The Scope

Our bodies are home to thousands of species of good bacteria that keep us healthy by aiding with digestion, defending against harmful bacteria, even possibly promoting mental health. A recent study shows how our body has adapted to help these microbes flourish. And what happens when things go wrong. An interview with three of the study’s authors including June Round, Ph. D., assistant professor of...

Will Vitamin C help you stave off a cold this winter? Can you catch pneumonia from going outside in the cold with wet hair? Does the flu shot make you sick? There are plenty of health myths when the weather turns cold. Russell Vinik, MD , debunks some of the most common winter health myths and shares what the research says about the cold weather and your health.

If your child comes down with the flu, there is, unfortunately, not much you can do except make them comfortable and wait for the virus to run its course. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , shares advice for making the flu as bearable as possible for your little ones. Learn what foods your child should eat, how much water they should drink, their medications, and when they can go back to school.

Experiment.com and petridish.org are websites that host crowdfunding campaigns designed to raise money for scientific research from large numbers of people. It sounds like a great idea, but does it work? Shelley Minteer, Ph. D., professor of chemistry at the University of Utah talks about her crowdfunding experience and explains what types of projects she thinks are best suited for this style of f...

Northern Utah suffers from terrible air pollution in the winter months, but improving the air quality is a more complicated issue than most people realize. Kerry Kelly is an air quality researcher at the University of Utah who has just created an educational game for teenagers about Utah’s air pollution. The game is completely based on real-world science so teachers can use it in the classroom and...

Anyone who has attempted to create an educational game has probably learned just how difficult it can sometimes be. Kerry Kelly, a chemical engineer at the University of Utah, recently created a game for teens about Utah’s poor air quality. In this podcast, she talks about the challenges she faced in developing her game and gives advice for other researchers or academic medical centers that want t...

Chronic sleep deprivation can adversely affect work and family, and should be taken seriously. Focusing on insomnia in women, neurologist and sleep specialist Chris Jones, MD, talks about the dangers of learning to be an insomniac. Kirtly Jones, MD , questions him about sleep aids and therapies, managing stress and letting go of compulsions.

Choosing a vegetarian diet can stem from a variety of motivations, including ethical concerns, environmental impact, or health benefits. Registered dietitian Kary Woodruff explains that while vegetarianism can be a healthy lifestyle choice, it is not the only path to wellness. Any diet—vegetarian or not—requires careful planning to include nutrient-rich foods. Discover how to create a balanced, he...

One in every four women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime. Do the abusers want to stop hurting their partners? Social worker Wendy James talks about the cycle of guilt often felt by abusers and why they stick to their abusive patterns. She discusses options for couples who want to make their relationship happy and healthy.

Glaucoma is an eye condition commonly discussed, yet often underestimated. If left untreated, glaucoma can inflict on your vision, leading to irreversible damage and potential complete blindness. Glaucoma expert Norm Zabriskie , MD, talks about the mechanics of the condition, and how to prevent glaucoma damage before it starts.

Has your child got a bad cough that almost sounds like a seal? Hearing a child with croup is concerning to any parent. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , breaks down what is happening to cause the nasty cough. She suggests some at-home treatments, discusses how a pediatrician can help, and explains when it is time to go to the ER.

A recent study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence shows that methamphetamine users are more likely to get Parkinson’s disease than the general population. Senior author Glen Hanson, D.D.S., Ph. D., interim dean of the School of Dentistry and Dean of the Utah Addiction Center at the University of Utah, explains the reason behind the findings, and the implications for long-term use of other dr...

Do you ever lie in bed late at night and wonder why it is so hard for you to fall asleep? While occasional difficulties in falling asleep are common, women's health expert  Kirtly Jones, MD , says chronic insomnia is not normal. Learn about potential factors that may exacerbate sleep problems, insights into the role of sleep aids, and therapy to improve your sleep patterns.

Aggressive new treatments for cancer may no longer include losing your hair. The effectiveness of chemotherapy is being rapidly overtaken by new targeted therapies that attack specific lung cancer cells yet leave the rest of the body untouched. Find out how using genetic information allows doctors to hone in more exactly on specific cancers. Dr. Wallace Akerly, a lung cancer specialist from Huntsm...

Newborn jaundice is common, but not all cases are created equal. Learn why your baby's skin and eyes might be turning yellow, what it means for their health, and how you can help at home. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , breaks down the types of jaundice, when to act, and what treatment looks like—so you are not left guessing in those first fragile days.

It’s true that the flu shot contains the flu itself, but it won’t make you ill. Dr. Suzan Terry lists reasons why people think they may have gotten the flu from the flu shot and describes what’s actually happening to your body after you receive the vaccine.

Recursion Pharmaceuticals has developed a new method of drug discovery that they claim will lead to 100 new treatments for hard-to-treat rare genetic diseases within 10 years. Christopher Gibson, Ph. D., CEO of Recursion, explains the technology that allows them to rapidly screen through hundreds of candidate treatments for nearly any genetic disease. He also describes why they are opting to scree...

There's a common skiing injury that can quickly develop into a chronic and painful condition if ignored. The problem is many times it’s shrugged off as a tweak or strain, so it goes untreated and develops into a life changing injury that might prevent you from skiing again. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Rothberg describes the symptoms of skier's thumb, how it happens and why it’s so important to ge...

Have you ever felt like something was wrong but you weren’t sure what? Patients who suffer from nebulous symptoms can’t always communicate their conditions concisely to their physician. Dr. Tom Miller contends that your doctor can usually figure it out. Reluctant patients often choose to live with a nagging problem or fear discovering something serious. Doctors, however, have time tested strategie...

The choice to abstain from eating meat and other animal products can be a healthy alternative. Registered dietitian Kary Woodruff says it should be a well-informed decision. Some nutrients are hard to find in plants alone, and being aware of potential deficiencies can help steer vegetarians toward more balanced nutrition.

It can be difficult to know the cause – and cure – for abdominal pain, especially in children. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner lists some common causes of abdominal pain as well as simple home treatments for the discomfort. Some of the causes might surprise you.

Examination of DNA from 21 primate species – from squirrel monkeys to humans – exposes an evolutionary war against infectious bacteria over iron that circulates in the blood. Published in Science, these findings demonstrate the vital importance of an underappreciated defense mechanism, nutritional immunity, in fighting infectious disease. Matthew Barber, Ph. D., first author and postdoctoral fello...

Whooping cough is a deadly disease, and it’s more likely your baby will get it now than ever. There were more cases in 2012 than in the previous 60 years. Newborns are especially vulnerable to it because they can’t get vaccinated until they are 2 months old. So how can you protect them? Listen to find out why Dr. Kirtly Jones says you should get the TDaP shot every time you are pregnant and what t...

Statistics reveal the optimal time for a baby to enter the world, but sometimes it doesn’t work out as planned. Dr. Kirtly Jones discusses the perfect timetable with high-risk pregnancy specialist Dr. Erin Clark. A nationwide study is under way to determine if elective induction of labor can have a positive effect on birthing outcomes. The study is currently seeking first-time expectant mothers fo...

Young people who suffer strokes still have long lives ahead of them, and the goal of rehabilitation is to help recovering patients achieve their full potential. Stroke survivor Amy Steinbrech speaks with Dr. Steven Edgley, director of stroke rehabilitation, about striving to live a full life after such a major setback. Dr. Edgley shares advice and firsthand experience about the immense task return...