As the days get longer and warmer, most of us will be spending more time outdoors. Whether you’re a gardener, a hiker or just enjoy spending time in your yard, it’s important to know about the risk of tick-borne diseases like Lyme and how to protect yourself and your family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ticks are everywhere and Lyme disease is now a nationwide problem. In fact, ticks carrying Lyme disease have been found throughout the world. The infections they carry can wreak havoc with your health and the CDC estimates that there are now 34 new cases of Lyme disease per hour in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the things that makes them so bad is their size. The type of ticks that transmit Lyme disease and other illnesses are the size of a poppy seed when young and only reach the size of a sesame seed as an adult. And they can crawl all over you without your noticing it. Add to that the difficulty of diagnosing Lyme disease and you have a big threat to your health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While some people who contract Lyme disease get a rash, that’s not always the case. Only 35-60% of those diagnosed with Lyme have had a rash – be it the classic bull’s eye rash or another form of skin rash – and less than 50% even recall a tick bite. Lyme disease is often called the great imitator due to the myriad of symptoms accompanying it which can mimic other illnesses. Joint pain, chronic fatigue, sleep disorders, headaches, cognitive dysfunction, depression and cardiac rhythm disturbances are just a few of the symptoms reported by patients suffering from Lyme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To complicate things further, there are numerous strains of Borrelia (the bacteria that causes Lyme disease) and several other co-infections (Anaplasmosis, Babesia, Erhlichia, and Bartonella) that can be transmitted by a tick bite. A number of diagnostic blood tests are available, but there exists no definitive test for Lyme disease. And, depending upon the sensitivity of the test and the state of a person’s immune system, false negative results are possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What makes these ticks so very bad is that unrecognized Lyme disease or undertreatment of it and other tickborne infections can lead to severely debilitating, chronic illness. That’s why it’s so important to protect yourself and your family when you’re active outdoors. Here are a few key things you should do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Educate yourself about Lyme disease and be alert for signs of it, especially if you experience flu-like symptoms in the summer or early fall. A handy Tick Card with information on the signs of Lyme Disease and proper tick removal is available from the Lyme Disease Association. When it comes to dealing with ticks, remember Ben Franklin’s adage: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The contents of this blog are intended for educational purposes only. The information presented here is not a substitute for proper medical attention, diagnosis, or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider before starting or making any changes to an existing treatment plan, exercise program or dietary regimen, and before using nutritional supplements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As the days get longer and warmer, most of us will be spending more time outdoors. Whether you’re a gardener, a hiker or just enjoy spending time in your yard, it’s important to know about the risk of tick-borne diseases like Lyme and how to protect yourself and your family. They’re Bad and They’re Nationwide […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2191,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33,88],"tags":[89,23],"yoast_head":"\n