Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of a tick infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. Get the facts on Lyme disease symptoms, treatment, signs, vaccine, diagnosis, stages, and prevention from someone whose best friend lives with lyme for more then 16 years now.
Showing posts with label Signs And Symptoms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Signs And Symptoms. Show all posts
The term Arthritis is used a variety of disorders, issues and diseases related mainly to the joints in the body. There are over 100 forms of Arthritis with the two main forms being Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Persons inflicted with Arthritis experience severe pain in the joints. Relief of the pain experienced can be found in many sources such as drugs, yoga, massages, diet and exercise. Although medical advancement is soaring, there is no replacement for natural foods and healthy eating habits which is the easiest and quickest way to prevent and cure the pain suffered with the illness.
There are specific herbs, oils and spices that help to heal inflammation which is suffered with the condition and reduces the pain experienced in the joints. The following is a little knowledge to help you know more about these foods.
Capsaicin
When the body experiences pain, it is doing so because pain impulses are being transmitted to the brain. Substance P is a chemical that is involved in this transmission. Capsaicin helps to deplete or interfere with substance P, helping to relieve the pain that is associated with the condition. Capsaicin is effective with diabetic neuropathy, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis and works by relieving the pain in the nerve, joint or muscle. In a study conducted on 31 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 70 osteoarthritis patients, 80% experienced a decrease in pain after two weeks of capsaicin treatment.
Reishi Gano
Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) is a popular mushroom that is edible and is used in many Asian countries for the promotion of health and longevity. Reishi Gano is used to treat many diseases such as cancer, inflammation, scleroderma, neurasthenia, nephritis, insomnia, liver disease, hypertension, hyperglycemia, ulcer, bronchitis, arthritis and allergy. There are over 200 active elements in Reishi Gano which include Triterpenoids, Adenosine, and Polysaccharide which each having impressive medical benefits.
There are a number of ways in which Reishi Gano helps to resolve arthritis symptoms which include:
• It is a natural source that kills pain (COX2 inhibitor)
• It is a source which produces anti-inflammatory effect, controlling the pain and inflammation of the joints, tissues, and cartilages
• It helps the body to fight against infections and inflammation because it is an immune-modulator and helps to control auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis
• It is rated 7 times more potent than Ginseng making it a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants help to clean the body from free radicals which are responsible for causing many diseases
Tongkat Ali
Tongkat Ali is a root in Malaysia that has several properties including:
• Boost sexual ability
• Helps to fight fatigue (which is experienced with most types of arthritis)
• Boosts energy level
• The root is known to increase androgen hormones levels, which play a integral role in enhancing the immune system and controlling and boosting energy
• Decreases stress and tension
• Improves the blood flow to organs
• Improves cognitive function
• Improves sense of well being
• Increases bone mineral density
• Improves muscle mass and strength
It is essential to include these three plants or herbs when devising an effective and permanent plan to control and cure the many forms of arthritis and the symptoms experienced with the condition.
Obesity is a nationwide epidemic and we hear about the danger from it every day on the news. New research shows that the obese (overweight) individuals are up to four times as likely to develop knee osteoarthritis as they are to develop high blood pressure or type-2 diabetes. The danger to health and quality of life is insidious: at every stage, excess body weight both increases the level of pain and disability and undermines the effectiveness of treatment. Also, whereas high blood pressure and diabetes may be substantially improved on losing weight and are relatively easy to control with therapy, osteoarthritis is irreversible.
Maintaining a recommended weight or losing weight if they are overweight can lessen pain by reducing stress on the affected joints. Weight loss specifically helps ease pressure on weight-bearing joints such as the hips, knees, back and feet.
Increased body weight is a serious factor in the development of osteoarthritis (OA), particularly in the knees, which carry the brunt of weight day in and day out. In fact, for every pound a person gains, add 3 pounds of pressure on the knees and six times the pressure on the hips. Since weight gain gradually increases the stress on joints, the weight gain the decade before a person has OA symptoms, particularly in middle age, plays a big role in determining if they will have OA.
If the patient is overweight, work with them to devise a weight-loss plan that includes eating fewer calories and increasing physical exercise. Make sure they are getting enough nutrients to keep their body healthy and that the activities they choose don’t harm their joints.
Research has shown that losing extra weight can help people who already have osteoarthritis. Moreover, overweight or obese people who do not have osteoarthritis may reduce their risk of developing the disease by losing weight.
In short, weight control is important to people who have arthritis because extra weight puts extra pressure on some joints and can aggravate many types of arthritis. Achieving a healthy weight reduces the risk of developing the disease in the first place, relieves existing symptoms and helps to prevent further deterioration.
Arthritis is not a single disease. Arthritis refers to any disorder that causes “inflammation” of the joints. The term “arthritis” covers more than a hundred diseases and conditions affecting joints, the surrounding tissues, and other connective tissues.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and the most frequent joint disorder especially in seniors. Arthritis is a common disease. As the population ages, arthritis is expected to affect an estimated 67 million adults in the United States, alone, by 2030.
What causes arthritis? Arthritis is due to the wearing down of cartilage, which is the material that cushions the ends of the bones. Some researchers believe that when the joints are unable to react properly to stress, the cartilage is damaged. This leads to the development of arthritis.
Who is at risk of arthritis? Race: arthritis is less prevalent among African Americans and Hispanics than among non-Hispanic whites. Gender: Arthritis prevalence is higher in women, 24.4%, than in men, 18.1%. Family: Some very specific types of arthritis can result from hereditary factors. Some families may pass on the tendency for defective cartilage; Obesity: Arthritis co-exists with other conditions such as overweight or obese individuals. Additionally, physical inactivity has been found to be higher in those with arthritis. Diabetes: In 2005 and 2007 over half of those with diabetes had arthritis. People at risk of injuries: Sports injuries, occupation-related injuries and repetitive use joint injuries can increase the risk of arthritis.
Signs & symptoms of arthritis - How would you know if you have arthritis? While many people with arthritis do not experience any symptoms in the initial stages of the disease, following warning signs are mostly observed:
• Pain in or around a joint • Stiffness or problems moving a joint • Swelling (sometimes) in a joint
Complications (What arthritis can lead to?) Disability: Arthritis (being mainly a disease of bones and joints) is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Immobility: Arthritis limits everyday activities such as walking and dressing. Of working age adults (18 to 64 years), 1 in 20 reports that arthritis affects their ability to work whereas over one-third of those with arthritis reports that their work is affected by their condition. Infection: Persistent presence of inflammation for long term increases the risk of buildup of bacteria and bacteria, leading to infections.
What is the treatment of arthritis? Medications for some types of arthritis, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, can limit disease progression, control symptoms and prevent serious complications. However, there are a number of limitations and drawbacks associated with the use of medications in arthritis:
• Not all medications are considered equally effective for every kind of arthritis. • Like any other medical drugs, medicines used in the treatment of arthritis are not free of side effects especially if used for long term. • Medicines only target the effects (signs and symptoms) and often not the cause.
While we are unable to change some of the factors which make one susceptible to arthritis, such as age, sex and heredity, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of developing this disease by adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes ding exercise, practicing weight loss & taking a natural (herbal) safe supplement.
1. Losing weight Many people become less active when they develop arthritis because of pain and the fear of causing damage. This can lead to muscles becoming weaker and wasted. It also leads to increased weight gain and obesity. Weight loss can help build-up muscles, stabilize joints, and alleviate pain and stiffness in joints.
Weight loss has been shown to have significant benefits for people with arthritis, including reductions in pain and improvements in physical function, mental health, and quality of life. Excess weight puts extra stress on weight-bearing joints, especially the knees. According to a recent study, weight loss of an average of 11 pounds can reduce the risk of knee osteoarthritis by as much as 50%. Weight control can also help reduce stress on the joints and spine.
Also, regular and appropriate weight loss can have enormous benefits for people with arthritis, which include:
• Better joint mobility and range of movement • Improved pain management • Stronger muscles and bones • Decreased disease progression • Improved energy levels and general well being • Improved self-esteem and feeling more positive
2. Exercising Regular and healthy physical activity on daily basis such as walking, cycling and swimming) to strengthen supporting muscles and maintain joint mobility improves symptoms of arthritis and has been found to be greatly helpful for many.
3. Taking an “arthritis” diet Diet changes may make a big difference for many patients. While losing weight has long been part of arthritis treatment, the focus is now on foods and supplements that can reduce painful inflammation.
Another strategy is to identify and avoid foods that might cause arthritis to flare up. And scientific evidence is beginning to support the use of certain supplements that can relieve pain without many of the side effects of prescription drugs.
Likewise, some early research suggests that foods high in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation and risk for arthritis pain. Also, taking ginger and glucosamine (as extracted from the shells of shellfish) and chondroitin (as derived from cow cartilage) has been found to exert strong anti-inflammatory effect in arthritis.
Lyme disease can affect different body systems, such as the nervous system, joints, skin, and heart. Symptoms are often described as happening in three stages (although not everyone experiences all three):
1. A circular rash, typically within 1-2 weeks of infection, often is the first sign of infection. Although it's considered typical of Lyme, many people never develop one.
The rash usually has a characteristic "bull's-eye" appearance, with a central red spot surrounded by clear skin that is ringed by an expanding red rash. It also can appear as an expanding ring of solid redness. It may be warm to the touch and usually is not painful or itchy. The rash might be more difficult to see on people with darker skin tones, where it can look like a bruise. The rash usually resolves in about a month.
2. Along with the rash, a person may have flu-like symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, headache and muscle aches. Left untreated, symptoms of the initial illness may go away on their own. But in some cases, the infection can spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms of this stage of Lyme disease usually appear within several weeks after the tick bite, even in someone who has not developed the initial rash. A person might feel very tired and unwell or have more areas of rash that aren't at the site of the bite.
Lyme disease can affect the heart, leading to an irregular heart rhythm or chest pain. It can spread to the nervous system, causing facial paralysis (Bell's palsy), or tingling and numbness in the arms and legs. It can start to cause headaches and neck stiffness, which may be signs of meningitis.
3. The last stage of Lyme disease can occur if the early stages were not detected or appropriately treated. Symptoms of late Lyme disease can appear anytime from weeks to years (average of 6 months) after an infectious tick bite, and in children is almost always in the form of arthritis, particularly in the knee or other large joints.
Having such a wide range of symptoms can make Lyme disease difficult for doctors to diagnose, although certain blood tests can be done to look for evidence of the body's reaction to Lyme disease.
1. Lyme disease is contagious.
Lyme disease is not transmitted from an affected person to someone else. Therefore, Lyme disease is not contagious.
2. What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a bacterial illness caused by a bacterium called a "spirochete."
3. You've found a tick on your leg. Now what?
The longer a tick remains attached to someone, the greater the chance it will be able to spread a disease-causing germ. Therefore, any attached tick should be removed as soon as possible using a fine-point tweezers. The tick should not be squeezed or twisted but grasped close to the skin and pulled straight out with steady pressure.
4. Ticks are carriers of the Lyme bacterium...
Ticks are carriers of the Lyme bacterium in their stomachs.
5. Where was Lyme disease first identified?
Lyme disease only became apparent in 1975 when mothers of a group of children who lived near each other in Lyme, Connecticut, made researchers aware that their children had all been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. This unusual grouping of illness that appeared "rheumatoid" eventually led researchers to the identification of the bacterial cause of the children's condition, what was then called "Lyme disease" in 1982.
6. Lyme disease is reported most often in the southeastern U.S.
Lyme disease has been reported most often in the northeastern United States, but it has been reported in all 50 states, as well as China, Europe, Japan, Australia, and parts of the former Soviet Union. In certain areas of New York, where Lyme disease is common, over half of the ticks are infected.
7. What are early symptoms and signs of Lyme disease?
As the bacteria spread in the skin away from the initial tick bite, the infection causes an expanding reddish rash that is often associated with "flu-like" symptoms.
8. The characteristic Lyme disease rash looks like...
In the early phase of the illness, within days to weeks of the tick bite, the skin around the bite develops an expanding ring of unraised redness. There may be an outer ring of brighter redness and a central area of clearing, leading to a "bull's-eye" appearance.
9. Lyme disease rash is called...
This classic initial rash of Lyme disease is called "erythema migrans" (formerly called erythema chronicum migrans).
10. What is one of the effects of late-stage Lyme disease?
The later phases of Lyme disease can affect the heart, causing inflammation of the heart muscle. This can result in abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure. The nervous system can develop facial muscle paralysis (Bell's palsy), abnormal sensation due to disease of peripheral nerves (peripheral neuropathy), meningitis, and confusion. Inflammation in the joints (arthritis) begins with swelling, stiffness, and pain, and particularly affects one knee.
11. How do doctors diagnose Lyme disease?
In early Lyme disease, doctors can sometimes make a diagnosis simply by finding the classic red rash. Currently, the confirmatory test that is most reliable is the Western Blot assay antibody test.
12. Which drug is used to treat early stage Lyme disease?
Early illness is usually treated with medicines taken by mouth, for example, doxycycline (Vibramycin), amoxicillin (Amoxil), or cefuroxime axetil (Ceftin).
13. How can Lyme disease be prevented?
Because Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks attaching to the body, it is important to use tick-bite avoidance techniques when visiting known tick areas. Spraying insect repellant containing DEET onto exposed skin can help. Wearing long pants tucked into boots and long sleeves can protect the skin. Clothing, children, and pets should be examined for ticks. Ticks can be removed gently with tweezers and saved in a jar for later identification. Bathing the skin and scalp and washing clothing upon returning home might prevent the bite and transmission of the disease.
Lyme arthritis can be defined as a painful, swollen joint, that causes a stiffness similar to osteoarthritis, and occurs most commonly in the late stages of Lyme disease, usually several months after the onset of the disease. About 60 percent of patients who are left untreated for Lyme disease in its early stages will develop Lyme arthritis.
Lyme arthritis occurs when the spirochete, the bacteria that causes the disease, invades the joints and causes inflammation to the tissue that lines the joints, If left untreated, this inflammatory response can cause the cartilage within the joints to become damaged.
Dealing with this pain while keeping up with the demands of a busy lifestyle can be difficult. Normal activities like taking a walk during a lunch break or carrying a briefcase can cause excruciating pain. There are ways to decrease arthritis pain and other joint ailments without using traditional medicines that may cause further health problems.
Exercise is a great way to loosen stiff joints. People with extreme cases of arthritis should first start with light stretching movements and slowly progress to other exercises. This does not have to be strenuous, but just enough to get the joints engaged and active.
Relief from joint pain can also come through the help of an occupational therapist. They will be able to assist you with daily living activities, and help you devise a plan to deal with your pain that may include accommodations in your workplace. If needed, the therapist may recommend that you wear a supportive orthotic device for a certain period of time. This helps to ensure that you maintain the active lifestyle that you want.
Lyme arthritis does not discriminate with age or race, or any other factor. Children, young adults and seniors can all be plagued with this debilitating disease. The best way to deal with this is to first be properly diagnosed, and then begin to do your research on treatments that will best fit your lifestyle. You may be prescribed traditional medicines, but there are other natural remedies available for you. By taking the time to understand this disease and research different treatment methods, you will be more prepared and empowered to continue a young, healthy, active lifestyle.
1. You can't feel ticks crawl 2. They numb you before biting 3. They follow your breath (C02) and track you down 4. Deer ticks love all animals 5. Lyme is a dangerous, virulent spirochete 6. Insurance doesn't cover proper treatment for most people 7. Most new lyme victims are children
LYME LIES ABOUND TO KEEP YOU FROM COSTING YOUR HMO MONEY!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!
The term "chronic Lyme disease" or "post-Lyme disease syndrome" is often applied to several different sets of patients. One usage refers to people suffering from the symptoms of untreated and disseminated late-stage Lyme disease: arthritis, peripheral neuropathy and /or encephalomyelitis. The term is also applied to people who have had the disease in the past and some symptoms remain after antibiotic treatment, which is also called post-Lyme disease syndrome. A third and controversial use of the term applies to patients with nonspecific symptoms, such as fatigue, who show no objective evidence they have been infected with Lyme disease in the past, since the standard diagnostic tests for infection are negative.
Up to one third of Lyme disease patients who have completed a course of antibiotic treatment continue to have symptoms, such as severe fatigue, sleep disturbance, unconsciousness, and cognitive difficulties, with these symptoms being severe in about 2% of cases.
The symptoms may represent "for all intents and purposes" fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. A few doctors attribute these symptoms to persistent infection with Borrelia, or coinfections with other tick-borne infections, such as Ehrlichia and Babesia. Other doctors believe that the initial infection may cause an autoimmune reaction that continues to cause serious symptoms even after the bacteria have been eliminated by antibiotics.
Antibiotic treatment is the central pillar in the management of Lyme disease. However, in the late stages of borreliosis, symptoms may persist despite extensive and repeated antibiotic treatment. Although these chronic symptoms are possibly due to either autoimmunity or residual bacteria (see immunological studies below), no Borrelia DNA can usually be detected in the joints after antibiotic treatment, which suggests the arthritis may continue, even after the bacteria have been killed. Lyme arthritis that persists after antibiotic treatment may be treated with hydroxychloroquine or methotrexate. Corticosteroid injections into the affected joint are not recommended for any stage of Lyme arthritis.
Patients with chronic neuropathic pain responded well to gabapentin monotherapy with residual pain after intravenous ceftriaxone treatment in a pilot study. Some antibiotics may have a dual effect on Lyme disease, since minocycline and doxycycline have anti-inflammatory effects in addition to their antibiotic actions, including anti-inflammatory effects specific to the inflammation caused by Lyme disease. Indeed, minocycline is used in other neurodegenerative and inflammatory disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and ALS.
Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is an emerging infectious disease caused by at least three species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto is the main cause of Lyme disease in the United States, whereas Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii cause most European cases. The disease is named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut, USA, where a number of cases were identified in 1975.
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. Borrelia is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected ticks belonging to a few species of the genus Ixodes ("hard ticks"). Early symptoms may include fever, headache, fatigue, depression, and a characteristic circular skin rash called erythema migrans (EM). Left untreated, later symptoms may involve the joints, heart, and central nervous system. In most cases, the infection and its symptoms are eliminated by antibiotics, especially if the illness is treated early. Delayed or inadequate treatment can lead to the more serious symptoms, which can be disabling and difficult to treat.
Lyme disease can affect multiple body systems and produce a range of symptoms. Not all patients with Lyme disease will have all symptoms, and many of the symptoms are not specific to Lyme disease, but can occur with other diseases as well. The incubation period from infection to the onset of symptoms is usually one to two weeks, but can be much shorter (days), or much longer (months to years).
The classic sign of early local infection with Lyme disease is a circular, outwardly expanding rash called erythema chronicum migrans (also erythema migrans or EM), which occurs at the site of the tick bite three to thirty days after the tick bite. The rash is red, and may be warm, but is generally painless. Classically, the innermost portion remains dark red and is thicker and firmer; the outer edge remains red; and the portion in between clears, giving the appearance of a bullseye(the centre of a target). However, partial clearing is uncommon, and the bullseye pattern more often involves central redness.
Not all lyme patients show a rash, that is why some don't even know they contracted lyme. Lyme disease can progress to later stages even in patients who do not develop a rash.
Within days to weeks after the onset of local infection, the Borrelia bacteria may begin to spread through the bloodstream. EM may develop at sites across the body that bear no relation to the original tick bite. Another skin condition that is apparently absent in North American patients, but occurs in Europe, is borrelial lymphocytoma, a purplish lump that develops on the ear lobe, nipple, or scrotum. Other discrete symptoms include migrating pain in muscles, joints, and tendons, and heart palpitations and dizziness caused by changes in heartbeat.
Various acute neurological problems, termed neuroborreliosis, appear in 10–15% of untreated patients. These include facial palsy, which is the loss of muscle tone on one or both sides of the face, as well as meningitis, which involves severe headaches, neck stiffness, and sensitivity to light. Radiculoneuritis causes shooting pains that may interfere with sleep, as well as abnormal skin sensations. Mild encephalitis may lead to memory loss, sleep disturbances, or mood changes. In addition, some case reports have described altered mental status as the only symptom seen in a few cases of early neuroborreliosis.
After several months, untreated or inadequately treated patients may go on to develop severe and chronic symptoms that affect many parts of the body, including the brain, nerves, eyes, joints and heart. Many disabling symptoms can occur, including permanent paraplegia in the most extreme cases.
Chronic neurologic symptoms occur in up to 5% of untreated patients. A polyneuropathy that involves shooting pains, numbness, and tingling in the hands or feet may develop. A neurologic syndrome called Lyme encephalopathy is associated with subtle cognitive problems, such as difficulties with concentration and short-term memory. These patients may also experience profound fatigue. However, other problems, such as depression and fibromyalgia, are no more common in people who have been infected with Lyme than in the general population. Chronic encephalomyelitis, which may be progressive, can involve cognitive impairment, weakness in the legs, awkward gait, facial palsy, bladder problems, vertigo, and back pain. In rare cases untreated Lyme disease may cause frank psychosis, which has been mis-diagnosed as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Panic attacks and anxiety can occur; there may also be delusional behavior, including somatoform delusions, sometimes accompanied by a depersonalization or derealization syndrome, where the patients begin to feel detached from themselves or from reality.
Lyme arthritis usually affects the knees. In a minority of patients, arthritis can occur in other joints, including the ankles, elbows, wrist, hips, and shoulders. Pain is often mild or moderate, usually with swelling at the involved joint.
Lyme disease is diagnosed clinically based on symptoms, objective physical findings (such as erythema migrans, facial palsy or arthritis) or a history of possible exposure to infected ticks, as well as serological blood tests.
Several forms of laboratory testing for Lyme disease are available, some of which have not been adequately validated. The most widely used tests are serologies, which measure levels of specific antibodies in a patient's blood. These tests may be negative in early infection, as the body may not have produced a significant quantity of antibodies, but they are considered a reliable aid in the diagnosis of later stages of Lyme disease.
Diagnosis of late-stage Lyme disease is often complicated by a multifaceted appearance and nonspecific symptoms, prompting one reviewer to call Lyme the new "great imitator". Lyme disease may be misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, Crohn's disease or other autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.
