The Scope

The Scope Radio, University of Utah Health

Podcast series by The Scope, University of Utah Health.

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39 episodes
Avg 9 min
English

Episodes 39

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Yesterday · 4 min
Listener Question: Can I Take My Friend's Sleeping Pills?
Difficulty sleeping affects many people, especially during periods of stress. But borrowing a friend’s sleeping pill is not a safe solution. Kirtly Jones, MD, explains why prescription medications should never be shared, how over-the-counter sleep aids work, and why sleeping pills may cause problems such as sleepwalking, impaired driving, or next-day grogginess. She also discusses safer approaches to insomnia.
Wednesday · 10 min
How Accurate Are At-Home Fertility Tests for Men?
At-home sperm tests are everywhere, from drugstore shelves to online ads. But how reliable are they? John Smith, DO, explains what these tests actually measure and why they are generally 95–98% accurate. He also highlights what they cannot catch that only a clinical evaluation can reveal.
Tuesday · 5 min
The Basics: Newborn Reflexes
Newborns make many strange movements and show unexpected behaviors during the first year of life. They can startle, suck on their hands, strike a fencing pose, pause their breathing, and even roll their eyes, and much of it is completely normal. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, explains some of the most common newborn reflexes and behaviors. Learn which movements are simply part of your baby’s developing nervous system and which signs could signal a medical problem that needs immediate attention.
Monday · 3 min
Broke a Bone in the Backwoods—ER or Not?
A broken bone in the wilderness can quickly shift from a painful inconvenience to a serious emergency. Scott Youngquist, MD, from University of Utah Health's Emergency Department, explains how to manage fractures when definitive care is out of reach. Learn how to splint for comfort, minimize further injury, and make the right call when deciding whether to move or wait for help.
August 21 · 7 min
Dry Mouth Can Impact Your Health
Dry mouth is more than an annoying feeling that makes you reach for a water bottle. It can affect your ability to eat, taste food, and protect your teeth. Kirtly Jones, MD, talks to Lea Erickson, DDS, about why dry mouth becomes more common with age, how medications and conditions such as Sjögren’s syndrome can contribute, and why saliva plays such an important role in oral health. Learn when medications may help, and why talking with both your physician and dentist is important if dry mouth becomes a persistent problem.
August 20 · 11 min
Surgical Treatments for Severe Depression and OCD
For people with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or major depressive disorder (MDD), standard treatments such as medication and psychotherapy may not provide enough relief. Neurosurgeon Ben Shofty, MD, explains how psychiatric neurosurgery offers options for some patients who have exhausted other treatments. Learn how the procedures work, what recovery and results can look like, and why these treatments may help patients respond to therapies that were not effective before.
August 19 · 3 min
The Basics: A First Aid Guide to Playground Injuries
Playgrounds equal fun, but also falls, scrapes, and the occasional broken bone. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, covers common playground injuries, from simple cuts to forearm fractures and head bumps, and explains which ones need a Band-Aid versus a trip to urgent care or the pediatric emergency room.
August 18 · 3 min
How to Make School Mornings Easier for You and Your Kids
From forgotten lunches to last-minute outfit debates, school mornings can be challenging. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, shares strategies to make them smoother, including setting up backpacks the night before, limiting screen time until after school, and sending kids off with a positive goodbye. These habits can help kids start the day on time and ready to learn.
August 17 · 4 min
Food Stuck in Your Throat—ER or Not?
It starts as an awkward moment at the dinner table. Then suddenly, you can not swallow, and panic sets in. Is it just uncomfortable, or a true medical emergency? Emergency physician Jeffrey Druck, MD, breaks down when food stuck in your throat requires an ER visit and when a simple remedy like soda might do the trick. Learn the warning signs that should never be ignored and what to expect if that snack will not budge.
August 14 · 4 min
The Pediatrician-Approved Back-to-School Health Checklist
Preparing for the new school year means a lot more than just buying school supplies. From medication forms and updated vaccines to vision checks and sleep routines, pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, shares a comprehensive checklist to help parents make sure their kids are physically and emotionally ready to return to the classroom. Learn how to take action now and prevent a last-minute scramble later to set your child up for a healthy, successful school year.
August 11 · 2 min
Debunking Old Wives' Tales: The Truth About Your Baby's Hair
Will shaving your baby’s head make their hair grow back thicker? Does cutting their hair before their first birthday cause bad hair? And can eating carrots or bread crusts actually make your child’s hair curly? Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, separates fact from fiction as she tackles some of the most common old wives’ tales about children’s hair.
August 10 · 6 min
Swallowed Something Under the Sink—ER or Not?
From drain cleaners to dishwasher pods, many household products can cause devastating harm if swallowed. So what should you do if your child, or anyone, drinks something they should not? Michael Moss, MD, from Utah Poison Control Center, explains why this is always a 911 situation, how poison control can help on the way to the ER, and what not to do in the moment.
August 7 · 3 min
How to Keep Your Bones Healthy and Strong as You Age
Bone loss becomes a serious health concern as we age, especially for women after menopause. Nearly half of women over 60 will experience a fracture of the hip, wrist, or spine during their lifetime. Women's health specialist Kirtly Jones, MD, explains why the foundation for lifelong bone health is built by our 30s and what we can do at every age to protect our bones. Learn how to build stronger bones, recognize your risk factors, and know when it is time to check your bone density.
August 7 · 9 min
Fertility Treatments Before Age 35
If you and your partner have been struggling to get pregnant, it may be time to consider speaking with your doctor about fertility treatments. It is important to realize the conception strategies and medical options available to you rely on the age of the woman trying to have a child. Women's health specialist Kirtly Parker Jones, MD, speaks with fertility expert Erica Johnstone, MD, about helping young women under 35 become pregnant. This episode is part of a three-part series on fertility treatments. For help getting pregnant between the ages of 35-40 or after 40, please refer to the other episodes in the series.
August 6 · 5 min
Why Diets Fail: Building a Healthier Relationship with Food
Most diets fail not because people lack willpower, but because restriction often leads to frustration and burnout. Registered dietitian Julie Metos, PhD, explains why your relationship with food changes when you change your mindset. Instead of focusing on what you should not eat, she encourages building sustainable habits that help you feel healthier, more energetic, and more in control. Whether you are trying to eat better, lose weight, or simply improve your relationship with food, learn how to create lasting habits that support long-term health.
August 5 · 20 min
Delirium in the Hospital: What Families Need to Know
Sudden confusion in an older adult who is hospitalized is not just "part of aging." It is often delirium, a preventable medical emergency. Roxanne Weiss, MD, is a hospitalist, geriatrician, and medical director of the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) at University of Utah Health. She explains the difference between delirium and dementia, why families are often the first to notice it, and what simple steps can help prevent it.
August 4 · 2 min
Debunking Old Wives' Tales: Burping Babies After Feeding
Many parents worry that if their baby does not burp after a feeding, they will end up with gas, colic, or an upset stomach. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD, examines the research behind one of the most common pieces of parenting advice and explains what studies have found about burping, spit-up, and colic. Learn when burping babies may help and when it does not.
August 3 · 2 min
Severe Toothache—ER or Not?
It is Sunday morning, your molar is throbbing, and your dentist is nowhere to be found. Do you ride it out, head to urgent care, or make a beeline for the ER? Emergency physician Jeffrey Druck, MD, lays out when a toothache is just a painful inconvenience—and when it signals something more serious, like a spreading infection. Learn the red flags to watch for, and why the ER is not always your best bet for dental drama.
July 30 · 22 min
When Does Acid Reflux Require Surgery, Not Just Medication?
Medications control most acid reflux, but for some patients, the volume of reflux keeps growing. Eric Volckmann, MD, a bariatric surgeon, explains how minimally invasive laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery (GERD) works and what recovery actually looks like. He also describes how a patient's weight can affect which procedure makes the most sense.
July 29 · 18 min
Delusional Disorder: What It Is and How to Help
Yes, delusional disorder is a real, diagnosable condition. Distinct from schizophrenia, delusional disorder occurs when a person holds one or more fixed false beliefs while otherwise functioning normally. Tyler Durns, MD, a forensic psychiatrist at Huntsman Mental Health Institute, explains the causes and different types of the disorder, along with ways that families can stay connected without reinforcing the delusion.

Showing 1–20 of 39 episodes