Lyme disease

Quick Facts About Lyme Disease

2009-03-17T22:34:00.003-07:00

Lyme Disease is initiated by a spiral-shaped bacteria (spirochete) called Borrelia burgdorferi, but the actual disease always involves loss of the body's control of several different "co-infections" of virtually every microbial class, i.e., viral, mycoplasmal, fungal, parasitic.

Toxins from the bacteria are actually the primary cause of all of your symptoms!

· Lifelong optimal health can be achieved even if every single Lyme spirochete in your body has not been killed.

· It is well recognized that the best natural or pharmaceutical antibiotics can at best only kill 85% of the target bacteria in the body.

· Antibiotics may do more harm than good. Antibiotics can activate bacteriophages (viruses) that infect the Lyme spirochetes and insert their toxin-generating genes into the bacterial chromosomes. These viruses can turn basically harmless bacterium into killers through this genetic sequencing of toxins by causing the bacteria to produce greateramounts of neurotoxins (nervous system poisons).

· The allopathic philosophy of medicine (antibiotics, etc.) often predisposes one to Post-Lyme Syndrome (PLS).

· After prolonged illness a person would not likely be symptom-free or truly healthy even if it were possible to kill every spirochete, because restoring health requires more than killing the bacteria.

· It is possible to have Lyme spirochetes and yet never manifest any symptoms.

· The unique symptoms experienced by an individual are from the microbes revealing a person's weakest, and therefore most vulnerable, areas in the body.

· High-powered microscopes have revealed that our bodies are a soup of innumerable and greatly unrecognized microbes. There are 20 times more microbes than cells in your body. Another way of saying this is that 90% of the cells in your body are microbes.

· A Herxheimer reaction (herx) is a sign of a poor treatment plan and is unnecessary. A herx greatly increases the toxic load on the body; at its worst it can kill an illness weakened patient outright. A herx can temporarily or permanently disable the body,mind, and spirit.

· The sustained restoration of the optimal function and integrity of the body, mind, and spirit will naturally resolve any infection.

· No microbe can replicate at will or unchecked in a healthy body.

· A component in your blood called albumin is six times stronger than penicillin as a bacteriostatic (preventing microbial replication).

· Until the patient's body can maintain microbial balance without the help of medications, the patient will never reach the point of not needing the medications.

· Some of the best research facility laboratories report that they have rarely found any person's blood to be completely clear of spirochetes, even after every type of longterm natural or pharmaceutical intervention.

· Tick bites are not the only way to get Lyme Disease Less than half the people diagnosed with Lyme Disease ever have a bulls-eye rash.

Pets Lyme Disease

2009-03-17T22:34:00.001-07:00

Pets Lyme disease is a very dangerous disease to your pet and it accounts for over 90% of all the vector-recorded illnesses.

The litany of symptoms and problems your pet will encounter with this disease range from pain and swelling and eventually arthritis if not treated, to the most severe cases which could cause kidney failure and sudden death. This disease is much more common in dogs than in cats, but because it has become so widespread, cats are also more at risk now than ever before.

This disease has been recorded in 49 of the 50 states as well as Scandinavia, all of Europe, the former Soviet Union, Japan, China, and Australia. In the United States, it is much more predominate on the Pacific Coast, the Midwest, and Atlantic Coast states. In these areas, over 75% of dogs and a growing number of cats are exposed to this disease.

With this disease, a vector illness simply means that any animal is capable of transmitting diseases that are carried by mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, mites, or rats, or more commonly, from host to host. The host in this case, is a tick referred to as Lxodes ticks.

This disease in your dog or cat is caused by spiral shaped bacteria refereed to as "Borrelia burgdorferi" or a spirochete. Although this is classified as a "zoonosis bacteria", which means it is capable of transmitting a disease from an animal to humans, it is important to note that this disease cannot be transmitted from dog to dog, dogs to cats, or either pet to humans. In order for your dog or cat to catch this disease, the tick must have bitten your pet directly, and the tick than transmits the bacteria into the hosts (your dog or cat) bloodstream when it feeds on their blood.

The most common sign of this disease is arthritis, which in turn can cause pain in one, or in some cases, several of your pets joints. This can be followed by swollen lymph nodes, deep dehydration, mild to very high fevers, and a sudden loss of appetite. In severe cases of this disease, your pet's kidney may start to fail, which may lead to the death of your pet, although this is very rare.

Humans will develop a skin rash that looks very similar to a "target" when infected, but this is rarely, if ever, seen in pets.

As with most in any disease that is carried by bacteria, the best preventive measures you can take as a pet owner, is in building up your pet's immune system. In helping to prevent many of the issues caused by this disease, it is important to build your friends immune system over time.
In the production of antibodies, your pets bodies utilize many of the B vitamin family, especially B6, in building up the immune system. The essential mineral zinc also plays a very important role in a robust immune system, as does Vitamin A, Bets-carotene, and vitamin E, because of its effectiveness as an anti-oxidant.

The bacteria that cause this disease live on mice, deer, and other small animals and are transmitted to your pet by the Lxodes ticks. Ticks are bloodsucking invaders of your pets, but it is also important to remember that ticks don't cause the disease, they just spread the disease. While the actual bite of the tick to your pet is inconsequential and does them no harm, the bite carries viruses and or bacteria. Of the two families of ticks, the hard ticks and the soft ticks, the Lxodes tick (hard tick) is potentially more dangerous as it attaches to your pets for several days.

It is extremely important that you check you pet frequently, especially if they have been in wooded areas, as research has shown that ticks must be attached for at least 12 hours to actually cause harm to your pet.

Cats that have become infected with this disease may show symptoms of lameness, unusual breathing, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, and potential eye damage. However, many cats, although they are infected, show no symptoms at all.

Dogs infected with this disease, in some cases, are affected much more severely than cats. They may show symptoms after only a week of a very high fever between 103 to 105 degrees, as well as becoming very lethargic and may demonstrate a complete loss of appetite.

Dogs with this disease may also experience lameness and start shifting from one joint to the next, and they may also, in the severest of cases, experience kidney damage or failure, as well as heart disorders or neurological disorders such as aggression, confusion and even seizures. Or, they may show absolutely no symptoms at all, making this a very difficult disease to diagnose correctly.

Pets Lyme disease is also very difficult to diagnosis as it resembles several other bacteria caused diseases, and diagnosis is quite often made initially on the geographic area that your pet would live in as well as signs of arthritis. There is a blood test that will measure the antibodies to the amount of bacteria, but most dogs will naturally have a high reading, and a positive test indicates only that your pet may simply have been exposed to the disease.

Treating this disease early is extremely important as it can hide for extended periods in your pets bodies in clinically latent states. This is why your pet may have recurring symptoms that can happen in cycles and flare up after months, years, and in some cases, even decades.

Treatment of this disease, however, once diagnosed, responds very rapidly to antibiotics, and symptoms that do surface, will also regress very rapidly. If the disease remains untreated, it can and it most cases, does, become chronic.

Prevention is the best treatment, and protecting you pet from potentially tick infested areas, examining your pet thoroughly for ticks 2 to 3 times per week, providing them tick collars, and supplementing them properly to build their immune system, is recommended for all pet owners.

I am an avid lover of pets and my wife and I have had several pets throughout our years. We are especially fond of dogs, and we have a 12 year old Dalmatian (our 3rd) and a "mutt" that we rescued when someone threw him away to die in a vacant field

He found us, nearly starved to death, and weighed about 2 pounds

After severe bouts of mange and severe dehydration, and over 1,000.00 in veterinarian bills, we saved the little guys life, and he is one of the best, if not the best, dogs we have ever had and today is a muscular, fit, and firm 70 pound best friend

After finishing my MBA, which at middle age was not easy, I decided to keep the research work ethics that I acquired, and devote about two hours each night in understanding the health benefits of supplementation for both humans and pets and how they might strengthen our, as well as our pets, immune system in a pre-emptive approach to health rather than a reactionary approach

Both of my daughters are avid cat lovers, and asked me to help them with health concerns and challenges with their cats

I am not a veterinarian nor claim to be, just a lover of pets that loves to research and pass on some knowledge that might be helpful, or at least stimulating to the thought process

Lyme Disease - Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

2009-03-17T22:32:00.001-07:00

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by a bacterium known as spirochete, which is spread by tick bites. Lyme disease is described in 3 phases: the early localized disease with skin inflammation; early disseminated disease with heart and nervous system involvement, including nerve palsies and meningitis; and late disease featuring motor and sensory nerve damage, brain inflammation and arthritis.

The Ayurvedic treatment of Lyme disease is aimed at treating the symptoms, preventing complications and boosting the immune status of the body. Medicines like Mahamanjishthadi-Qadha, Gandhak-Rasayan, Sukshma-Triphala, Chandraprabha-Vati and Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu can be used to treat the early localized disease involving skin inflammation. These medicines can also eliminate the bacteria from the body. This disease causes inflammation of the heart muscle, resulting in arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythm, and heart failure. Medicines like Bruhat-Vat-Chintamani, Maha-Vat-Vidhwans-Ras, Ekang-Veer-Ras and Tapyadi-Loh can be used to prevent and treat arrhythmia. Inflammation of the heart muscle can be treated using medicines like Triphala-Guggulu, Punarnavadi-Guggulu, Arjunarishta, Dashmoolarishta, Saarivasav, Nimba (Azadirachta indica), Patol (Tricosanthe dioica), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Draksha (Vitis vinifera), Musta (Cyperus rotundus) and Kutaj (Holarrhina antidysentrica).

Involvement of the nervous system can be treated using medicines like Kaishor-Guggulu, Tapyadi-Loh, Ekang-Veer-Ras, Bruhat-Vat-Chintamani, Maha-Vat-Vidhvans-Ras, Vishtinduk-Vati, Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Nirgundi (Vitex negundo), Shalparni (Desmodium gangeticum) and Prushnaparni (Uraria picta). Involvement of the joints can be treated using medicines like Yograj-Guggulu, Maha-Yograj-Guggulu, Gokshuradi-Guggulu, Maha-Rasnadi-Guggulu, Rasna (Pluchea lanceolata), Nirgundi, Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Deodar (Cedrus deodara), Vishwa (Zinziber officinalis) and Erandmool (Ricinus communis).

Symptoms resulting from this disease sometimes persist even after eradication of the Lyme bacterium. This is usually because of an ongoing auto-immune response in the body and is treated using medicines like Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Bhrungraj (Eclipta alba), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Mandukparni (Centella asiatica), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Bala (Sida cordifolia), Abhrak-Bhasma, Suvarna-Bhasma and Suvarna-Malini-Vasant.

Since Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks attaching to the body, it is important to use protective clothing and adopt other techniques for the prevention and avoidance of tick bites while staying in, or visiting tick areas. Adequate hygiene should be maintained in order to prevent transmission of this disease.

A Powerful Combination For Healing Chronic Lyme Disease

2008-07-03T22:08:00.000-07:00

Did you play hide and go seek as a child?

The kids in our neighborhood would hide in the most unusual places. Some of the other kids hid so well that I could never find them.

Lyme disease plays hide and seek too.And it hides in places where antibiotics could never find it.

And if you can't find it, how can you eliminate it from your body?

Chronic Lyme disease can be very difficult to eliminate from the body

Lyme disease is caused by a spiral sharped bacteria called, Borrelia burgdorferi.Spiral shaped bacteria are also referred to as spirochetes. Just like the kids that you could never find during hide and go seek, the Lyme bacteria burrows in hard to get to places in your body. Some experts say it can go into your nervous system, your brain, and in your joints.

Lyme disease can be very painful

You get this disease when an infected deer tick bites you and transmits the bacteria into your blood stream. You may have flu like symptoms and a bulls eye rash when you contract this bacteria. The main symptoms are joint pain, fatigue, and mental fogginess. People who have this infection for years report a loss of coordination and motor function because of the damage to their brain. Standard treatment for this infection is to take antibiotics. However they cannot always eliminate these bacteria from your body.

Antibiotics have difficulty finding Lyme in these places

Your joints are very difficult places for antibiotics to reach because of a lack of blood vessels. Your also have a barrier which prevents chemicals in the blood from entering the brain.

If antibiotics kill only some of the bacteria, then some of them will just remain hidden until the coast is clear. When this happens, people feel better at first. A few weeks later their old symptoms come right back. Not only can these bugs hide, they are impervious to antibiotics when they are in different life stages.

Lyme bacteria are harder to eliminate in their different life stages

Some antibiotics are effective only when the bacteria are in the spirochete stage. Only one antibiotic is believed to kill the bacteria in cyst form. In a hostile environment, the bacteria will remain in cyst form until conditions are more favorable. Even if you are on antibiotics for years, you can have bacteria lying dormant in your body. They can play other tricks to avoid detection.

Lyme bacteria are also shape shifters

They have another trick which helps them to hide. They are able to make changes on the surface which make them less vulnerable to antibiotics. A chronic Lyme infection can be very dangerous for your long term health.

If antibiotics cannot eliminate Lyme disease from your system, what else can help you?

These herbs kill the Lyme bug

Some Lyme patients combine antibiotics with Chinese herbal treatment. There is a powerful combination of Chinese herbs that will kill the Lyme bacteria in the laboratory and also in live patients. These herbs are proven effective in people with chronic Lyme disease. These herbs have properties that increase your chance of clearing chronic Lyme disease than taking antibiotics alone.

Chinese herbs go where antibiotics cannot

This set of herbs can enter places like joints and the brain where antibiotics have difficulty entering into. There are certain herbs that deliver anti-Lyme herbs into the nervous system and into hard to access joints. This combination is more effective the longer you take the formula.

Cure rates as high as 97% in clinical studies of similar infections

Recent clinical studies in China have shown a rate of curing a spirochete infection called leptospirosis with Chinese herbs as high as 97%. This infection is similar to the Lyme bacteria. The longer you take these herbs, the greater are your chances of ridding Lyme disease from your body.

The herbal regimen for eliminating Lyme disease is a minimum of eight weeks

In order to catch any bacteria that are in an invulnerable stage, patients are put on herbs every day for at least eight weeks. This is to overlap the Lyme bacteria lifecycle which is approximately six weeks. There are six herbs that are the base formula for the regimen:

Anti-Spirochete Mixture (This herbal formula is originally published in an article by Dr. Subhuti Dharmananda titled, "LYME DISEASE: Treatment with Chinese Herbs.)

* Smilax

* Ching-hao

* Forsythia

* Hu-chang

* Andrographis

* Lonicera stem

Patients are encouraged to take their herbs three times a day to maintain a high level of potency in their system. Additional western herbs like Cats Claw help to increase your rate of success. There are other treatments that help Lyme patients to recover.

Detoxifying heavy metals and other toxins helps relieve Lyme induced fatigue

Many Lyme patients have been shown to have high levels of mercury and other metals and toxins. By eliminating these toxins along with treatment, you see a decrease in their fatigue and mental fogginess. Detoxification foot baths are very effective for removing these toxins. Other treatments like acupuncture help too.

Joint pain and swelling get addressed with acupuncture

Acupuncture helps to decrease the pain and swelling in your joints. Many Lyme patients also have significant improvements in their range of motion. Other side effects of Lyme disease also get better.

Treatment helps you to sleep better

Many Lyme patients suffer from insomnia due to pain and the infection disrupting their sleep patterns. As their infection is reduced, these patients naturally sleep better as their pain and fatigue decreases. Also, they feel healthier and happier when their body is not fighting against a disease it is struggling to kill. Changes in your diet can provide relief, too.

Eliminating dairy, wheat, and sugar starves the Lyme bacteria

These bacteria feed off of the nutrients in your system especially sugars in your blood stream. If you reduce or eliminate foods that raise your blood sugars like sweets, dairy, and carbohydrates, then the Lyme bugs have less to feed off of. You need a powerful strategy which works against the many defenses of these bacteria.

In order to find the hidden Lyme bugs, you need a comprehensive approach

Adding Chinese herbs, acupuncture, and detoxification to your Lyme treatment program greatly enhances the success of curing your infection for good. Modifying your diet helps to provide less food in your blood for these bugs. Just like someone who knows where all the hiding places are, Chinese herbs can help to eliminate those stubborn Lyme bacteria from your system.

Why Is My Doctor Clueless About My Lyme Disease?

2007-02-01T22:06:00.000-08:00

You may have been visiting your doctor for years complaining about a myriad of symptoms. People may think that you are a hypochondriac. Yet you knew something was wrong. And one day finally you are told a diagnosis that you have a disease called Lyme disease. How is it that the medical community was clueless? After all this is the 21’st century with advanced medicine and all the tests in the world. Why you wonder was your Lyme disease caught before.

The answers are myriad. First Lyme disease is frequently misdiagnosed. Physicians overlook cases of Lyme disease simply because they do not know the complex nature of the origin and development of Lyme Disease. Lyme Disease can cause over 100 different symptoms and the one commonly known symptom of Lyme Disease – that is joint pain is only one of the many presentations of Lyme Disease.

Secondly the tests for Lyme Disease are frequently useless and frequently misleading. The bacteria which causes Lyme disease can only infrequently be grown in bacterial plates. There is no one test to medical test diagnose Lyme Disease. Hence your doctor has to be on the ball to catch your symptoms. And even then he may not put together your odd symptoms as Lyme Disease if you unlucky enough to have Lyme Disease symptoms that “are not in the book”.

Not only is that Lyme Disease not caused by the one known bacteria. It is now estimated that 300 different strains of bacterial worldwide cause Lyme Disease. Further it is not only the deer tick that spreads Lyme Disease. Other ticks such as Lone Star Ticks, western black legged and wood ticks can spread Lyme Disease as well. And if that is not enough global warming is spreading the geographic range of some of these insects to previously unknown areas.

You are not alone in being left out in the cold. It turns out that Lyme Disease is much more common than previously estimated – up to 10 to 15 times higher than the previous underrated estimates. As you well have figures out by now doctors often miss most cases if Lyme Disease. The reasons are not hard to figure out. Further because of the apparent low rates of this disease it is not considered of any major public health concern so that there is no mandatory reporting procedure as one might find with venereal diseases. You have been caught in a terrible vicious cycle. Low diagnosis rates since doctors do not know what to look for and tests are not accurate in any manner. Then because the true prevalence of the incidence of Lyme Disease is vastly underreported Lyme disease is seen as a minor disease that is well taken care of. Hence there is little need for education on how to catch the symptoms of Lyme Disease .The circle goes on and on.

Amazingly even if you are one of the lucky few and have your Lyme Disease correctly diagnosed you may not be home free. You may be under treated with antibiotic therapy. The stated course of action is a 6 week schedule of antibiotic therapy. Yet it often takes months, years and perhaps for ever of antibiotic therapy to manage this lingering disease with its hardy bacterial threat.

It has been said that just because you are paranoid does not mean that people are not out to get you. You were not imagining that your Lyme Disease took a very long time to diagnose. And the reasons are real not imagined.

Margaret Mathews
Morgellons Research Foundation Com
www.fortunawebs.com
www.morgellonsresearchfoundation.com

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Lyme Disease - A Silent Threat To Your Health

2007-02-01T22:05:00.000-08:00

It is estimated that as many as 220,000 Americans' developed Lyme disease in 2005 alone. Did you ever think something as small as the head of a pin could cause so much trouble? Unfortunately, being bitten by a tiny tick infected with Lyme disease could mean serious danger.

There are various types of ticks but the infected deer tick (named so because they frequently attach themselves to deer and mice) is the main spreader of Lyme disease.

There tends to be more cases of Lyme disease during warmer months of the year. This may be due to the fact that more people are outside giving the ticks more opportunity to come in contact with humans. Because the deer tick is so small most people don’t even feel them moving on their body and may not even notice that they are attacked.

The correct way to remove an attacked tick is to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible with a pair of narrow-tipped tweezers. Pull firmly and with steady pressure. Try not touch the tick with your bare hands but, if you must, wash your hands immediately. Then, wash the tick-bitten area quickly and apply an antibiotic cream or antiseptic. Observe the wound often for signs of possible Lyme disease infection.

Some signs of Lyme disease include: a spreading, red rash that extends from the bite spot up to 7 inches out. There may also be flu like symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, pains and weakness.

If Lyme disease is left untreated, it can cause even more severe symptoms like: numbness, severe joint stiffness (like arthritis), high fever, loss of memory, and even hearing and vision problems.

If you believe that you may have been infected, contact your physician. When Lyme disease is caught early enough antibiotics are usually prescribed to fight the infection, but waiting to seek medical treatment can lead to prolonged and less effective treatments.

When it comes to going outside, taking precautions will save you discomfort later on. It's best to put bug repellent on before going outside. Products containing DEET have been shown to be the most effective repellents. If using repellent, apply it sparingly; it will last between 4 to 8 hours. Read the label carefully before applying if you're pregnant or have small children. Also, wearing light clothing (to easily spot ticks), wearing long pants and shirt sleeves, tucking pants into boots or socks, tucking shirts in and keeping a hat on can help keep ticks off exposed skin. Ticks are drawn to dark areas such as waistbands and hair.

It's also a good idea to treat those pets that go outside. They can carry ticks into your house or rub on you and transfer them. There are several good flea and tick medicines available through your veterinarian, online or in pet stores. Get the good stuff! Paying a little more will insure your pet's and your happiness and the good stuff really does work great.

Lyme Disease prevention and awareness can help you and your family enjoy the time you spend outdoors even more without fear.

Tina Seay is the author and webmaster of www.ForTheCatLover.com a website for cats and the people who love them. Her other websites include www.LearnSomethingToday.com a website that promotes quality of life and YourWeddingStory.net a site that helps the whole bridal party get ready for a dream wedding. . Her goal is to help others achieve a happy healthy lifestyle.

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Tick-Borne Disease

2007-02-01T17:27:00.000-08:00

Ticks are parasites that can transmit debilitating diseases to humans and animals. Disease transmission occurs through tick bites. In the United States, ticks cause a number of diseases including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and tick paralysis.

Lyme disease is transmitted by white-footed mice to ticks, when the ticks feed on them. Ticks, in turn, pass on the disease to humans. This disease is primarily caused by deer ticks. The infection is transmitted only if the tick has been attached to the host for thirty-six to forty-eight hours. Early symptoms include an expanding “bull’s eye” rash, fever, fatigue, headache, stiff neck, facial palsy, joint pains, and numbness. Late-stage symptoms include arthritis, numbness, temporary memory loss, confusion, and lack of concentration.

Ehrlichiosis is primarily transmitted by the Lone Star tick. Its symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and vomiting. A rash may or may not appear. Babesiosis is generally transmitted by the deer tick. Its symptoms include fatigue, discomfort, fever, headache, and muscle pain. This disease can prove fatal if it is not treated immediately.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by several species of ticks, and its symptoms include rash, high fever, and flu-like symptoms. If this disease is ignored or not treated properly, it can cause death. Colorado tick fever is primarily caused by the Rocky Mountain wood tick. It is also characterized by a rash, high fever, and flu-like symptoms. In severe cases, bleeding or heart problems may occur.

Tick paralysis is caused by several species of ticks. Its early signs are fatigue and numbness. It can lead to convulsions and facial paralysis, and if untreated it can even cause death. Unlike treatment for other tick borne diseases, treatment for tick paralysis is very simple, involving only the complete removal of the tick.

Individuals visiting or inhabiting tick-prone areas can prevent tick bites by taking some simple precautions. These precautions include regularly mowing lawn grass, clearing leaves and bush, treating pets and their environments with tick-killing pesticide, wearing light-colored clothes and enclosed shoes, and treating clothes with repellent before wearing them.

However, there is no reason to panic if a tick is found attached to the skin of a host. It must be carefully removed with tweezers or a commercial tick removal tool and preserved in a sealed container or bag. It is also necessary to watch out for symptoms of tick-borne disease for about a month and seek medical help immediately if any symptoms appear. All tick-borne diseases can be cured easily if treated in their early stages.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Riverside

Animals, Humans, and Lyme Disease

2007-02-01T17:25:00.000-08:00

You may think that the transmission of Lyme disease is very simple – you get it from a deer tick bite. That information is essentially true, and if you just want to avoid Lyme disease, that’s all you really need to know. What goes on in the woods, however, is interesting, and it helps to explain why Lyme disease is spreading and becoming more common.

Lyme transmission starts with the White-footed mouse, a common forest creature that carries Borrelia burgdorferi, the organism responsible for Lyme disease. In the most common scenario, newly hatched larval Ixodes sp. ticks feed on the mice and become infected with the organism. The ticks then develop through a nymphal stage to an adult tick, feeding on other hosts as they get older.

At both the nymph and adult stage, ticks are found clinging to the tall grasses in open forests and forest edges, the same type of environment favored by White-tailed Deer. When a deer wanders by, the ticks climb on and take another blood meal. If it’s a human that wanders by, or a dog, a raccoon, or even a bird, the tick is not fussy – deer ticks will readily feed on all of these hosts as well as other warm blooded animals.

Borrelia burgdorferi gets passed on to the new host as the tick feeds. Many animals aren’t affected by the organism and their immune systems simply kill it. White-tailed deer and some bird species are among the lucky animals that don’t get Lyme disease. Humans, however, can suffer a long and debilitating illness.

Deer are responsible for supporting large numbers of ticks; one deer can have hundreds of ticks feeding on it at any one time. Anyone who has driven the roads of North Eastern North America at dusk and dawn in the summer months knows that the White-tailed deer population is booming like never before. Deer graze by the roadsides and wander into cities and gardens. Lots of deer means lots of ticks, and deer in human communities means Lyme transmission to humans.

Deer don’t spread Lyme disease over large geographical distances however – birds do that. When a deer tick bites a bird, two things can happen: if the bird is already infected, having been bitten by an infected tick somewhere else, the new tick becomes infected and can spread the organism to other hosts. If the tick is already infected and the bird is not, the organism gets passed the other way, and because ticks take days to finish their meal, both tick and bird can be many miles away from their starting point before the tick drops off. Both can now continue to Lyme transmission. Migrating birds are thought to have spread B. burgdorferi to many new locales.

A final factor to consider is global warming. Warmer climates have opened up new territory for deer ticks, and they are now surviving and reproducing in areas where they were previously unable to withstand cold winter temperatures. Thus, ticks carried in on migrating birds are more and more likely to survive the trip.

Rosemary Drisdelle is a freelance writer focusing on technical and science writing and creative non-fiction. She writes about birds for Suite101.com. She also writes a blog about parasites and people.

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Diagnosis and Treatment of Fibromyalgia

2007-02-01T03:30:00.000-08:00

Fibromyalgia is a chronic, widespread, debilitating disease that often manifests as diffuse pain, constant muscle aches and overwhelming fatigue. Although it affects about 2-6% of the general population (about five million people), fibromyalgia is not a contagious disease. Women are about 9 times more likely to be diagnosed than men, and it is most prevalent in prevalent in people between 20-50 years of age.

Fibromyalgia usually displays a variety of symptoms including generalized aches and pains, increased sensitivity of the skin, chronic fatigue, weakness or dizziness, muscle stiffness or joint pain and migraine headaches. Symptoms of fibromyalgia vary greatly between individuals but almost all suffer from an associated sleep disorder. Depression, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome, numbness and tingling of the extremities and heightened sensitivity to stimuli may also be present.

Currently, there is no known specific cause of fibromyalgia. Popular opinion suggests a disorder in pain perception and processing in the pathways to the brain. Research has shown that fibromyalgia patients have elevated levels of substance P (involved with enhanced pain perception) and a lower than normal production of natural stress hormones. Another theory revolves around a sleep disturbance as the cause, because many fibromyalgia patients cannot attain deep sleep. Still other theories have implicated reduced immune system function, environmental toxins, abnormal hormonal fluctuations, viral causes, genetic links and dysfunctional neurotransmitters. Although exciting new research is constantly being done, the cause of fibromyalgia remains elusive and has the medical world stumped.

Diagnosis of fibromyalgia is based on a specific set of criteria, including a physical examination or observation, and the symptoms described by the patient. Ruling out other possible diseases is key. Currently, there are no conclusive laboratory tests to identify fibromyalgia but for diagnostic purposes, there has to be a history of diffuse pain lasting longer than three months. Another diagnostic requirement is the presence of at least 11 "tender points" out of a possible 18 and these are typically located at elbow and knee joints, the neck, shoulders, lower back and hips...

Individual cases of fibromyalgia have a wide variability, but many patients also suffer from other disorders as well. These comorbid syndromes commonly include chronic clinical depression, lyme disease, chronic fatigue sydrome, premenstrual syndrome, restless legs syndrome, spinal disorders, or hypothyroidism. There are also many factors that can aggravate fibromyalgia. Severe weather changes, nutritional deficiencies, over-exertion, increases in stress levels, allergies and cold weather have all been shown to contribute to flare-ups.

Treatment of fibromyalgia has historically been inadequate at best. There is no cure for the disease and therapies are usually aimed at alleviating the symptoms and improving quality of sleep. Medications commonly prescribed for fibromyalgia include conventional analgesics, low-dose antidepressants, muscle relaxants and sleep-inducing agents. Alternative therapies that have shown some promise include acupuncture, chiropractic care, physical therapy, meditation or relaxation techniques and a gentle aerobic exercise program. Other important considerations to prevent fibromyalgia from flaring up include a regular sleep routine, emotional and physical stress reduction, good social support networks and strategies to conserve energy and minimize triggering factors.

Fibromyalgia can be a very difficult disease to live with because of its chronic, disabling nature and the presence of widespread skepticism. There is often no objective evidence of physical illness and the disease is very poorly understood. Sufferers of fibromyalgia face accusations of laziness or feigning illness. Social activity and recreation is often be avoided and the patient's career is usually affected as well. Although fibromyalgia can affect every aspect of its victims' lives, it does not have to be as devastating as it once was. With advanced scientific research and promising new treatments waiting in the wings, anything's possible.

Disclaimer: The information presented here should not be interpreted as or substituted for medical advice. Please talk to a qualified professional for more information about fibromyalgia.

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The Symptoms And Understanding Of Lyme Disease

2007-02-01T03:29:00.000-08:00

Although once thought to be a form of arthritis that attacks children, lyme disease is actually a condition in which a bacterial infection has gotten into your blood stream. Unlike other types of conditions that have similar symptoms, lyme disease is transmitted to you by a dear tick. It was first discovered in 1975 when a group of children that was unreasonably large seemed to be suffering from arthritis. That led doctors to do a bit of unearthing and found that it was actually a bacterial infection that had caused the outbreak.

The bad news is that lyme disease is no longer found in just that one town of Lyme, Connecticut. Today, it is found in nearly every state in the United States with a concentration in New York, Minnesota, New Jersey and in Wisconsin. The disease has spread world wide as well as spreading into other types of animals. Not only can you get it from deer, but also from skunks, foxes, mice, moles, squirrels and horses (to name a few.) These conditions are most commonly found in animals that are in wooded areas or in grassy fields.

What Are The Symptoms?

Anyone that is exposed to these conditions can actually be put in dangers way of getting lyme disease. It is essential, then, that you understand the symptoms that it brings out. The tell tale sign of lyme disease is that of a rash, but not just any rash. This rash usually starts out with a small red spot where the tick has bitten. It then grows and expands significantly over the next days or even weeks. Usually, it will form a circle or a triangular shape on your skin. Sometimes, there is a red ring that is surrounding an area that is clear at the very center of the bite mark. This is called an erythma migrans and it affects at least 70 percent of those that will end up with lyme disease.

Other symptoms are also evident. If you are not treated by a doctor for your condition, you can develop conditions in which you have flare ups of arthritis like conditions. Your joints can become swollen and painful. Sometimes this will last for days, other times for months at at ime. It doesn’t have to be the same joint affected each time either. About 15 percent of patients that have lyme disease end up with this symptom. Yet another symptom is that of an attack of the nervous system. Here, you can experience other illnesses like meningitis or even temporary paralysis of facila muscles. Limbs and the circulatory system can become weakened or lessened in their abilities.

What is common is the fact that individuals will experience some pain that seems to be that of arthritis. Although lyme disease has been mistaken in the past for arthritis, don’t make this mistake. The symptoms and conditions of this condition can worsen, severely and can leave you with a lot of pain and eventually the breakdown of joints.

Greg Marsh is an acclaimed writer on medical matters, and has written extensively on the subjects of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rheumatology and Rheumatism.

You can read more of Greg’s articles about Rheumatoid Arthritis at http://www.whugu.com

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Lyme Disease Alert: I was Bitten by a Tic

2007-01-24T22:05:00.001-08:00

Because I live in Minnesota and our family has a cabin in the North woods, I'm aware of Lyme disease. Our family is so aware of it that one member tacked a photo of a tic bite to the kitchen counter. We've found crawling tics on floors, our clothes, our beds, and our bodies. Tics are hardy little devils and you think you've killed one, only to have it walk away. That's why we wrap tics in cellophane tape, pinch the tape hard, and seal the edges tightly.

A month ago, when my husband and I were working at the cabin, I was bitten by a tic. The bite itched, but I didn't pay any attention to it because I thought it was a mosquito bite. (I try not to scratch mosquito bites because the itch goes away faster if you don't.) After the skin around the bite turned red I began to get suspicious. Then a red circle appeared, a so-called "bull's-eye," and it became as hard as plastic. My bite looked just like the cabin photo.

Antibiotics are the standard treatment for suspected Lyme disease and I started taking doxycycline twice a day. I'm still taking it and will take it for 21 days. The doxycycline makes me a bit nauseous, unfortunately. The American Lyme Disease Foundation (ALDF) has posted a treatment table of prescribed dosages for adults and children on its website. The ALDF has also posted information on Lyme disease tests, though doctors disagree on their accuracy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Lyme disease may cause loss of muscle tone in the face (Bell's palsy), severe headaches, a stiff neck, shooting pains that wake you up, heart palpatations, dizziness from these palpatations and severe joint pain. About 60% of the patients who weren't treated for Lyme disease had "intermittent bouts of arthritis, with severe joint pain and swelling," according to the CDC. Additional symptoms include numbness and/or tingling hands and feet, concentration problems, and memory loss.

I haven't had any of these symptoms, thank goodness, and don't want you to have them. How can you prevent Lyme disease? Mayo Clinic recommends wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants. Spray yourself with insect repellent before you go outside. If you find a tic on your body remove it carefully with tweezers and put antiseptic on the site. Cutting foliage away from your house or cabin may also help to prevent tic bites.

Most important, if you have what I experienced - a distinct bite, red skin or rash, and a "bull's-eye" - see your doctor immediately.

Lyme disease is more prevalent than you may think and CDC statistics confirm this. In 2004, 19,804 cases of Lyme disease were reported, which works out to 6.7 cases per 100,000 people. In the 12 states where Lyme disease is most common, the average was 27.4 cases per 100,000 people.

Being bitten by a tic has reminded me that I have to check my body often for tics and bites, something I failed to do. I was so busy stripping wallpaper that I forgot to think about tics. Though I wore long-sleeved shirts and jeans while I was at the cabin, these clothes didn't prevent the bite. We've informed all family members about my bite and told them to be on the alert for tics.

You should inspect your pets regularly for tics as well. After one visit to the North woods we found more than 40 tics on our Golden Retriever and removing them took hours. This brings up another prevention tip, which is staying on established trails and paths. Be alert to Lyme disease and do everything you can to protect yourself.

http://www.harriethodgson.com

Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 years and is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Her 24th book, "Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," written with Lois Krahn, MD is available from http://www.amazon.com. A five-star review of the book is posted on Amazon. You'll find another review on the American Hospice Foundation website under the "School Corner" heading.

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