The Scope Radio

Choosing a primary care physician who fits the needs of your family should be more than just picking the one who’s closest to your home. A family doctor is a coordinator and a guide of your health, and should be chosen based on your specific needs. Dr. Kyle Bradford Jones has three things you can do to find a primary care physician who is the best match for you and your family.

Nearly every woman experiences pain during sex at least once. While the first time is usually painful, some women continue to experience a little bit of pain every now and then. Is it just because sex hurts? If the pain is new, you might start to worry about sexually transmitted infections or ovarian cysts. Dr. Kirtly Jones talks about the different types of pain during intercourse and what they mean for you.

Giving birth is a lot of hard work, but since most women are anesthetized during the process, eating and drinking anything besides ice has generally been discouraged. But many women feel like they need extra nutrients and energy, especially if their labor ends up lasting hours. Certified midwife Debra Penney talks safety and hydration while giving birth.

You might be embarrassed to talk about your leaking bowels with anyone, even a doctor. But there are ways to improve the function of the rectal muscles. In this podcast, Dr. Tom Miller and colorectal surgeon Dr. Bartley Pickron discuss what can cause fecal incontinence and a few of the treatment options.

Do you have cysts or cancer in your pancreas? Your doctor might have mentioned a Whipple procedure to you. In this podcast, Dr. Courtney Scaife and Dr. Tom Miller discuss the ins and outs of the Whipple surgery and what it means for your pancreas, the cancer and your ability to recover and live a full life afterward.

Every time you spend some time outside you end up covered in mosquito bites. Why do they bite you more than anyone else? It turns out about one in five people seem to have this problem. In this podcast Dr. Kirtly Jones talks about what attracts mosquitos, from your blood type to what you wear.

There are three treatment options for someone suffering from kidney failure. Which one will work best for you? In this podcast Dr. Jeffery Campsen and Dr. Martin Gregory talk about the pros and cons of each therapy discuss and everything you need to know to make an informed decision about your own your own treatment.

Transitioning from volume to value in health care is a difficult but necessary change. Each hospital is different, has different challenges, cultures, etc., so there is no one size fits all solution. Even though, we can still learn from each other’s experiences. Kari Quickenden is the VP of Clinical Services of Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County in Rock Springs, WY. She talks about the challenges they’ve faced moving from volume to value and what they’re doing to overcome them. Thank you to the Robert Wood Foundation for making this journey possible.

Even before puberty, girls’ mouths are different than boys’. Some women might notice their gums swell and bleed more during certain times of their menstrual cycle. Dr. Kirtly Jones talks about how estrogen and other hormones can affect oral health. In this podcast she talks about why that is and what that means for your oral health, particularly during pregnancy and menopause.

Most scorpion stings happen on the feet. If you think that painful spot is from a scorpion stinger, don’t panic. Brad Dahl from the Utah Poison Control Center takes three minutes to talk about what to do if you get stung. While it will be painful, you aren’t in any grave danger. If you have any other questions, call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Women may come to expect pelvic pain with their menstrual cycles, but a study by researchers at the University of Utah School of Medicine and National Institutes of Health suggests even though discomfort may be common, it should not be ignored. Study author Dr. C. Matt Peterson, chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the U of U, talks about how undiagnosed pelvic pain may indicate a condition such as endometriosis, which can cause infertility. He talks about the study and the importance of women, and their doctors, to discuss pelvic pain. Learn more.

You’ve probably heard that once you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Dr. Scott Youngquist spills on daily water intake and dehydration: who’s most likely to need more water, how much you really need per day and how that can affect your day-to-day health. He talks about how dehydration can affect you in ways you may not realize and gives some tips to help you drink more water.

There are conflicting studies about breast self-exams. Some research shows that self-exams can lead to an early detection of tumors, which improves outcomes. Other studies show that breast self-exams aren’t really helpful and just lead to unnecessary testing and anxiety. Dr. Tom Miller and Dr. Hanadi Farrukh talk about who should be performing self-tests and who might not need to worry about it.

There’s a misconception about using birth control pills to treat polycystic ovarian syndrome. While they may make you feel better short-term, it turns out that it can actually make the problem worse in the long run. So what should you do? Dr. Joseph Stanford talks about a number of options for women suffering from this condition—all of which will help you be healthier later on.

There are many reasons children get bloody noses: allergies in the spring, summer and fall can contribute to a bloody nose, and so can the dryness of winter. As Dr. Cindy Gellner explains, it’s the frequent rubbing and blowing of the nose that can actually lead to the bleeding. She tells you how to treat a bloody nose at home and what to do if the bleeding doesn’t stop.