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 (ErinKate Stair, MPH, MD) works as a consultant in the realm of public health, applied epidemiology, and health communication. 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. If you are battling an individual health issue, always check in with your doctor & don't run with anything on podcast as 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.) While she has a MD, she does not practice medicine (she's a full-time public health nerd) so she does not give out medical advice nor should you treat anything on this podcast as medical advice. 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 on various public health projects. You can help keep Causes or Cure independent and ad-free by hitting the "Support" button in the upper corner.You can contact Dr. Eeks through her website, bloomingwellness.com.SIGN UP for her Newsletter HERE: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/xnqmy06
Episodes
Mentioned books
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 • 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
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
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 • 45min
PCOS and Obesity: What's the Best Diet & Lifestyle for Weight Loss, with Dr. Geranne Jiskoot
Send us a textPCOS affects millions of people all over the world. It's associated with high rates of infertility, depression, anxiety and obesity. It's difficult for those struggling with PCOS to lose weight, which can by itself fuel feelings of depression and anxiety.In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Geranne Jiskoot, a researcher and therapist who works in the Department of Reproductive Medicine and Department of Medical Psychotherapy at Erasmus MC in the Netherlands. She works daily with people with PCOS and weight struggles and has done research on what the best diet, exercises and lifestyle modifications are for people with PCOS to lose and maintain a healthy weight. In this podcast, she will discuss the link between PCOS and obesity, what diet, therapies and lifestyle modifications the research supports or doesn't support, and she will also dispel popular myths. 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
Dec 5, 2020 • 34min
What's the Relationship Between Blood Type and COVID-19? With Dr. Christopher Latz
Send us a textWe hear a lot about blood type and COVID-19, but is there a significant relationship? Do certain blood types increase one's risk of getting COVID-19 or increase one's risk of having a more severe infection, or even dying? Do certain blood types lower the risk of getting COVID-19 and/or having a serious infection? And if there is a connection, what is the mechanism of action? To answer some of these questions, Dr. Chrisophter Latz joins Dr. Eeks on Causes or Cures. Dr. Latz is specializing in vascular surgery at Harvard Medical School affiliate, Massachusetts General Hospital. He received his MD from Texas A&M College of Medicine and his MPH from the Harvard Chan School of Public Health. He has advanced training in observational research and recently authored a study on blood type and COVID-19 that was published earlier this year.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
Dec 5, 2020 • 49min
"Why Couldn't the US Respond to COVID-19 like Singapore Did?" With Dr. Walid Jumblatt Abdullah
Send us a textSince the beginning of the pandemic, the US has been comparing its response to other countries. People who aren't happy with how the US responded to COVID-19 often say, "Why couldn't we respond like Singapore did?" They say this because Singapore has been praised for its response and has an extremely low mortality rate. So, why was Singapore so successful in its pandemic response? Would it be possible for a country like the US to respond in a similar way? What's the difference between our public health and political systems and populations? To answer these questions and more, Dr. Walid Jumblatt Abdullah joins Dr. Eeks on Causes or Cures. Dr. Abdullah is a professor of social sciences and researcher at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He recently published a critical assessment of Singapore's response to COVID-19. His areas of research include political systems and elections, state-religion relations, political Islam and Southeast Asia politics. 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
