Today is the final day to vote for the Review-Journal’s “Best of Las Vegas” readers’ poll.

DEADLINE IS 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30, 2012

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a disorder of the fifth cranial nerve, also called the trigeminal nerve. This nerve contains sensory capabilities (touch, pain, temperature, and pressure) and is responsible for motor functions such as biting, swallowing, and chewing. Trigeminal neuralgia causes severe, shock-like shooting pain along the path of this nerve, usually on one side of the face.

Pain usually lasts seconds to minutes and can be intermittent over days, months, or even years. The pain comes in electric-like spasms that can be triggered by every day activities, such as shaving, chewing, washing, brushing your teeth, touching, or even something as benign as a light breeze on your face. The pain resulting from TN can be felt in the cheek, chin, ear, nostril, near the eye, or inside the mouth.

The cause of TN is not known, but in some cases, an abnormally formed blood vessel can compress the nerve and cause the pain. In a few cases, pain in the trigeminal nerve can be a symptom of multiple sclerosis , shingles ( Herpes zoster ), or a tumor in the brain or head. Those over the age of 50 seem to be at a higher risk of developing this condition.

TN attacks can occur hundreds of times per day, completely disabling those that experience them. To determine the cause of this disorder, your doctor may order a CT scan or an MRI. The first treatment is usually the administration of an antiseizure medication, which may help to alleviate pain. If medication is ineffective, surgery to remove an abnormal vessel, tumor, or cut the trigeminal nerve may be a viable option. In older patients, other treatments, such as stereotactic radiosurgery , may be effective.

Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center has state-of-the-art technology, resources, and expertise available on-site to help treat TN and other painful disorders. To learn more about Gamma Knife or the other treatment options available to help alleviate the pain associated with trigeminal neuralgia, contact us at (702) 731-8000.

Cuts, scrapes, and minor burns can happen all year round. In case of a minor scrape or burn, it is helpful to know how to clean the wound to prevent it from getting infected. In this video clip , the host provides helpful information on how to care for a minor wound at home and how to recognize the signs of infection.

If you have any additional questions or are in need of medical attention, let Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center of Las Vegas, Nevada be your resource. Learn more by visiting our website or contacting our friendly staff at (702) 731-8000.

UPDATE: The voting period for this story has ended. Link is no longer valid.

We are excited that the Review-Journal newspaper is asking the community to vote on the Best Hospital in the Las Vegas area. We think Sunrise/Sunrise Children’s Hospital should win the designation as Best Hospital and we want you to cast your vote in the readers’ poll. The Best Hospital category will appear in the “Locations” section of the newspaper’s ballot. Voting for the Best Hospital will begin on Sunday, Jan. 22 and continue through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30.

You can vote two ways: Fill out the “Best of Las Vegas” form in the Review-Journal’s special section on Sunday, Jan. 22; and/or, beginning that same day, cast your vote online at:

www.bestoflasvegas.com/vote

Thanks for your vote and tell your friends and family to vote too.

If you’d like to learn more about the topics we’re recently discussed, then check out some of these great resources.

• Can you recognize the warning signs of a heart attack ? Find out at the American Heart Association.
• Learn more about the possible causes of abdominal pain with this link from familydoctor.org.
• This article from nlm.nih.gov provides tips on how to care for wounds.
• How much physical activity should you be getting? Learn more with this link from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
• Why is sleep so important to maintaining your health? Find out by exploring this article from the National Sleep Foundation .
• Check out this link from the American Institute of Stress for tips on reducing stress.
• This link from the American Heart Association provides an overview on the causes of heart murmurs.
• Visit this link from Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center’s health content page for more information on heart murmurs.  
• How can you gain access to ER wait times ? Check out this link from Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center to learn more about ER wait time text program.
• Learn how text messaging is helping patients get faster ER service at Sunrise Hospital.

For more information or to speak with one of our nurses, contact Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center at (702) 731-8000 today!

A heart murmur refers to an abnormal sound made by turbulent blood flow within the heart. While many adults and children have benign heart murmurs and live perfectly normal lives, some heart murmurs can be the sign of a more serious condition.

Causes
Harmless heart murmurs may be caused by a highly dynamic but normal circulatory system or slight valvular abnormalities, such as mitral valve prolapse. Abnormal heart murmurs may be caused by:

• Congenital, or acquired structural abnormalities of the heart valve or heart muscle
• Abnormal holes in the structure of the heart that persist after birth
• Endocarditis, or an infection of the lining of the heart valves and chambers
• Pericarditis, or an infection of the membrane enclosing the heart

Signs and Symptoms
While benign heart murmurs may not present any symptoms, common symptoms of an abnormal heart murmur include:

• Palpitations or chest pain
• Exercise intolerance
• Light-headedness
• Shortness of breath

Diagnosis
Many heart murmurs can be diagnosed during a physical examination using a stethoscope, while others are found using a number of diagnostic tests. These may include:

• Electrocardiogram to record the heart’s electrical activity
• Chest x-ray to determine size and shape of the heart
• Echocardiogram, also known as a cardiac ultrasound
• Cardiac catheterization in which a tube is inserted into the heart through an artery to detect structure or functional problems

Treatment Options
Individuals suffering from an abnormal heart murmur may be treated using medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Heart murmurs caused by severe heart abnormalities may require surgical intervention, such as a replacement of defective heart valves, correction of heart defects, or removal of tumors.

If you believe that you are suffering from a heart murmur, then it may be time to undergo diagnostic testing. Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center has earned accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers and provides superior service for patients with heart conditions. We also provide some of the most comprehensive and advanced cardiovascular services available. Learn more about our surgical and diagnostic technology by contacting us at (702) 731-8000.

When an illness or medical injury cannot wait for an appointment with a primary care physician, patients often require the services of an emergency care facility . However, differentiating a minor condition from an urgent medical situation may not always be easy. Here are common reasons for emergency visits:

Chest Pain
Chest pain is one of the most common reasons for emergency visits. You may want to seek immediate care if you are experiencing chest pain that lasts for a few minutes or pain that goes away and comes back, as this may be a sign of a heart attack. Additional symptoms of a heart attack include:

• Discomfort in other areas of the upper body, such as the back, neck, jaw, or arms
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweat
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea

However, the symptoms of a heart attack may vary in women. For example, women often experience nausea, vomiting, and back pain in addition to chest discomfort when experiencing a heart attack.

Stomach or Abdominal Pain
Another common reason for a number of emergency visits includes stomach or abdominal pain. Individuals suffering with acute abdomen—or sudden or severe abdominal pain —often require immediate urgent care. Acute abdomen may be caused by a number of factors, including:

• Viral gastroenteritis
• Intestinal obstructions
• Appendicitis
• Diverticulitis
• Pancreatitis
• Infection of the kidneys, bladder, or urinary tract
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Ulcers
• Kidney stones or gallstones

Lacerations and Wounds
Lacerations, wounds, or punctures are also common reasons for emergency visits. You may want to seek immediate emergency care for lacerations or wounds with uncontrolled bleeding or those that expose the deeper layers of dermal tissue.

Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center has been providing quick and easy access to emergency care for Las Vegas residents for the past 50 years. Our emergency room is staffed by physician specialists and a number of highly trained nurses committed to helping patients in need. Learn more about our emergency care services by calling (702) 731-8000.

Did you know that Afib—also known as atrial fibrillation —affects approximately 2.3 million individuals in the United States? In this video, the National Stroke Association provides information on their Facing Afib program. This program aims to provide patients and consumers with helpful resources to increase their knowledge about atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is one of the known risk factors for stroke. In fact, strokes associated with atrial fibrillation can be two times as deadly. Learn more in this full clip.

Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center is home to the first certified primary stroke center in the Valley, offering unmatched comprehensive care. We are also the proud recipients of the Get With The Guidelines Gold Plus Achievement Award by the National Stroke Association. This award makes our stroke care program a community leader. Give us a call at (702) 731-8000 or contact us online.