The Scope

Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is an inherited genetic disorder involving abnormalities in the blood vessels. The disorder affects one in 5,000 Americans. Dr. Jamie McDonald , certified genetic counselor, says that number may be underrepresented, estimating that nine out of 10 people with HHT go undiagnosed. Dr. McDonald talks about what HHT is, its causes and symptoms, and how clinic...

Playtime is a crucial time when preschoolers learn problem solving and how to share. Dr. Cindy Gellner discusses how and why a child's playtime is essential for good development.

You feel a pain in your chest and left arm. You immediately start worrying that you're having a heart attack. At what point do chest pains equal a heart attack? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen shares what chest pains can mean. He also discusses the symptoms and feelings of a heart attack versus "regular" chest pain.

The prescription pain relievers you once used after an injury or surgery seem to no longer help with the pain. After extended use, drugs like morphine or oxycodone may not provide the same pain relief they once did. Women's health expert Kirtly Jones, MD , talks about narcotics, how your body responds to them, and why these pain relievers can sometimes actually cause you to feel more pain.

You diet. You exercise. You do everything you can to live an active and healthy life, but you still have fat in those ‘problem areas.’ Those love handles, muffin tops and stomach rolls. Sometimes it just doesn’t seem fair. Dr. David Smart talks about two medical treatments developed by dermatologists to target those areas and help you lose up to 20 percent of that stubborn fat.

Considering a career as a medical assistant and want a better idea what the day-to-day responsibilities look like? Christine Edwards has done it for seven years and we asked her to take us though a typical day. She talks about what she does, her responsibilities, what she likes about her job and why she loves working at University of Utah Health Care.

Many parents have heard traditional beliefs or old wives' tales surrounding raising children, but are any of them true? Will wearing shoes accelerate a toddler's ability to walk? Does teething make your child sick? Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , talks about the veracity of these toddler tales, providing clarity on what holds true, and what remains a myth in the realm of child development.

There’s more than one good reason to get a flu shot while pregnant. Julie Shakib , D.O., M.P.H., assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine and medical director of the Well Baby and Intermediate Nursery, describes her research showing that the flu vaccine not only benefits the mom, but the baby, too. She explains how it works, and why that is a crucial time for...

Coming home from an outdoor adventure and seeing a tick can be a scary thing. What's the best way to remove a tick, and when do you need to visit a doctor? Dr. Troy Madsen shares when it's appropriate to visit the doctor, and what treatments are available if a tick bites you.

Pathology labs like ARUP see an increase in parasite cases during summertime. Hiking, swimming in pools, traveling and barbecuing are all common summer activities that can expose you to parasites. Kristen Case from ARUP joins us to talk about the infections she sees during the summer and what you can do to protect yourself.

Is your child a wax factory? Earwax can be gross for parents to deal with, but it has its purposes. Dr. Cindy Gellner shares with us how to clean out a child's ear the correct way and the dangers of using cotton swabs. She also discusses what to do and what not to do when it comes to your child's earwax.

It’s been estimated that up to half of scientific studies are irreproducible, they can’t be replicated, and this is a big problem. A new study illustrates a case in point, calling into question previous results suggesting that cancer prevents Alzheimer’s. Heidi Hanson , Ph. D., M.S., a Huntsman Cancer Institute research associate and research assistant professor of family and preventive medicine a...

The night shift in the emergency department is anything but boring. From burns to cuts, and fever to heart attacks, ER physicians see it all. The most difficult part of their job might be prioritizing whom to see first and who can wait. Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen walks us through a “typical” night in the ER.

Level 1 trauma centers treat the most critical injuries that can happen: severe car accidents, falls from high places and other accidents with extreme injuries. These cases require immediate, expert care from multiple disciplines to get the patient stabilized and on the road to recovery. Dr. David Rothberg , orthopedic surgeon at the University of Utah, walks us through what it is like to be a par...

Don’t panic. Dense breast tissue is not cancer. The results are merely informing you that, like 40 percent of American women, your breast tissue is particularly fibrous. This does, however, make it more difficult for a mammogram to see through the entire breast. Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones explains dense breasts in further detail and what alternative screening methods might work the best for you.

In the past, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and other bowel inflammation conditions were treated with a gradual medication regiment. Today there is a multitude of potential treatments to help manage particular symptoms and conditions. Dr. John Valentine , a specialist in treating inflammatory diseases relating to the bowel, talks you through the wide variety of options available to patients toda...

Warts are raised, round, rough growths on the surface of the skin. They are very common and most people have dealt with one at some point. Warts usually go away without treatment in two to three years, but what if you, or your child, don’t want to wait that long? It’s time to pull out that wonderful silver tape that seems to fix just about anything. Dr. Cindy Gellner shares how duct tape can be us...

Opioid-based prescription pain medications are the third leading cause of death for Utah adults under 65 years of age. Given their dangers, should physicians continue to prescribe opioid pain medications? Orthopedic trauma surgeon Dr. Tom Higgins gives us his perspective. We ask him if there is still a use for them, if you should say no if your physician recommends them or be concerned if someone...

You are suddenly hit with a severe headache that you’ve never experienced before. Maybe you pass out; maybe it makes you sick to your stomach. Should you go to the ER? Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen says these “thunderclap headaches” might be a sign of something much more serious. On this episode of "ER or Not" we talk what potentially life threatening problems that a severe headache might be...

You have irregular periods and have done some research online. You may have come across some alarming articles on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). First, don’t panic. PCOS is a common endocrine problem in women, effecting 5 to 10 percent of young women in the United States. Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones explains what PCOS is, what symptoms to look for and when it’s time to visit your doctor.

Utah ranks fourth in the nation in deaths related to opioid overdoses. That equates to more than 10 Utahns dying each week from an overdose – and that rate is rising. Naloxone is a legal drug that temporarily reverses the life-threatening effects of an opioid-based overdose. Yet, many patients and their families don’t seek the drug due to the surrounding controversy. Dr. Jennifer Plumb and her bro...

An ingrown toenail can cause a lot of pain, especially in children. There are different causes for an ingrown toenail, but the most common are tight shoes. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner tells you how to identify ingrown toenail from other feet infections, prevention and what to do if your child gets one.

Mitochondria, tiny organelles within our cells, pack a big punch. They function as powerhouses that generate energy for the cell. Malfunctioning mitochondria, explains Adam Hughes, assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Utah, impacts a number of processes, such as aging and development of disease. He describes his latest research, published in eLife , discovering a never-before s...

Working with a knife is not the only way you can cut yourself. Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about the most common ways people suffer slices and nicks and what you can do to avoid stitches and emergency assistance.

Would you know if you had a pelvic fracture? Commonly confused with a hip injury, a broken pelvis is seen in two primary populations: patients with life-threatening injuries and older patients who suffer a ground-level fall. If you or a loved one is experiencing persistent pain after a fall, get to a radiologist. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Rothberg explains how to identify a pelvic fracture and...