Know the Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Know the Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Know the Symptoms of Lyme Disease

As many of us start heading outdoors as warm weather approaches for ballgames, picnics, hikes, camping, etc., we need to be mindful of some of the risks that come with it. One that most of us would not give a thought to is Lyme Disease.  Lyme Disease is contracted when you are bitten by a deer tick.  Deer ticks are very tiny in size and most often undetected at the time of the bite.  There are a reported 300,000 new cases each year.  If untreated, this can become a very debilitating illness, not only for humans, but animals also.  Lyme Disease can be very treatable with antibiotics if caught early, but can have very serious, irreversible affects if its not caught and treated.  If you are among the avid outdoorsmen, please watch for any of these common symptoms: Rash – this is the most telltale sign.  It is easily identified as a bull’s eye shaped rash or looks like a target.  It can form anywhere from three to 30 days after the initial bite. Neurological Issues – memory loss, trouble focusing, depression, anxiety, emotional tantrums or total personality changes. Meningitis – swelling of the membrane of your brain. Joint Pain – 60 percent of Lyme Disease sufferers develop joint pain fairly quickly. Flu-like symptoms – body aches, fevers, cold symptoms, just feeling plain lousy. Swollen Lymph Nodes – lymph nodes in the neck area become swollen. Eye Inflammation – some may experience optic inflammation. Eyes swell, look red and become sore and you may experience blurry vision. Fatigue – feeling tired when your body hasn’t been overworked. Heart Palpitations – dizziness will sometimes accompany the heartbeat changes. Hepatitis – dark urine, aching, eye color turning yellow and nausea. Bell’s Palsy – facial muscles start to weaken, but only on one side of the face. Hair loss – some may suffer from hair loss due to the toxins from the Lyme Disease. Watch for any of these symptoms, and if they last for more than a few days, you should see your doctor.  As always, better safe than sorry!