This Won't Hurt A Bit

Is it over yet? No! So, grab a mask and a bottle of hand sanitizer and cozy up with Mel, Jess, and Dave as they discuss the latest from the front lines of the pandemic: NY vs CA, to mask or not to mask, massage beds vs. ventilators, antibody testing, Dave’s adventures in the grocery aisle, and, of course, when will life get back to normal?

In this episode, Dr. Jessica Mason, Dr. Mel Herbert, and, well, just Dave, cut through the Corona craziness and bring you the latest in COVID-19 news, medical science, and cocktail recipes. Wash your hands, grab your headphones, and enjoy.

In this episode we break down two understudied, but frequently experienced, phenomena: Farts and Hiccups. We cover what’s normal and what’s not, throw around big words like “flatogenicity” and “singultus,” and ask important questions like “can lighting a fart make your butt explode?” We also learn about the longest hiccup bout ever, why Mel refuses to eat vegetables, and more!

This week we’re getting into the weeds on…Marijuana! How safe is it? What’s the difference between smoking it and eating it? And how long has it been around anyway? The team tackles these totally deep questions as well as the recent uptick in marijuana-related ER visits. We leave no stone(r) unturned!

President James Garfield’s life was tragically cut short when a deranged gunman shot him on a train platform, but could modern doctors have saved him? We travel back to the year 1881 to relive that fateful summer day and talk about bullets, miasma, scene safety, and why it’s a bad idea to go digging around in open wounds.

On this episode of This Won’t Hurt a Bit we talk about botulinum toxin. It seems to be everywhere: in your dirt, in your honey, in your celebrities. But how can you stay safe from this deadly poison? And if you get it, can you be saved? Also, Mel teaches us why babies are especially at risk, Jess teaches us why movie stars aren’t just like us, and Dave attempts to describe canning.

What can you do to prepare yourself for common life-threatening situations? In this episode we look at three common scenarios—choking, anaphylaxis, and the unresponsive person—to see what you can do to help. We also talk to expert lifesaver, 8-year-old Andrew Ramirez, about what it takes to be a hero.

You got a fever, and the only prescription is more...antipyretics? In this episode we break down what a fever is, why a fever is, as well as when and how to treat a fever. How hot can a fever get? Can it damage your brain? Is there such thing as a low grade fever? Do emergency departments have fancy Tylenol? All this plus hallucinations, seizures, and the most accurate way to take a temperature (hint: it isn't your mouth).

Warning: This month’s episode might be our most disgusting yet! It’s about the wild world of helminths. What’s a helminth, you ask? A parasitic worm! And it’s looking for one thing: to use your body as an all-you-can-eat restaurant. Special guest Dr. Kenny Bahn joins us to recount his nightmare patient story. And special guest host Josh Kurz joins the crew for some laughter, some tears, and some tips on how to weaponize your parasitic enemies. You’ll never look at sushi the same way again!

In this episode we look back at some questionable medical practices that haven’t quite stood the test of time. How does a smoke enema sound? Or heroin as a cough suppressant? How about blood letting? If your answer is “great!” then you’re into some pretty outdated medicine. For the rest of us, sit back and listen to how far we’ve come and how far we probably have to go.

It’s flu season (in the northern hemisphere) and that means it’s time to vaccinate yourself against common medical misconceptions. In this episode we tackle some of the big questions people have about influenza: What is it? And why should we get vaccinated? Can you get sick from a flu shot? Is the flu basically a bad cold? Does Tamiflu actually do anything? In addition, Dr. Jess Mason does some deep investigative reporting and contracts the flu virus for this episode.

A football helmet, wire cutters, alcohol, a metal detector, cocaine and superglue? Sounds like a recipe for disaster. But each of these things can be found in the ER. This episode Jess and Mel quiz Dave on things that you wouldn't expect to find in the ER. 

This episode might actually hurt just a little bit, as we are talking about animal bites! What are the most common bites? Is a cat or a dog bite worse? How should we treat an animal bite? What is the deal with Rabies? All these questions are answered as well as a discussion about human bites, and the trouble they can cause!

After an extended break, we are back with an episode about all of those things that are found in places they shouldn't be. Mel and Jess tell us all of the wildest "foreign bodies" stories from their time in the ER.

We take a quick look at some of our favorite parts of the season as well as some behind-the-scenes bloopers.

Every year, 1 in 6 people get food poisoning. But, what is food poisoning? What should you do if you get food poisoning? What causes it and how do outbreaks happen?

In this episode we are talking about Radiation. Part of living on Earth is that we are all exposed to low levels of Radiation. We are made of it, we emit it, we exist in it. It can cause disease, it can help us to diagnose disease, and it can be used to treat disease. So, what is it?

Caffeine! Everyone's favorite psychoactive drug. Is caffeine good or bad for you? This episode of This Won't Hurt A Bit we shall discuss how caffeine works, and whether there are any health benefits. We will also explore what happens when you have too much caffeine.

Medicine in the movies! We had so much to discuss about the medicine in these movies, that we made this a two-part special. Up next is The Revenant. We talk about the bear attack scene, the wounds and the realities of what a body could withstand. And of course, the neck cautery scene.

Medicine in the Movies! This week we examine medical procedures in cinema. First up we dissect Pulp Fiction, and the classic Mia Wallace overdose scene. Then, we move onto the post-apocalyptic hit Mad Max:Fury Road. Dr Mel Herbert, Dr Jess Mason & Dave Mason discuss Furiosa's tension pneumothorax and the blood-transfusion between Max and Furiosa.