Lyme disease-What is it?

Some of the diseases you can get from a tick bite are Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted

To understand this disease better, it will be important that we trace its causes, treatment and prevention. By the way what is this disease? Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks.

Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks.

Scientific laboratory testing is helpful if used correctly and performed with validated methods. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, applying pesticides, and reducing tick habitat. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can occasionally transmit other tick-borne diseases as well.

Lyme disease-Natural treatment of Lyme disease

It is a common misconception that Lyme disease is primarily an “East Coast” problem. Within the last 10 years, however, the ticks that are known to carry Lyme disease have been found in all 50 states in the US and in other countries around the globe. We are now facing a nationwide epidemic of Lyme disease.

Uncovering some of the myths about Lyme disease is an important step in both prevention and treatment. Efforts are being made to spreading awareness and education about this illness. One of the biggest challenges with Lyme disease is that it can be difficult to get a confirmed diagnosis without a known tick bite or the appearance of the classic “bull’s eye” rash. There are many different skin rashes that are associated with Lyme disease, however, and some are easily mistaken for skin infections or other insect bites.

It is important not to make assumptions that you don’t have Lyme disease if you don’t have a rash. Some of the symptoms associated with this infection include fatigue, poor memory and concentration, irritability, anxiety or depression, muscle and joint aches and pains, palpitations, headaches, insomnia, and numbness and tingling.

Lyme disease is now commonly referred to as “the great imitator” because the similarities of symptoms with other illnesses. This can be frustrating for patients in search of answers to explain how they are feeling. Getting a good clinical evaluation of symptoms by a physician is crucial in diagnosing Lyme disease.

The conventional treatment of Lyme disease includes antibiotics in the early stages of infection. At the later stages, it may become more complicated and difficult to treat as multiple systems are often involved and immunity is suppressed. A holistic approach to treatment is very effective in restoring the body back to health by targeting the multiple infections associated with Lyme and simultaneously strengthening the immune system.

The natural approach incorporates a unique variety of different modalities to treat infection while supporting the immune system and decreasing symptoms. Many herbal protocols including Chinese herbs have proven effective clinically in the treatment of Lyme disease. Acupuncture can be used to stimulate circulation and decrease pain. Adequate nutrition and a good detox protocol can minimize the symptoms that occur as a result of “die-off” of the infection.

Lyme disease-Pain, Stress and Addiction

People who struggle with stressful medical conditions such as Lyme disease are more vulnerable to addiction say scientists at the National Institute of Health (NIH). In fact statistics supplied by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) show that individuals with chronic pain experience substance abuse rates at two-to-four times that of the general population. Several factors that explain their susceptibility include the following:

• Ongoing need for medication
• Ongoing health problems
• Societal enabling
• Lack of identification of potential problems

Stress is another factor that can predispose individuals who live with chronic pain to addiction. Researchers have long identified a correlation between stress and substance abuse. Important facts about this link include the following:

• Stress is a major contributor to the initiation and continuation of substance abuse.
• Children who are exposed to severe stress are more vulnerable to substance abuse in adulthood.
• 30-60% of individuals with substance use disorders meet the criteria for comorbid PTSD.
• Patients with substance use disorders tend to suffer from more severe PTSD symptoms than PTSD patients without substance use disorders.
• Animals that are not previously exposed to illicit substances become more vulnerable to drug self-administration when stressed.
• Many of the same neurocircuits that respond to drugs also respond to stress.

Stress increases the release of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), a hormone that catalyzes biological responses to stressors such as increased heart rate and metabolism. Abusing drugs also increases CRF levels and thereby heightens danger of relapse.

Stress also triggers the fight-or-flight moderating amygdala. When the amygdala perceives threats, it responds irrationally and hijacks the individual’s ability to think clearly. For people in recovery who stay sober by making wise choices, this emotional takeover can impair judgment and make resisting drugs harder.

There is yet another way that stress packs a double punch for people who suffer from Lyme disease. It exacerbates pain. A research team from Carnegie Mellon University found that chronic psychological stress is associated with the ability to regulate the body’s inflammatory response. This can lead to the development or progression of disease.

Lyme disease-New Ways to Cope

Mastering stress reduction skills is an important part of overall health and sobriety. In treatment many people find ways to incorporate relaxation strategies into daily life. Several include the following:

• Singing
• Massage
• Spending time outdoors
• Journaling
• Yoga
• Adopting a dog
• Listening to music
• Taking a walk
• Drawing
• Soaking in a hot bath

Other stress-management skills and techniques frequently taught in recovery programs include the following:

• Avoiding hunger, anger, loneliness and fatigue
• Engaging in community service
• Journaling thoughts and feelings
• Practicing positive thinking

Experts at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health [OB1]  also advise active self-monitoring of mood changes by keeping a list of personal warning signs. Additionally they suggest identifying enjoyable activities that generate positive feelings and could serve as a way to neutralize a craving or negative mood. The key is to pay attention to changes. Sleep disturbances, hopeless thoughts and appetite fluctuations are sometimes early relapse warning signs.

Lyme disease-What is it?