Lyme disease is a terrifying illness, which is transmitted via infected deer ticks that carry a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. The disease was first discovered in 1975, and since then the number of people affected per year – as well as the awareness of the disease by the medical community and the general public – has been steadily increasing. It has been a cause for much concern among local populations and medical professionals alike.
Basic Information on Lyme Disease
One of the big difficulties with Lyme disease is that it is easily confused with other illnesses. Unfortunately, this may delay necessary treatment, leading to potentially serious long-term health consequences.
What are the Symptoms of Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease symptoms can be categorized into two types: Those associated with acute Lyme and those associated with Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome.
Acute Lyme symptoms manifest from three days to three weeks after exposure to the bacteria via a tick bite. These may include:
- Joint pain
- Headaches
- Flu-like symptoms including fever, hot flashes, and chills
- Fatigue
- Back pain
- A red bulls-eye rash may appear
Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, however, is the term used when symptoms continue despite having completed conventional medical treatment. Symptoms may include:
- Severe fatigue
- Severe brain fog
- Trouble with memory, concentration, and speech
- Muscle and joint pain that moves around the body
- Heartbeat Irregularities
- Mood swings
- Anxiety attacks
Where do I contract It?
Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. Ticks are usually found in areas of low-lying vegetation, such as grassy areas or areas with brush or shrubs. For those of us living in and around the west coast of the US, the main carrier and transmitter of the disease is the western black-legged tick. A bloodtest, is used to determine the presence of the disease.
How to Treat It?
Conventional medical treatment for Lyme disease involves putting patients on a course of antibiotics.However, often the initial treatment is not carried out long enough, or the bacteria is resistant to the treatment, and thus the disease persists.
Borrelia, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, has evolved a number of mechanisms to evade detection by the immune system, thus making the infection often difficult to treat and cure: Borrelia can suppress the human immune system, it can hide inside of cells or deep within body tissues, and it can also mask itself by changing its molecular surface structure. It can also surround itself with a thick substance called a biofilm, which antibiotics and the immune system cannot easily penetrate. And finally, it can change between three different cellular forms, each of which is affected by different types of antibiotics.
Furthermore, conventional course of antibiotic may often conclude before they have enough time to fully eliminate the infection, making long-standing chronic infection a possibility. Integrative medicine adds additional power by using targeted treatments that fight the infection, strengthen the immune system, and address underlying issues in various systems of the body that can contribute to continued infection as well as to symptoms. We address underlying nutrient and hormonal deficiencies contributing to or caused by the infection, and use natural medicines, powerful IV therapies, and sometimes antibiotics and intelligently-used pharmaceuticals.
The integrative medical treatments are gentler and last longer than your standard antibiotic treatment, thus leading to better long-term health outcomes..
Where do I Find Integrative Medical Care?
If you’re located in Los Angeles, our holistic medical center is based in Sherman Oaks. We offer numerous integrative treatment options for conditions including integrative oncology and Lyme disease treatment.
If you’re close by and feel you might have contracted Lyme disease or require other treatment, connect with us for an appointment or have a look at your treatment options on our home page!