, is the perfect opportunity for Southern Nevadans to check their family emergency stockpiles, change batteries in radios, replace expired food items, rotate items in the kit, update family information, or determine if there are any items that are missing. The Southern Nevada Health District has information about emergency preparedness as well as a calendar to help develop a family kit on its website, www.SNHD.info.
An emergency preparedness kit is a first step to ensure families and businesses can sustain themselves in the event of an illness outbreak or a natural disaster. Family emergency supplies can be contained in a large trashcan, a backpack or a suitcase and can be assembled over several months by adding just one or two items to a grocery list. A kit should include food, water, a first aid kit, tools, copies of important documents, clothing and bedding, medications, and pet supplies. A household preparedness kit should include enough supplies to sustain everyone in the household for up to three weeks.
The health district’s recommendations for a family emergency preparedness kit include:
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Prescription and over-the-counter medications
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Toiletries, including soap
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First-aid kit
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Baby formula and diapers
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Extra eyeglasses
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Pet food/medications/leashes/collars/ID tags
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Extra batteries for flashlight(s) and radio(s)
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Garbage bags
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Cash
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Non-perishable food, ready-to-eat canned meats, soups, fruits, vegetables, peanut butter, protein bars, utensils, can openers, sterno heating
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One gallon of water per person per day and fluids with electrolytes that will last for up to two weeks
Updated information about the Southern Nevada Health District can be found on Facebook www.facebook.com/SouthernNevadaHealthDistrict, on YouTube www.youtube.com/SNHealthDistrict or Twitter: www.twitter.com/SNHDinfo. The health district is now available in Spanish on Twitter www.twitter.com/TuSNHD. Don’t have a Twitter account? Follow the health district on your phone by texting “follow SNHDinfo” to 40404.
Last updated 3 months ago
Excessive weight can impact your health in several ways. It can increase your likelihood of heart disease. It can heighten your risk of stroke. It can also contribute to the onset of type 2 diabetes. For all these reasons and more, it’s essential to maintain a healthy weight throughout your life. However, the number you see on the scale should not be your single determinant of a healthy weight. Healthcare providers instead recommend that people calculate their BMI, or body mass index, on a regular basis to better assess if their weight is in a healthy range.
What is body mass index?
Body mass index is a calculation that determines if your weight is adequate for your height. Individuals with BMI readings of less than 18.5 are considered underweight. People who have BMIs between 18.5 and 24.9 are of average weight, while individuals with BMIs of 25 to 29.9 fall into the overweight range. If a BMI reading is above 30, it indicates obesity.
Why is body mass index important?
Few people can adequately assess if their weight is healthy by looking in the mirror or stepping onto a scale. Often they underestimate their weight’s implications, assuming that a few extra pounds cannot significantly affect their health. On the contrary, even an additional five or 10 pounds can harm your wellbeing. By calculating your BMI, you can instantly know whether you need to make changes to your lifestyle habits for a healthier weight.
How can you maintain a healthy body mass index?
The basic components to achieving a healthy body mass index are eating right and exercising regularly. Though some people may not immediately recognize their impact on their BMI, both stress and smoking can also contribute to excessive weight and should be managed and eliminated, respectively. If you are obese and cannot decrease your weight on your own, consult a bariatric weight loss specialist for assistance.
MountainView Hospital’s Las Vegas surgical weight loss center can help you achieve a healthy weight. To find out more about our hospital’s weight loss services, call our Las Vegas hospital at (702) 233-5474 for a consultation.
Last updated 3 months ago
You depend on your heart for life, and your heart depends on you for health. As with any other aspect of your body, your heart can perform only as well as you allow it to. What you put into your body and how you choose to use it largely determine the health of your heart. To make sure that it functions as efficiently as possible, be sure to follow these heart-healthy habits.
Get Regular Exercise
Consistent physical activity is fundamental for the well-being of your heart. According to the American Heart Association, you must get in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise on a weekly basis to safeguard your heart. Increase your intensity, and you need only 75 minutes to maintain your cardiovascular system. While some people claim that they don’t have the time required for exercise, you can gain the same fitness advantages from multiple 10 or 15-minute sessions of physical activity as you do when you work out for 30 minutes at a time.
Reduce Daily Stressors
Stress enters nearly every person’s life on a daily basis. However, its constant presence can negatively impact an individual’s cardiovascular health. To minimize the effects of stress on your heart, try to find ways to reduce it. Exercise happens to be an excellent deterrent to stress, as is meditation. Finding a few minutes every day to engage in a pleasurable activity can also decrease stress.
Stay Smoke Free
As any heart hospital will emphasize, smoking constitutes one of the most harmful risks to your cardiovascular well-being. That’s why it’s essential to quit as soon as possible. Even if you uphold healthy habits like regular exercise and stress reduction, smoking can undo all your efforts. If you are experiencing difficulties with quitting, consult with a heart hospital for advice on successful cessation methods.
Are you doing all that you can to protect your heart? To learn more about how to keep your cardiovascular health strong, call MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas at (702) 233-5474. Our H2U services can help you incorporate lifestyle habits to ensure your heart’s health for years to come.
