By michael - July, 29th 2014

Some of us may not be aware of what really is this disease. Lyme disease imitates a variety of illnesses, and its harshness varies from people to people.

Lyme Disease is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia Burgdorferi. It is transmitted to humans through bite from insects like fleas, mosquitoes, spiders, mites and most of all ticks. Early symptoms may include fever, headache and fatigue. Rashes may also appear, and if left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart and the nervous system, which can be disabling and difficult to treat.

In most cases, the infection can be eliminated by antibiotic, especially if treated early. It can also be prevented by using insect repellent sprays and applying pesticides.

Dr. Mercola stated that Ticks can spread a number of diseases, including human babesiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Lyme disease, which has become one of the most serious and controversial epidemics of our time.

According to preliminary statistics1 released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last year, approximately 300,000 new cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed in the US each year. This is about 10 times higher than the officially reported number of cases, indicating that the disease is being vastly underreported. Since national surveillance began in 1982, the number of Lyme cases reported annually has increased nearly 25-fold.

The Oscar shortlisted documentary Under Our Skin,3 exposes a hidden story of “medical and scientific malfeasance and neglect,” as thousands of people with Lyme disease go undiagnosed, or get misdiagnosed each year. Many who suffer the troubling effects of Lyme disease are simply told that their symptoms are “all in their …

Many Lyme disease patients appear completely healthy physically. They often look good and normal. Others tend to have unnecessary actions, causing some doctors to misdiagnose some patients and advised to go to a psychiatrist instead. This is why this illness has been called “the invisible illness.” Worse is that, Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose. Lab tests are so unreliable.

One of the reasons blood tests are unreliable as indicators of Lyme infection is that the spirochete has found a way to infect your white blood cells. Lab tests rely on the normal function of these cells to produce the antibodies they measure. If your white cells are infected, they don’t respond to an infection appropriately. Interestingly, the worse your Borrelia infection is, the less likely it will show up on a blood test. In order for Lyme tests to be useful, you have to be treated first. Once your immune system begins to respond normally, only then will the antibodies show up.

Considering the difficulty of diagnosing and treating Lyme disease, taking preventive measures16 should be at the top of your list:

• Avoid tick-infested areas, such as leaf piles around trees. Walk in the middle of trails, and avoid brushing against long grasses path edgings. Don’t sit on logs or wooden stump

• Wear light-colored long pants and long sleeves, to make it easier to see the tick

• Tuck your pants into socks, and wear closed shoes and a hat—especially if venturing out into wooded areas. Also tuck your shirt into your pant

• Ticks, especially nymphal ticks, are very tiny. You want to find and remove them before they bite, so do a thorough tick check upon returning inside, and keep checking for several days following exposure. Also check your bedding for several days following exposure.

Cases of Lyme disease are increasing. This disease also imitates other forms of illnesses, which is oftentimes the cause of the patient’s wrong diagnosis.

We are exposed every day and it is our responsibility to clear up our surroundings and do necessary personal hygiene to at least prevent serious diseases like this. The best thing to do is to just stay away from ticks, though we know, it is hard to stay away from these very tiny creatures. Many may not be aware and belittle insect bites and rashes. But if ever, you got bitten by an insect, especially a tick, make necessary precautions right away and see your doctor for proper examination and treatment if needed.

Please read the rest of the article at Mercola.com

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