Lyme disease awareness became a craze when stars like Justin Timberlake and Bella Hadid opened up about it.
When the supermodel spoke Glamour in August 2016 she explained the suffering the disease brings.
“It starts with brain fog; for a while I couldn’t put sentences together,” Bella said.
“I’m really tired. A few weeks ago I had a big campaign shoot that I had to reschedule. It’s hard, but I’m pushing through because at the end of the day, if you’re not working, someone else is,” she added.
There is hope, however, as there are both treatment options and prevention techniques available against Lyme disease, as it is an infection caused by ticks.
Specifically, a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. This is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks, better known as deer ticks.
They are most common in wooded and grassy areas where ticks thrive and early detection is critical because untreated Lyme disease can progress and affect multiple organ systems, including the joints, heart and nervous system.
Symptoms of Lyme disease:
The earliest and most recognizable symptom is a circular red rash called erythema migrans, which may resemble a bull’s-eye.
Other early symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes. If the infection is not treated quickly, it can spread, leading to joint pain and swelling (especially in the knees), facial paralysis, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, and cognitive problems such as memory problems.
Treatment and Prevention of Lyme Disease:
Lyme disease is typically treated with oral antibiotics, such as doxycycline or amoxicillin, especially in the early stages.
Most people recover completely with timely treatment. In more advanced cases, longer courses of antibiotics may be required.
While prevention involves avoiding tick-infested areas, wearing protective clothing, using insect repellents and conducting thorough tick checks after outdoor activities.
