These 4 lethal viruses could fuel the next pandemic, new research says. What they are—and how the world can prepare
Sleep's Role In Lyme Disease Treatment: Comprehensive Remedy Guide Released
RxLyme has recently released a new report on the connection between sleep quality and the severity and symptoms of chronic Lyme disease.
DuBois, United States - March 1, 2024 —
With the release of this new report, the publication hopes to provide valuable information for patients and parents of children who are struggling with Lyme disease. As RxLyme explains in this report, sleep disruption can exacerbate the symptoms of Lyme disease and impair the body's ability to overcome this chronic condition.
Interested parties can learn more at https://rxlyme.Com/how-does-sleep-affect-lyme-disease/
RxLyme's newly released report first defines Lyme disease, outlines its most common symptoms, and identifies the stages and long-term effects.
Lyme disease symptoms include joint pain that can fluctuate in severity and migrate between joints, fatigue that seems unaffected by rest, fever, chills, and neurological problems. As the report explains, another telltale sign of Lyme disease is a bull's-eye rash around the original tick bite location.
According to RxLyme, once the illness becomes chronic or prolonged, it can lead to cognitive difficulties or "brain fog," impairing the patient's ability to complete everyday tasks. Emotional challenges like anxiety and depression have also been reported by those struggling with chronic Lyme disease.
RxLyme's comprehensive report goes on to identify strategies for improving sleep, which is imperative for healing from Lyme disease. Among the techniques detailed in the report are natural sleep aids like melatonin, chamomile, and valerian root, and mind-body exercises such as meditation and yoga.
RxLyme also urges patients to create sleep-inducing environments, incorporating items like a white noise machine, blackout curtains, and a supportive pillow and mattress, and maintaining a cool room temperature.
About RxLyme
RxLyme is dedicated to providing comprehensive information about Lyme disease and how to overcome it. Along with its article on the role of sleep in treating the disease, the company has published informative articles on topics including the effect mold has on the illness, the connection between thyroid disorders and Lyme disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, and the benefits of magnesium treatment for Lyme disease patients.
"The journey toward restorative rest can be challenging, especially when dealing with Lyme disease," said one spokesperson for the company. "With the right approach, it's possible to improve your sleep and, in turn, your overall health. When battling Lyme disease, the right treatment can make all the difference, not just for the disease itself but for sleep quality too."
Interested parties can learn more and read the complete report by visiting https://rxlyme.Com/
Contact Info:Name: Stanley LangEmail: Send EmailOrganization: Highroad EnterprisesAddress: 531 Delarme Road, DuBois, PA 15801, United StatesPhone: +1-814-590-9300Website: https://rxlyme.Com/
Release ID: 89121121
In case of identifying any problems, concerns, or inaccuracies in the content shared in this press release, or if a press release needs to be taken down, we urge you to notify us immediately by contacting error@releasecontact.Com. Our dedicated team will be readily accessible to address your concerns and take swift action within 8 hours to rectify any issues identified or assist with the removal process. We are committed to delivering high-quality content and ensuring accuracy for our valued readers.
Tick Season Is Kicking Off Early This Year — Experts Warn Of Lyme Disease Risk
Ticks are emerging earlier than usual this year, experts warn, and we could be in for a severe season.
The parasites are typically most active from April to September, but New Hampshire health officials have already started fielding reports of ticks. And one Minnesota county reported its first deer tick of the year in early February. Blame the uptick on the mild end to winter.
The New York State Department of Health explained that ticks can be active when outdoor temperatures reach 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
"As the weather gets warmer, New Yorkers are naturally spending more and more time outside. Because ticks can be found outdoors in most areas of New York, we want to make sure people are educated on how to prevent tick bites and tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald told The Post in a statement Thursday.
"It only takes one bite from an infected tick to become seriously ill with debilitating symptoms, so we recommend that people practice some simple prevention measures to avoid being bitten and to protect their health," McDonald added.
Estimates suggest that some 476,000 Americans may be diagnosed with Lyme disease each year. Here's what you need to know about ticks and Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne illness.
What is Lyme disease?Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that's caused by a bite from an infected blacklegged tick.
The condition, which is often characterized by a circular red rash, is most prevalent in the upper midwestern, northeastern and mid-Atlantic states. A 2022 report found that Rhode Island, Vermont and Maine had the highest incidence rates for Lyme disease, with New York placing sixth among US states.
Data for 2022 and 2023 in New York are not currently available, but the health department expects both years to show significantly higher numbers of Lyme disease than prior years because of the way reporting cases changed in 2022.
Ticks are typically most active from April to September, but they are emerging earlier than usual this year because of the mild winter.Lyme disease cases nationwide have been on the rise for decades — from 3.74 reported cases per 100,000 people in 1991 to 7.21 reported cases per 100,000 people in 2018, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA blames shorter winters, which allow ticks to be active for longer, and changes in the populations of deer, which are the primary hosts for ticks, among other factors.
How do you get Lyme disease? Lyme disease cases nationwide have been on the rise for decades — from 3.74 reported cases per 100,000 people in 1991 to 7.21 reported cases per 100,000 people in 2018, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.Borrelia burgdorferi and, less commonly, Borrelia mayonii are the bacteria that spur Lyme disease.
In the northeastern, mid-Atlantic and north-central US, Borrelia burgdorferi is spread primarily through the blacklegged tick, also called the deer tick. In the Pacific Coast states, the western blacklegged tick is the main culprit.
Borrelia mayonii is rarely found in ticks, having only been discovered in blacklegged ticks in the north-central US.
In most cases, ticks must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or longer before Lyme disease can be transmitted. Removing a tick within 24 hours can greatly reduce the risk of contracting the illness, though it's not guaranteed.
Do all ticks carry Lyme disease?Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that ticks are fond of yards, wooded areas and low-growing grasslands. Depending on the location, less than 1% to more than half of the ticks in the given area are carrying Lyme disease bacteria.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that's caused by a bite from an infected blacklegged tick. KPixMining – stock.Adobe.Com What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?Symptoms can include fever, chills, headaches, fatigue, muscle and joint aches and swollen lymph nodes or rashes, according to the CDC.
If left untreated, long-term symptoms can include facial palsy, heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat, nerve pain and inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
Early signs and symptoms can appear three to 30 days after the bite.
In most cases, ticks must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or longer before Lyme disease can be transmitted. Heiko Barth – stock.Adobe.ComAn early sign is an erythema migrans rash, which affects about 70 to 80% of infected people. The rash will begin at the site of the bite after seven days, on average, and will gradually increase in size. Occasionally, the bite will clear as the rash grows, creating a "bull's-eye" appearance.
The rash is rarely itchy or painful, though it may feel warm to the touch. It may appear on any area of the body and might not always look like a "classic" EM rash.
How do you get tested for Lyme disease? According to the CDC, Lyme disease symptoms can include fever, chills, headaches, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes or rashes. Shishiga – stock.Adobe.ComThe CDC recommends a two-step blood test for Lyme disease using one sample.
If the first step turns up negative, then no further testing is needed. But if the first step is positive or indeterminate (also called "equivocal"), the second step needs to be performed.
If both tests are positive or equivocal, then the overall result is positive.
How can you prevent tick bites?The most efficient way to protect against Lyme disease is to use insect repellent; wear clothes that cover your skin in areas with high tick populations; and check yourself for ticks.
Before you go outdoors:
When coming indoors:
Prevention remains the most effective method to protect yourself and others from being bitten by an infected tick, New York health officials say.
Is Lyme disease treatable?Those treated with the proper antibiotics in the early stages of Lyme disease typically recover quickly and completely, according to the CDC.
Regimens for the erythema migrans rash, the most common manifestation of early Lyme disease, include amoxicillin, doxycycline and cefuroxime.
Facial palsy can be treated with oral antibiotics (doxycycline) and Lyme meningitis/radiculoneuritis can be treated with either oral or intravenous antibiotics (doxycycline or ceftriaxone), depending on severity, the CDC says.
A vaccine for Lyme disease is not currently available, but clinical trials of new vaccines for Lyme disease are underway. Gabort – stock.Adobe.ComLyme carditis — when Lyme disease bacteria enter the tissues of the heart — can be treated with oral or intravenous antibiotics, depending on severity. Some patients might require a temporary pacemaker. Antibiotics include amoxicillin, doxycycline and cefuroxime for mild cases, or ceftriaxone for severe cases.
An initial episode of Lyme arthritis — when Lyme disease bacteria enter joint tissue and cause inflammation — is treated with a four-week course of oral antibiotics (amoxicillin, doxycycline and cefuroxime), though some may require a second course if the issue persists. Intravenous ceftriaxone is preferred for the second course for those who had no response to the initial course.
Be sure to consult with an infectious disease specialist when it comes to individual patient treatment decisions.
Is there a vaccine for Lyme disease?A vaccine for Lyme disease is not currently available, but clinical trials of new vaccines are underway.
Pfizer and Valneva have developed a vaccine candidate — VLA15 — that's already in Phase 3 human trials, the CDC said. Moderna also has candidates for mRNA vaccines against Lyme disease, with mRNA-1975 in clinical development and currently in Phase II.
In 2002, the only vaccine available for Lyme disease, LYMERix, was pulled from the market and discontinued by the manufacturer due to "insufficient consumer demand," according to the CDC.
Demand reportedly decreased due to adverse effects such as arthritis as well as general anti-vaccine sentiments, but the FDA found "insufficient evidence to support a causal relationship" between the effects and the vaccine, researchers concluded in the Epidemiology & Infection journal in 2007.
The removal of LYMERix, made by SmithKline Beecham, left people without alternatives besides antibiotics after a tick bite, and drug makers wouldn't make a new vaccine due to potential market risk, Nadine Bowden of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases told Axios last year.
Aside from the vaccine, researchers have been looking into other alternatives to protect against Lyme disease, including a human monoclonal antibody as pre-exposure prophylaxis for Lyme disease and more sensitive tests that look at biomarkers the body releases when it has Lyme disease, as well as vaccinating mice in tick-infested areas with the hopes of spreading the immunity to the ticks themselves.
Everything You Need To Know About Lyme Disease
Lyme disease results from the bite of an infected tick. It can cause many symptoms, including a bull's-eye rash and joint pain, and may result in post-Lyme disease syndrome.
Lyme disease was first recognized in the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut, in 1975.
It's an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and, in rare cases, Borrelia mayonii.
B. Burgdorferiis transmitted to humans by a bite from an infected black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick. These tiny insects become infected after feeding on infected animals, such as deer, birds, or mice.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infected ticks transmit Lyme disease in the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic, and North Central United States, as well as on the Pacific Coast of the United States.
Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms and treatments for Lyme disease and how to identify a tick bite.
Lyme disease is typically classified into three stages. These help categorize the severity and development of symptoms and the infection.
Symptoms of Lyme disease vary depending on the stage of infection.
That said, the severity, progression, and presentation of symptoms may vary depending on the individual.
For example, symptoms of stages 1 and 2 may overlap. Or, you may not experience any stage 1 symptoms but experience later symptoms.
Early signs and symptoms of Lyme diseaseSymptoms of Lyme disease usually start 3–30 days after the tick bite.
One of the earliest signs of the disease is a bull's-eye rash, also known as an erythema migrans.
Up to 8 out of 10 people experience a bull's eye rash, which occurs at the site of the tick bite. It usually has a central red spot surrounded by a clear spot with an area of redness at the edge.
People with lighter skin may have a rash that's solid red, while people with darker skin may have a rash that resembles a bruise. It may be warm to the touch, but it's not painful and doesn't itch.
Other symptoms commonly seen in stage 1 of Lyme disease include:
Later signs and symptoms of Lyme diseaseEarly disseminated Lyme disease can appear up to 3 months after the tick bite, while late disseminated Lyme disease may take up to 12 months.
Stages 2 and 3 of Lyme disease are characterized by systemic infection. This means the infection has spread throughout your body, including to other organs.
Symptoms may include:
It's important to note that you may experience later symptoms of Lyme disease without experiencing earlier symptoms, such as a bull's eye rash.
Lyme disease symptoms in childrenChildren generally experience the same Lyme disease symptoms and progression as adults.
That said, a 2019 review suggests that you may also notice some psychological symptoms in your child, such as:
If your child seems to be acting differently and can't explain why or what they're feeling, speak with a doctor. These changes could be a sign of many conditions, including Lyme disease.
Lyme disease may be difficult to diagnose because many of the symptoms are similar to those of other conditions.
A healthcare professional will first perform a medical history and physical examination to look for erythema migrans and other symptoms characteristic of Lyme disease.
If you don't have visual symptoms of Lyme disease, they'll recommend a two-step serology. This may include the following two blood tests to help detect antibodies:
It's important to note that blood tests are most reliable only a few weeks after the initial infection. This is when antibodies are present.
Some at-home Lyme disease testing kits are also available. These may be beneficial if you've recently been bitten by a tick or you recently spent time in an area where ticks are common.
However, it's best to see a doctor if you experience any signs or symptoms of Lyme disease.
If you need help finding a primary care doctor, then check out our FindCare tool.
Tick testing for Lyme diseaseSome commercial laboratories test ticks for Lyme disease. However, the CDC doesn't recommend tick testing for the following reasons:
Treatment for Lyme disease will depend on the progression of the infection.
Early stagesLyme disease is best treated in the early stages. Treatment for early localized disease is a 10- to 14-day course of oral antibiotics to eliminate the infection.
Medications used to treat Lyme disease include:
Later stagesIf Lyme disease has progressed beyond stage 1 or affects your circulatory or central nervous systems, a doctor may prescribe intravenous (IV) antibiotics. This will then be followed up with an oral regimen. The complete course of treatment usually takes 14–28 days.
If you experience abnormal heart rhythm or heart block, a doctor may also recommend you stay in the hospital to be monitored until the abnormality resolves.
Lyme arthritis, a late-stage symptom of Lyme disease, is also treated with oral antibiotics for 28 days.
Ticks infected with the bacterium B. Burgdorferi can attach to any part of your body. They're more commonly found in moist areas of your body that are hard to see, such as the scalp, armpits, and groin area.
The infected tick must be attached to your body for at least 36 hours to transmit the bacterium.
Most Lyme disease infectious are caused by immature ticks, called nymphs. They feed during the spring and summer. Nymphs are more likely to transmit Lyme disease due to their size. They're roughly the size of a poppy seed, which makes them harder to see and remove than adult ticks.
Is Lyme disease contagious?There's currently no evidence that Lyme disease is contagious between people, according to the CDC. This means it cannot be transmitted through touching, kissing, having sex, or air, food, and water.
Living in a state with a high prevalence of Lyme disease may increase your risk of being bitten by an infected tick. According to the CDC, as of 2021, the U.S. States with the highest incidence of Lyme disease include:
People who work outdoors are also at an elevated risk of Lyme disease, including those who work in:
Most tick bites happen in the summer when ticks are most active and people spend more time outside.
However, it's possible to get Lyme disease from tick bites in early fall, and even in late winter if the weather is unseasonably warm.
Here are some frequently asked questions about the prevention of Lyme disease and ticks.
Can I prevent Lyme disease?Yes, you can prevent Lyme disease by protecting yourself from ticks. This is because the infection is transmitted through bites from infected ticks.
How can I prevent tick bites?Some ways to prevent tick bites may include:
Checking yourself for ticks in the shower or bath is important after you've come in from outside.
Other than that, check your clothes, especially the folds of your clothes, knowing that ticks can be very small and hard to spot. Running your hands through your hair is also a good idea.
What should I do if a tick bites me?If a tick bites you, it's important to remove it as soon as possible.
According to the CDC, the best way to remove a tick is to:
The majority of people who receive a diagnosis of Lyme disease will recover within 2–4 weeks of starting treatment, according to the CDC.
However, approximately 5–10% of people with Lyme disease will experience post-Lyme disease syndrome, also known as chronic Lyme disease.
Symptoms of post-Lyme disease syndrome are similar to those that occur in the earlier stages of the condition, such as:
Treatment is primarily focused on easing pain and discomfort. Most people recover, but it can take months or years.
Does Lyme disease go away?In most cases, Lyme disease can go away with early diagnosis and treatment. However, if you start treatment in the later stages, you may experience long-term complications like damage to your joints.
Can you live a normal life with Lyme disease?Most people can live a normal life after receiving treatment for Lyme disease. However, up to 10% of people experience chronic symptoms of Lyme disease that could affect mobility and cognitive skills.
What happens when Lyme disease goes untreated?If left untreated, Lyme disease may progress and cause serious neurological and rheumatoid complications. These may include facial palsy, extreme fatigue, meningitis, and arthritis, among others. It's important to get treated as early as possible if you have Lyme disease.
Can you recover from Lyme on your own?Antibiotics are needed to treat Lyme disease. Left untreated, the infection can progressively get worse and lead to more serious long-term complications.
Lyme disease is an infection caused by a tick bite from an infected tick.
If you find a tick on your body, it's important to properly remove it as soon as possible. Then, monitor the tick bite area. If a bull's eye rash appears, speak with a healthcare professional as soon as you can.
Early diagnosis and treatment can help treat Lyme disease.
Comments
Post a Comment