Spring has sprung, and so has tick activity. The month of May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month and because tick-borne infections are easy to get, yet hard to treat, we wanted to touch upon some of the basics, dispel some common myths and ensure you’re tacking proper precautions. We’ll also highlight some research that Bob Miller, Tree of Life founder, has been doing through his NutriGenetic Research Institute regarding genetics and Lyme disease. (link to http://www.nutrigeneticresearch.org/)

Our home state of Pennsylvania has led the country for the past six years with the most new cases of Lyme disease. However, Lyme disease is not just an east coast issue…it is a worldwide issue. And it’s not just an issue about Lyme disease. Ticks can carry more than a dozen other infectious pathogens, including: Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Borrelia mayonii, Colorado tick fever, Ehrlichiosis, Powassan disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Tularemia and Rickettsiosis

The Basics

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection contracted primarily through the bite of a deer tick/black-legged tick, lone star tick and dog tick. The Lyme Disease Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Inc. (www.LymePa.org) also reports that some researchers believe that other ticks and some biting insects such as mosquitoes, fleas, biting flies, and lice may also transmit Lyme disease.

Initially, it may cause flu-like symptoms. Untreated or undertreated, it may cause long-term illness that can affect many bodily systems. According to the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS.org), fewer than 50% of patients with Lyme disease recall a tick bite and fewer than 50% of patients with Lyme disease recall any rash.

Common Symptoms

Lyme disease has been called the great imitator and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of rheumatologic and neurologic conditions, as well as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Somatization Disorder and any difficult-to-diagnose multi-system illness.  The onset of Lyme disease symptoms can be easily mistaken for other illnesses. Once symptoms are more evident the disease may have already entered the central nervous system, and could be harder to cure.

Lymedisease.org offers several compiled lists of symptoms that you can reference.

Don’t forget to check your symptoms against co-infections too. This comprehensive list shows 21 co-infections and their related symptomology.

Testing

According to many experts, there are no reliable tests for Lyme disease. Instead of solely relying on tests, doctors need to base a diagnosis on your symptoms, medical history, and exposure to ticks (often referred to as a clinical diagnosis).

If you believe you’ve been bitten by a tick, you can take a short questionnaire developed by Lyme disease expert Dr. Richard Horowitz to determine your likelihood of having Lyme and associated tick-borne disorders. Take the questionnaire.

Disclaimer:  The Horowitz Lyme-MSIDS Questionnaire is not intended to replace the advice of your own physician or other medical professional. You should consult a medical professional in matters relating to health, and individuals are solely responsible for their own health care decisions regarding the use of this questionnaire. It is intended for informational purposes only and not for self-treatment or diagnosis.

Testing the Tick Itself

Another step to take is testing the tick itself, which tests the tick’s DNA for tick-borne infections. The following are just a few resources for tick testing.

www.tickchek.com

www.tickreport.com/

www.tickencounter.org/tick_testing

www.igenex.com/testing/tick-testing/

www.lymediseaseassociation.org/about-lyme/prevention-tick-removal/tick-testing

Myths vs. Facts

Because there’s limited research on Lyme disease, there are a lot of myths and misinformation around in the mainstream. PA Lyme Resource Network (www.PAlyme.org) has complied scientific evidence to help dispel some of those myths under its “Resources” tab.

Precautions

ILADS.org indicates that up to 50% of ticks in Lyme-endemic areas are infected. Here in Pennsylvania, the causative agent of Lyme disease was found in ticks in all 67 counties.

What to do if you get bitten by a tick? The CDC recommends the following for removing a tick…

• • Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
  • Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers.
  • After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.
  • Dispose of a live tick by submersing it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet. Never crush a tick with your fingers
  • Avoid folklore remedies such as “painting” the tick with nail polish or petroleum jelly, or using heat to make the tick detach from the skin. Your goal is to remove the tick as quickly as possible–not waiting for it to detach.

Click here for an article on ILADS.org from a Lyme literate medical doctor about removing a tick and recommended treatment considerations based on ILADS treatment guidelines. Link www.ilads.org/lyme/what-to-do-if-bit-by-tick.php

Genetics & Chronic Lyme Research

Tree of Life founder Bob Miller, who also formed the NutriGenetic Research Institute, recently conducted three in-depth studies investigating the possible correlation of genetic variants with those dealing with chronic Lyme disease. He discovered that people with chronic Lyme disease do have higher genetic variants than the controlled study group. However, it’s uncertain how these SNPs may impact those with chronic Lyme, and if nutritionally compensating for genetic variants improves the quality of life for those with chronic Lyme, or supports medical treatment being more effective.

Bob has presented his findings three times at ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society) conferences…first in Helsinki, Finland (2016), Philadelphia (2016) and Paris, France (2017). At the 2016 European ILADS conference, Bob and NutriGenetic Research Institute received one of two prestigious Lyme Poster Awards for the outstanding  Lyme research presentation, “Higher Levels of Genetic Variants (SNPs) Found in those with Chronic Lyme Disease.”

Read more about these research studies.

Watch a video that highlights findings from the first study.

Watch the ““Lyme disease – are your genes making you ill?” seminar that Bob presented to Nordic Network for Vector-borne Diseases (NorVect) in Oslo, Norway.

More about Lyme Disease

For more information on Lyme disease, Tree of Life recommends the following websites:

www.ILADS.org

www.Lymedisease.org

www.PALyme.org (includes lists of regional local support groups across the state of Pennsylvania)

If you’re looking for a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor, www.ILADS.org has a referral program as does www.PALyme.org for physicians within the state of Pennsylvania and neighboring states.

Tree of Life does not diagnose or treat Lyme disease; for this, you must see a licensed medical doctor. However, we do provide complementary nutritional support for those challenged with Lyme.