The Scope Radio

We know by now there is, unfortunately, no Fountain of Youth, but that doesn’t mean you can’t expand your life expectancy. A new medical study is suggesting that watching cat videos can help you live a healthier, longer life. Strong immune system, better cardio health and a defense against common allergies are just some of the health benefits. Dr. Kirtly Jones walks you through the study and talks about why watching cat videos is good for your health.

When you have a family member with advanced cancer, the final days can be very difficult, especially if you are also their caregiver. However, they can also be a special experience. Clinical psychologist Lee Ellington has done a lot of research on this topic and has identified five things that can make those final days more rewarding for your loved one and yourself.

Ribs are like a bicycle helmet. They are made to take the brunt of an impact to keep your delicate organs safe. If they break, doctors can’t just put a cast on them. You’re going to need time to heal. While 85 percent of rib fractures heal on their own, in more extreme cases surgery may be needed. Dr. Thomas Varghese explains what warning signs to look for with more severe rib fractures and when surgical intervention is needed.

Puberty is not only awkward for teens, but for parents too. Are you prepared to talk with your daughter about the changes in her body? In this episode, Dr. Cindy Gellner lays out all the information you need to educate your daughter - and maybe yourself - about maturing into an adult.

When you think of corrective vision surgery, LASIK may be the first procedure that comes to mind, but did you realize there are other options available that might be better for you? PRK is an older, yet effective, laser treatment that gives the same results as LASIK, and is an option for people that cannot undergo LASIK. Dr. Amy Lin from the Moran Eye Center discusses the pros and cons of PRK and LASIK, and which option might work best for you.

There’s a lot of talk about culture change in healthcare and how important it is. But how do you actually change it? Professor of biomedical informatics, Nancy Lorenzi takes us through the process she has used successfully at Vanderbilt University.

Believe it or not, April is the most common month for four- wheeler- and ATV- related injuries, with Easter weekend being the worst. Dr. Troy Madsen explain why he sees so many cases of four- wheeler accidents at the start of the season and the steps you can take in an emergency situation.

Stress about your finances can lead to health concerns like high blood pressure and heart problems. It is also the No. 1 cause of conflicts in relationships. So what if you and your partner have very different ways of handling the finances? Dr. Kirtly Jones talks to finance professor Elizabeth Tashjian about the importance of finding the happy medium when it comes to your financial health.

Patients today have access to more information than ever before when it comes to our health. But with something as serious as colorectal cancer, no amount of research can replace the expertise of a physician. Dr. Courtney Scaife highlights the importance of having a specific diagnosis and how that can help narrow and better your understanding and treatment options for colorectal cancer.

As scary as it might sound, cornea transplant surgery is actually very safe. Advances in the past 10 years have even allowed eye surgeons to shorten recovery time for some procedures from six months to around two weeks. Dr. Mark Mifflin talks about the procedure and the techniques he and other Moran Eye Center surgeons use that result in better vision.

Researchers have unexpectedly found that a drug that has been used for the past 50 years to treat heart failure and high blood pressure also inhibits infection by the Epstein Barr virus, which causes mono and is associated with several cancers. Lead author of the study, Sankar Swaminathan, M.D. chief of infectious disease at University of Utah Health Care, discusses how he came upon this chance finding, and the potential broader implications for treating other illnesses caused by herpes virus, including shingles, mono, herpes, and meningitis. Read the study in PNAS and learn more here.

Tonsils are small glands on either side of the throat that stop bacteria from entering the body. They’re an important part of your child’s immune system, but sometimes can become ‘ginormous’ and cause problems like difficulty swallowing, heroic snoring or chronic strep throat. Dr. Cindy Gellner explains the functions of tonsils and when you should considered getting them removed.

They’re young. They’re spontaneous. They’re mobile. When your new toddler and infant finally starting moving around on their own, it can pose new dangers when it comes to poison prevention in your home. Sherrie Pace from Utah Poison Control shares what concerns you should have as a parent for every stage of your child’s development and tips to keep your kids safe. Remember: Nothing is child proof.

Learn about some of the things you have in your home that kids can easily mistake for things that they eat and drink everyday. Sherrie Pace from Utah Poison Control brings in some poison look-alikes to see how good we are at figuring out which is which. Listen to see how we do and and learn what steps you can take to protect your kids from making a deadly mix-up.

When it comes to health, we often think of factors like family history and genetics. But there are other, less obvious factors that affect our well-being. Education, public policies, and even what food is available at the local grocery store can impact your health. Ana Marie Lopez, Associate Vice President for Health Equity and Inclusion, joins us on "Health Care Insider" to discuss social determinants and how they impact you.