The Tiny, Deadly Creatures, Cause Great Harm
The weather is getting warmer, and you may venture out into the woods. But beware! Not of the wild animals that could be out there, but the tiny, black ticks. They may go undetected many times, but these tiny creatures can transmit Lyme disease... a debilitating illness.
Staci Grodin, tells her story. " I went from a perfectly healthy 20 year old, to a devastatingly sick 20 year old overnight."
Then she became the President of the Tick-Borne Disease Alliance. It's a title, she never wanted.
"All of a sudden, I started getting aches and pains in my hands. I couldn't hold a pen or blow dryer," Grodin complains.
Grodin was bitten by a tick, carrying Lyme disease, two decades ago. It took years for doctors to finally get the correct diagnosis---Lyme disease. Grodin still has it. She had it during all three of her pregnancies. Luckily, all of her children were born healthy.
"It was very scary. It's a tremendous amount of stress on your immune system," says Grodin.
Her advice is simple When you walk in the woods, wear light colored clothes. Use a repellent with Deet. When you come inside, take your clothes off immediately.
Grodin stresses, "Put your clothes in the dryer for at least 30 minutes, because if there is a tick on there, that will kill it"
She also suggests you shower immediately, sinceit may wash off a tick that's unattached. If you do find one attached to you, immediatly remove it with tweezers. Or you can go to a doctor that specializes in tick- borne diseases.
" The earlier you catch Lyme, and other tick borne diseases, the better," warns Grodin.
For more tips go to tbdalliance.org.
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