Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Hot abscess
A transient abscess, characterized by a collection of pus, is a condition of relatively short duration. However, it can lead to intense, painful inflammation, presenting as red, swollen, and warm to the touch.
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Types of hospitals
The majority of hospitals in the UK are affiliated with the National Health Service (NHS). Each NHS district comprises a general hospital that offers a range of services, such as medicine, surgery, gynaecology, obstetrics, and paediatrics. Certain specialized services are centralized in fewer centers. The UK also has private hospitals that primarily provide nonemergency surgery,…
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Holmes–Rahe questionnaire
The survey, developed in the 1960s, is utilized to assess the relative levels of stress caused by various common life events. These events may include the loss of a partner, alterations in financial or social situations, and the occurrence of serious illness. On this scale, each potentially stressful event is assigned a specific score, with…
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Holmes Adie pupil
This condition is also referred to as Adie’s syndrome, where one eye experiences a dilated pupil (the circular opening in the center of the iris). The dilation might be irregular in shape. The affected pupil does not respond promptly to bright light, and even when trying to focus on different distances, it only partially responds.…
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HIV test
The HIV test is a blood examination used to identify the existence of antibodies to HIV, the virus associated with AIDS, within the bloodstream. These antibodies, produced by the immune system as a reaction to a foreign protein (antigen), might not appear until three months following the initial HIV infection. Detection of these antibodies signifies…
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Histiocytosis X
Langerhans cell histiocytosis, previously known as a rare childhood disease, involves an abnormal proliferation of a type of tissue cell called a histiocyte. The cause is not definitively known, but it likely stems from an immune system disruption. In its mildest form, the disease results in rapid cell growth in a single bone, often the…
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Clicking hip
Clicking hip is a relatively common condition in adults where a distinct dull clicking sound or sensation can be experienced during certain hip joint movements. This phenomenon occurs when a tendon slips over a bony protrusion on the outer part of the femur or thigh bone. Importantly, it does not suggest any underlying disease. In…
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Hindwaters
The term “hindwaters” refers to the amniotic fluid that is released behind the baby’s leading part (usually the head) during pregnancy and childbirth. On the other hand, “forewaters” are the fluid present in front of the baby’s leading part, which can rupture or “break” before or during labor.
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Hidradenitis suppurativa
This refers to the inflammation of the sweat glands in the armpits and groin caused by a bacterial infection. Abscesses form underneath the skin, leading to redness and pain in the affected area, which may also discharge pus. The condition is often recurrent and can eventually lead to scarring. Antibiotics may be used to mitigate…
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Heroin abuse
Heroin abuse refers to the illicit, nonmedical use of heroin. Drug abusers consume heroin in the form of a white or brownish powder, which they can smoke, sniff, or dissolve in water to inject. Heroin induces an analgesic effect and generates sensations of warmth, calmness, drowsiness, and a reduced concern for external events. Prolonged drug…
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