That's Fit

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 #5: Erectile Dysfunction

Could Possibly Be: Parkinson's Disease

More than just a shot at your manhood, erectile dysfunction (ED) makes a man four times as likely to develop Parkinson's disease later in life, according to a study at Harvard. But the Men's Health article offers some solace for men with ED, stating that impotence is more likely to be caused by stress, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, or injury than health matters related to Parkinson's.

Links to:
Health Sign #1: Pain in Your Foot
Health Sign #2: Back Pain
Health Sign #3: Leg Pain
Health Sign #4: Diarrhea

I had a roommate in college that had what we called "jimmy legs." She didn't know what was wrong, but as soon as she'd lay down to sleep her legs would start to feel "creepy crawly" (her words) and the next thing you'd know she'd be jerking and shaking her legs -- sometimes on purpose, sometimes not. We used to laugh it off, but I know it was really uncomfortable for her. And I know that, since she didn't know what was really going on, it was frightening for her, too.

Though I can't say for sure, my guess is that my roommate had restless leg syndrome (RLS). RLS is a neurological condition that affects up to 10% of the US population. RLS patients feel uncomfortable sensations and an overwhelming urge to move their legs. Symptoms become worse during rest -- particularly when lying down -- and are put at bay by movement.

GlaxoSmithKline's Requip medication has been a premiere treatment for mild to moderate RLS. The FDA just approved a generic form of Requip. The medication is also approved to treat symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.

A recent study suggests that high levels of urate in the blood stream can slow the progression of Parkinson's Disease. Urate is a salt derived from uric acid, a natural substance in the body. High levels of urate or uric acid can lead to other conditions, such as gout.

Previous research noted that people with a higher natural level of urate had a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's. For this study, researchers followed 800 people with mild Parkinson's symptoms. Those who had higher levels of urate were about half the risk of their symptoms worsening. At the end of the study, none of the patients with naturally high urate levels required other medications to control the Parkinson's yet.

A nutritional supplement called inosine converts to urate once it's ingested, but further study is necessary to determine whether the supplement could be helpful for Parkinson's patients.