The Scope

In this episode of ER or Not , we find out what sorts of trouble you could be in if you accidentally swallowed the not-so-tasty part of a chicken wing. Should you go to the ER immediately or wait for the situation to pass? Dr. Troy Madsen has the answers.

Even a small slip or fall onto an outstretched hand can injure your wrist, but just how bad is it? Should you ice and elevate the injury? Or go to the doctor for an X-ray? Tom Miller, MD , talks to orthopedic surgeon and hand specialist Andrew Tyser, MD , about what to look out for when it comes to wrist injuries.

Too much hair? Too little hair? Brown spots? Light spots? Wrinkles and fine lines? Dermatological laser therapy might be an answer to your skin problems. Your skin protects you from the environment, but over time the sun, wind and even pollution can damage it. Dermatologist Dr. David Smart explains how, in the hands of trained professionals, lasers can normalize your skin and treat a multitude of...

A child who doesn’t make eye contact; doesn’t smile when others smile. A child who doesn’t say “mama” or “dada” at 15 months. These behaviors may make parents worry that their child has autism. Dr. Cindy Gellner tells us what signs to look for in your child’s development and how your pediatrician can properly diagnose autism with a standardized test.

When you have a family member with advanced cancer, the final days can be very difficult, especially if you are also their caregiver. However, they can also be a special experience. Clinical psychologist Lee Ellington has done a lot of research on this topic and has identified five things that can make those final days more rewarding for your loved one and yourself.

When you think of corrective vision surgery, LASIK may be the first procedure that comes to mind, but did you realize there are other options available that might be better for you? PRK is an older, yet effective, laser treatment that gives the same results as LASIK, and is an option for people that cannot undergo LASIK. Dr. Amy Lin from the Moran Eye Center discusses the pros and cons of PRK and...

Ribs are like bicycle helmets. They are made to take the brunt of an impact to keep your delicate organs safe. If they break, doctors cannot just put a cast on them. You are going to need time to heal. While 85 percent of rib fractures heal on their own, in more extreme cases surgery may be needed. Thomas Varghese, MD , explains what warning signs to look for with more severe rib fractures and whe...

We know by now there is, unfortunately, no Fountain of Youth, but that doesn’t mean you can’t expand your life expectancy. A new medical study is suggesting that watching cat videos can help you live a healthier, longer life. Strong immune system, better cardio health and a defense against common allergies are just some of the health benefits. Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones walks you through the study an...

Puberty is not only awkward for teens, but for parents too. Are you prepared to talk with your daughter about the changes in her body? In this episode, Dr. Cindy Gellner lays out all the information you need to educate your daughter - and maybe yourself - about maturing into an adult.

Researchers have unexpectedly found that a drug that has been used for the past 50 years to treat heart failure and high blood pressure also inhibits infection by the Epstein Barr virus, which causes mono and is associated with several cancers. Lead author of the study, Sankar Swaminathan , MD, chief of infectious disease at University of Utah Health Care, discusses how he came upon this chance fi...

Believe it or not, April is the most common month for four- wheeler- and ATV- related injuries, with Easter weekend being the worst. Dr. Troy Madsen explain why he sees so many cases of four- wheeler accidents at the start of the season and the steps you can take in an emergency situation.

Patients today have access to more information than ever before when it comes to our health. But with something as serious as colorectal cancer, no amount of research can replace the expertise of a physician. Dr. Courtney Scaife highlights the importance of having a specific diagnosis and how that can help narrow and better your understanding and treatment options for colorectal cancer.

As scary as it might sound, cornea transplant surgery is actually very safe. Advances in the past 10 years have even allowed eye surgeons to shorten recovery time for some procedures from six months to around two weeks. Dr. Mark Mifflin talks about the procedure and the techniques he and other Moran Eye Center surgeons use that result in better vision.

As babies grow from crawlers to walkers to climbers, their curiosity can put them at risk for accidental poisonings. Everyday items—cleaning products, medications, even toothpaste—can quickly become dangerous in little hands. Sherrie Pace from Utah Poison Control shares practical prevention strategies for each stage of development, and explains why supervision and safe storage matter most. If you...

Learn about some of the things you have in your home that kids can easily mistake for things that they eat and drink everyday. Sherrie Pace from Utah Poison Control brings in some poison look-alikes to see how good we are at figuring out which is which. Listen to see how we do and and learn what steps you can take to protect your kids from making a deadly mix-up.

Tonsils are small glands on either side of the throat that stop bacteria from entering the body. They are an important part of your child’s immune system, but sometimes can become ‘ginormous’ and cause problems like difficulty swallowing, heroic snoring, or chronic strep throat. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , explains the functions of tonsils and when you should consider getting them removed.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be challenging to diagnose, especially with overlapping symptoms from conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). John Valentine, MD , explains the symptoms, risk factors, and diagnostic process for inflammatory bowel disease. Learn about the importance of family history, the critical diagnostic tools used to identify IBD, and when it is best to consult a s...

One in 20 women will have some kind of uterine abnormality. Most won’t realize they have the condition until there are complications with a pregnancy. On this episode of “The Seven Domains of Women’s Health,” Dr. Kirtly Jones speaks about uterine anomalies: What they are, how they impact women, and available options for treating and living with uterine abnormalities.

Carri Lyons was only 39 years old when she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. And that wasn’t even her first cancer diagnosis. This is Carri's story about clashing with cancer twice and how her “game on” approach has kept her going. She also talks about how she made the treatment decision she did, her advice for others diagnosed with the disease, and the importance of really knowing yourself in...

Tooth decay is the most common chronic children’s disease in the country—even more chronic than allergies. Over 40 percent of children will have tooth decay before kindergarten. And those who have it are more likely to suffer from cavities in adulthood. Dr. Cindy Gellner tells you how to check for tooth decay and simple ways you can keep your child's teeth strong and healthy.

Opioid addiction is one of the most difficult addictions to overcome, but a new approach may prove to help patients suffering from dependency. Through mental training, doctors are working to help patients recognize craving behaviors and experience greater pleasure in everyday experiences. Eric L. Garland, Ph. D , describes how University of Utah psychotherapists are using ‘mindfulness’ techniques...

One in 5,000 women is born without a uterus—a condition called MRKH syndrome—making it impossible to carry a child. This is usually diagnosed during the adolescent years, and Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones says the first sign she looks for is the lack of a period. In this episode, Dr. Jones talks about the different pregnancy options available for a woman born with MRKH, including the new uterine transpl...

If one of your fingers gets stuck when you make a fist and it is accompanied by shooting pain and popping, it might be a condition called trigger finger. Tom Miller, MD , talks to orthopedic surgeon Angela Wang, MD , about the condition, who tends to be the most susceptible, and the possible treatments.

Stomach ache, headache, dizziness, and nausea are all symptoms you might hear from your child on a school day morning. The condition may even get worse as it gets closer to time for school, then miraculously become better on the weekends. It may be school phobia. Pediatrician  Cindy Gellner, MD , explains what can cause school-phobic kids to feel sick and the simple method to calm the fear in...

It may be unsettling to realize, but roughly eight percent of our DNA is viral in origin, meaning it came from infections our ancestors battled long ago. New research published in the journal Science by University of Utah geneticists Cédric Feschotte, PhD, Nels Elde , PhD, and Edward Chuong, PhD, looks at how our bodies have repurposed the viral remnants to defend ourselves against infections by v...