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

Sep 11, 2020 • 51min

The Metaphor of Medicare for All, with Dr. John McDonough

Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. John McDonough about Medicare for All. They discuss what the slogan really means, the details of Medicare, who would be covered, what role private insurance companies would play, quality of care, personal values, how much it would cost over ten years and who will pay for it. Dr. McDonough is a professor of practice at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy & Management and Director of the HSPH Center for Executive & Continuing Professional Education. Between 2008 and 2010, he served as a Senior Advisor on National Health Reform to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions where he worked on the writing and passage of the Affordable Care Act. Between 2003 and 2008, he was Executive Director of Healthcare For All, a Massachusetts consumer health advocacy organization, where he played a leading role in the passage of the 2006 Massachusetts Health Reform Law. From 1998 through 2003, he was an associate professor at the Heller School at Brandeis University. From 1985 to 1997, he was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he co-chaired the Joint Committee on Health Care. His articles have appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, Health Affairs and other journals. He has written: Inside National Health Reform in 2011 and Experiencing Politics: A Legislator’s Stories of Government and Health Care in 2000, both by the University of California Press and the Milbank Fund, and Interests, Ideas, and Deregulation: The Fate of Hospital Rate Setting in1998 by the University of Michigan Press. He holds a doctorate in public health from the University of Michigan and a master’s in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. 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

Sep 3, 2020 • 26min

Wellness is a Luxury Brand

Send us a text Wellness is a Luxury Brand. Dr. Eeks explains why. Please come with a sense of humor and an open mind. ;) 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

Aug 31, 2020 • 42min

Mass Shooters, Shootings, The Media's Response & Best Preventive Strategies, with Dr. Jaclyn Schildkraut

Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Jaclyn Schildkraut about the characteristics of mass shooters, mass shootings, the media's role and its impact, and the best, evidence-based prevention and response strategies. Dr. Schildkraut discusses her recent research on school lockdown drills and provides advice on how to conduct them. She also provides trusted websites to visit for helpful tips. Dr. Schildkraut is a national expert on mass shootings. She earned her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Texas State University and is currently an associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at the State University of New York at Oswego. She is highly published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, and the majority of her research focuses on mass and school shootings, media effects, social problems, moral panic, school safety and survivor needs. She's made numerous media appearances and is the author of several books, including Columbine, 20 Years Later and Beyond: Lessons from Tragedy, Mass Shootings, Media, Myths and Realities, and Lights, Camera, Execution!: Cinematic Portrayals of Capital Punishment. Hope you listen, share and subscribe! 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

Aug 28, 2020 • 29min

The Impact of Obesity on COVID-19, a Discussion with Dr. Rami Nakeshbandi and Rohan Maini

Send us a textIn this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Rami Nakeshbandi and Rohan Maini about their research and the paper they recently published in the International Journal of Obesity, The Impact of Obesity on COVID-19 Complications: A Retrospective Cohort Study. The CDC and other health organizations have unequivocally stated that obesity is a significant risk factor for increased severity of COVID-19 infections and clinical outcomes. While it's well established that obesity is a significant risk factor for numerous health problems, Dr. Nakeshbandi and Rohan Maini will discuss the results of their research, particularly differences noted between men and women, ages, fat deposition, what outcomes were significantly impacted, and, perhaps most interestingly, why and how obesity impacts COVID-19 and its link to inflammation. They also use their sample population to elaborate on the causes of obesity and what we can do to prevent or slow down the USA's rising obesity rates. Dr. Nakeshbandi is the Interim Chief Medical Officer at Suny Downstate Medical Center and the Chief Quality Officer. He is also the Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program and is the Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases. Rohan is a 4th year medical student at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, where he cofounded a Street Medicine organization and serves as the director of a student-run asylum clinic. He will be applying for an Internal Medicine residency this year. 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

Aug 23, 2020 • 40min

Doulas, The US Maternal Mortality Rate & The Black Maternal Health Crisis, with Sierra McClain-Henry

Send us a textIn this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Doula and Birth Educator Sierra McClain-Henry about the US maternal mortality rate and the Black maternal health crisis. The US has a shockingly high maternal mortality rate, especially for Black women who are 4x as likely to die as White women, and more likely to die than any other race. Sierra is a certified doula, hypnobirthing instructor, founder of Sankofa Mama Birth Services and founder of the 100 Black Mamas initiative. Sierra is going to talk about her experience as a Black doula, mom and why she feels the maternal mortality rate is so high for Black women and how doulas can play a significant role in creating a positive birth experience. She is also going to talk about her new initiative, 100 Black Mamas, a grassroots birth education project designed to address the Black maternal health crisis by providing comprehensive, holistic and culturally- aware birth education on a scholarship basis. After hearing from Sierra, if you are interested in donating to 100 Black Mamas, please click here. 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

Aug 4, 2020 • 39min

The Hygiene Hypothesis & its Link to the Microbiome, Leaky Gut & Chronic Inflammatory Diseases, with Dr. Alessio Fasano

Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Alessio Fasano about the Hygiene Hypothesis and its connection to our guts, microbiomes and chronic inflammatory diseases. The Hygiene Hypothesis is a proposed explanation that states that improved hygiene in an industrialized world and less exposure to infectious agents ( bacteria & viruses) has led to an increase in chronic inflammatory conditions. ( This is why some supporters of the Hygiene Hypothesis will tell you to take your kids to a farm or play in the dirt.) In this episode, Dr. Fasano discusses how this hypothesis relates to a leaky gut and how our modern way of life may affect our microbiome ( bacteria that live in our gut) in a way that puts us at risk of developing a chronic inflammatory condition. He will discuss the 5 pillars that he believes need to be in place for this to happen, how probiotics and gluten relates to this, and ways we can improve leaky guts. Dr. Fasano is a pediatric gastroenterologist and researcher. He is a professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and professor of nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health. He is the director of the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at Mass General for children and co-director of the Harvard Medical School Celiac Research Program. He's the director of the Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, where he oversees over 50 researchers and staff. Dr. Fasano is credited with discovering Zonulin, a protein responsible for regulating intestinal tight junctions ( and he explains this in the podcast) and he is the author of over 300 peer-reviewed publications. He is considered a world expert on Celiac disease and is in the top 1% of scientists cited worldwide. 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

Jul 24, 2020 • 36min

A Conversation with Dr. Jonas Ludvigsson on Why he Believes it is Safe for Schools to be Open During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Send us a textTo open or not reopen our schools during the COVID-19 pandemic is a contentious topic that is currently being debated by parents, doctors, public health professionals, politicians and teachers. There are strong opinions on both sides of the issue. On this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Jonas Ludvigsson who will explain why he believes it's safe for schools to be open. Dr. Ludvigsson is both a pediatrician and epidemiologist in Sweden. Between 2011-2014, he was the chairman of the Swedish Epidemiological Association and between 2014-2016, he was the chair of the Swedish Society of Pediatrics and has done extensive research in the area of pediatrics, as well as set up the first national gastrointestinal pathology register. He is an honorary professor at Columbia University School of Medicine in New York City and at Nottingham University School of Medicine in the UK. He's on the editorial board of the European Journal of Epidemiology and in 2019, he was named the staff pediatrician for the Swedish Television Station TV4. In May of 2020, he wrote a paper, Children are unlikely to be the main drivers of the COVID-19 pandemic , and he will discuss his current viewpoints on this issue, as it relates to schools. 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!. As always, this is just information and a conversation, not advice! Support the show

Jul 12, 2020 • 1h 6min

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