Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

An infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites from the Plasmodium family that can be transmitted by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito or by a contaminated needle or transfusion. Falciparum malaria is the most deadly type. The symptoms of malaria include cycles of chills, fever, sweats, muscle aches and headache that recur every few days. There can also be vomiting, diarrhea, coughing,…

A vague feeling of discomfort, one that cannot be pinned down but is often sensed as ‘just not right.’

Softening. For example, osteomalacia is softening of bone, usually due to deficiency of calcium and vitamin D.

Poor intestinal absorption of nutrients. Malabsorption can occur from diseases that injure the bowels, such as Crohn’s disease, Whipple’s disease, celiac disease, and many others.

A disease with certain characteristic signs and symptoms that interferes with the ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. The characteristic signs and symptoms of major depression include loss of interest in activities that were once interesting or enjoyable, including sex; loss of appetite (anorexia) with weight loss or overeating with weight gain; loss…

In general, something that is more than something else. For example, the teres major muscle is larger than the teres minor muscle.

Treatment designed to help the original primary treatment to succeed. Maintenance therapy may be given to patients who have cancer that is in remission to prevent a relapse.

A procedure that uses magnetism, radio waves, and a computer to create pictures of areas inside the body. Abbreviated MRI. An MRI is painless and has the advantage of avoiding x-ray radiation exposure. There are no known risks of an MRI. The benefits of an MRI relate to its precise accuracy in detecting structural abnormalities of the body.…

Magnetic therapy, also called magnetic field therapy and bioenergy therapy, is an alternative therapy that uses magnets of varying sizes and strengths that are placed on the body to relieve pain and treat disease. Thin metal magnets are attached to the body alone or in groups. They can be worn as bracelets or necklaces, attached…

A remarkably versatile compound administered intramuscularly and intravenously as an anticonvulsant and as a tocolytic agent (to halt premature labor), taken by mouth as a fast-acting laxative, and applied locally as an anti-inflammatory. Informally called mag sulfate. Also known as Epsom salt.