Causes Or Cures

Send us a textIn this podcast, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Cecilia Rikap of Argentina, Dr. Marc-Andre Gagnon of Canada and Dr. Mercedes Garcia Carrillo of Argentia who, along with a few other researchers, conducted a study and wrote a paper titled: "Whose shoulders is health research standing on? Determining the key actors and contents of the prevailing biomedical research agenda."In the podcast, they will discuss what the dominant biomedical research agenda is and why it's so important; what its chief contents are; the players that have the most influence over the dominant research agenda (including how much industry influences it), and what is not included in the agenda and why that is important. They will also suggest ways to improve the contents of the agenda and ensure that no one has a monopoly over influencing it. In addition, they talk a little about science, funding and vaccine access as it relates to the current pandemic.Dr. Mercedes García Carrillo is a biologist and a CONICET postdoctor

Send us a textWe hear a lot about COVID Long Haulers and the symptoms they experience, but are there any predicting factors for becoming one? In this podcast, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Chuck Downs about his ongoing research on COVID Long Haulers. He discusses predicting factors for becoming a Long Hauler ( including age, sex, BMI); one's risk of becoming a COVID Long Hauler when he/she has asymptomatic COVID vs symptomatic COVID; the most common long-haul symptoms and how long they last; if vaccinations help Long Haulers or not, and the predominant theories about why long-haul symptoms happen in some people.Dr. Downs was the Associate Dean for Research at the University of Miami and is an Associate Professor at the School of Nursing and Health Studies. He and his team have published several papers on COVID long-haul symptoms. 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

Send us a textMany countries and states are considering vaccine passports that would show proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to enter certain places and do certain things. While the idea has merit, there are many ethical, legal and social concerns. In this podcast, Dr. Eeks chats with Dimitry Kochenov, "The Passport Professor", about concerns over vaccine passports, including privacy issues; the further stigmatization of marginalized communities; the "immunoprivileged"; what we know and don't know about the science of the vaccines; the potential for the politicalization of vaccines; who will enforce vaccine passports; and personal liberties vs government mandates. Dimitry Kochenov leads the Rule of Law research group at CEU Democracy Institute in Budapest and teaches Global Citizenship at CEU Legal Studies department in Vienna. He's an author, having written the book Citizenship and several scholarly papers, and has been a researcher or professor at numerous universities, inc

Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Steven Hyman about PANDAS, Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections. A child with PANDAS might have a Strep throat infection and then develop psychiatric symptoms soon after. Dr. Hyman will discuss what PANDAS is, why it's considered controversial, what the medical community thinks about it and their approach, research shortcomings, how potential patients with PANDAS are treated and how that treatment is different than conventional psychiatric treatment, as well as prognosis and outcomes. He also will discuss the broader implications of PANDAS, which is a bacterial or viral infection being the cause of psychiatric symptoms and disorders in both adults and kids, and what that means for the future of the field. Dr. Hyman is a trained psychiatrist and director of the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. He is a graduate of Yale and Harvard Medica

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

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 o

Send us a textIvermectin 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 Al

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 Geneti

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 bei

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&

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 In

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

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 newslette

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.Subcr

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.O

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

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

Send us a textIn this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with JL Keez,  founder of Anorexia Unlocked, a powerful online program to help people overcome anorexia and other eating disorders. JL suffered from anorexia for years, after a history of family sexual abuse, bullying, depression, suicidal thoughts and not knowing who she truly was. When she finally met the right person who could help her, she made a full recovery and went on to become a counselor specializing in reality therapy. She will discuss the darkest parts of her story, her recovery journey and what she can offer those who are currently struggling. To learn more about JL, her upcoming book,  or to try the Anorexia Unlocked program, visit her website 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

Send us a textWhile most people are focused on vaccines, face masks and lockdowns, some doctors are trying to get people to focus on, or at least consider, early ambulatory treatment for COVID-19. This means care that is initiated right when a person is diagnosed or starts to show symptoms, while he/she is still at home or self-isolating, and well before a person has to go to the hospital. These doctors believe early ambulatory treatment would significantly reduce hospitalizations and deaths.In this podcast, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Peter McCullough, an internist, cardiologist and epidemiologist who authored a paper on this topic that included a protocol for early treatment. The protocol lists specific drugs to use and when to use them. Dr. McCullough discusses the rationale behind this protocol, what other countries are doing for early ambulatory treatment ( things that the US is not doing), and why the media is not addressing early ambulatory care since he believes it could save many lives.Dr. McCullough is

Send us a textPrior to the current pandemic, the news cycle was dominated by the opioid epidemic,  a beast that has taken the lives of many people from all walks of life. Just yesterday, the Sackler family's Purdue Pharma, the maker of Oxycontin, plead guilty to federal criminal charges related to the marketing and selling of opioids. Universities, like NYU, just announced that they are removing the Sackler family name from their campuses. Many other drug companies face serious legal issues. Prior to COVID-19, the opioid crisis was the top public health issue that everyone was talking about. National, state and local governments were desperate to find ways to address it. It was a top election issue. Since COVID-19, the opioid epidemic has been removed from the spotlight..., but it has not gone away. In fact, it's gotten significantly worse. We just aren't talking about it as much. In this podcast, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. John Kelly about the current state of the opioid epidemic. Dr. Kelly will