The Scope

Should you go to the ER for back pain? In this episode of ER or Not, emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen details the two symptoms you should be looking for that could be signs of something requiring immediate emergency care. The second one might surprise you.

For the past 50 years, pacemakers have hardly changed, but a new device has the potential to change how pacemakers work. The device is the size of a large vitamin and is implanted via catheter rather than surgery. No need for a skin pocket or wires, and no visible signs the patient even has a pacemaker. Cardiologist Dr. Roger Freedman talks about the new leadless pacemaker implantation and how to...

Diarrhea is a not-so-pleasant condition we have all experienced at one point or another. But what should you do if it lasts longer than a day? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about how to treat the problem of diarrhea and what symptoms mean you should seek your doctor’s help.

Kids and adults can both injure their knees doing the same things. Skiing accidents, overuse with sports, trips and falls. But kids’ bones are still developing well into their late teens, which can make treatment more risky. Dr. Tom Miller sits down with Dr. Stephen Aoki , professor of orthopedic surgery at the U, to talk about the key differences when treating pediatric knee injuries and how the...

Ophthalmologist  Amy Lin, MD , from Moran Eye Institute, discusses the best and worst things you can do for your eyes. What are the most common eye problems? Dr. Lin has the answers to these questions and more.

Is your child’s teething causing their ear infections? Will they catch a cold if you let them go outside with wet hair? What about if you leave a window open while they’re sleeping? Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , set the record straight on three of the more common old wives’ tales about colds and ear infections.

When we rise out of bed in the morning, the pressure within our eyes changes massively - by 100-fold - and yet no damage is done. David Krizaj , Ph. D., Moran Eye Center investigator and professor of ophthalmology at the University of Utah, has discovered mechanisms that protect cells within the eyes from fluctuations in pressure, and has found that a drug that targets the so-called mechanosensor...

The overwhelming number of people who are shot go to the ER. Contrary to what a lot of movies and TV shows portray, once a gunshot victim gets to the ER, the most important problem isn’t getting the bullet out as fast as possible. ER providers worry first and foremost about internal damage. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about how to decrease internal damage in gunshot victims befo...

Sciatica is a general term for pain related to the legs and issues with spinal nerves. Surprisingly, injury is not the most common cause of this painful condition. David Petron, MD , a sports medicine physician, talks with Tom Miller, MD , about how chronic sitting is the primary cause of sciatica and what treatment options are available.

Noses can be pretty gross snot factories, creating mucus of all colors and consistencies. When should you be concerned? What if it’s green? What if it’s red? Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , takes a look at four old wives' tales about children’s snot.

Gum disease affects nearly half of adults and often goes undetected until serious damage is done. Periodontist David Okano, DDS , explains how this silent condition erodes the bone supporting your teeth—and how simple daily habits like flossing can protect your smile. Learn the early signs to watch for and what steps to take to prevent gum disease.

Genome sequencing - reading our complete set of DNA instructions - is a powerful tool for understanding and diagnosing disease, and has become integral to precision medicine, a movement to bring the right treatment to the right person and the right time. Does that mean that everyone should have their DNA sequenced? Eric Green, MD, PhD, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute , dis...

You may think you know what to look for in pink eye: red itchy eyes, goopy discharge, swelling. But are you sure? Dr. Troy Madsen explains how pink eye can be very difficult to diagnose and that even those telltale symptoms could be a sign of something as simple as allergies. We cover the signs you should be looking for and the treatment options if you think you or your child may have pink eye.

In Utah’s dry climate, you might not notice how much water you’re losing through sweat. Even for short, hour-long hikes, dehydration can set in faster than you realize, which can lead to serious complications like heat stroke and exhaustion. Dr. Emily Harold , sports medicine specialist at the University of Utah Orthopedics Center, talks about how much water you should be drinking on the trail, as...

Men and women aren’t the same when it comes to physiology, but the male body has been the default in medical research. Today, doctors and researchers are identifying the differences between men and women and how best to treat each individual more effectively. Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones details the differences we know, the ones we’re looking into, and how these differences are changing the way we heal...

From separation anxiety on the first day of school to serious injuries or accidents, young children experience stress and trauma just like everyone else. What can parents do to comfort a child without spoiling or overprotecting them? Dr. Katherine Rosenblum, director of the infant and early childhood clinic at the University of Michigan, explains what steps you can take as a parent to support your...

Contact sports come with their share of risks—but few injuries sideline athletes quite like a torn ACL. Orthopedic surgeon Patrick Greis, MD , joins Tom Miller, MD , to break down what happens when this key stabilizing ligament ruptures, who is most at risk, and what to expect from recovery. Whether you are an elite athlete, a weekend warrior, or just hoping to get back to hiking, learn how to pro...

The nasal spray flu vaccine is out. Regulators have dumped the needle-free alternative after new evidence shows the treatment will be ineffective during the 2016-2017 flu season. For parents, this means one more shot for your kids. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner has some tips on how to best prepare your children, both physically and mentally, for the scary prospect of a needle.

Malaria is one of the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide, and threatens to worsen as the parasites that cause the illness are becoming resistant to current treatments. Paul Sigala, Ph. D., USTAR assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Utah, is developing an unusual strategy to combat malaria: killing the parasite with light. He explains why the parasite becomes vulnerable whe...

For dogs you know, a dog bite should be treated like a laceration and watched for signs of infection. But for deeper wounds and those from strange dogs, it might be time for a trip to the ER. Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen takes us step by step—from what you should do after being bitten to when you should be worried about rabies.

Hip and knee replacements are no longer just for older adults—patients in their 50s and even younger are choosing surgery to get back to the activities they love. Tom Miller, MD , talks with Chris Pelt, MD , about what you can safely do after joint replacement, how long implants typically last, and what innovations may make them even more durable in the future.

What is the difference between a regular athlete and an athlete ready to compete on the world’s biggest stage? Sports medicine specialist Dr. Stuart Willick says it comes down to dedication, good genes and a bit of luck. Dr. Willick has worked with Olympic and Paralympic team members and shares some of the surprising factors that can make an athlete able to compete for the gold.

Are the everyday germs around us really as dangerous as we think? Kirtly Jones, MD , separates fear from fact and takes a closer look at the real risks hiding in plain sight, exploring whether our modern fear of contamination is misplaced—or even harmful in itself. In a world full of alarming headlines, she makes the case for perspective, balance, and a healthy dose of common sense.

Some diseases are so rare and unusual that doctors have never seen anything like it. An excruciating journey for both families and doctors, figuring out what’s wrong can take years, if an answer is ever found at all. Using a computer tool developed by Aaron Quinlan, Ph. D. , he and his team recently uncovered the genetic causes behind nearly one dozen previously unsolved cases, all infants with se...

It may be hard to wrap your head around, but that high number on the thermometer is not a sure sign you should go to the ER. Believe it or not, there is no way a fever can ‘cook your brain’ and no specific number to be alarmed about. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about the more important signs you should look for with a fever before rushing to the hospital.