Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A slowly progressive and ultimately fatal brain disorder that most commonly occurs in children. The infantile form of the disease is characterized by megalencephaly (an abnormally large head), seizures, spasticity and developmental retardation. It leads to death usually within the first decade. Patients with the juvenile and adult forms of Alexander disease typically experience ataxia and spasticity and a more…

Health in the vast geographic region widely surrounding the North Pole, an area that encompasses all or portions of Alaska, Canada, Greenland/Denmark/Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. The populations of these countries, including their indigenous inhabitants such as the Aleut, Inuit, and Saami, have to cope with extreme climatic conditions and are subject…

A type of still, an apparatus used in the process of distillation. Alembics were employed in chemistry and biomedical laboratories as well as in distilling cognac. By extension, “alembic” is anything that refines or transmutes as if by distillation. For example, the alembic of the surgeon’s mind. From the Arabic al-anbiq meaning “the still” from…

Aldrin and dieldrin are two closely related persistent organic pollutants (POPs). They are made by humans and do not occur naturally in the environment. Aldrin and dieldrin were mainly used as insecticides. They were applied to treat crops for protection against pests. They were also used to exterminate termites.

Overproduction of the hormone aldosterone from the cortex (the outer layer) of the adrenal gland or a tumor containing that type of tissue. Excess aldosterone (pronounced al’-do-ster-one) results in low potassium levels (hypokalemia), underacidity of the body (alkalosis), muscle weakness, excess thirst (polydipsia), excess urination (polyuria), and high blood pressure (hypertension). Also called hyperaldosteronism or Conn’s syndrome.

A hormone produced by the outer portion (cortex) of the adrenal gland. Aldosterone regulates the balance of water and electrolytes in the body, encouraging the kidney to excrete potassium into the urine and retain sodium, thereby retaining water. It is classified as a mineralocorticoid hormone.

A class of drugs used to prevent eye and nerve damage in diabetes. Aldose reductase is an enzyme that is normally present in the eye and in many other parts of the body. It helps change glucose into a sugar alcohol called sorbitol. Too much sorbitol trapped in eye and nerve cells can damage these cells, leading to retinopathy (retinal disease) and…

Alcoholism is the physical dependence on alcohol to the extent that stopping alcohol use would bring on withdrawal symptoms. In popular and therapeutic parlance, the term may also be used to refer to ingrained drinking habits that cause health or social problems. Treatment requires first ending the physical dependence and then making lifestyle changes that help the individual…

A free self-help organization founded to assist people addicted to alcohol in breaking old behavior patterns and gaining support for consistently living a sober lifestyle.

Disease of the heart muscle caused by damage from excess alcohol consumption and the toxic effects of alcohol on the heart muscle. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy, like other types of cardiomyopathy, can lead to heart failure.