The Scope

More and more women are choosing to give birth in tubs of warm water. It’s a safe process that can help with pain help a new mom relax. In this podcast, certified nurse midwife Dr. Debra Penney talks about how a woman should decide if a water birth is right for her.

There are dangerous items all over the house, but what’s the most dangerous to ingest? Household bleach, Visine eye drops, or those colorful pods of laundry detergent? Barbara Crouch with the Utah Poison Control Center has the answer—and it might surprise you.

Barrett’s Esophagus is a condition that rarely requires surgery, but when it progresses to high-grade dysplasia or esophageal cancer, surgical intervention becomes necessary. Esophageal surgery specialist Courtney Scaife, MD , talks with Tom Miller, MD , about when surgery is warranted for Barrett’s Esophagus and what patients can expect during and after an esophagectomy.

If you’re experiencing severe rectal pain, you might think it’s hemorrhoids, but it could be something worse. Dr. Tom Miller and Dr. Bartley Pickron talk about how to distinguish between common hemorrhoids and more serious conditions. They also discuss treatments and relief for pain, as well as when to see a doctor.

Every parent knows how frustrating it is when their baby is crying and they don’t know how to help them. While young children can’t use words to convey what they want, babies as young as eight months can use gestures to communicate with you. In this podcast, Dr. Cindy Gellner tells you how to get started teaching sign language to your baby and provides some helpful tips to keep in mind.

Up to half of women examined with no symptoms show early signs of pelvic organ prolapse, yet many never talk about it. Childbirth, aging, obesity, menopause, and even high-impact activities can weaken pelvic support over time. The good news is that many women do not need surgery. Kirtly Jones, MD , and Jan Baker, MD, discuss how to recognize prolapse early and what you can do to stay comfortable a...

If you have been happy with the care from your family physician throughout your life, you might question whether you even need a geriatric specialist. Mark Supiano, MD , executive director of the University of Utah Center on Aging, explains why visiting a doctor who specializes in aging could be beneficial. Explore whether seeing a geriatrician is the right choice for you or your loved ones.

Most of us are familiar with the health risks associated with exposure to bisphenol-A (BPA), found in most plastics, but there is still a lot that we don’t understand. Christy Porucznik, PhD, associate professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of Utah, is researching whether BPA may make it more difficult for some couples to get pregnant. She explains why most studies up to thi...

Most people with back or neck pain recover with simple at-home care like rest, exercise, and anti-inflammatories—without ever needing surgery. Tom Miller, MD , talks to neurosurgeon Erica Bisson, MD , about how to tell the difference between typical muscle pain and more serious symptoms, when to see your doctor, and why imaging tests like MRIs are not always necessary. Learn about the red flags to...

Are you noticing a combination of neck or upper back pain and a tingling or slowing in the reaction time of your arms and legs? It could be a compression of your spinal cord, also known as cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). In this podcast, Dr. Erica Bisson, a neurosurgeon and spinal surgeon, talks with Dr. Tom Miller about CSM. Listen to learn more about what a diagnosis means for you, as wel...

The question comes up every few years but seems particularly relevant today as funding for scientific research gets tighter and the numbers of academic jobs decrase. Richard Dorsky, Ph. D., director of the neuroscience graduate program at the University of Utah, talks about how graduate programs are responding to this issue, and what could happen if these programs decrease the number of PhDs they...

As you age, the right nutrition can mean the difference between maintaining your independence or needing higher levels of care. Registered dietitian Susan Shirer explains how older adults can support their muscle strength, bone health, and cognitive function through key nutrients like protein, vitamin D, and vitamin B12. Learn how simple dietary adjustments can help you stay strong, prevent falls,...

Certain research has shown that children growing up in a family with pets have a significantly lower risk of developing allergies to animals. But as Dr. Cindy Gellner warns, that doesn’t mean you should rush out and buy a cat or dog. She talks about the research in-depth, as well as other contributors to allergies and asthma including allergens in the home, exposure in preschool and daycare, and g...

Pre-diabetes is much more common than you might think: Diabetes expert Dr. Tim Graham says about forty percent of Americans are pre-diabetic and less than ten percent of those people even know they have it. Pre-diabetes doesn’t have any symptoms, and sometimes it affects even people with healthy habits and a good BMI. But the good news is pre-diabetes is reversible. Dr. Graham talks about what it...

The rate of childhood obesity has more than tripled in the last 30 years. About one third of kids are either overweight or obese. But the US ranks number fifth in the world for childhood obesity, which means this is a problem across the globe. In this podcast, Dr. Kyle Bradford Jones talks about some of the reasons kids are getting heavier in this country and what we can do about it.

Should you take daily vitamin D supplements? How much should you be getting? The discussion around vitamin D remains contentious, with debates on optimal supplementation doses and associated health benefits. Women's health expert Kirtly Jones, MD , reviews studies on vitamin D and what they mean for you.

Abdominal pain, bloating, and gas can be caused by any number of problems, but diverticulitis is a common source of those symptoms. It is an infection of the large intestine that can cause mild to severe pain, particularly in the lower left part of the abdomen. Tom Miller, MD , and Bartley Pickron, MD , discuss when you should see your physician and what they can do to treat the infection and alle...

Ankle sprains are the most common injury in the United States. Sometimes they go hand-in-hand with a fracture. So how can you tell if your ankle is sprained and fractured? Dr. Tom Miller talks to orthopedic specialist Dr. Alexej Barg about the signs of an ankle fracture.

Teenagers are growing to become more independent, which can lead to clashes with parents. In this podcast, Dr. Cindy Gellner gives some helpful tips for maintaining a healthy and respectful relationship with your teenager. She talks about how to balance your teen’s freedom and privacy with house rules and expectations. She also gives advice for what not to do in a disagreement with your adolescent...

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the leading cause of infertility in reproductive age women. A new study reveals genetic changes that lead to PCOS, findings that are helping to explain why the disorder occurs. Endocrinologist Corrine Welt, MD , a clinician at the Utah Diabetes Center, describes what the study shows and what it might mean for women with the condition.

One in ten Americans deal with mental health issues such as depression or anxiety every year, but there’s still a stigma surrounding the topic. Many people don’t seek treatment because they’re embarrassed or think they can handle it themselves. In this podcast, Dr. Kyle Bradford Jones advises those who suffer from depression and anxiety to seek help. He clears up confusion about medications and tr...

Dry mouth is a common issue that can affect your quality of life. It is common among women and the older population, and can contribute to tooth decay, bad breath, and affect your sense of taste. Drinking lots of water does not always help, so what can you do about it? Kirtly Jones, MD , and Lea Erickson, MD , talk about what might be causing your dry mouth, and some home remedies and medications...

Just because the human papilloma virus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted disease doesn’t mean that’s the only way you can get it. HPV is known to cause many cancers, including cancer of the head and neck. In this podcast, Dr. Marcus Monroe talks about risk factors, symptoms and treatment options of head and neck cancers caused my HPV.

There’s a growing trend of women taking home their placenta and ingesting it after delivering a baby. Are there benefits to this? Certified nurse Midwife Debra Penney talks about why some people think it’s a good idea but why medical professionals don’t recommend it. She discusses the research and risks of placenta encapsulation and ingestion.

When you get your lab results in the mail or online, it’s possible that you might have results outside the normal range. What does that mean? Should you worry? Dr. Jerry Hussong is a clinical pathologist and director of ARUP Labs at the University of Utah. He and Dr. Tom Miller talk about what your numbers could mean and what you should do if you’re worried.