With fishing and summer recreation seasons just around the corner, you could be exposing yourself to Lyme disease and not even know it.
You might become just like one mother from Ireland, Martina Kelly, who suffers from chronic Lyme disease and a host of debilitating symptoms. Click here to read Martina’s struggle to find a diagnosis and treatment.
If you have ever hiked in the woods, you may have come across wood ticks. They are one of the most common insects. Most of the time when a wood tick bites you, it’s nothing more than an inconvenience. However, if the tick is a carrier of the Lyme disease bacteria, it could have a dramatic impact on your life.
Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose for a number of reasons.
First, people don’t always know that a tick has bitten them. They may not seek medical treatment until they develop symptoms. What’s more, many symptoms of Lyme disease mimic signs of other illnesses, including the flu. Also, the ticks that spread this disease can be small and difficult to spot.
Perhaps the most well-known symptom of this disease is a rash that looks like a bull’s eye.
Classic signs of early Lyme disease include:
- muscle aches
- headache
- fatigue
- fever
So it’s important that while you’re enjoying the outdoors this summer, you’re also being vigilant.
Summer is a great time of year to play outdoors, and not just for kids relishing freedom from school. Clear skies, sunny days, and vibrant green forests and fields draw adventure seekers of all ages to hike, bike, fish, camp, ride horses, and partake in many other kinds of summertime fun.
Take heed though—the key is protection. Be prepared!
