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The Medical Analogy Podcast

Ricky Commerford & Ben Hauck

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The Medical Analogy Podcast is a riveting podcast series that brings chapters from the groundbreaking textbook "Creative Connections: A Collection of Medical Analogies for Health Professionals" to life, rendering complex medical concepts and pathologies beautifully simple through vivid, relatable analogies. Tune in to transform your understanding of medicine as we journey through a world where science meets storytelling.
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I’m a skeptic searching for the truth in all matters related to science and medicine, especially where it intersects with economics, politics, and public health. The truth is out there and we’re going to find it together...
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Dr. Karen Wolfe is an Australian physician with a mission. She is the leading voice to discern how to use the massive amounts information in the field of nutrition, mind/body medicine and functional medicine. Dr Karen will offer you strategies and plans to take your health to the next level. With scientifically sound principles, she will offer tips, motivation and inspiration to support your total health and wellness.Learn more about her work at http://drkarenwolfe.org/
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Picture the spinal cord as a city's central transportation hub, coordinating movements and sensations. Spinal shock represents the sudden, profound loss of function following an injury, leading to paralysis and sensory loss. Unpack the complexities of this condition, the phased recovery process, and the hope that lies in understanding and innovatio…
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Imagine the brain as a museum, each section a gallery of memories, thoughts, and functions. A traumatic brain injury is like a catastrophic event that damages this precious structure. This episode delves into the impact of external forces on the brain, exploring the spectrum of injuries from concussions to severe damage, their consequences, and the…
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Consider your immune system as the world's most sophisticated defense network, designed to repel all foreign invaders. But what happens when a master of disguise, HIV, infiltrates and begins to dismantle it from within? Explore the stealthy nature of HIV, how it attacks and weakens the immune system, leading to AIDS, and the modern battleground of …
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Visualize the brain and spinal cord as a medieval fortress, strong and impregnable. But when the protective walls are breached by infectious agents, the result is meningitis. Dive into the battle between the body's defenses and invading pathogens, exploring how this serious condition affects the central nervous system, the signs to watch for, and t…
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Imagine your nervous system as a bustling city's electrical grid, efficient and vibrant. But what happens when this system comes under attack from within, causing chaos in the form of Multiple Sclerosis? Join us as we unravel the mystery of this autoimmune disorder, exploring how the body turns against its own protective myelin, disrupting the flow…
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Sepsis is likened to a destructive storm wreaking havoc on a city, symbolising the body's overwhelming and damaging response to infection. Through this metaphor, the urgency and complexity of managing sepsis are conveyed, emphasizing the delicate balance required in the body's response to infection. [Subscribe for twice weekly episodes] Visit the l…
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Anaphylaxis is depicted as a grand ballroom event thrown into chaos by the overreaction of security guards to an allergen intruder, drawing a parallel to the body's exaggerated immune response. This narrative explores the rapid, severe reaction triggered by certain allergens, likening medical interventions to the efforts of event coordinators to re…
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Diabetes is portrayed as a traffic jam in the city's transportation system, where car parking "FOBS" fail to grant vehicles access to the cellular parking garages. This analogy brings to light the challenges of managing blood sugar levels when insulin is deficient or ineffective. The narrative navigates the complexities of Type 1 and Type 2 diabete…
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In this episode Gigantism is likened to an architectural oversight within the city's planning department, causing uncontrolled growth and structural challenges. This allegory examines how an overproduction of growth hormone leads to disproportionate growth, paralleling the issues faced by a city when its infrastructure expands uncontrollably. The n…
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Graves' disease disrupts the body's metabolic harmony, much like rogue elements overtaking a factory and ramping up production beyond capacity. This narrative draws parallels between an overactive thyroid gland and a factory in overdrive, elucidating the systemic impact of excessive thyroid hormone production. It delves into the body's accelerated …
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The Power Plant Crisis: Tackling Adrenal Insufficiency presents an insightful comparison of adrenal insufficiency to a power plant crisis in a bustling city. Imagine the adrenal glands as the city's power plant, essential for energy production and regulatory functions. This episode navigates through the challenges faced when this power plant fails …
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In "The Submerged Dome: Managing Chest Decompression," we explore the critical scenario of chest decompression through an underwater city analogy. Picture the pleural space as protective domes, crucial for maintaining a stable environment. When these domes are breached, threatening the city's stability, it reflects the medical emergency of pneumoth…
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"The Mountain Tunnel: CPAP and BiPAP Therapy" takes us on a journey through the treatment of breathing disorders. Imagine the airways as a mountain tunnel, where CPAP and BiPAP systems act as engineered airflows, ensuring safe passage. This episode delves into how these therapies help patients with obstructive sleep apnoea and other respiratory con…
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"The Collapsing Castle: Tension Pneumothorax Explained" offers a compelling analogy to understand tension pneumothorax. Picture a lung as an inflatable castle at a festive event, suddenly compromised by a puncture. This episode explains how air trapped in the pleural space, akin to the castle's protective layer, leads to lung collapse and severe co…
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"Trouble in the Theatre: Understanding Epiglottitis" presents a dramatic analogy to illustrate the severity of epiglottitis. Imagine the airway as a grand theatre, with the epiglottis as its crucial entrance door. When this door swells and obstructs the entrance, it mimics the life-threatening airway obstruction in epiglottitis. This episode dissec…
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In "The Moroccan Marketplace: Understanding Asthma", we compare Asthma to a bustling marketplace overwhelmed by unexpected obstacles. The airways are like narrow, crowded streets suddenly constricted by overreacting vendors. This analogy illustrates how asthma attacks constrict airways, making breathing a significant challenge. The episode delves i…
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"The Shaken Bottle: Navigating Decompression Illness" takes you on a journey through the explosive challenges of decompression illness. Picture the body as a vigorously shaken carbonated beverage, where a rapid decrease in pressure causes bubbles to form disastrously. This episode explains how similar gas bubbles in the bloodstream lead to severe s…
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Dive into "The Alien Invasion: Decoding Carbon Monoxide Poisoning," where we explore the insidious nature of carbon monoxide, imagined as a group of shape-shifting aliens hijacking your body's oxygen transport system, leading to detrimental effects on a city. [Subscribe for twice weekly episodes] Visit the link to purchase the textbook in Paperback…
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In "The Unyielding Hose: Understanding Aortic Aneurysms," we delve into the complexities of aortic aneurysms through a compelling analogy. Picture the aorta as a garden hose, enduring wear and tear over time, leading to potential ruptures akin to a dissecting aneurysm. This episode explores how these 'tears' within the aorta's layers can lead to li…
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"The Rhythmic Disarray: Unraveling Ventricular Tachycardia" transforms the complexity of VT into an enthralling dance competition analogy. This episode vividly describes how VT is like a rogue dancer disrupting the rhythm, causing chaotic, rapid movements within the heart's ventricles. We delve into the dangers of this erratic 'dance,' its impact o…
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"The Ancient City: COPD's Progressive Battle" vividly portrays Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Imagine an ancient city, representing the lungs, gradually deteriorating over time. This episode unravels how COPD mirrors this decay, with airways and alveoli losing functionality, much like the city's infrastructure. We explore the factors accele…
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In "The Bellows of Life: Mechanics of Breathing Explained," we delve into the vital act of breathing through the analogy of a blacksmith's bellows. Picture the lungs and diaphragm as parts of a bellows, working in unison to sustain life. This episode explores the intricacies of inhalation and exhalation, likened to the expansion and contraction of …
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In "The Parade Disruption: Conquering Croup," we compare croup to a festive parade suddenly disrupted by an unexpected swarm of Bees. This analogy vividly describes the inflammation and narrowing of the upper airways in croup caused by a viral infection. The episode explores the distinctive barking cough and stridor, akin to the chaos of a disrupte…
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'When the City Floods,' delves into cardiogenic acute pulmonary edema, visualized as a city overwhelmed by a sudden storm, where streets (lungs) flood due to a failing drainage system (heart). This episode explores how heart dysfunction leads to fluid in the lungs, akin to urban flooding, and the varied severity of this medical 'downpour.' Join us …
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Restoring Rhythm: The Role of AEDs in Cardiac Arrests, illuminates the lifesaving role of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) through an electrifying city analogy. This episode delves into the urgency and precision of using AEDs, highlighting their vital part in emergency response and increasing survival chances. Join us to discover the power …
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In "The Clock Tower Heart: Understanding Cardiac Pacemakers," we compare the heart to a grand clock tower, the timekeeper of a city. Imagine the heart's rhythm governed by a master pendulum. But what if it falters? This episode explains how pacemakers, like precision-engineered pendulums, keep the heart beating correctly, ensuring the body's intric…
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Guest: Dr Sara Whitburn, GP and sexual health expert How early is too early for perimenopause? And can a change in hormone levels impact your heart? - This podcast series has been made possible by the NSW Government's Menopause Awareness Campaign. For help talking about menopause, download the Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist and take …
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Guest: Dr Sara Whitburn, GP and sexual health expert Dr. Sara answers some tricky questions about changes to our sex lives. - This podcast series has been made possible by the NSW Government's Menopause Awareness Campaign. For help talking about menopause, download the Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist and take it with you to your next …
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Guests: Dr Sara Whitburn, GP and sexual health expert, and Louise Browne, Head of Public Health and Education at Jean Hailes In this episode we discuss why menopause makes us ache all over and whether it’s the real culprit behind our expanding waistlines. - This podcast series has been made possible by the NSW Government's Menopause Awareness Campa…
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Guest: Dr Sara Whitburn, GP and sexual health expert Adult acne; dry, itchy skin; and the other changes that menopause can trigger. - This podcast series has been made possible by the NSW Government's Menopause Awareness Campaign. For help talking about menopause, download the Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist and take it with you to yo…
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Guests: Dr Sara Whitburn, GP and sexual health expert; and Louise Browne, Head of Public Health and Education at Jean Hailes Am I just angry with the world or are rage and anxiety symptoms of menopause? - This podcast series has been made possible by the NSW Government's Menopause Awareness Campaign. For help talking about menopause, download the P…
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Guest: Dr Moira Junge, CEO of the Sleep Health Foundation Why menopause can keep you awake at night and, more importantly, what to do about it. - This podcast series has been made possible by the NSW Government's Menopause Awareness Campaign. For help talking about menopause, download the Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist and take it wi…
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Guest: Dr Sara Whitburn, GP and sexual health expert A discussion about the symptoms that get us hot under the collar. - This podcast series has been made possible by the NSW Government's Menopause Awareness Campaign. For help talking about menopause, download the Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist and take it with you to your next medic…
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Guest: Louise Browne, Head of Public Health and Education at Jean Hailes Louise answers some moving questions about the toll menopause can take on our mental health. - This podcast series has been made possible by the NSW Government's Menopause Awareness Campaign. For help talking about menopause, download the Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Ch…
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Guest: Dr Sara Whitburn, GP and sexual health expert In this episode we talk irregular periods and what it means if your periods stop. - This podcast series has been made possible by the NSW Government's Menopause Awareness Campaign. For help talking about menopause, download the Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist and take it with you to…
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Guest: Louise Browne, Head of Public Health and Education at Jean Hailes Get answers about the not-so-wee problem that troubles many women around menopause. - This podcast series has been made possible by the NSW Government's Menopause Awareness Campaign. For help talking about menopause, download the Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist a…
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Building Lifelines: The Process of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), where we navigate the complexities of heart surgery through a city engineering analogy. This episode delves into how surgeons, like city planners, meticulously create new pathways, ensuring the heart's traffic – blood flow – continues uninterrupted. [Subscribe for twice week…
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Navigating the Highways of Health: Tackling Hypercholesterolemia, we journey through the body's circulatory system, envisioned as a bustling highway. Here, cholesterol travels in lipoprotein 'delivery trucks,' with LDL and HDL representing different vehicle types. Join us to understand the complex dynamics of cholesterol and its impact on our healt…
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Reviving the City - The Power of CPR, paints a vivid picture of a city plunged into darkness due to a power grid failure, an analogy for the human body experiencing cardiac arrest. Join us in understanding how every compression and breath can be a beacon of hope in the darkest times. [Listen & Learn | Explore More] [Subscribe for twice weekly episo…
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Step into a world where the heart is the bustling centre of a lively water park in our latest episode. Here, we explore the vital concept of cardiac output through a vivid and engaging analogy that brings the heart's workings to life. Narrated by the award winning Ben Hauck, this episode promises to change how you visualise one of the body's most c…
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Dive into "Cardiomyopathy - The City's bus system Challenge," where we liken the heart to a city's bus system. In this analogy, the heart's chambers are buses, navigating various mechanical challenges. Discover how cardiomyopathy affects this system where we explore the impact of these issues on the city's (body's) transport efficiency, leading to …
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Explore the heart's electrical intricacies in "The City's Pulse: Deciphering the Electrocardiogram." Imagine an ECG as architects monitoring a city's power grid, with the heart as the central plant. This episode reveals how ECGs detect heart rhythms and diagnose arrhythmias, akin to identifying urban power issues. Narrated by Ben Hauck, we turn an …
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Embark on a captivating ride through the heart's complex highway system in our debut episode. With the city centre as the heart and arteries as roads, we see how traffic jams—atherosclerotic plaques—can cause critical blockages, leading to ACS. Narrated by Ben Hauck, this episode unpacks the emergency response to these arterial obstructions. We exa…
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In this episode, we sit in the auditorium of the heart where the cardiac cells are the orchestra, the sinoatrial node is the conductor, and the rhythm of life is their symphony. The performance is flawless until a rogue musician, an ectopic beat, disrupts the rhythm, causing a frantic pace that the rest of the musicians struggle to follow. We'll ex…
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Welcome to "The Medical Analogy Podcast," where complex medical concepts become clear as day through the art of storytelling. Award-winning voice actor Ben Hauck invites you to this podcast, which is based on the groundbreaking book "Creative Connections: A Collection of Medical Analogies for Health Professionals" by Ricky Commerford. This podcast …
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Every October, the American Society of Anesthesiologists [the ASA] hosts the largest medical specialty meeting of its kind for thousands and thousands of anesthesiologists from around the world. This year’s meeting is being held in San Francisco from October 13th to 17th. To recognize the importance of anesthesia in the evolution of surgery, and to…
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Every October, the American Society of Anesthesiologists [the ASA] hosts the largest medical specialty meeting of its kind for thousands and thousands of anesthesiologists from around the world. This year’s meeting is being held in San Francisco from October 13th to 17th. To recognize the importance of anesthesia in the evolution of surgery, and to…
  continue reading
 
Every October, the American Society of Anesthesiologists [the ASA] hosts the largest medical specialty meeting of its kind for thousands and thousands of anesthesiologists from around the world. This year’s meeting is being held in San Francisco from October 13th to 17th. To recognize the importance of anesthesia in the evolution of surgery, and to…
  continue reading
 
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