The Scope Radio

Playing novice electrician and stuck something in an outlet you shouldn’t have? Home accidents happen. You may feel fine after that shock but should you seek medical attention? On today's Health Minute, emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen explores what health risks you may be facing after a minor electrical shock. Learn more about this topic in the full-length interview.

What's in your fridge says a lot about your health habits. Do you have plenty of veggies, fruits, milk, and fish or lean meats stocked? Are your vegetables rotting? Is your fridge packed with high-sodium sauces or sticks of margarine? We played the "Rate Your Refridgerator" game with dietitian Julie Metos to see just how healthy our diet habits are! What healthy foods get positive points and what foods get unhealthy negative points—grab a sheet of paper, open your fridge, and start marking your own score while you listen!

Nail biting, nose picking, and thumb sucking are common habits among children. These habits can be gross, but did you know they could also lead to serious health problems? On today's Health Minute, pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner explains why you should put a stop to these three habits sooner rather than later.

Kids can be rambunctious and rowdy. Especially during the warm summer months when they're outside playing sports and running around. When they eventually take a spill that knocks out a tooth, do you know what to do? Pediatric dental specialist Dr. Hans Reinemer explains what you need to do for everything from chips and cracks to fully knocked-out teeth.

Not all sunscreens are created equal. In fact, some sunscreens are actually ineffective. On today's Health Minute, skin cancer expert, Dr. Doug Grossman from Huntsman Cancer Institute explains why mineral-based sunscreens work well and why they are worth the extra cost. Learn more about this topic in the full-length interview.

Meningitis is an infection of the tissue and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It's a serious condition that can turn deadly for your child. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner explains what causes this painful infection and how you can identify and treat meningitis in your child.

Typically, an emergency room doctor reviews a patient's vital signs before actually seeing the patient. The four main vital signs—blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature—reveal a lot of important information. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about how ERs use vital signs to triage patients and what indicators he looks for to determine if a patient needs urgent help.

You’ve seen the alarming headlines about “dry drowning” in which a child passes away days after inhaling water. It’s definitely a nightmare scenario, but does it really happen? The short answer: not exactly. What actually happened is called “secondary drowning,” and it is preventable if you know what to look for. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen explains how the media has the story wrong, what dry drowning is and what you really should be looking for to prevent delayed aspiration.

Supplements can be purchased for everything from libido enhancement to boosting athletic performance. But are they good for you? Women's health expert Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones points out that dietary supplements are associated with 50,000 adverse reactions every year and have been known to contain banned substances.

Should you invest in a blood pressure cuff? On today's Health Minute, Dr. Tom Miller goes through the benefits of taking your blood pressure at home and how it can be an effective tool to help you work towards lowering those numbers.

On this episode of Seven Questions for a Specialist, cardiologist Dr. John Ryan answers what he thinks is the best—and worst—thing you can do for your heart, why he chose to specialize in cardiology and what advancements he's most excited about in the field of cardiology.

There are different ways to quit smoking. Which one works best according to science? On today's Health Minute, cardiologist Dr. Clint Allred talks about the method of quitting tobacco that has been shown the most effective according to research. Learn more about this topic in the full-length interview.

University of Utah scientists recently revealed a robotic drill that can reduce the most delicate part of brain surgery from more than two hours to just a few moments. The drill has potential to make a big impact on the future of neurosurgery, but what did it take to make this concept a reality? Dr. William Couldwell, one of the scientists behind the new drill, talks about what it took to develop this equipment and what it means for the field.

How do you know if hormonal therapy is right for you? On today's Health Minute, women's expert Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones explains why estrogen hormonal therapy is an effective way to treat symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes and dryness.

Nose picking is a normal habit for children—but it can be gross. It's deemed socially unacceptable, can spread colds and can cause nose bleeds. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner has some tips for parents on how to keep their kids' little fingers out of their noses.