Do-It-Yourself diagnosis is usually a pretty bad idea; that is, unless you just so happen to have the letters M.D. that appear at the end of your signature. But for those of us without years of medical school under our belt, assuming that a particular pain, dysfunction, or even blotchy patch of skin is nothing to be concerned about can sometimes be a highly problematic for our health.

The British edition of Men's Health addresses the self-diagnosis problem in the article "7 Deadly Signs," describing how minor symptoms may actually signal major health hazards. Over the next seven days, we will provide a daily summary of one of the various aches and pains that may be indicative of a greater problem, illustrating the importance of maintaining open lines of communication with your physician and why DIY diagnosis can sometimes be dangerous.

Health Sign #4: Diarrhea

Could Possibly Be: An Overactive Thyroid

Diarrhea and dramatic weight loss -- despite having a healthy appetite -- are just few of the symptoms of this hormonal imbalance, which reportedly affects one in 50 people. In addition to the development of Graves' disease, an overactive thyroid can also lead to severe vision problems. "If diarrhea lasts for several days, coupled with poor sleep or intolerance of heart, it's likely you have a thyroid problem so see your GP for blood tests," says Dr. Mark Vanderpump, an endocrinologist at the Royal Free Hospital in London who was interviewed for the Men's Health article.

Links to:
Health Sign #1: Pain in Your Foot
Health Sign #2: Back Pain
Health Sign #3: Leg Pain

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