(AscendHealthy.com) – Hiking in the woods or walking through a field of flowers can calm the body and mind. But those seemingly innocent activities could also mean a chance to pick up a hitchhiker — a tick that could be carrying Lyme disease.
Keep Your Eyes Open for These Symptoms of Lyme Disease.
1. A Red Rash Where the Bite Occurred
The most telling symptom of Lyme disease is a red rash at the site of the tick bite. This is often called a “bullseye” rash, because it’s round and radiates outward. The middle is red, and then there is a small gap before the redness continues. It makes the rash look like concentric circles, or a bullseye target in a dart game.
2. Cognitive Issues and Fuzzy Thinking
When Lyme disease isn’t treated quickly, it can invade a lot of the body and cause problems with a number of systems. The result may include symptoms related to memory, recall, and clear thinking. Fuzzy thinking and other cognitive impairment problems are quite common in people who have untreated Lyme disease, and they’re worth investigating to find out the cause.
3. Shortness of Breath, Palpitations, and Dizziness
Heart palpitations should always be investigated, as they can be a symptom of a lot of different issues. But most people don’t realize that they’re also a symptom of Lyme disease — especially if the palpitations cause dizziness or shortness of breath, or there are seemingly random bouts of shortness of breath even without exertion. If so, being tested for Lyme disease should be on the “to do” list. Palpitations can be a sign of Lyme carditis, which can be very serious.
4. Pain, Tingling, and Numbness
Numbness and tingling, with or without pain, can mean Lyme disease is present. These symptoms are generally in the arms and legs, and they can be only in the limb where the bit occurred or in other limbs or places throughout the body. They can also affect the face, even if the bite didn’t occur there. It’s always important to have these kinds of symptoms checked out, especially when living in an area where Lyme disease is more commonly seen.
5. Feeling Like You Have the Flu
Flu-like symptoms can be debilitating. If you’re suddenly ill, especially outside of the normal flu season, it could be because of Lyme disease. Asking to be tested for it is the first step, especially if a test for the flu comes back negative.
6. Intensely Painful Headaches
Headaches are an important symptom of Lyme disease, since the disease can cause inflammation throughout the body. Part of that inflammation can affect blood vessels in the brain and around the head, which leads to pain and discomfort. If headaches aren’t normally a part of life and they suddenly become an issue, it’s always wise to find out why. Don’t rule out other causes, but also consider getting tested for Lyme disease.
Spending time outdoors in the summer months can be very enjoyable, but you don’t want to pick up Lyme disease as a souvenir of your vacation. Wear repellant and proper clothing to protect yourself, check for ticks when arriving home and make sure you see your healthcare professional if you have any symptoms of Lyme disease. Quick treatment can minimize your symptoms and prevent long-term side-effects.
~Here’s to Your Healthy Ascension
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