Information and facts on Lyme Disease

 

This disease gets its name from the town of Lyme, Connecticut, where it was first identified in the early 1970's. The locations and the number of cases of Lyme disease have continued to increase. In 1983, there were 48 cases were reported to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "CDC" in Atlanta. By the yaer 1991, this number had risen to 9,344 almost a 200 times increase in only 8 years. Approximately 90% of all known cases in the  United States have occurred in the states of California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota,  New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. Lyme disease also occurs in Europe, Russia, China, Japan, and Australia. Lyme disease is the most common tick carried illness in the United States. The bacteria that cause it, spirochetes called "Borrelia burgdorferi", is transmitted by the deer tick and this tick maybe carried by deer or mice. But in California, they are transmitted by the black-legged tick, which is also carried by wood rats. 

Both deer ticks and black-legged ticks are very tiny; an adult tick is less than one-tenth of an inch long,  and the nymph is the size of a pinhead. They are hard to spot because they are so much smaller than the common dog tick. Because they are so tiny, they often go undetected. The nymphs and larvae feed  primarily on white-footed mice, and the adults on white-tailed deer, although they may feed on many other animals as well, including birds, chipmunks, cows, horses, cats, dogs, lizards, and jackrabbits. The ticks fall off one host animal into grasses in marshes or fields, or into brush in wooded areas, from which they can be picked up by an unsuspecting passerby, whether human or animal, who becomes the next host. Not surprisingly, those most likely to be affected are people who spend time outdoors in or near wooded areas, where the ticks are prevalent, and the majority of cases occur in the summer and fall. Household pets like dogs and cats can pick up ticks and carry them into the home, where they can be transmitted to humans.

After a tick bites, it waits several hours before it begins to feed on the host's blood, and once it does, it feasts for three or four days. As it feeds, it may deposit its infectious cargo in the host's bloodstream. The longer the tick remains attached, the greater the risk of disease. The symptoms of Lyme disease are extremely variable, as is the incubation period, which may take anywhere from 2 to 32 days. The first sign may be the appearance of a red, circular lesion or rash on the skin. This is caused by the migration of the infecting organism outward through the skin, and it may appear anywhere from a few days to a few weeks after the bite. The lesion gradually expands in a circular pattern, while the center appears to clear up. For this reason, it is often referred to as a bull's-eye rash. In addition to the rash (or, in some cases, instead of the rash), fatigue, flulike symptoms, difficulty sleeping, muscle weakness, achiness, headache, stiff neck, backache, and, occasionally, nausea and vomiting may occur. The disease then usually progresses through three stages, although not everyone experiences all three:

1. Three days to three weeks after a tick bite, small raised bumps on the skin and/or a rash appears and may cover the entire torso, for as little as a day or two or as much as several weeks, and then fade. (If a rash appears immediately at the site of the tick bite, it may be a reaction to the bite itself and not to the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.) Fever, chills, nausea, sore throat, and vomiting may also occur.

2. Facial paralysis may occur weeks to months later. Enlargement of the spleen and lymph glands, severe headaches, enlargement of the heart muscle, and abnormal heart rhythm may also occur about this time.

3. Over the long term, persistent backache, stiff neck, joint pains that attack the knees, swelling and pain in other joints, and even degenerative muscle disease may be caused by Lyme disease.

Because tick bites are usually painless, the incubation period is so long, and the symptoms of Lyme  disease are so varied, the disorder may go unrecognized for weeks or even months. A physician may fail to diagnose the disease before it is in its advanced stages. Lyme disease produces symptoms that resemble those of multiple sclerosis, gout, lupus, and chronic fatigue syndrome, and misdiagnosis is not uncommon. Once arthritis appears, the joint pain and stiffness can come and go, recurring even years later. An estimated 10 percent of those with Lyme disease arthritis are left with permanent stiffness in their joints.

Lyme disease is treatable and almost always curable if found in its early stages. If the disease is not treated in the early stages, however, enlargement of the spleen and lymph nodes, irregular heart rhythm, arthritis, and damage to the cardiovascular and central nervous systems can occur. Some people find that their symptoms slowly subside over two to three years; others develop chronic problems. Often, symptoms leave and recur without another tick bite.
 

A test has been developed to identify Lyme disease. A blood sample is used to measure the levels of certain antibodies that usually increase in number from three days to three weeks after infection.

Other Changes To Make

• drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or filtered water a day

• eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)

• nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good

• juice is good (make your own with a juice machine)

• do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods

• carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack

• a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)

• do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks

• do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...

• use stress relief like going for walks in the park (or the 10/90 rule - see Stress)

• brown rice is good to eat

• avoid red meat and animal fats

• reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others

• fast a few days a month

• get at least 8 hours of sleep 

• exercise light to moderate amounts

• avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet

• do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke

• do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal

• do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry

• do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else

All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or to administer to any physical ailments.
In all matters related to your health please contact a qualified, licensed Medical Consultant or Doctor.