From The Front Lines

Has your child gotten something stuck in his or her ear that both your kid and you can't seem to get out? For those hard-to-grab objects, emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen says you should consider either the ER or urgent care because there’s a chance you could push it in further. Find out what you should do for all those other times when a foreign object gets stuck in your child’s ear.

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.

On this episode of From the Frontlines, emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen speaks about the serious, potentially life-threatening risk of a spleen injury. If you or your young athlete has taken a hit to the abdomen and is feeling pain on the upper left side, you may want to get it looked at immediately. Dr. Madsen discusses how to identify a spleen injury and when you should go to the emergency room.

On this episode of ER or Not, emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen discusses the serious, potentially fatal causes and complications that can arise when you or a loved one is having trouble breathing. Find out what your labored breathing may be a sign of and when you should call 911 immediately.

Were you out in the cold a little too long? Do you worry you might have frostbite? Emergency room physician Troy Madsen says frostbite is a reason to go to the ER because you may risk losing a finger or toe. Learn the symptoms of frostbite and how it's treated.

It’s a new year, and you may be thinking of some resolutions to better your health and wellness. But general, big-picture goals like “get fit” or “eat better” may seem overwhelming. Where do you even start? Why not start small? Dr. Troy Madsen, emergency room physician at University of Utah Health, has five simple, yet specific, things you can do today that will set you on the path to a healthier you.

Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen stopped by today and told us the flu season is here and could be a bad one. He’s seen an increase in really sick patients with the flu during the past couple weeks and expects it to only get worse. We asked Dr. Madsen for the details and for what he wants people to know about staying healthy this flu season.

Most people don't consider the emergency room a joyful place for the Yuletide holiday, but accidents can happen anytime. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen says people who visit the ER on Christmas day usually arrive for something serious. Learn what seasonal activities can commonly land people in the ER, and get tips for spending your Christmas holiday safely.

After sitting for a long time you notice one leg is swollen and your calf is painful. Should you go to the ER? Emergency room physician Troy Madsen says the risk of a blood clot in your leg from sitting too long is reason to visit the ER. Find out why sitting for a long time during a car drive or plane flight can be dangerous, who can be at risk, and what you can do to prevent it.

It's the holidays and you've stepped on a glass ornament that fell off the tree. Should you go to the ER? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen says Urgent Care is likely a better option. But don't wait—seek medical attention immediately. Find out which serious symptoms from stepping on broken glass might warrant a trip to the ER, and why.

We’ve all seen those scenes in movies where a dislocated shoulder is shoved back into place. It looks painful, but relatively easy. Can you really do that in real life? More importantly, should you? Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen has the answers, as well as a potential way to pop that shoulder back into place safely if you just can’t make it to an ER.

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.

Pneumonia comes in at No. 8 on the list of top 10 causes of death in the United States. The condition often goes unnoticed and untreated until it has reached a life-threatening point, especially in older patients. So what can you do? University of Utah Health Care emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen explains exactly what pneumonia is and how it can be spotted in your older loved ones before it gets too severe.

Some nights in the emergency room are crazier than others, but how spooky is Halloween night in the ER? With all the costumes, festivities and children running around in the dark, you’d think it’d be a nightmare. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen dishes about what the scariest night in the ER is and some simple tricks to keep you out of the ER this holiday.

The end of civilization as we know it has finally come. Whether it be by robots, zombies, aliens or some other unimaginable event. In your gang of survivors, which medical specialist would be best for your survival? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen gives his picks for the type of doctor most likely to keep you alive after society collapses.

With a severe cut or injury, you need to take action to stop the bleeding immediately. Do you know what to do? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen explains how to correctly stem bleeding in severe injuries and the common, potentially life-threatening, mistakes people can make.

Your child has gone and put something small like a raisin up her nose and it’s stuck. Should you be rushing to the ER? Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen shares a safe, medically supported but potentially gross, home treatment you can try to dislodge an object in your child’s nostril. If you’re brave enough, it might just save you a trip to the ER.

Playing sports can be hard on a body and lead to a serious injury that might need immediate attention. Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen covers the top three most common sports injuries he sees in the emergency room. Find out what they are, how to treat them and when you should go to the ER immediately.

“Prevention is the best type of medicine,” says Dr. Troy Madsen. Working in the ER, Dr. Madsen has seen people on their worst days. So how has this changed his outlook on personal health? Dr. Madsen talks about some lifestyle changes he has made after years of experience in the emergency room.

The overwhelming number of people who are shot go to the ER. Contrary to what a lot of movies and TV shows portray, once a gunshot victim gets to the ER, the most important problem isn’t getting the bullet out as fast as possible. ER providers worry first and foremost about internal damage. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about how to decrease internal damage in gunshot victims before an ambulance arrives.