About Lyme Disease

 Background on Lyme Disease: Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted primarily through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. However, recent scientific studies suggest that Lyme spirochetes can live in saliva and may be passed from human to human, particularly among intimate partners, making it extremely common for married couples to both be carriers of the disease, even if one partner is asymptomatic.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease: Lyme disease can present a wide range of symptoms, which can be categorized into early and late stages:

• Early Symptoms:
  
  • Erythema migrans (bull's-eye rash)
  • Fever and chills
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle and joint aches
  • Swollen lymph nodes

• Late Symptoms:
  
  • Severe headaches and neck stiffness
  • Additional rashes on other parts of the body
  • Arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, particularly in the knees
  • Intermittent pain in tendons, muscles, joints, and bones
  • Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat (Lyme carditis)
  • Episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath
  • Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
  • Nerve pain
  • Shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet
  • Problems with short-term memory
  • Sleep Problems: Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restful sleep, often due to pain, neurological symptoms, or overall discomfort