The Scope

Cows’ milk is one of the eight foods responsible for most food allergies in children. It’s also a common ingredient in many foods. Dr. Cindy Gellner gives tips on how to help your child manage the allergy. She also talks about the effects of a milk allergy and how to treat a reaction if it happens.

Myth or truth: women shouldn’t be making big decisions during PMS? Contrary to what some may think, many women don’t even have PMS before their periods. But should those who do be making important decisions when experiencing hormonal changes and mood swings? Women’s health expert Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones gives the facts about premenstrual syndrome and how it really affects a woman’s mental and emot...

When you start sneezing and your nose starts running, is it allergies or a sinus infection? Tom Miller, MD , talks to otolaryngologist Jeremiah Alt, MD , about how to distinguish allergies from the common cold and sinus infections. Learn which symptoms point toward allergic rhinitis, when facial pressure and discolored mucus may signal a sinus problem, and how over-the-counter and prescription tre...

If you're on testosterone treatments, it’s important to be regularly monitored by a physician to avoid potential risks. Dr. Jim Hotaling is an urologist and men’s health expert at University of Utah Health. Find out what the potential risks are and why it’s really important to have a supervising physician and periodic lab tests if you are on testosterone treatments.

If your child is allergic to latex, something as simple as going to a birthday party with latex balloons can trigger a deadly allergic reaction. Knowing what products and foods contain latex can save your child’s life. Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about the effects of a latex allergy and how to treat a reaction if it happens.

Just a few years ago, treating critical aortic stenosis required surgery. Now, there’s transcatheter aortic valve replacement , which allows for treatment of the heart’s blocked valve without actual surgery. Dr. Tom Miller talks to cardiologist, Dr. Jim Fang about this new procedure, how it’s actually done, and who the potential candidates are.

Though it may be hard to get past the “ick factor”, fecal transplants—putting fecal matter from a healthy donor into a patient’s intestine—is proving to be a surprisingly effective way to treat serious infections such as Clostridium difficile. However, so far the therapy has not been as successful in treating chronic conditions such as Chron’s or inflammatory bowel disease. June Round, PhD , assis...

Deep fat frying a turkey is dangerous. Chances are good you are making at least one mistake that could lead to a fire—or worse, a severe burn injury. Annette Matherly from University of Utah Health Care Burn Center talks about the six big things to watch out for when deep fat frying your turkey and gives some tips so you and your loved ones stay safe this holiday season.

We know women stop producing hormones at a certain time in their life, but what about men? Do men ever stop producing testosterone? Men’s health expert Dr. James Hotaling talks about andropause, aka male menopause. He explains just what it is, when it’ll happen, its symptoms and the effects it’ll have on your health.

Learning that your child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be a lot to take in. You will want answers to questions including: “What causes ADHD?” “What can I do to help control the disorder?” and “Why my child?” The piles of information can be overwhelming. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , talks about how to process all the information and what you and your family can do to p...

New research suggests that small changes in brain connectivity early in life may lead to big changes that contribute to autism and intellectual disabilities. The study, which explores how disruption to the gene Kirrel3 affects the developing brain, could help explain why some people with mutations in the gene develop these conditions. Megan Williams, PhD, assistant professor of neurobiology and an...

Having an accurate family health history is just as important as excising or eating right—maybe even more important. Knowing the health risks that run in your family is one of the most crucial things you can do to help your doctor understand and diagnose potential genetically-linked diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mental illness. Heredity expert, Dr. Joshua Schiffman...

A good marriage makes people healthier. An abusive marriage is bad for your health. Research from the University of Utah found being in a marriage with a cold and controlling spouse is as predictive of poor heart health as smoking or having high cholesterol. “The Marriage Benefit” has shown that married men are healthier and live longer. The benefit has less impact for women. That doesn’t mean mar...

Do you have trouble breathing from one, or both sides of your nose? Some might be born with it, or it could be a result caused by an accident to the nose. It’s a deviated septum—a destruction of the nasal bone—and it’s not something you can see just from looking at the nose. Dr. Tom Miller talks to rhinologist Dr. Jeremiah Alt about the symptoms to figuring out if you have a deviated septum, and t...

As parents, we always want to make sure we give our children the attention they need, but too much attention could have a negative affect. Are you too involved in your child’s life in a way that is overcontrolling, overprotecting, and overperfecting? Do you select your children’s friends and activities for them? You might be a Helicopter Parent. Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about why helicopter parenti...

Nearly every woman experiences pain during sex at least once. While the first time is usually painful, some women continue to experience a little bit of pain every now and then. Is it just because sex hurts? If the pain is new, you might start to worry about sexually transmitted infections or ovarian cysts. Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones talks about the different types of pain during intercourse and what...

Need to see your doctor but don’t feel like an office visit? Many physicians are jumping on the trend of video chatting with patients to diagnose and write prescriptions for health concerns. Which kinds of problems do virtual visits work for and when do you still need to come to the office? Dr. Nathan Bexfield answers your questions in this podcast. 


If you have a painful but minor injury such as a sprain or fracture, it might be faster to go to an urgent care office instead of the emergency room. Dr. Tom Miller talks to emergency room surgeon Dr. Robert Stephen about how to decide where to go when you have a minor emergency injury.

With all the technology around, bullying is no longer limited to schoolyards. Kids are using cell phones and social media to torment and spread rumors about others in a very public way. If you are the victim of cyberbullying, you can feel embarrassed, but it’s important to remember it’s not your fault. You need to tell someone, whether it’s a parent, teacher or other trusted adult. Dr. Cindy Gelln...

Being pregnant and giving birth make a woman’s hormones go haywire. All those hormones and life changes can make a new mom feel very emotional, vulnerable and sad. Up to 85 percent of women experience the baby blues for a week or two, but if your anxiety and sadness don’t go away, it might be post-partum depression. Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones talks about how to help yourself feel better and bond with...

Think about it—on Halloween, kids are running around with billowing sleeves and capes on their costumes, porches are strewn with hay and dried pumpkins and spooky candles are lit all night long. It’s a recipe for disaster on a night that’s supposed to be fun for the whole family. Annette Matherly with the Utah Burn Center shares what the most dangerous thing is on Halloween night and how you can k...

They’re supposed to help you feel better, but sometimes taking several medications together can create even more problems in your body. If you’re taking a lot of pills but still not feeling great, it may be time to reevaluate those medications—but how do you know if it’s the meds or your medical conditions? Dr. Mark Supiano talks about what medication combinations could be making you sick and some...

Much like type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease can be managed in several ways. With this condition, it is especially true that if you take care of your body, it will take care of you. Tom Miller, MD, and cardiologist James Fang, MD, discuss some simple things you can do to effectively manage your coronary disease, and prevention from getting the disease in the first place.

We’re all familiar with the power of smell: a Thanksgiving turkey roasting in the oven may lure you into the kitchen, while the stench of rotting trash can cause you to run the other way. However little is known about how odors can trigger very different neurological responses and behaviors. Matt Wachowiak , USTAR professor of neurobiology and anatomy at the University of Utah is collaborating wit...

Many women with breast cancer want to have a bilateral mastectomy even if they only have one breast affected by cancer. No matter what you choose, there are support groups, doctors and even tattoo artists at Huntsman Cancer Institute who will give you the best treatment and recovery possible. In this podcast, reconstructive surgeon Dr. Jay Agarwal and Dr. Kirtly Jones talk about breast cancer trea...