The Scope Radio

The stigma associated with lung cancer is that it’s a smokers’ disease and they’ve brought it on themselves. While it’s true that 90 percent of lung cancer cases are smoking related, 10 percent come from other causes, and that number is even higher in Utah at 30 percent. Learn about the non-smoking causes of lung cancer from Dr. Shamus Carr at Huntsman Cancer Institute, including occupational, environmental and genetic factors. He’ll also tell you the one thing he thinks everyone should do, whether they smoke or not, to decrease their chance of contracting lung cancer.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is known as the silent killer. It is colorless and odorless and can cause sudden illness and even death when not monitored. Carbon monoxide poisoning increases during the winter. Marty Malheiro from the Utah Poison Control Center discusses the causes and symptoms of CO poisoning and why many people mistake it for the flu. She also speaks about risk factors for dangerous levels of CO in the home, what to do if you suspect your home has too much CO and how to prevent CO from becoming a threat in your home.

When it comes to staying healthy, men generally think that means watching what they eat and knocking out a workout at the gym a couple times a week. The aspect of health men don’t really think about much is their mental health, but it’s just as important as their physical health. Believe it or not, you don’t have to talk about your feelings all the time to keep in tip top mental shape. Psychiatrist Dr. Benjamin Chan talks about a why seeing a counselor doesn’t mean that you’re broken, signs it might be time to talk to someone and what men can do to stay healthy emotionally. Good news, it may be as simple as watching a game with the guys. Listen to find out more.

Ever wonder how your great-aunt died or if there’s a genetic illness that runs in the family? Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to sit around the turkey and share family medical histories and find out about your parents medical wishes as they get older. However, how do you bring up this and other sensitive topics like this? Dr. Kirty Jones talks about ways you can get your loved ones to open up about medical problems that might run in the family and other hard to bring up topics.

Your family’s medical history is one of the most important indicators of your future health and is valuable information for your doctor. Thanksgiving is National Family History day and is a great time to ask your relatives about your family medical history. Genetic Counselor Wendy Kohlmann at Huntsman Cancer Institute will tell you about what specific questions you should ask, if a condition runs in the family means you will develop it too, how a genetic counselor can help you interpret that information to determine your risk for disease, and how genetic testing might benefit you.

During Movember, we’ve been talking about the big men’s health issues. We asked Dr. Kritly Jones what is the one health problem that she feels women would want their men to know about and fix. She told us, and most men don’t even know this is a problem - until someone tells them. This condition is not only a health concern for men, but it also affects the women in their life too. Find out what she says it is and what to do about it in this episode of The Scope.

Unless you’re a turkey, Thanksgiving might seem like a harmless holiday. But if you’re not careful, you might just carve out a visit to the ER this year. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen lists the top 5 things that he sees in the ER over the holiday weekend and why he thinks the Monday after Thanksgiving is the worst day to work in the ER.

Utah’s unique resources of genealogy and cancer data, combined with records from two major health care organizations, made it possible for researchers to determine that the current screening guidelines allow a large number of colon cancer cases to go undetected. Dr. N. Jewel Samadder, of the Huntsman Cancer Institute, discusses how the findings can affect colon cancer screening guidelines and explains that because of the state’s unique storehouses of genealogy and medical records, a study covering such a broad spectrum of the population couldn’t have happened anywhere but Utah. Samadder also discusses the future of combining records from multiple sources to provide consumers more accurate health care information.

Not all bacteria are bad. Within each of us are over 1,000 species of good bacteria that live in our gut, skin, mouth, and other exposed surfaces that we couldn't survive without. Dr. June Round, Assistant Professor in Pathology at the University of Utah, explains how good bacteria that live in our bodies work with our immune system to protect us from diseases in ways you might have never imagined. She also discusses new research suggesting that these microorganisms may also influence our behavior and the development of autism.

You’re having chest pains and difficulty breathing, and no one is around to take you to the emergency room. You may not want to call 911 and tie up the emergency line. Do you drive yourself to the hospital or call for an ambulance? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen discusses the “ABCs” of calling 911 and talks about the health conditions in which you should be calling for an ambulance.

If you research flu shots on the Internet, chances are you’ll find a lot of scary and often wrong information. Some websites suggests they don’t work, others say they’re more dangerous than the flu itself. Do the benefits outweigh the risks of flu shots? Dr. Tom Miller discusses the facts and myths about flu shots and how they work to tame the influenza virus. He also talks about the possible side effects and whether you should get a flu shot this season.

We know pomegranates are huge during the fall season. But apples also are harvested in the fall. That’s when they’re the tastiest because the sugar content is the highest. Oranges, grapefruits, and other citrus fruits are grown in the winter months and also considered “superfruits” for the fall. Registered dietitian and director of the Division of Nutrition at the University of Utah Dr. Julie Metos gives the facts about the best fruits for the fall season and explains why it’s important to eat foods, especially fruits, that are in season.

You might have heard about a new cannabis-based treatment for children with severe forms of epilepsy such as Dravet syndrome. Cannabidiol, also referred to in Utah as “Alepsia”, has been reported to be effective in reducing seizures, but some families that want access for their children can’t obtain it because it’s illegal in many states. Dr. Francis Filloux explains this proposed treatment, talks about the concerns surrounding it, including its relationship to marijuana and discusses the evidence regarding its effectiveness and why he thinks it’s a potentially viable option in certain cases. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the physician and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the University of Utah, University of Utah Health Sciences or their partner organizations.

The holidays can be stressful and bring down anyone’s mood temporarily. But how do you know when you’ve got Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and not just the Winter Blues? If your interest level drops, you prefer to be alone and you often pretend to be happy when you’re not, it might be SAD. Dr. Jason Hunziker from the University of Utah describes the symptoms of SAD and explains why it happens. He also discusses risk factors and potential treatments for SAD.

Your energy level is down, you’re putting on weight, your mood is affected and your sex drive is decreased. You might have low testosterone. Ads for testosterone therapy flood the television and it looks pretty easy to get. Should you get it? Dr. Tom Miller from the University of Utah tells you the facts about testosterone treatments and why some men may need it. He also discusses the reasons it may not be the best solution for other men, and why he advices against ordering testosterone treatments online or through the phone.