

Causes or Cures
Dr. Eeks
"For the Nerds and the Nerd Nots"Causes or Cures is a health podcast hosted by Dr. Eeks—an independent, grassroots show driven by curiosity and a passion for breaking down complex health topics into bite-sized, easy-to-understand insights. Dr. Eeks works as a public health consultant, in the realm of epi/scicomms. She's all about making science relatable and often uses a blue-collar sense of humor to drive the message home.On this podcast, Dr. Eeks talks with experts from around the world (doctors, researchers, public health pros, and more) to dive into the latest hot topics in health and research, all in a down-to-earth kind of way. She also includes people with compelling stories of healing and "characters" because life is too boring and short to leave out characters. ;)DISCLAIMER: Some topics are more controversial than others, so keep in mind that this is information only and not health advice. Dr. Eeks doesn't endorse any of her guests' views, and despite a strict health routine, nor does she endorse any products, supplements, oils, magic socks or potions. If an episode is sponsored by a company she likes, she will say so in the show notes! Causes or Cures is not a "news site." It's about having conversations, and Dr. Eeks is confident that she can have a respectful conversation with anyone, even people who think far differently than she does. (At least that's been her experience at hole-in-the-walls & on the NYC sidewalks.) The point is to not take anything here as Gospel. Sometimes Dr. Eeks' dog Barnaby makes his opinion known, but the good news is that he's a smart dog. Most importantly, she hopes this podcast encourages folks to stay curious, empathic, hopeful, compassionate, honest, open-minded, and engaged. Freedom of discussion is a beautiful thing, delightfully messy, and one that many take for granted.*The views on this podcast do not reflect the views of anyone she contracts with or consults for. You can contact Dr. Eeks through her website, bloomingwellness.com.If you are interested in sponsoring an episode, write erin@bloomingwellness.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 28, 2021 • 33min
How Proning is Saving Patients' Lives during the Pandemic, with Dr. Sandra Zaeh
Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with lung doctor, Dr. Sandra Zaeh, about how proning is saving the lives of COVID-19 patients. It's a very cost-effective technique that requires little resources, and Dr. Zaeh will explain what it is, the theory behind why it works, the ideal patients for it and how it's done. We will also discuss the evidence for proning in different patient populations. Dr. Zaeh is a fellow in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital who has done research on proning. Support the show

Mar 15, 2021 • 1h 11min
What's a Near Death Experience? With Dr. Walter van Laack
Send us a textWhat is a Near Death Experience? Is it a glimpse into what happens after we die or is it a side effect of something happening inside the brain as the body shuts down? Dr. Walter van Laack joins Dr. Eeks on this episode of Causes or Cures to discuss near death experiences. In addition to being an orthopaedic surgeon and professor of medicine at the Fachhochschule Aachen in Germany, he is one of the most popular researchers worldwide on the topic of Near Death Experiences. He's written many books on the topic, newspaper columns and has appeared on numerous shows. In this episode, he will discuss what a near death experience is, how they are most commonly described, the current evidence base and theories for how and why they happen, and his theory of 2 polar-symmetrical worlds, the informational world and the physical world. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.Read Manic Kingdom here.Listen to her short audio parody on the wellness industry here.Subcribe to her newsletter here!Support the show

Feb 26, 2021 • 59min
The Story of Ivermectin and COVID-19, with Dr. Pierre Kory
Send us a textDisclaimer: Causes or Cures is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, and no medical claims are being made. Always talk to a qualified healthcare provider about your personal health. Ivermectin is an anti-parasite drug that has been used in human and animal medicine for many years. Early in the pandemic, it was suggested that it might help prevent and/or treat COVID-19. The NIH felt there was not enough evidence to support its use against COVID-19 and in August made a recommendation AGAINST its use. In early January of 2021, the NIH invited doctors from the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance ( FLCCC), a group of crtical care physicians who strongly advocated for the use of Ivermectin for COVID-19, to present evidence for its use to their Treatment Guidance Panel. Following that meeting, the NIH removed their recommendation against its use, leaving it up to individual doctors. The WHO is currently assessing a new meta-analysis by Dr. Andrew Hill et al of Liverpool ( in preprint) on the evidence for Ivermectin and should make a ruling on its use soon. One of the doctors to provide testimony on the benefits of Ivermectin is Dr. Pierre Kory, the president of the FLCCC Alliance. He presented evidence to both the NIH and the Senate Homeland Security Committee in a video that has now gone viral and gained millions of views. He joins Dr. Eeks on this episode of Causes or Cures to discuss Ivermectin in detail, the current evidence base for its use in treatment and prevention, the dosing riddle, and how he responds to critics. He also discusses how he thinks the future of the pandemic will play out. Dr. Kory is a pulmonary and critical care specialist and considered a world pioneer in the use of ultrasound in the diagnosis and treatment of critically ill patients. In addition to numerous publications, he developed the first national course in Critical Care Ultrasonography in the US and is the senior editor of the most popular textbook in the field titled "Point of Care Ultrasound." The book is translated into 7 languages worldwide. During the pandemic, he has led ICUS in multiple COVID-19 hotspots, including New York City, Greenville and Milwaukee. He helped author 2 protocols regarding the use of Ivermectin in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19, which you can find here. Early on in the pandemic, he received widespread criticism for promoting the use of dexamethasone as treatment for COVID-19. Month later, and after more research emerged, dexamethasone became a standard part of treatment for COVID-19 patients. ***Please keep in mind that at the time of this podcast, Ivermectin is NOT approved for use for COVID-19. You should NEVER take Ivermectin outside a doctor's supervision. This podcast is information only and never to be taken as medical or health advice.You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.Read Manic Kingdom here.Listen to her Support the show

Feb 25, 2021 • 1h 45min
Antibody-Dependent Enhancement & Vaccine Development, with Dr. Robert Malone
Send us a textThere are several viral videos with millions of views referencing something called Antibody-Dependent Enhancement as a potential effect of COVID-19 vaccines or vaccines in general. Some make very bold claims and it's difficult to sort fact from fiction from hyperbole in these videos. On today's episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks will chat with Dr. Robert Malone about Antibody-Dependent Enhancement and how it relates to vaccine development. He will describe it in an easy-to-understand way, discuss the specifics of vaccine development, antibodies, COVID-19 and his thoughts on herd immunity and the future of the pandemic. Dr. Malone is a physician, vaccinologist, scientist and internationally recognized as one of the original inventors of DNA and mRNA Vaccination technology. He has done extensive research and clinical development in the areas of clinical trial design and vaccines, gene therapy, biodefense and immunology. In 2014, he built and led the initial team, under NewLink Genetics, that took the Canadian rVSVZEBOV-G Ebola vaccine from an abandoned vaccine candidate to a viable contender and eventually a successful vaccine for Ebola. He has worked with numerous high-level government and private organizations and has been involved in the design, development and oversight of over 40 Phase 1 Clinical trials, 20 Phase 2 clinical trials and 5 Phase 3 trials. His infectious disease pathogen advanced development oversight include HIV, Influenza, Plague, Anthrax, Tularemia, Tb, Ebola, Zika, Ricin toxin, Botulinum toxin and engineered pathogens. He has over 100 peer-reviewed papers, over 11 thousand citations and has sat on or served as chairperson on many NIAID and DoD study sections. You can learn more about his consulting firm and background here. Please keep in mind that this podcast is information only and never to be taken as medical or health advice.You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.On Youtube.SUBSCRIBE to her newsletter here!Support the show

Feb 10, 2021 • 43min
NFL Football Players & Modifiable Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline, with Dr. Andrea Roberts
Send us a textMany people realize that a history of head trauma or concussions is significantly linked to cognitive decline and/or dementia later in life. More awareness has been created about this issue specifically in retired NFL players who take a lot of hits to the head during their professional playing years. Harvard's Football Players Health Study studies this issue and others in retired NFL players. While the link between head trauma and later-life cognitive decline is clear, are there any modifiable factors, or things a former player can do to lower his risk of cognitive decline? Dr. Andrea Roberts, one of the researchers involved with the Football Players Health Study, studied this in-depth and published several studies related to this issue. She joins Dr. Eeks in this episode of Causes or Cures to talk about those risk factors and what football players can do to lower their risk. She also discusses what positions are most at risk, what parents should do if they are worried about their kids being hurt and what more can be done to address this issue overall. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.Read Manic Kingdom here.Listen to her short audio parody on the wellness industry here.Subcribe to her newsletter here!Support the show

Feb 10, 2021 • 53min
What is Broken Heart Syndrome & Why it Happens, with Cardiologist Dr. Antonio Abbate
Send us a textCountless songs, poems, movies and books are about heartbreaks. We often hear people talk about their broken hearts. Maybe your heart has been broken before, maybe it's breaking now. While none of that is to be taken literally and are expressions for how many of us will feel at some point in time..., did you know that there is actually a medical condition called Broken Heart Syndrome? It's sometimes called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress cardiomyopathy, and it's linked to states of mental or physical distress. In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Antonio Abbate, a cardiologist who has researched this topic and treats patients with it, chats with Dr. Eeks about all-things Broken Heart Syndrome. He describes what it is, in simple terms, why it happens and when, who is most at risk, how you diagnose and treat it and what your chances are of getting it more than once. He'll also talk about interesting cases he's seen and risk factors you wouldn't think about. It's a fascinating discussion that will make you think differently next time you hear someone's heart is broken. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.Read Manic Kingdom here.Listen to her short audio parody on the wellness industry here.Subcribe to her newsletter here!Support the show

Jan 23, 2021 • 41min
Transgender Athletes, Policies and the Best Path Forward, with Dr. Timothy Roberts
Send us a textWhat policies should and should not be in place for transgender athletes to compete in sports is a hotly debated topic. There are different rules and regulations for the elite level vs high school vs youth. But what should the path forward look like? What does the science show and how can we use that to implement better policies? In this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Timothy Roberts, a researcher and physician who studies this topic. He is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and the director of Adolescent Medicine. He recently published a study on transgender athletes in the The British Journal of Sports Medicine that was widely cited in the media and on social media. On this podcast, he will discuss the findings of his study, differences in policies for transgender athletes at the elite, high school and youth levels, and what he thinks is the best path forward. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.Read Manic Kingdom here.Listen to her short audio parody on the wellness industry here.Subcribe to her newsletter here!Support the show

Jan 23, 2021 • 34min
GERD: Specific Lifestyle and Dietary Changes One Can Make to Prevent & Treat It, with Dr. Raaj Mehta
Send us a textGERD is a common, painful and annoying health issue, but are there evidence-based changes people can make to prevent and/or treat it? In this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Raaj Mehta, an internal medicine physician and gastroenterology fellow at the Massachussetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, who recently published a study in JAMA on specific lifestyle changes and dietary changes one can make to prevent GERD and/or improve treatment outcomes. He will talk about those factors in this podcast, along with the best medication options for GERD and any long-term side effects that should concern people. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.Read Manic Kingdom here.Subcribe to her newsletter here!Support the show

Dec 29, 2020 • 56min
Adults' & Kids' Mental Health, Addiction & Alcohol Use During the LockDowns, with Dr. Conor Farren
Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Conor Farren about mental health and addiction during the pandemic, and particularly during the lockdowns. Dr. Farren will discuss the trends he's seeing, differences between adults and kids, alcohol use and the link between alcohol and suicides, what people should do if they think they need help and how to find help that actually works. Dr. Farren is a consulting psychiatrist at St. Patrick's University Hospital in Dublin and a senior lecturer at Trinity Dublin. He is an international expert on addiction and alcohol-use and has written several books on this topic, as well as conducted years of research. He also developed UControl Health, an evidence-based digital intervention for alcohol use and addictions.You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.Read Manic Kingdom here.Listen to her short audio parody on the wellness industry here.Subcribe to her newsletter here!Support the show

Dec 24, 2020 • 48min
All About the COVID-19 Vaccines with Infectious Disease Doctor Andrew Fleming
Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Andrew Fleming about the new COVID-19 vaccines that were recently produced and the ones still undergoing testing. They chat about what the vaccines do and what they don't do, safety concerns, ingredients and adjuvants, the potential for antibody dependent enhancement (and what that is), how long immunity is expected to last and immunity to COVID-19 in general. They also talk about how long people will be expected to wear face masks and why. Dr. Fleming is an infectious disease doctor and researcher at NYU Langone Hospital in New York City. He has done research on antibody responses, particularly antibody responses to COVID-19. To contact Dr. Eeks, do so through bloomingwellness.comTo read or listen to her new comedic parody on the sleazy side of the wellness industry, check out Yours in Wellness, Krystal Heeling on Amazon.Or you can listen to it from Google Play or Walmart! Or follow her on Instagram here. Or Facebook here.Subcribe to her newsletter here!Support the show