Last updated 2 days 11 hours ago
Temperatures are quickly rising throughout Las Vegas, and with the heat comes the risk of dehydration. While you’re not likely to pass out from lack of water, dehydration can still affect your health in various ways. Moreover, the signs of dehydration aren’t always as apparent as simply being thirsty or having a dry mouth.
Dehydration typically affects children more easily, and can cause them to be lethargic, constipated, have dry skin and headaches, and produce little or darkened urine. Beware if your infant has not wet their diaper in more than three hours. Children are particularly susceptible to dehydration if they participate in sports or regularly consume salty or sugary foods and beverages. So-called “sports drinks” are not a sufficient replacement for water, and in most cases the potassium, sodium, and sugars they do contain are only beneficial for strenuous workouts lasting more than an hour.
Keep your family healthy with high-quality medical care from MountainView Hospital . Our medical staff will provide you with personalized care for everything from regular checkups to emergency care. Learn more about us online or call our Consult-A-Nurse healthcare referral line at (702) 233-5474 to make an appointment.
Last updated 3 days ago
Aphasia is a unique neurological condition that results when the portions of the brain that govern language suffer damage, resulting in various impairments with reading, writing, and speech comprehension. According to the NIDCD, approximately one million Americans are afflicted with this condition. Read on to learn more about this unique condition.
Common Causes of Aphasia
Aphasia can occur as a result of a serious head injury or progressive illness, but it is most commonly caused by stroke. In fact, stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. According to the National Aphasia Association, strokes cause about 80,000 new cases of aphasia every year.
How Aphasia Affects the Brain
Aphasia varies significantly between individuals, but two common types of aphasia are Wernicke’s aphasia and Broca’s aphasia. Wernicke’s aphasia does not affect motor control, but it can cause victims to speak in long sentences with unnecessary or made-up words; however, the afflicted individual is often not aware of these mistakes and can have difficulty comprehending others. Broca’s aphasia can cause individuals to speak in broken sentences and is often accompanied by right-sided weakness or paralysis. However, it usually does not significantly impede a victim’s ability to understand others.
Living With Aphasia
The medical community is constantly revealing new information about how the brain works, but there is currently no medication or surgery that can completely cure aphasia. Rehabilitative stroke treatment and speech therapy can restore partial or full speech and motor functions over time in some cases, depending on the extent and type of brain injury.
Receiving immediate emergency care for a stroke is the best method for preventing long-term brain damage. As a Joint Commission Certified Primary Stroke Center, the team here at MountainView Hospital have the resources to provide superior stroke care and rehabilitative treatments.
We also offer a Stroke Support Group the first Tuesday of every month, from 2 to 3 p.m. Just follow the link to learn more about our credentials or contact our Consult-A-Nurse healthcare referral line at (702) 233-5474 for more information.
Last updated 9 days ago
A concussion is a potentially dangerous brain injury that is common to high-contact sports such as football. This brief video animation shows how a concussion happens and what effects it has on the brain.
Concussion usually only results in mild symptoms such as a temporary headache or loss of consciousness, but medical studies show that repeated or severe injuries can affect cognition and motor skills. A helmet can reduce the likelihood and severity of a concussion, but it is essential to have a medical inspection at any signs of persistent concussion symptoms.
When your child needs high-quality medical attention following a sports injury, Mountain View Hospital is available to provide timely and individualized medical care. Just contact our 24-Hour Consult-A-Nurse service at (702) 233-5474 to schedule an appointment.
Last updated 10 days ago
On average, men tend to die younger and encounter more health problems at an earlier age, which is why it is increasingly important for fathers to receive regular health screenings after the age of 40 to ensure that they are there for their loved ones in the future. If you haven’t kept up on regular screening guidelines in a while, then Men’s Health Month this June is the perfect time to consult with your family doctor about your medical history.
Regular Checkups
Preventative health checkups are often ignored, but they can help identify the early warning signs of potentially serious health conditions and provide doctors with a more reliable medical history for future diagnoses. The NIH recommends preventative screenings every two years until age 50, and every year afterward.
Heart Health
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S., and high blood pressure is a major risk factor. However, high blood pressure doesn’t show any symptoms, which is why it’s essential to receive regular heart screenings at least every two years, or more often if you have a history of heart disease or other health conditions. Healthy blood pressure readings should be around 120/80 or slightly lower.
Cancer Screenings
Age is one of the most significant risk factors for the most common types of cancer in men, but other risk factors such as smoking, obesity, family history, and ethnicity can also influence your individual cancer risk. Your doctor will be able to provide a customized cancer screening schedule based on your medical history, but at the very least regular screenings for colorectal cancer should be performed annually after age 50.
To schedule an appointment with an experienced medical professional here at MountainView Hospital, contact us online or call our Consult-A-Nurse healthcare referral line at (702) 233-5474 today. As an award-winning and nationally recognized hospital, we maintain the highest standard of medical care with state-of-the-art facilities and individualized attention to patient needs.
Last updated 12 days ago
MountainView Hospital has launched a Lung Cancer Screening Program for high-risk individuals to detect lung cancer earlier, allowing early intervention for patients.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death for men and women in the United States. Each year, there are about 228,000 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. In Las Vegas, the statistics are even more astounding. Yearly, there are at least 1,300 lung cancer deaths in Nevada, more than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined.
In Nevada, lung cancer affects women more than men, and has been determined as the No. 1 cancer problem among women in the state, according to a 2012 report issued by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Each year, more than 850 new cases are diagnosed in Nevada women, while there are more than 620 deaths related to lung cancer in Nevada women each year.
“Lung cancer is a serious health issue in our state,” said Dr. Arnold Chung, a cardiothoracic surgeon who underwent fellowship training at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in minimally invasive surgery for lung cancer. “Unfortunately because of the late onset of symptoms when someone has lung cancer, patients are often diagnosed in later stages, when medical intervention is less likely to provide benefit.”
MountainView Hospitals’ Lung Cancer Screening is performed by Red Rock Radiology, a department of MountainView Hospital. Patients determined to be at high risk by their physician can be referred to receive a low-dose CT scan. The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) found 20 percent fewer lung cancer deaths in participants screened with a low-dose CT scan versus those screened with a chest X-ray. It is important for each person who is considering having a screening scan to know that these exams may not detect all lung cancers.
“At MountainView, we are proud to offer programs that clinically differentiate us from other hospitals,” said Will Wagnon, CEO. “Lung cancer is known as the silent killer. We hope to begin changing that nomenclature with an accessible and affordable, early screening diagnostic test.”
Someone is considered high risk for lung cancer if the following statements describe them:
-
At least 50 years old
-
A current smoker or a former smoker who has had significant exposure to cigarette smoke. For example, you have smoked at least 10 or more cigarettes a day for at least 20 years
-
No current serious respiratory symptoms
MountainView Hospital’s Lung Cancer Program treats patients with lung cancer using a proactive, multidisciplinary team approach. Our doctors use the most advanced diagnostic, surgical and nonsurgical therapies available.
To learn more about MountainView’s Lung Cancer Screening Program, including an infographic of lung cancer facts, please visit: http://mountainview-hospital.com/service/imaging-lung-cancer-screening or call (702) 240-2963.
