The CDC Reveals The Truth About Lyme Disease

Content updated from previous publish date. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bite of an infected black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick. Lyme disease is primarily known for causing a rash and flu-like symptoms, but according to the CDC, it can persist in some people and lead to what is called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS). Lyme disease is associated with numerous co-infections that can mimic or contribute to virtually any medical, neurological, or psychiatric condition, which is why Lyme has been called the “great imitator.” Lyme has been vastly underdiagnosed in the U.S.,  in part to inadequate testing methods, but also because of a general lack of acknowledgment within the medical community that chronic Lyme or PTLDS are real. Lyme disease is primarily known for causing flu-like symptoms, but according to the CDC, it can persist in some people and lead to what is called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS).

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In the medical community, Lyme remains misunderstood at best and dismissed at worse. How can doctors treat an illness if they don’t believe it exists? They can’t, which is why far too many people have been suffering from “Lyme brain” for far too long. At Amen Clinics, hundreds of patients struggling with resistant complex symptoms have tested positive for Lyme disease and gotten significantly better when it was treated.

COMMON NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES RELATED TO LYME DISEASE

Lyme disease has been associated with a wide variety of persistent neuropsychological and cognitive symptoms, including:

• Impaired attention, focus, concentration, judgment, and impulse control
• Impaired memory and speech functions
• Disorganization and getting lost
• Poor problem-solving and decision-making abilities
• Slower mental processing speed
• Issues similar to those seen in dementia and Alzheimer’s

Approximately 70% of those afflicted with Lyme disease report changes in their thinking such as memory loss and reduced mental sharpness.

LYME DISEASE: MISDIAGNOSIS AND DELAYED TREATMENT

People who are diagnosed with Lyme disease within the first few weeks of being infected are fortunate because the appropriate antibiotics have a much better chance of working when used early. Unfortunately, Lyme disease is often missed and the infection is allowed to take hold, disrupting the immune system and causing a cascade of inflammatory responses. Even when Lyme is suspected and a blood test is ordered, the common “Western Blot” test often results in false negatives. In addition, traditional medical practice rarely tests for Lyme’s co-infection antibodies, even though they may even be more common than Lyme itself! It’s not uncommon for someone with Lyme disease to get multiple negative test results before receiving a proper diagnosis. This leaves thousands of undiagnosed patients feeling sick and confused and spending months, years, or even decades wandering around from doctor to doctor trying to find out what is wrong with them. This means that some people with Lyme encounter financial ruin before finding a treatment that works. When the diagnosis is delayed, Lyme disease is harder to treat. After 3-6 months in the body, Lyme has taken hold of the immune system and becomes difficult to eradicate with antibiotics alone. An animal study published in Plos One in 2012 showed that Lyme disease has tenacious survival skills. Inside the body, the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria that causes Lyme forms a biofilm, which allows it to constantly rearrange its structure, hide, and resist environmental conditions such as antibiotics.

PREVENTING LYME DISEASE

Avoiding tick bites is the best way to prevent Lyme disease. Follow these tips to reduce your risk: Know tick habitats. Blacklegged ticks live in moist and humid environments, particularly in or near wooded or grassy areas. You can even encounter ticks in your own backyard! Avoid them by steering clear of tall vegetation and walking in the center of trails. Perform daily tick checks. Be sure to check yourself, your children, and your pets after being outdoors. Create a top-down checklist, searching the following areas:

1. In and around all head (and body) hair
2. In and around the ears
3. Under the arms
4. Around the waist
5. Inside the belly button
6. Between the legs
7. Back of the knees
8. Underneath socks

TIP: Placing clothing in a dryer on high heat will effectively kill ticks. Know how to remove a tick. Follow these steps:

1.  If possible, use pointy tweezers
2. Disinfect the tweezers with rubbing alcohol
3. Grab the tick close to the skin and use a slow, steady motion to pull the tick out
4. Disinfect the tweezers again
5. Keep an eye on the bite area

EARLY DETECTION OF LYME DISEASE

Catching a tick in the act of biting you or remembering a past tick bit is the best way to know whether you are at risk for Lyme disease. However, one study from Canadian researchers showed that up to 84% of those with Lyme-related chronic symptoms fail to recall being bitten! For this reason, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of early Lyme infection and seek medical treatment right away if you suspect you may have contracted Lyme.

KNOW THE SYMPTOMS OF LYME DISEASE

Lyme Symptoms: Days 1-30

The most common early sign of Lyme disease is a bullseye rash at the site of the tick bite, occurring in an estimated 70-80% of infected people, according to the CDC.  However, the physicians at Amen Clinic believe the number of people experiencing a rash is much lower, affecting only 20-40%. If a rash does appear, it typically happens within 3-7 days and then gradually expands over a period of several days, reaching up to 12 inches across. The rash usually feels warm to the touch, yet it is rarely itchy or painful. Note that ticks spread at least 10 other co-infections that may cause rashes. Other early symptoms may include:

• Flu-like illness (unexplained fever, chills, or body aches)
• Extreme fatigue
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Mood swings

Lyme Symptoms: Days 30 and Beyond

Weeks to months after being infected with Lyme disease, symptoms may include:

• Insomnia
• Joint inflammation and pain
• Bell’s palsy
• Impaired memory
• Brain fog and difficulty thinking
• Irritability and explosive rages
• Panic attacks

Late-Stage Persistent Lyme Symptoms

Months to years after being infected, symptoms may include:

• Progressive dementias
• Seizure disorders
• Strokes
• Asthma
• Heart problems
• A variety of movement disorders such as Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis-like syndromes
• Visual disturbances or loss of vision

CONSIDER LYME DISEASE IN CHILDREN

In addition to tick bite infection, Lyme disease can also be passed from mother to baby. The symptoms to look for in children include:

• Changes in behavior
• Fatigue
• School and learning problems
• Headaches
• Gastrointestinal complaints
• Migrating pains
• Hypersensitivity to noise, light, odors, and touch

If you’re struggling with treatment-resistant psychiatric or cognitive issues, it’s important to investigate infections, such as Lyme disease, as a possible root cause. Getting a proper diagnosis can be the first step in the healing process. Lyme disease and the psychiatric and cognitive issues related to it can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.