The Scope Radio

An estimated 1 in 10 unborn babies is exposed to harmful drugs of abuse or prescription drugs. Dr. Gwen McMillin, professor of pathology and medical director of toxicology at ARUP Laboratories, says, "It's a growing problem in parallel to the national opioid epidemic." Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones speaks with Dr. McMillin about the use of umbilical cords to test newborns for their risk to drug exposures and the harmful effects the exposures can have on the baby.

Do you have the urge to move your legs, typically in the evening before bed? Dr. Chris Jones, a neurologist and expert of sleep and movement disorders, says the cause of restless legs syndrome remains a mystery. It is difficult to treat the neurological condition and can easily be made worse if not treated well. Dr. Jones talks about this unusual condition, why it occurs and how it can be treated.

Concussions are dangerous and something parents and coaches should be concerned about. On this Health Minute, neurosurgeon Dr. Greg Hawryluk offers three things parents and coaches should keep in mind about concussions for youth playing sports.

Up to 30% of all cancers in the United States are related to low physical activity, poor nutrition or excessive weight. These health factors are some of the major in?luences on your chance of developing cancer. Dr. John Sweetenham from Huntsman Cancer Institute shares some minor lifestyle changes you can make to decrease your cancer risk.

This week’s listener question is about colds and flus and whether or not two people can have different symptoms with the same disease. You had a headache and stuffy nose, but your loved one has a fever and upset stomach. Is it from the same bug? Dr. Tom Miller has the answers about individual symptoms and answers whether or not you were really the one who got your loved one sick.

New parents may worry that their newborn will have stomach problems if she doesn't burp after feeding. But pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner says not to worry: the air in your baby will find a way out. She explains symptoms associated with colic and spitting up symptoms and why new parents shouldn't worry.

Your recent ear piercing is red and swollen and you suspect it might be infected — should you go to the emergency room? On this ER or Not, emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen discusses the potential serious complications that can come from an infection of the ear, including hearing loss and hospitalization. Learn what you need to look for and when to seek immediate care.

Are you needing a knee or hip replacement? What sort of doctor should you look for? Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Chris Pelt says patients should Lind a surgeon with whom they are comfortable and can communicate well. Learn some other important factors to consider when choosing the surgeon who will operate on you.

University of Utah Hospital Clinic 1-A provides care for 90% of Utahns with HIV/AIDS and is the only Ryan White-sponsored clinic in the state. Dr. Claudia Goulston and Dr. Harry Rosado-Santos, physicians from the clinic, talk about the services it provides for the Utah community and the 1,700 patients it serves. From federally assisted treatment to testing and prevention, they discuss the comprehensive medical home model used to give patients the highest quality in care.

For most people, a diagnosis of advanced heart failure signals an inevitable decline with no chance for recovery. However, a few years ago, doctors found a small yet signiLicant proportion of these patients can bounce back if their heart is given a chance to rest with help from a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Scientist Sarah Franklin is investigating the responses of different sets of patients. She explains what she's searching for and how what she Linds may one day beneLit patients.

As we age, our bones become weaker, meaning we’re more likely to suffer breaks, sprains and fractures. For some people, a vertebral fracture in the spine, also known as a fragility fracture, can be caused by something as simple as sitting up in bed with particularly weak bones. Dr. Tom Miller talks to Dr. Nick Spina, orthopedic surgeon at University of Utah Health, explains the complications that can arise with osteoporosis and an aging spine, and the different ways specialists can treat it.

Kids cough for many reasons, but sometimes it worries parents. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner says many coughing medicines promise to stop coughing, but studies show they generally don't work. “Try honey,” she says. Learn some other simple tips to naturally suppress a child's coughing.

The White House has proposed a major budget cut in government agencies that fund scientific research, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Bryan Jones, Ph.D., a scientist at the Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah, says the mere idea keeps him up at night. “I’m terrified,” he says. “The prospect of a 20 percent cut to the budget would be devastating to science and careers.” He explains why supporting scientific research is an investment in our future.

Spring is here, and for many that means getting back on the bicycle and enjoying the outdoors. For emergency room doctors, it means seeing more patients injuring themselves on those bicycles. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about the most common bike injuries he sees during this time of year and share tips on how to keep out of the ER.

It’s been documented that coffee—in moderation—can be good for your health, but what about a patient just coming out of surgery? Recent studies show that a cup of coffee right after an operation may lead to faster recovery times and happier patients. Dr. Kirtly Jones from University of Utah Health discusses what the research shows and why you might want to ask for an espresso after your next procedure.