From the Front Lines

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How can you tell if it's heartburn or a heart attack? What do you do if someone you love has a stoke? Dr. Troy Madsen, Emergency Department physician, answers these questions and more. He'll give you perspective and information to help you decide if it's really an emergency and what to do in those s…

The Scope Radio, University of Utah Health


    • Aug 27, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 4m AVG DURATION
    • 106 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from From the Front Lines

    ER or Not: Toothache

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2021 1:58


    Should you go to the ER if you have a really bad toothache? Find out in this episode of ER or Not with emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen from the University of Utah Hospital.

    Heat Stroke In Young Athletes

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2021 4:39


    If your child plays outdoor sports, it's important to make sure their body doesn't get too warm. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about the difference between heat exhaustion verses heat stroke. Learn what heat stroke is, what it does, the symptoms, and what to do if your young athlete appears to have it.

    ER or Not: Heatstroke

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2021 3:57


    During the summer months, heat exposure can be common. But could it be life-threatening? According to emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen, heatstroke is an extremely dangerous condition that can lead to organ and brain damage. Learn how to identify the symptoms of heatstroke, prevent overheating, and determine when it's time to call 911.

    ER or Not: Panic Attacks

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2020 2:28


    For those who are experiencing a panic attack, a trip to the emergency room might feel necessary. And while ER doctors can give medication to help calm you down, most panic attacks are probably not something you absolutely need to go to the ER for. Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about the reasons for when a trip to the ER is a must in the case of panic attacks.

    ER or Not: When Should I Go to the Emergency Room?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2020 2:37


    The ER is for emergencies—we know this. But which health conditions classify as "emergencies" can be confusing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, especially, it's important to know the guidelines of coming into the ER. Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about the ABC(and D)s of when you should go to the emergency room.

    Is Mental Confusion a Symptom of Something Serious?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2019 4:25


    You or somebody you know suddenly becomes confused. What does it mean? There are a number of things that could cause this confusion. But if there are other symptoms that appear with confusion, this can be quite serious. Dr. Troy Madsen shares about what this confusion can mean. He also shares what to do if this confusion kicks in.

    Health Hack: Sit Less at Work

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2019 1:22


    Sitting for long periods of time may be as harmful to your health as obesity and smoking. On today’s Health Hack, Dr. Troy Madsen has a few ways you can get up and moving throughout the day to stay healthy.

    3 Things that Can Kill Young, Healthy People

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2019 5:21


    Generally, people who are young and healthy aren't necessarily prone to dying—but, there are still exceptions. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about the top three health conditions that can kill people who are otherwise healthy and the warning signs that may be overlooked or mistaken for other conditions.

    Health Hack: Bring an Antibiotic When Traveling Abroad

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2019 1:30


    What would you do if you develop a urinary tract infection while traveling abroad? On today’s Health Hack, emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen explains why bringing an antibiotic with you when traveling may save your vacation.

    Health Hack: Removing a Foreign Object Stuck in Child's Nose

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2019 1:28


    Your child stuck something small deep up their nose. So far up there, you can’t seem to retrieve it. Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen shares a useful—but kind of gross—health hack that may save you a costly trip to the emergency room.

    Health Hack: Lose Weight By Cutting Soda

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2019 1:08


    If you’re struggling to lose weight, today’s Health Hack may be for you. Dr. Troy Madsen explains how cutting one large soda a day can lead to losing up to a pound a week.

    How to Easily Stop Nausea and Vomiting

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2019 1:00


    Nausea is a very common condition in the emergency room. But according to Dr. Troy Madsen, there's actually not much an ER doctor can do to help with the symptoms. Save yourself a trip to the ER—on today's Health Minute, learn what over-the-counter medication may ease your nausea at home.

    Health Hack: Cotton Swab to Stop an Ingrown Toenail

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2019 1:30


    An ingrown toenail can be extremely painful and, in some cases, require antibiotics and a procedure. On today’s Health Hack with Dr. Troy Madsen, learn how to stop an ingrown toenail before they even start.

    Health Hack: Ibuprofen Instead of Opioids

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2019 1:03


    Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen shares a recent eye-opening study about using over-the-counter pain relievers rather than opioids. Learn how to safely treat your pain on this Health Hack.

    Health Hack: 3 Servings of Vegetables Per Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2019 1:09


    Three or four servings of fruit and vegetables may be all you need in a day for significant health benefits. Dr. Troy Madsen shares some easy ways to get your daily recommended servings on this Health Hack.

    Health Hack: Use Cardboard and a T-Shirt to Help with a Broken Bone

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2019 1:25


    Broken bones hurt all the way up until you get a cast on it. On today’s Health Hack, emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen explains how to make a simple DIY splint to help immobilize an injured limb while you wait for treatment.

    ER or Not: I Slipped and Fell on the Ice

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2019 4:26


    It's not uncommon this time of year to slip and fall on the ice. If you do, should you go to the ER? Emergency medicine physician Dr. Troy Madsen answers that question and also tells you how he would try to fall to minimize potential injuries.

    Health Hack: Yoga to Help With Lower Back Pain

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2018 1:15


    Chronic lower back pain is one of the most common types of pain in the United States. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen says yoga can reduce lower back pain and may be a cheaper alternative to the typical treatments of physical therapy and painkillers for relief.

    ER or Not: Nosebleed

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2018 4:12


    As the weather gets colder, some people experience nosebleeds. When is a nosebleed serious enough to go the ER and when can you take care of it yourself? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about why the cold, dry air may cause nosebleeds and how to properly take care of a nosebleed at home.

    Health Hack: How to Treat a Broken Toe at Home

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2018 1:29


    Have you stubbed your toe bad enough you think you may have broken it? Save yourself an expensive trip to the ER—emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen explains how you can do the same procedure you'd receive at an urgent care.

    How to Not Get Hurt on E-Scooters

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2018 4:01


    The presence of electric scooters are increasing in a lot of cities, and with them comes the increase in related injuries coming into ERs. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about who's actually getting injured by electric scooters, the types of injuries, and how you can prevent yourself from ending up in the ER.

    ER or Not: I Got Someone Else's Blood on Me

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2018 4:57


    You just got someone else’s blood on you. Now you’re wondering if you need to go to the ER or whether you can wipe it off and go on with the rest of your day. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks through the scenario and factors that will make a difference in the decision of whether to pay the ER a visit.

    What Exactly Are Doctors Trying to Find in My Eye?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2018 5:09


    Sometimes when you pay the doctor a visit, he’ll hold a little flashlight up to your eye and joke that he's looking into your soul. But what are doctors really trying to find when they look into your eyes? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about the situations that would cause him to pull out his little flashlight, and you might be surprise to learn that the two top reasons have nothing to do with the eye itself.

    ER or Not: I Electrocuted Myself!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2018 4:33


    Playing novice electrician? Stuck something in an outlet you shouldn’t have? Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen explores the potential health risks you may face after experiencing even just a minor electrical shock. And spoiler: You should go to the hospital.

    Do I Have Pink Eye?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2018 5:21


    You may think you know what to look for in pink eye: red itchy eyes, goopy discharge, swelling. But are you sure? Dr. Troy Madsen explains how pink eye can be very difficult to diagnose and that even those telltale symptoms could be a sign of something as simple as allergies. We cover the signs you should be looking for and the treatment options if you think you or your child may have pink eye.

    ER or Not: It’s Difficult to Pee

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2018 4:59


    You need to urinate but it’s hard, if not impossible, to go. Should you make a trip to the ER? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen says it depends on the patient. If you’re a 65-year-old male, you need to go in. For everyone else, it might be worth waiting to visit an urgent care. What could be causing your inability to go, on this episode of ER or Not.

    ER or Not: High Blood Pressure

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2018 2:44


    High blood pressure can be a reason for concern, but is it worth an expensive trip to the ER? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about when a trip to the ER for high blood pressure is needed, and how you can relax to reduce your blood pressure.

    ER or Not: Really Bad Stubbed Toe

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2018 3:28


    Stubbing a toe is painful. You might have stubbed your toe really hard, and might have even broken it. Should you go to the ER? Dr. Troy Madsen stops by to discuss whether you should go to the ER. He also discusses how to treat and care for a stubbed toe.

    How Long Until Food Poisoning Takes Effect?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2018 4:28


    Sometimes we eat something we wish we hadn't. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen says food poisoning generally takes about six hours to take effect, but most people get through it all right. Learn about the symptoms of food poisoning and things you can do to help yourself get through it.

    ER or Not: Food Stuck in Your Throat

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2018 4:06


    You have a piece of food stuck in your throat. Maybe a piece of steak you didn’t chew well enough. It isn’t blocking your airway, but it’s definitely not going anywhere anytime soon. Should you go to the ER? Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen tells us when that lodged bit of food is an emergency and shares a surprising at-home remedy to try.

    ER or Not: I’ve Been Stabbed with a Pencil

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2018 3:19


    In one way or another, you find yourself punctured with a freshly sharpened No. 2 pencil. There might even be a bit of a dark spot from the graphite underneath the skin. Are you in danger of lead poisoning? Should you go to the emergency room immediately? On this episode of ER or Not, Dr. Troy Madsen settles your childhood fears about pencil-related injuries.

    4 Tell-Tale Signs You Have Strep Throat

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2018 6:09


    Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the tonsils that is relatively common. It’s contagious and can lead to a very sore throat, so the earlier it’s treated, the better. Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen discusses four tell-tale signs you should be looking for to determine if you have strep throat and how to treat it.

    ER or Not: I Swallowed a Chicken Bone!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2018 4:39


    In this episode of ER or Not, we find out what sorts of trouble you could be in if you accidentally swallowed the not-so-tasty part of a chicken wing. Should you go to the ER immediately or wait for the situation to pass? Dr. Troy Madsen has the answers.

    Running Probably Won't Ruin Your Knees

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2018 6:20


    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.

    Chest Pain That Isn’t Caused by a Heart Attack

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2018 6:15


    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.

    When Should I Go to the ER for Diarrhea?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2018 5:19


    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.

    An ER Doctor's Diagnosis: Severe Stomach Pain

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2018 5:37


    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.

    ER or Not: Severe Back Pain

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2018 2:51


    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.

    My Child Coughs So Hard, They Vomit. Should I Worry?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2018 2:21


    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.

    Health Minute: Drink Soda for Food Stuck in Throat

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2017 1:00


    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 or Glue for Treating Large Cuts?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2017 4:58


    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.

    Health Hack: Super Glue For Cuts

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2017 1:00


    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.

    ER or Not: Got Sprayed With Pepper Spray

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2017 2:55


    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.

    How to Best Handle a Drug Overdose

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2017 6:10


    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.

    ER or Not: Heart Racing

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2017 3:28


    If you find your heart suddenly racing, is that cause for concern? Whether to worry or not depends on other symptoms and how long the racing lasts. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about some potentially serious conditions you should be mindful of, and how ER doctors might treat them.

    ER or Not: Hernias

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2017 3:14


    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.

    ER or Not: Broken Blood Vessel in Eye

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2017 2:28


    A broken blood vessel in the eye can look nasty. But is it worth a trip to the ER? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about when you should seek emergency help and when you can just see your ophthalmologist.

    ER or Not: I’m Feeling Really Dizzy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2017 3:37


    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.

    Exercising in Hot Summer Could Expose You to High Levels of Ozone

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2017 3:32


    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.

    What Should You Do If Somebody Faints?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2017 6:07


    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.

    Patients with Diabetes Are Treated Differently in the ER

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2017 3:51


    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.

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