Hugh Hefner's wife diagnosed with Lyme disease

Hugh Hefner's Playmate wife Crystal Harris has been diagnosed with Lyme disease.

The 29 year-old glamour model, who has been married to the Playboy magazine founder since 2012, revealed her diagnosis in a post on Instagram.com and urged fans to get tested for the tick-borne bacterial infection themselves.

"If you have EVER GONE HIKING, please get tested for #LymeDisease," she wrote. "The best lab to do this is called "Igenex" they are based out of Palo Alto.

"I was diagnosed a few days ago and have a long road ahead of me.Supposedly you get it from ticks but I have absolutely no recollection of being bit or having a rash or ANYTHING."

Early signs of infection include a large red rash, headaches and flu-like symptoms, however some of those infected experience no defining early symptoms at all. In extreme cases the disease can cause arthritis, impair neurological functions and induce psychosis.

The former Playmate went on to reveal in her post how she had initially ignored the signs of Lyme disease after being told by doctors she was just exhibiting signs of stress.

"I always thought I was a hypochondriac," she wrote. "Doctors told me it was just "stress" or "all in my head" but I finally figured it out and you can too."

One celebrity who has lived with the more severe effects of the illness is model and reality TV star Yolanda Foster, who last week, revealed how Lyme disease had left her incapacitated and requiring assistance from daughter Gigi Hadid.

"There were nights where Gigi, at three o'clock in the morning, had to drive me to the emergency room because I had such severe inflammation in my brain that I'd be bawling on the floor like please take me to the hospital," Yolanda told TV medic Dr. Oz.

Two of Yolanda's children, model Bella and son Anwar Hadid have also contracted Lyme disease.