From the Front Lines with Dr. Troy Madsen - The Scope Radio

It may seem like a given—if you run long distances regularly, then you’ll eventually need a knee replacement. But from a doctor's perspective, that's actually not true. Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen, a runner, looks at the research on knee damage and running. He shares his findings and why he thinks running is a great way to stay healthy.

You feel a pain in your chest and left arm. You immediately start worrying that you're having a heart attack. At what point do chest pains equal a heart attack? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen shares what chest pains can mean. He also discusses the symptoms and feelings of a heart attack versus "regular" chest pain.

Diarrhea is a not-so-pleasant condition we have all experienced at one point or another. But what should you do if it lasts longer than a day? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about how to treat the problem of diarrhea and what symptoms mean you should seek your doctor’s help.

Have an extreme pain or discomfort in your stomach? Has it lasted longer than five minutes? Many sufferers avoid going to the emergency room for fear they’ll just be told it’s nothing and then sent home. As a follow-up to “ER or Not: Severe Stomach Pain,” emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen takes us step-by-step through what physicians do when a patient with abdominal pain comes into the ER and what signs you can look for at home when deciding whether to go to the hospital.

Should you go to the ER for back pain? In this episode of ER or Not, emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen details the two symptoms you should be looking for that could be signs of something requiring immediate emergency care. The second one might surprise you.

According to pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner, a child coughing until they puke is actually pretty common. Children—especially those under 12 months of age—have a very sensitive gag reflex. But if vomiting after coughing happens too often, it could be a sign of something more serious. Learn the signs to watch out for the next time your child coughs.

The next time you have trouble swallowing a piece of food, try drinking a soda. On today's Health Minute, emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about how carbonation from soda can help dislodge the food stuck in your throat.

Staples, stitches, and even super glue are all options for treating large cuts. But how do emergency physicians decide what to use to get wounds back together? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about how he makes his decisions for what suture tool to use.

Emergency rooms and clinics sometimes use glue rather than stitches for smaller lacerations. On today's Health Minute, emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen share one of his favorite health hacks: using super glue to save a trip to the ER.

Somehow, you got sprayed with pepper spray. It’s in your eye, it stings, and you’re probably feeling really uncomfortable. But is getting pepper strayed a reason to go to the ER? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen says, “probably not.” Hear what you can do at home, and when a trip to the ER might be needed for pepper spray.

If you are present during an overdose, do you know what to do? According to emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen, the most important thing you should do is call 911 and seek emergency help. Learn about the myths about overdose treatment and the potential complications that can come if you attempt to take care of the problem yourself.

You’re helping friends move some heavy furniture and suddenly feel a pop in your abdomen. Maybe you have a small protrusion and think it could be a hernia. It may look scary, but is it a reason to rush to the ER? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about what exactly a hernia is, how some people live with them for years, and when it’s serious enough to seek immediate help.

The room is spinning, you feel off balance, and it doesn't seem to be getting better. Should you go to the ER? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen says, depending on the person, it could be a sign of stroke. Find out the risk factors to consider and learn when to seek immediate help.

If you live in Salt Lake City, you know it’s not a good idea to exercise outside during a muggy inversion. But did you know you should be concerned even on a clear summer day? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen explains how even though ozone isn’t visible, it can cause serious breathing issues. Learn the steps you can take to protect yourself this summer.

Fainting can be a scary event for everyone involved. According to emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen, 99% of the time, there are no serious health concerns. But if you're around when someone hits the floor, how should you respond? Learn the facts about fainting and what you can do when it happens.

A trip to the ER is different for patients with diabetes compared to those without. Diabetes can lead to more serious complications doctors would be concerned about, as well as influence diagnostics and potential treatments. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen explains why it’s important your physicians know your diabetic status early with emergency treatment.

A severe asthma attack can be dangerous and an alarming situation for both the victim and those around them. Do you know what to do if you find yourself needing to assist someone during an asthma attack? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen walks through step-by-step what you should do to assess the situation and best help during someone else's asthma attack.

You’ve seen the alarming headlines about “dry drowning” in which a child passes away days after inhaling water. It’s definitely a nightmare scenario, but does it really happen? The short answer: not exactly. What actually happened is called “secondary drowning,” and it is preventable if you know what to look for. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen explains how the media has the story wrong, what dry drowning is and what you really should be looking for to prevent delayed aspiration.

Typically, an emergency room doctor reviews a patient's vital signs before actually seeing the patient. The four main vital signs—blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature—reveal a lot of important information. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about how ERs use vital signs to triage patients and what indicators he looks for to determine if a patient needs urgent help.

With summer almost here, many people are rolling out those dusty lawn mowers to trim their lawns. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen discusses some common injuries that lawn mowers can cause and offers important safety tips to follow.