The Scope

Men are bombarded with supplement promises—from prostate support to better workouts—but very few products deliver anything beyond clever marketing. Thunder Jalili, PhD, a nutritionist and professor at University of Utah Health, breaks down which supplements are genuinely worth considering and which ones fall short.

As technologies and practices advance, more people than ever before are receiving joint replacements. These implants are also being done much earlier in life. How do you take care of a joint replacement so it lasts as long as possible? Orthopedic surgeon Michael J. Archibeck, MD walks through the steps of a successful joint replacement procedure so patients can keep the implant working and live a...

Newborns make a lot of strange movements and exhibit unexpected behaviors during the first year of life. They can startle at nothing, suck at the air, cross their eyes, breathe funny, and more. New parents may be a little worried about what is and isn’t normal. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, explains the most common reflexes seen in newborns and how to identify whether or not they're something wo...

In Spring 2022, the FDA approved tirzepatide to help control insulin for patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Yet news stories were more focused on a secondary effect of the drug, known by the brand name Mounjaro™️: significant weight loss with just a weekly injection. Juliana Simonetti, MD, co-director of the Comprehensive Weight Management Program at University of Utah Health, explains how this new dr...

If the ads are to be believed, as a woman, it seems like you need to swallow a pile of supplements daily to be your healthiest self. But if you are a non-pregnant, pretty healthy woman, do you really need all these vitamins and supplements? Maybe not. Women's specialist Kirtly Jones, MD , explores what the research says and whether or not you should be taking a vitamin or mineral supplement.

Maybe you've seen The Wellness Bus driving around Salt Lake Valley or in a parking lot in Ogden or Provo. But what services does this mobile clinic offer to the Utah community? Nancy Ortiz, program manager for mobile health, explains how you can utilize this multilingual, completely free, and anonymous service for convenient health screenings and professional wellness counseling.

After significant weight loss, many people are left with excess loose skin around their abdominal area. An abdominoplasty—or “tummy tuck” —is a surgical operation that removes this excess skin and tightens your abdominal wall muscles. Plastic surgeon Brad Rockwell, MD, discusses the different types of abdominoplasty available to patients and how to decide which one is right for you.

As a parent, you have seen commercials saying you need to give your kid chewable vitamins or special, expensive supplement drinks for them to grow and develop properly. Do children really need supplements? Probably not. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , explains why even the pickiest eater is probably getting enough of their daily vitamins and minerals without the need for additional supplements.

More than 2 million Americans experience a brain injury each year. Some result in relatively short-term changes in day to day function, while others can lead to long-term challenges or disability. Zoe experienced a traumatic brain injury after a skiing accident. For the past year she’s be working hard to get her life back. The Scope has an in-depth discussion with Zoe to share her journey to recov...

Modern contraception allows men and women to have a child by choice, not by chance. But what family planning options are available? And how effective are they? Kirtly Parker Jones, MD, discusses the most common contraceptives available and how to choose the best one for you and your family.

New parents may be surprised at just how often their baby cries. It is their main form of communication after all. Hungry, bored, in need of a diaper change, they will cry for many reasons - and often. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , goes over the basics of crying for parents. From newborn to teenager, learn how to understand your child’s crying and how best to respond with advice from an expert.

Thumb arthritis can make everyday tasks—gripping, lifting, even opening a jar—feel impossible. But there are many effective options that exist before surgery is even on the table. Hand surgeon Brittany Garcia, MD , breaks down why thumb pain happens, the nonsurgical approaches that actually reduce inflammation and improve function, and when surgery becomes the smarter, long-term fix. Learn about t...

Many parents in the United States are scrambling to find baby formula. What are you supposed to do with a hungry baby at home and empty shelves at the store? Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , shares how you can feed your baby and support other parents in this difficult time.

Sensory disorders in children have recently been added as an official psychiatric diagnosis and are estimated to impact as many as 15% of kids in the US. These conditions are marked by a significant sensitivity to sounds, textures, tastes, or brightness and can be quite disruptive to their behavior and development. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , explains why these conditions are on the rise, and...

Have you ever put a piece of clothing or jewelry on your child to have them break out in a rash or hives? It’s called contact dermatitis, and it’s more common than you may think. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , explains the condition and how you can treat and prevent those itchy rashes your kid may get with certain materials.

Ganglion cysts may look like harmless bumps on the hands or joints, but they are actually small fluid-filled sacs connected to the joint itself. While online "popping" tricks may be tempting, treating a cyst at home can push bacteria straight into the joint—an outcome you definitely do not want. Hand specialist Brad Rockwell, MD , talks about when a ganglion cyst can be monitored, when to seek tre...

In general, kids do pretty well if they catch COVID-19 . But Cindy Gellner, MD , is seeing a significant number of kids experiencing symptoms from the disease for weeks if not months after the initial infection. The ongoing symptoms seem to impact children regardless of how severe their illness was. Learn more about long-haul COVID in your children and what you can do to prevent and treat the symp...

As a new parent, it’s important to you that your child meets all the expected developmental milestones, like walking and talking. But which milestones are backed by research, and how do you know if your kid is meeting expectations? Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , explains what the important milestones are, how to measure your child’s development, and when you should speak with a specialist.

About 40% of infertility cases involve male factors—yet men are often left out of the fertility evaluation process. Male fertility specialist Kelli Gross, MD , explains why both partners should be assessed from the start, how treatments like IUI and IVF can work around challenges, and why addressing male fertility can reduce costs and improve outcomes. Learn about when couples should seek help and...

Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder that affects the nerves in your face. It causes a painful electric shock sensation in the jaw or side of the face, and the symptoms can worsen over time. Neurosurgeon Shervin Rahimpour, MD , explains what causes trigeminal neuralgia and how surgery could provide relief to those suffering from the condition.

Young kids can have all sorts of skin issues as they grow up, and Dr. Cindy Gellner, MD , and pediatrician, has seen them all. Learn the basics of diaper irritation, dry skin, eczema, and rashes that you should know as a parent and how you can treat many of them at home.

Chronic back pain is one of the most common medical conditions in the US, impacting as many as eight in ten Americans at some point in their life. Long-lasting relief can be hard to find. Before considering surgery, Andrew A. Joyce, MD , physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, shares how a multi-faceted approach and treatment plan may help with back pain without the need for surgery.

Could something as simple as spending time in a hot tub or taking a supplement be impacting your fertility? Male infertility specialist Kelli Gross, MD , explains the top three most common things she sees in her practice and simple changes that can increase a man’s fertility.

A bunion is a bony bump that can form at the joint of the big toe. While bunions are often benign, for some people, they can lead to stiffness and pain. Orthopedic surgeon Devon Nixon, MD , explains what causes a bunion and how to identify when it may be time to see an orthopedic specialist.

As a parent, your pediatrician can be your lifeline whenever you have a question about the health of your child. But what should you do when you have a pressing question or concern after-hours, and the clinic is closed? Cindy Gellner, MD , and pediatrician with University of Utah Health, shares the pressing circumstances when you should reach out to the on-call pediatrician and when it can wait un...