Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

An instrument to help in hearing. There are four common styles of hearing aids. From largest to smallest, they are: There is also a body hearing aid for very severe hearing loss. In general, hearing aids should ideally be binaural (in both ears), if the hearing loss involves both ears.

Health risk: an adverse event or negative health consequence due to a specific event, disease, or condition. For example, the health risks of obesity include diabetes, joint disease, increased likelihood of certain cancers, and cardiovascular disease. All of these consequences are related to obesity and are therefore health risks associated with obesity. A health risk may be related to genetic conditions, chronic…

A global health movement undertaken by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the late 20th century. In 1977, the World Health Assembly decided that the major social goal of governments and WHO should be the attainment by all people of the world by the year 2000 of a level of health that would permit them to lead…

As officially defined by the World Health Organization, a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the head (occipital), or in the back of the upper neck. Headache, like chest pain or back ache, has many causes. All headaches are considered primary headaches or secondary headaches. Primary headaches are not associated with other diseases. Examples…

The syndrome of familial Hypoparathyroidism, sensorineural Deafness, and Renal dysplasia. Inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, the syndrome is caused by haploinsufficiency of the GATA3 gene in chromosome 10p. The hypoparathyroidism causes hypocalcemia (a low level of calcium in blood) and lifelong fatigue and depression. The deafness is congenital (present at birth). The kidney dysplasia (malformations) can lead to nephrosis and progressive renal failure. Some patients have micrognathia (small chin) and no teeth. Haploinsufficiency…

High density lipoprotein cholesterol. Lipoproteins, which are combinations of fats (lipids) and proteins, are the form in which lipids are transported in the blood. HDLs transport cholesterol from the tissues of the body to the liver, so the cholesterol can be eliminated in the bile. HDL cholesterol is therefore considered the ‘good’ cholesterol: The higher the HDL cholesterol level, the lower the…

High density lipoprotein. Lipoproteins are combinations of lipids (fats) and proteins. They are the form in which lipids are transported in the blood. The high density lipoproteins transport cholesterol from the tissues of the body to the liver so it can be gotten rid of in the bile. HDL cholesterol is therefore considered the “good” cholesterol. The higher the HDL cholesterol level, the lower…

HCV PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is a test for the hepatitis C virus (HCV). There are three types of HCV PCR tests: The three different HCV PCR tests serve different purposes. The qualitative test is done to confirm the presence of HCV in the blood of a person with positive HCV antibody test. The quantitative test is done…

Abbreviation for hematocrit.