The Scope Radio

Generally it’s mom who's responsible for making Christmas happen for their families. They do it all: wrap the presents, stuff the stockings, send out the cards and often neglect themselves. Dr. Kirtly Jones asked some mothers what they want for Christmas. Some of the answers you’ve heard before, some might surprise you. Regardless, you’ll get some good gift ideas that will make this Christmas season less stressful and more enjoyable for mom. Moms, be sure to tell us in the comments what you want for Christmas that would make your life easier or less stressful.

They’re not cool, macho or really all that exciting. Fact is, some of the biggest threats to men’s health are really boring. Seriously boring. The good news is they are very preventable and depend largely on small day-to-day decisions that men make. Dr. Troy Madsen tells you the top 5 boring threats to men's heath and some of the simple changes men can make to significantly improve their health and overall quality of life.

Whether you work outside, are an outdoor enthusiast or simply shoveling your walk, when it gets this cold, frostnip and frostbite are real dangers. Because one of the symptoms of frostbite is numbness, you might not even know you have it until it’s too late, which makes it especially dangerous for kids. Dr. Vivian Lee and Dr. Amalia Cochran talk about what happens to your skin when it gets too cold, the symptoms of frostnip and frostbite, what to do and not to do and why frostbite is usually treated by burn experts.

The wildly popular TED Talks are an Internet sensation featuring thought leaders ranging from academics to contemporary artists to social activists. As a recently awarded TED Fellow, Dr. Janet Iwasa, Research Assistant Professor in Biochemistry at the University of Utah, will be challenged to give the talk of her life at the next TED conference in March, 2014. She explains what a TED fellowship is, what it means for her research, and the main reason she is excited about the opportunity.

You’re at a holiday dinner and you think someone is choking on food – should you give them the Heimlich maneuver? Does it really work? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen answers these questions and also tells you how to identify if someone is really choking, whether you should perform the Heimlich and how to tell if you’re doing it properly.

One basic rule of nutrition is to look for orange and green in your diet. Registered dietitian Dr. Julie Metos explains why color is important when choosing food, especially vegetables. She also talks about the different ways to prepare fall superfoods such as squashes and kales, and why you should think about vegetables first when preparing a meal.

Although prostate cancer isn’t likely to kill you, it can have a very negative impact on your quality of life. For men who have been diagnosed with the disease, figuring out the right treatment option can be overwhelming. Dr. Jonathan Tward from Huntsman Cancer Institute discusses the different treatment options for prostate cancer and how to figure out which option may be the best for you. He also talks about the potential side effects of choosing the wrong treatment option.

If you’re a man and live long enough, you’re likely to get prostate cancer. But when should you get screened and what does a positive screening mean? Dr. Jonathan Tward from Huntsman Cancer Institute tells you the effectiveness of prostate cancer screening and when men should get screened. He also discusses the potential downsides of early screening and why many men go for years without knowing they have prostate cancer.

If you think the use of leeches to bleed people died with the Middle Ages, you might be surprised to learn that the slimy bugs are used in modern medicine to suck out venous blood and allow room for new, oxygenated blood. But these leeches may be out of a job soon. Dr. Jay Agarwal talks about the importance of leeches in medicine and the introduction of mechanical leeches to the medical world. He also discusses why mechanical leeches may be a better medical choice than real leeches.

You're in the drive-thru and the person in front of you bought your order. You should do the same for the person behind you because not only is it fun to keep the chain of kindness going, but it also can improve your health. In this episode, Dr. Kirtly Jones talkes about the health benefits of kindness.

Degloving sounds pretty gruesome, and it can happen if you put your hand in the snowblower – even if it’s not running. And surprisingly, it’s not the arms and hands that get injured in most chainsaw accidents. Even an innocent looking snow shovel can send you to the emergency room. This winter, avoid the types of injuries Dr. Troy Madsen sees from snowblowers, chainsaws, and even the good old-fashioned snow shovel.

Pick out the perfect toy for your kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews this holiday season by knowing how it helps their physical, mental and social development. It will make shopping for tots easier and more fun and will even change the way you play with them. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner will teach you about the five stages of child development, what they learn during each one and how the right toys at the right time can make a big difference.

Borrowing tools from Hollywood, Dr. Janet Iwasa, Research Assistant Professor in Biochemistry at the University of Utah, transforms research findings into lively, 3-D animated movies. She says the process causes scientists to think about their work more deeply and to question assumptions. Since it's hard to resist a good movie, the animations are effective tools for communicating results to scientists, and for engaging the general public in science. View Dr. Iwasa’s movies here.

You’re considering a pancreas transplant to cure your type 1 diabetes, but have questions – This episode of The Scope is for you. Dr. Jeffery Campsen, surgical director of transplants, talks about the benefits of a pancreas transplant for type one diabetes patients, how it works compared to traditional methods of controlling the disease and why it is one of the best options for many people.

You’re considering a pancreas transplant to cure your type 1 diabetes, but have questions – This episode of The Scope is for you. Dr. Paul Campsen, surgical director of transplants, talks about the benefits of a pancreas transplant for type one diabetes patients, how it works compared to traditional methods of controlling the disease and why it is one of the best options for many people.