From the Front Lines with Dr. Troy Madsen - The Sc

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The room is spinning, you feel off balance and it doesn't seem to get better. Should you go to the ER? Emergency room physician

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.

Independence Day means fun with fireworks for many. But unfortunately, the Fourth of July also commonly brings burns and eye injuries to the ER. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen discusses some of the less obvious—but frequent—injuries that can occur when people are not careful with fireworks. Have fun, but be safe!

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” where a child passed 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. 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.

In the United States, there are two breeds of poisonous spiders to be worried about: the black widow and the brown recluse. We’ve all heard horror stories about these creepy creatures, but what really happens if you get bit by one? And what can doctors do about it? Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen shares the surprisingly non-lethal symptoms of a spider bite.

Maybe it’s some redness on your skin. Maybe a small cut has become inflamed. Maybe an ingrown hair has become a little more worrisome. Is your skin infection something to worry about and when should you seek immediate care? Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about the symptoms you should be on the lookout for in case a skin infection becomes life-threatening.

Helmets are a vital piece of safety equipment for many activities and may save your life. But we may be depending on helmets a little too much. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen shares some of his first-hand experiences with helmet safety from the ER. He reminds listeners to still play it smart when it comes to safety, even if you're wearing a helmet.