logo
episode-header-image
Jul 28
1h 3m

Ep 217 The High Stakes of Cholesterol

Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

So your latest blood test results have come in, and you see a couple of numbers for cholesterol. What do those numbers mean, and why do we care about them? In this first part of our cholesterol miniseries, we break down the science behind this compound and trace how we made the link between certain types of cholesterol and heart disease. First, we follow the path that cholesterol takes in our bodies and what LDL and HDL mean in the context of heart disease. Then we delve into the history of this compound, which involves an over 2 billion year journey back in time, fascinating experiments that revealed the stubborn nature of medicine, and a terrible - but hopefully memorable - baseball analogy. Tune in for the low down on cholesterol.

Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/3WwtIAu

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Jul 21
Ep 216 Cyclospora: Explosive Diarrhea Everywhere
You’ve seen the headlines: a food-borne parasite is infecting people across the US, leaving them chained to the toilet sometimes for weeks on end, as they are ravaged by wave after wave of gastrointestinal upset. What the heck is cyclosporiasis and where did it come from? How sca ... Show More
54m 38s
Jul 14
Special Episode: Alev Scott & Cash Cow
Social media ads for egg freezing. A craigslist-like site for breast milk. Fertility fairs featuring IVF clinics alongside shamanic nutritionists. Surrogacy contracts offering a discount for multiple embryos. The rapidly-growing global fertility industry promises hope, fulfillmen ... Show More
48m 49s
Jul 7
Ep 215 The Hidden Depths of Earwax
In keeping with last week’s theme of “bodily excretions that are kinda gross that you don’t really think about but are actually really important”, we’re devoting this episode to earwax, aka cerumen. In one hour, we somehow manage to weave together stories of earwax impaction, mis ... Show More
54m 3s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2021
Presenting Science Vs.: Hunting A Killer Virus
An adventuring Swedish doctor takes on a decades-long medical mystery: What exactly was the 1918 flu? This week, we’re sharing an episode of Science Vs, a podcast from Gimlet, a Spotify Studio. They talk to Dr. Johan Hultin, Eileen Hultin, Dr. Jeffery Taubenberger, Ann Reid, Rita ... Show More
35m 24s
Oct 2021
IBCC Episode 118 - Necrotising Fasciitis
In this episode, we cover that scary presentation where your patient goes from seemingly well, to skin melting off and in multi organ failure. Come take a listen for all things clinical presentation, anti-toxin antibiotics regimes, skin cut downs and surgical debridement. 
25m 16s
Oct 2024
The 2 Minute Medicine® Podcast- Episode 49
In the first half of this episode, we cover our article of the week which comes from the New England Journal of Medicine and is entitled “Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir or Daily F/TAF for HIV Prevention in Cisgender Women”. In the second half, we begin with a discussion about a new gen ... Show More
12m 11s
Aug 2023
Prepping for pandemics, and pursuing Perseids
This week, we'll find out about preparations for the next pandemic and "disease X"; the link between a noticeably enlarged part of the human brain and obesity; and how honey sweetened the deal for an injured cricketer! Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Sci ... Show More
28m 12s
Nov 2023
The 2 Minute Medicine® Podcast- Episode 27
<p>We begin this episode by discussing our article of the week from Pediatrics, entitled “COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Parents: A Qualitative Study”.</p> <p>In the second half of our episode, we start off by discussing the issue of performance-enhancing drugs in sports follow ... Show More
12m 2s
Apr 2021
When Truth is Stranger Than Fiction
Pandemics and apocalyptic diseases have long fascinated both writers and readers, but will we want to read about living through Covid-19? CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta hears from writers and industry experts about the past and future of pandemics in fiction. To ... Show More
10m 15s
Nov 2021
COVID Quickly, Episode 18: Vaccines for Kids and the Limits of Natural Immunity
Today we bring you a new episode in our podcast series COVID, Quickly. Every two weeks, Scientific American’s senior health editors Tanya Lewis and Josh Fischman catch you up on the essential developments in the pandemic: from vaccines to new variants and everything in between. ... Show More
7m 48s
Jan 2022
MRSA, The Metaverse & Medical Milestones
We are looking into the science behind the headlines in the first week of 2022 - including a medical update on omicron and how this variant impacts disease severity, a review of some of the top games and gadgets to look out for in the year ahead, a celebration marking 100 years s ... Show More
57m 43s
Jul 2022
From Revisionist History: Way to Go, Ohio
We’re sharing a bonus episode from our friends at Revisionist History, Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast about things misunderstood and overlooked. This season, Malcolm’s obsessed with experiments – natural experiments, scientific experiments, thought experiments. In this preview, you’l ... Show More
12m 50s