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
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
A Conversation with Life Coach & Nurse Practitioner Victoria Albina NP, MPH
Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Victoria Albina NP, MPH about her journey from clinical practice to becoming a Certified Life Coach, Certified Breathwork Meditation Facilitator and the host of the Feminist Wellness Podcast. They chat about perfectionism, codependency, authenticity and how Victoria's personal and clinical experience shape the work she is doing now. In addition to being a Nurse Practitioner, Victoria has a Masters degree in Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health and a BA in Latin American Studies from Oberlin College. She has worked in health & wellness for over 20 years and has a passion for helping women to heal mind, body and spirit. To learn more about Victoria Albina, visit her website here. To learn more about the Feminist Wellness Podcast, 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
Jul 12, 2020 • 31min
A Conversation with Artist & Designer Elsha Stockseth
Send us a textIn this Causes or Cures episode, Dr. Eeks chats with artist Elsha Stockseth. Elsha is a 37 year old woman, award-winning artist, racer and the world's greatest U2 fan. She was born with Werdnig-Hoffman Disease, a form of Muscular Dystrophy and progressive muscle weakness. The doctors told her parents that she wouldn't be able to do anything, and although Elsha has never been able to walk, she has accomplished a lot. Elsha is also the designer of the Blooming Wellness ZENBands, the headband, pillow speakers and eye-mask combo that Dr. Stair sells through her website. In this episode, Elsha discusses her journey as an artist. She used to use her arms, but as her muscles grew weaker, and she lost the use of her limbs, she devised a new way to create art without having to use her limbs. It seems there are no obstacles this woman can't overcome. She also describes the races in which she participates and how she participates in them, what inspires her, and what it was like to meet Bono and U2 13 times. To learn more about Elsha and view her art, please click here. 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
Jul 1, 2020 • 35min
COVID-19: How Cytokine Storms Can Lead to Strokes, with Doctor Ricardo Jose
Send us a textThere has been a lot of chatter in the news about COVID-19, increased clotting, and the possibility of strokes in old and young people in their thirties and forties. How does this happen? And what can we do about it? In this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Ricardo Jose who has over ninety publications in the area of respiratory (lung) infections and how they affect us systemically. He is a Respiratory Consulting Physician at the Royal Brompton and HareField NHS Hospital in London who has a special interest in how inflammation caused by lung infections relates to coagulation (clotting). He has published several papers on COVID-19, one of the most recent ones being in the Lancet: COVID-19 cytokine storm: the interplay between inflammation and coagulation. You don't have to be a doctor or have a scientific background to listen to this. In easy-to-understand terms, he will explain what causes the cytokine storm, how that relates to coagulation and clot formation, how doctors are currently addressing it and what we have to worry about. He also covers the latest evidence, including the use of steroids for certain cases, and provides ideas on future approaches. This is a great episode for anyone who wants to learn more about COVID-19 and how it affects the body, as well as anyone concerned that he/she or his/her loved ones might become affected one day. Please note: This isn't medical advice! This is a conversation with the hopes of shedding more light around the medical side of the pandemic in an easy-to-understand way.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
Jun 29, 2020 • 43min
Inconsistent Public Health Messaging, Political & Industry Bias, & How People Respond: In the Age of COVID-19
Send us a textWhile this podcast focuses on what's happening with COVID-19, it could be applied to any public health intervention in present times. In this episode, Dr. Eeks discusses inconsistencies in public health messaging, political and industrial biases, and how those factors interact and impact how people will respond. She explains why consistent and objective public health messaging is more important now than ever. She discusses how inconsistent messaging and underlying biases will affect who people trust when it comes to healthcare advice, who wears a face mask and who doesn't, who complies with future lockdown or social distancing orders and how these factors will affect vaccine hesitancy, which is clearly on the rise. 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
Jun 27, 2020 • 37min
Content vs Label Claim on CBD Products, with Dr. Bill Gurley
Send us a text CBD products are incredibly popular and marketed for numerous health ailments. But do they do what they claim to do? Do they contain what they claim to contain? When it comes to CBD products or supplements, how do we know who to trust? In this episode, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Bill Gurley, the principal scientist at the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi. Dr. Gurley has studied commercial supplements for over 25 years and recently did a study analyzing the content in commercial CBD Products vs the claims made on the label. He talks about the study's findings, CBD products in general, the supplement industry and things to watch for, and tips for distinguishing "good" CBD products and supplements from "not so good" ones. 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
May 30, 2020 • 31min
The Effectiveness of Face Masks with Dr. Benjamin Cowling
Send us a text What is the evidence for wearing a face mask? Can it significantly slow the spread, or no? Who should wear a face mask and when should a face mask be worn? What's the most effective face mask? Should we keep them handy for a second (or third) viral wave? These questions and more are answered in this podcast. In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks has a conversation with Dr. Benjamin Cowling, who recently published a study on the effectiveness of face masks in Nature Medicine. But more than that, he's been researching the pandemic since its initial outbreak in Wuhan, China, and authored several of the first papers, like this one in the New England Journal of Medicine, on the characteristics of the virus as well as its transmission dynamics. Dr. Benjamin Cowling is the Head of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the School of Public Health at Hong Kong University. He earned his PhD in medical statistics at the University of Warwick and did his postdoc fellowship at the Imperial College in London. In addition to leading the Epidemiology department, he is a co-director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control.His primary area of research is infectious disease epidemiology, including modes of respiratory virus transmission, influenza vaccination effectiveness and immunity to infections on the individual and population level. He works closely with China CDC and the NIGMS-funded Harvard Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics. Dr. Cowling's has over 426 publications, is a fellow of the Royal Statistical Society and a Fellow of the UK Faculty of Public Health. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, and an Associate Editor of Emerging Infectious Diseases. 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!Consider subscribing & sharing! Thank you! Support the show
May 24, 2020 • 32min
The Effectiveness of Supplements for Male Infertility and Erectile Dysfunction, an Interview with Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy
Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks interviews Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy about the effectiveness of the most popular commercial supplements for male fertility and erectile dysfunction. He recently published two papers on these topics and provides the most up-to-date evidence. He also discusses his recommendations for both of these issues, lifestyle interventions and provides interesting information on how marijuana may affect both male fertility and erectile dysfunction. Dr. Ramasamy is the Director of Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery at the University of Miami in Florida. He is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Urology. He specializes in male infertility and sexual dysfunction. He completed his Urology residency at Cornell Medical College and then a fellowship in Male Reproductive Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. He has published over 100 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and is on the editorial board of several journals. He also created the "Urology" App. You can contact Dr. Eeks at bloomingwellness.com.Follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Or Facebook here.Or Twitter.Listen to her short audio parody on the wellness industry here.Subcribe to her newsletter here!Support the show
