The Scope

Half of children who drown do so within 25 yards of their parents. The signs of drowning are much more subtle than you might think. As emergency physician Scott Youngquist, MD , explains, drowning is often a calm and quiet event. He talks about what some of the signs are and what should concern you if you see them at a lake, pool, or the ocean.

After spending a lot of time in the water, the ear can get infected by what’s called swimmer’s ear. If your child complains of earaches, particularly during the summer, swimmer’s ear is most likely the cause. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about what you can do to help relieve your child’s ear pain and when to go to the doctor.

If you see a child in the store without their parent, you might be concerned and start to look for their mom or dad while keeping one eye on the child. That’s because humans are what’s called cooperative breeders. In this podcast, Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones talks about what that means and how it directly contributes to humans’ lifespans and ability to conceive and raise children.

If you’ve just been diagnosed with chronic or acute kidney failure, you might have all kinds of questions going through your mind. Transplant surgeon Dr. Jeffery Campsen talks with nephrologist Dr. Martin Gregory about some common questions patients have and the steps to take after your initial diagnosis. From communicating with your doctor to starting dialysis, these two doctors talk about some i...

Many have wondered if different treatments are needed when someone with autism also suffers from gastrointestinal problems, epilepsy, and sleep disorders. Dr. Daniel L. Coury, Medical Director of The Autism Treatment Network of Autism Speaks, tells us what the research says when it comes to treating these common conditions and what else we can learn about autism from their research on autism’s com...

Do you experience foot pain early in the morning or when you’ve spent a lot of time on your feet during the day? It could be what’s called plantar fasciitis. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Alexej Barg talks to Dr. Tom Miller about what can cause chronic foot pain and some exercises and treatments to help it. Not a lot is known about the causes of plantar fasciitis, but in this podcast Dr. Barg talks about...

It is normal for women to sweat. But how much sweat is too much? Women expert Kirtly Parker Jones lists reasons why women sweat, and it isn’t just because you ran the mile. Dr. Jones also talks about medical conditions that can cause the problem, which is called hyperhidrosis, and why it is recommended to see your physician if you are sweating all the time or too much at a time.

Back problems are painful. You might be thinking that more movement will cause more pain, so medication is your safest bet. But medicine is neither the only nor the best treatment for back pain. Dr. Richard Kendall talks with Dr. Tom Miller about treating back pain without medication. The two doctors discuss the benefits of exercise therapy, the stigma against it, and why seeing a physical therapi...

What you learned as a Scout on how to handle snakebites probably won’t come in handy and can even make the situation worse. Brad Dahl with the Utah Poison Control Center says once you’ve been bitten, those venom extraction kits won’t help much either. He’ll tell you what you should—and shouldn’t—do if a rattlesnake bites you.

Nitrous oxide—or laughing gas—is used widely around the world for labor pain relief. But the United States only has approximately 100 hospitals that make it available to women in labor. Certified Nurse Midwives Debra Penney and Michelle Collins discuss the benefits of using nitrous oxide and why more hospitals should include it as a labor pain relief choice. They also talk about nitrous oxide’s ot...

The ADA became law in 1990 to ensure equal access and opportunities for individuals with disabilities. With that spirit in mind, scientists, researchers and physicians use technology to create devices that expand that access further than anyone could have imagined 25 years ago. Dr. Richard Kendall from University of Utah Health Care talks about how the TRAILS program’s sip & puff kayaks, robot...

Not all fat is bad for you. Unlike white fat, which stores energy and unwanted pounds, brown fat dissipates that same energy into heat when we’re cold. Claudio Villanueva, Ph. D. assistant professor in biochemistry and investigator at the Center for Diabetes and Metabolism at the University of Utah, talks about his research investigating how to convert white fat into good, brown fat. Doing so coul...

Would you let your three-year-old run around the yard waving a 2000-degree blowtorch? That’s how hot sparklers burn. Brad Wiggins from the University of Utah Burn Center says the injuries sparklers cause are real and can last a lifetime. Don’t underestimate the danger. Take a moment to find out the way most kids get hurt with sparklers—and with other fireworks—and what you should do to keep your c...

Thyroid nodules are common, and thyroid cancer is often curable—but when should you be concerned? Marcus Monroe, MD , head and neck cancer expert at University of Utah Health, explains what your thyroid does, which symptoms to watch for, and why screening might not always be the right choice. Learn what happens after a diagnosis—and why, for most people, life goes on.

Unlike knee and hip arthritis, ankle arthritis usually surfaces in patients who are much younger and often lead very active lives. In this podcast, Dr. Tom Miller talks to specialist Dr. Alexej Barg about the main factors that lead to arthritis in the ankle and how patients can work to prevent it. He also talks about how his treatment plan differs from many other doctors and how that philosophy ca...

Cancer is thought to typically start from an accumulation of harmful genetic mutations that cause cells to break from their routine and divide uncontrollably. Charlie Murtaugh, Ph. D. published a study in the journal eLife showing that sometimes an accumulation of mutations is not enough. He and first author Nathan Krah talk about their results suggesting that in the context of pancreatic cancer,...

For generations, children have been told to “walk away” or “just ignore it” when they’re being teased. But Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson, founder of the PEERS clinic at UCLA , says this is the wrong approach to take. She shares some scientifically proven social skills that can help your child deal with being teased at school and other social settings.

You’re excited you’ve advanced to the interview round for physician assistant school, but then the weight and pressure of that interview come crashing down. Doris Dalton is the director of admissions at the University of Utah’s PA program—one of the top PA schools in the country. In this podcast, she shares her top three tips for showing your best self during the PA school interview.

If you think you’re bleeding too much, too little, or sometimes not at all, you might worry if it’s normal. Is your body trying to tell you something? Dr. Kirtly Jones, expert on all things woman, talks about what’s “normal” in terms of menstrual flow, timing, color, consistency and more.

Autism rates started increasing years ago, and now all those children with autism are growing up. Lisa Croen, PhD, is an autism researcher. In this podcast, she talks about what health care providers can do to better care for adult patients with autism. She discusses her findings that adults with autism have increased sleep and mental health problems and how parents, physicians and autism programs...

You’re out in nature and get distracted for a few seconds. The next thing you know, your child is eating some berries. What do you do? Brad Dahl with the Utah Poison Control Center says this happens quite often. He talks through the steps you should take to get help for your child—including the one thing you should never do if they have ingested questionable berries.

It seems like not long ago you could leave your kids at home for the evening or let them play outside all day with almost no worries. These days it seems like you can’t be too careful. At what age can you start to leave your kids at home for the night? Dr. Cindy Gellner provides some tips for preparing your kids for an evening without you.

Some doctors will want to take blood or urine tests at your yearly checkup for a number of reasons. Dr. Tom Miller talks to Dr. Jerry Hussong, a pathologist who often processes those tests, about their value. Learn how to prepare for these types of tests and whether it’s worth it to continue getting them even if you feel perfectly healthy.

For over fifty years, University of Utah has been a leader in human genetics, a field that is making precision medicine possible today. Ray Gesteland, Ph. D., professor emeritus in human genetics, describes the perfect storm of people and resources at the University of Utah that have since spurred discoveries of the genetic causes behind cystic fibrosis, colon cancer, and many more. In a second in...

Do you know what you’d do if you were burned and miles away from help or a hospital? If you’re heading out on a hunting or backpacking trip this summer, this podcast is for you. Burn expert Annette Matherly describes the steps to take if you get burned in the wilderness. She tells you everything you need to know about treating a burn with limited resources.