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613-446-6060
1-833-446-6060
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1535 CHATELAIN AVE.
OTTAWA, ON    K1Z 8B6

directions

Mon/Wed – 9:30am-6:00pm
Tue/Thu – 9:30am-1:00pm
Fri/Sat/Sun – CLOSED

613-446-6060
1-833-446-6060
FAX 613-212-4804

BIOHEAL BLOG

TICKS AND LYME DISEASE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!

TICKS AND LYME DISEASE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!

The warmer weather encourages everyone to get outside and enjoy the sun on their face but there is one creature who is waiting in the wings to greet us and our pets…the tick. Few pests inspire the level of paranoia and anxiety as ticks. They are small, making it difficult to feel them crawling on you and if not discovered quickly they latch onto your skin and suck your blood. Even worse…they also transmit diseases!


Thankfully, there are ways to minimize your contact with these pesky pests and natural repellents to ward them off.


When & Where Ticks Are Most Active


Ticks are found across all of North America and can be active year-round especially in areas with mild winters. However, they are most active in the spring and summer months and often well into the fall (April-September) as they prefer warm humid temperatures.


Although most common in wooded and tall grassy areas, ticks can also be found in your own backyard as they hitch rides on migrating birds in the spring making their way into city landscapes. Field mice and deer, known movers of ticks, are carrying ticks to further and further regions away from major water ways, each year. It will be impossible to stop their spread (with global warming) so everyone needs to be vigilant in their fight to not get bitten in the first place.


Signs & Symptoms of a Tick Bite


Ticks can carry a host of pathogens that can cause human disease. While Lyme is an illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, ticks also carry other infections that may be transmitted with the bite including Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), Babesia, Bartonella and more.


Should you discover a tick attached to you, remove it immediately and if possible save the tick in a sealable plastic bag and store it in the freezer. This will preserve the tick and allow you to be able to send out the tick for testing to www.geneticks.ca


Although the ‘Bull’s-eye rash’ is pathognomonic for Lyme Disease, a small bump or redness at the site of a tick bite that occurs immediately and resembles a mosquito bite is common. But unfortunately, the most common in our practice is for patients to never recall a bite or a rash and proceed to fall ill months or years later.


Should you be bitten or suspect you have been bitten by a tick, the following are signs and symptoms to watch for.


  • Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes may occur in the absence of rash
  • Rash
  • The area may feel warm to the touch and can be itchy or painful
  • The rash sometimes clears as it enlarges, resulting in a target or “bull’s-eye” appearance


If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, consult us at BioHeal Ottawa for the right advice and strategies on how to proceed with treatment.


What to Expect if You Have Been Bitten by a Possible Lyme Disease Carrying Tick


Although not every bite from a tick transmits this infection, most do. Bites should be evaluated carefully since early detection and appropriate treatment are critical in effectively treating Lyme disease and preventing the potentially serious medical complications caused by this infection. Tick attachment is irrelevant. If a tick is sick enough, Lyme bugs are in their saliva, and they transmit the disease immediately. Don’t let anybody tell you that because the tick wasn’t attached for 24 hours that you’re ok.


Untreated Lyme disease can cause:


  • Chronic joint inflammation (Lyme arthritis), particularly of the knee
  • Neurological symptoms, such as facial palsy and neuropathy
  • Cognitive defects, such as impaired memory
  • Heart rhythm irregularities


Antibodies can take weeks to develop after a bite and can persist in the blood for months or even years after the infection is gone, so it is vital to watch for any signs or symptoms of illness such as flu-like symptoms (chills, headaches, fever, fatigue), redness and swelling around the bite, a bulls-eye rash, muscle and joint aches – consult your physician immediately should they appear.


Treatments for Lyme Disease


The most common treatment for Lyme disease is a course of antibiotics, however, herbal/supplement treatments that we use at Bioheal Ottawa can be VERY effective as primary and complimentary treatments.


Try to avoid foods high in sugar, processed foods, foods high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids/hydrogenated fats, and any foods that cause you to feel unwell. This may also include allergen promoting foods such as gluten, dairy, nuts, etc.


Probiotics such as Acidophilus and Saccharomyces Boulardii are invaluable during antibiotic therapy to prevent C. Difficile.


To develop your individualized nutritional plan, contact BioHeal Ottawa today!


Before and After You Go Outdoors


Before heading outside, there are four simple precautions and preventative measures you can take to protect yourself from ticks in your area.


Avoid areas where ticks are likely to hang out.


Ticks do not jump or fly, they simply hang out on a branch or long piece of vegetation waiting for a host to walk by. When walking or hiking in wooded areas, stick to the middle of the path to avoid brushing against long grasses. Avoid leaf litter and heavily bushed areas and when participating in outdoor activities such as picnics and sports, try to choose areas with lots of sunshine and low-cut grass.


Dress appropriately in bushy areas.


Wear light-coloured clothing such as long pants tucked into your socks and a long-sleeved shirt. This will allow you to see the darker-coloured ticks on your clothing before it makes its way to your skin. You may also choose to wear a hat and boots to ensure most of your skin is fully covered.


Use repellents on your skin and clothing.


Deet has long been used as a tick repellent along with Permethrin, however, both can be toxic to humans and pets so you may want to choose from the natural repellents listed below.


  • 2-undecanone, which comes from the leaves and stems of wild tomato plants, bananas, cloves, ginger, guava, strawberries, and the perennial leaf vegetable Houttuynia cordata. 2-undecanone comes in both synthetic and natural forms and can be used on both skin and clothing.
  • Essential Oils from rosemary, lemongrass, cedar, peppermint, clove bud, thyme, neem seed, blue tansy, and geraniol. Essential oils can be used directly on the skin, and it is recommended to try a mixture of different oils to find which work best for you.
  • Use BioHeal Ottawa’s tried and true Organic Insect Repellent purchased at BioHeal and can be shipped to you directly


After returning from outside, inspect both yourself and your pets for any ticks that may still be looking for a free meal. Remove and wash all clothing followed by a cycle in a hot clothes dryer.


Stay Informed


The best way to enjoy your time outdoors is to use the above precautions and to stay informed on the level of tick borne illness, populations in your area, and the types of ticks in your zone so that you can avoid heavily infested areas.


The following apps are available for public use to help track and identify ticks that may be present where you live.


  • e-Tick: A public platform for image-based identification and population monitoring of ticks in Canada
  • The Tick App – Your on-the-go tick expert monitoring tick populations within the USA.


Although ticks can strike fear in the most courageous of people, you can still enjoy the outdoors safely all year long by being prepared, avoiding long grass, heavily wooded areas, and leaf debris, and by being diligent on checking for ticks after your time outside.


If you have any questions about ticks, tick bites or Lyme disease, we’re here to help – give BioHeal Ottawa a call!



Sources

Jordan RA, et al. (2012). Efficacy of plant-derived and synthetic compounds on clothing as repellents against Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) [Abstract]


Christina A. Nelson, Catherine M. Hayes, Molly A. Markowitz, Jacqueline J. Flynn, Alan C. Graham, Mark J. Delorey, Paul S. Mead, Marc C. Dolan, The heat is on: Killing blacklegged ticks in residential washers and dryers to prevent tick borne diseases, Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, Volume 7, Issue 5, 2016, Pages 958-963, ISSN 1877-959X,


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD) – Tick Removal – https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD) – Signs and Symptoms of Untreated Lyme Disease – https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/signs_symptoms/index.html

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