The Scope

Sometimes we eat something we wish we hadn't. Emergency room physician Troy Madsen, MD , says food poisoning generally takes about six hours to take effect, but most people get through it all right. Learn about the symptoms of food poisoning and things you can do to help yourself get through it.

Advancements in physical therapy treatment methods and technology have led to quicker and more effective recovery. In fact, modern methods may have a patient learn to stand before they sit. Randy Carson , physical therapist at University of Utah Health, takes us through the history of physical therapy and what you can look forward to in the future.

Not all fractures show up clearly on an X-ray—especially in children whose growth plates can disguise breaks. Tom Miller, MD , talks to Joy English, MD , about how doctors identify growth plate fractures, why they may go undetected, and what steps parents should take if their child is still in pain despite a “normal” X-ray.

Interested in starting a career in nursing? There’s no better way to know what to expect in the position than to hear from someone in the field. Matthew Anderson, an intensive care nurse at University of Utah Health, joins The Scope to describe what his daily schedule is like as an ICU nurse and what he finds most rewarding in his work.

It is that time of the month when your hormones are supposedly out of whack—everything annoys you, and it feels like a shark is attacking your abdominal area. As much as you do not like it, you know menstrual cramps are normal. But what if it seems like this time is the worst out of all the other times? As much as 29 percent of women experience severe menstrual cramps that are bad enough to requir...

As a new parent, you’ve probably taken steps to baby-proof your home. Covers on the outlets. Locks on cabinets. But have you considered some of the less obvious burn dangers in your home? Annette Matherly with University of Utah Burn Center discusses the three top burn dangers in your home and how you can protect your new baby from them.

If your child were to suffer a burn, would you know what to do? You may remember “stop, drop, and roll,” but what do you do after the fire is out? Can you treat the burn at home or will it require a trip to the emergency room? Annette Matherly with University of Utah Burn Center has step-by-step instructions on what you should do to treat your child’s burn.

If your baby is cranky and can't sleep, should you try a different formula? Are colicky babies just hungry? Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner challenges some myths around cranky babies with feeding issues and explains why gassiness isn't such a bad thing and why crying doesn't necessarily mean it's time for a feeding.

In science, you may never know where your research will take you, and the results might be a surprise. Wesley Sundquist, Ph. D knows this as well as anyone. Dr. Sundquist is a University of Utah Professor of Biochemistry, and his research on how viruses function may hold the key to a new “delivery system,” which could allow for the transfer of small molecules between cells. On this episode of The...

You have sprained your ankle. Maybe you twisted it during a run. Maybe you suffered a minor fall while skiing. It hurts and is swollen and needs some relief. Are you supposed to put it on ice or apply heat? Emily Harold, MD , sports medicine physician at University of Utah Health, has the answer, as well as the step-by-step treatment you should use to heal your sprained ankle.

A jammed finger can be a common sports injury, and it is usually nothing to worry about. But, if the pain in your finger lingers, you probably should have a physician check it out. Tom Miller, MD , speaks with hand surgery specialist Nikolas Kazmers, MD , who says fingers that are actually broken or dislocated are more easily treated early rather than later. Learn how to tell when your jammed fing...

If you or your young athlete experiences abdominal pain in the upper left side after a collision, seeking immediate medical attention can be crucial. Emergency room physician Troy Madsen, MD , talks about the serious, potentially life-threatening risk of a spleen injury. Dr. Madsen guides listeners through recognizing spleen injury symptoms and shares insights on when a visit to the emergency room...

Whether you want a child, many children, or none at all, couples today have a spectrum of choices including everything from proactive, technical approaches to more natural methods of family planning. Women’s expert Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones speaks with Dr. Joseph Stanford , a professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and president of Intermountain FertilityCare Services , who ass...

Newborns don’t come with a detailed instruction manual, which can leave parents terrified when their baby’s body does bizarre things. On this episode of Debunking Old Wives’ Tales , we cover five of the normal, yet strange, symptoms that your new bundle of joy may be experiencing. From excessive crying to spontaneous eye goop to all the alarming things that can happen with a belly button, pediatri...

Chronic tendon injuries affecting shoulders, elbows and knees have long been hard to treat. But, beyond rest, stretching and icing, physicians have developed new treatment techniques in recent years, including ultrasound, stem-cell therapies and specialized needle procedures. Dr. Tom Miller speaks with Dr. Nick Monson , an orthopedics and sports medicine physician, about how these new procedures c...

On this episode of ER or Not , emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen discusses the serious, potentially fatal causes and complications that can arise when you or a loved one is having trouble breathing. Find out what your labored breathing may be a sign of and when you should call 911 immediately.

Teething can be a fussy and difficult time for babies and their parents. But some over-the-counter teething tablets contain a homeopathic product—belladonna—that can make your child sick. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner explains why these teething tablets, or gels, are bad for toddlers and suggests some simpler, and safer, alternatives.

Mothers can face their toughest years in their mid 30s and 40s, especially if their children are teenagers. Women’s expert Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones says stress and depression can arise in middle-aged women when changing bodies, hormones and mental states are compounded by challenging teenagers. Learn what mothers can do to cope with these challenging midlife years.

In one way or another, you find yourself punctured with a freshly sharpened No. 2 pencil. There might even be a bit of a dark spot from the graphite underneath the skin. Are you in danger of lead poisoning? Should you go to the emergency room immediately? On this episode of ER or Not , Dr. Troy Madsen settles your childhood fears about pencil-related injuries.

Your child may want to take his or her smartphone or tablet to bed. But is it a good idea? Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner says using a mobile device before bed reduces sleep time for kids, which can disrupt sleep quality and quantity. Learn more about what parents should know before allowing mobile devices at bedtime.

While incidence of childhood asthma has doubled in the last 20 years, Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones says some studies suggest eating cold-water fish could be a way for pregnant mothers to help their children avoid asthma. Find out how some of these studies were conducted with pregnant mothers and fish oil, and learn some practical tips for including more fish oil in your diet.

A broken collarbone, or clavical, is a common sports injury and, traditionally, people let the break heal naturally. But, sometimes, surgery is best to maintain shoulder functionality and avoid later discomfort. Dr. Tom Miller speaks with Dr. Bruce Thomas , an orthopedic surgeon, about what scenarios might warrant surgery to help heal a broken clavical.

Too much of one exercise, like running, can be unhealthy. That's why sports medicine physician Dr. Nick Monson says runners should do other exercises in addition to running, like biking, swimming or weightlifting. He says people who have a balanced exercise regime experience fewer injuries. Learn some specific things that runners can do to keep themselves balanced.

You have been out in the cold too long, and now your fingers or toes are pale, numb, and painful. Is this something you can warm up at home—or are you at risk of permanent damage? Emergency physician Graham Brant-Zawadzki, MD , explains the early warning signs of frostbite, what severe frostbite looks like, and why timing is everything when it comes to saving tissue. Know when simple rewarming is...

A recent study by JAMA Internal Medicine finds that older people with female doctors generally have lower mortality and hospital readmission rates. Women’s health expert Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones says after a closer look, the study found only a slight difference for patients whose doctors were either male or female. But she suggests women doctors tend to practice physician care differently than male...