The Scope Radio

Extreme cravings, headaches, fatigue, low energy, brain fog, gas and bloating. Have you ever experienced a situation where you start a new diet and instead of feeling better, you feel worse? Registered dietitian Staci McIntosh talks about the adjustment period and some of the symptoms you might be experiencing when first changing to a new diet. She also offers words of advice on how to keep with a new diet, even if the results may be making you feel not so great at the beginning.

You accidentally cut yourself. Do you need stitches or will a bandage work just fine? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen goes through some of the scenarios that would require you to visit the ER for stitches. He also talks about at-home alternatives for stitches when the cut isn’t severe enough for the emergency room.

It happens to every parent. They’re your biggest fans until one day you start getting the short one-word answers to every question you ask. You try and try, but can’t seem to get through to your child. Psychiatrist Dr. Matt Woolley talks about why the change in mood and attitude happens in kids and whether it’s normal or something parents should be concerned about. He also discusses ways you can relate to kids who simply just doesn't want to talk to you.

Joint pains, colds, discomfort. You’re going to the store for medication to treat your aches and pains, but what medication should you take? Dr. Tom Miller and Dr. Erin Fox discusses the two types of painkillers and how to choose the proper pain medication when you’re at the pharmacy. They also talk about the potential side effects that can happen from taking the wrong medication, or taking too much of the right medication.

Pertussis is the medical term for whooping cough. It’s contagious and can be deadly, especially in infants. Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about the symptoms of whooping cough and tells parents how to distinguish it from a regular cough. She also talks about preventions and advises when kids should be getting the whooping cough vaccine.

The sooner a specialist can see a stroke victim makes a huge difference in the quality of their recovery. Telestroke is a form of telemedicine that gives patients in rural areas better access to those specialists. We asked Dr. David Renner, a neurologist at the University of Utah Hospital who also serves patients at St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson Wyoming, how he uses telestroke technology, and what he looks for when performing a stroke diagnosis.

The sooner a specialist can see a stroke victim makes a huge difference in the quality of their recovery. Telestroke is a form of telemedicine that gives patients in rural areas better access to those specialists. We asked Dr. David Renner, a neurologist at the University of Utah Hospital who also serves patients at St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson Wyoming, how he uses telestroke technology, and what he looks for when performing a stroke diagnosis.

An estimated 36 million people in the U.S. suffer from chronic migraines, an illness for which there are limited medications and no cure. Dr. K.C. Brennan describes a migraine as a tidal wave of activity that turns up the volume of the senses in the brain and debilitates many people. Listen as Dr. Brennan explains how his and others’ research is revealing more about chronic migraines and that he expects new discoveries in the next 10 years.

Geneticist Dr. Lisa Cannon-Albright explains how knowing your genealogy can give you a head start in understanding your risk for developing disease. She also describes her work building a genealogy database incorporating Veterans Administration records, and how it may help identify soldiers more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and other complex disorders.

Lots of ski injuries in the month of February, and surprisingly many of them aren’t happening on the Black Diamonds or Double Black Diamonds ski trails. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about why he thinks there seems to be an increase in ski accidents coming into the ER this year. He also discusses the false sense of security and safety that helmets can cause, and why many of the accidents may not necessarily be equipment issues, but rather, an attitudinal issue.

There can be side effects that come from not getting enough sun, especially in the wintertime. But can a little bit of light really make a difference to your health and mood? Dr. Kirtly Jones explains what these side affects are, why we need sunlight, and what happens when you have vitamin D deficiencies. She also talks about the difference between vitamin D that you get from the sun and supplements you might find in the stores.

Every house probably has a portable heater. There’s so much stuff in-between you and those heating elements, how could you possibly burn yourself? Well, you can. From the University of Utah Burn Center, Annette Matherly explains why and how portable heaters can be a serious burn hazard, even if you’re not anywhere near it. She also talks about what to do in a worse case scenario caused by portable heaters.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Oral Surgeon, Dr. Bryce Williams, answers common questions about your kids teeth: at what age should your child go to the dentist for the first time, do kids really need to brush three times a day, any tricks to motivate my kids to brush, how to care for baby teeth, and more.

If you’re one of those people who get irritated, sore, dry, itching throats in the wintertime - don’t worry, it’s a common problem. From St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, Wyoming, Dr. Martin Trott talks about the three general causes of throat issues, and tells you how to avoid them this winter season.

Avalanche danger is extremely high in Utah - unfortunately, a couple of people have already died because of avalanches. Dr. Troy Madsen discusses what to do if you or someone you’re with is caught during or in the aftermath of an avalanche, and warns that avalanche dangers don’t just occur in the backcountry areas. He also talks about the process that medical personnels perform with hopes of reviving avalanche victims.