Warmer spring temperatures bring more than blossoming trees. It is also a time when Lyme disease surges, affecting many Americans yearly. Recognized by its bulls-eye rash, Lyme disease targets the central nervous system, making you feel dizzy, achy, and tired.
Therefore, before camping, hiking, or indulging in other outdoor activities, learn how to protect yourself. To help you get started, here are 5 tips from a Lyme disease specialist Seattle WA to help you avoid tick bites and Lyme disease this season.
1. Perform Tick Checks
Ticks are likely to spread Lyme disease the longer they are attached. Generally, a tick should be attached for days to transmit bacteria. Even if you have not felt a bite or experienced unusual symptoms, performing everyday tick checks when you return from outdoors is interbiography crucial.
Since ticks are so tiny, you should feel for them, combined with a visual check. Common areas to look for tick bites include behind the knee, the armpit, or the arms. As a rule of thumb, always inspect for ticks before taking a shower.
2. Utilize Insect Repellent
Sprays containing DEET offer strong protection against ticks. This ingredient is gentle on the skin but effective at killing ticks before they can attach.
Ticks generally crawl up from under the knee, so it is vital to utilize a repellent to destroy them on contact. Before you head into a region that might be tick-infested, apply repellent to exposed skin.
3. Wear Protective Clothing
Your clothing offers a barrier that can protect you against tick bites. Once you venture into wooded or grassy areas, you may reduce the likelihood of tick bites by wearing long pants rather than shorts or long-sleeved shirts overallnetworth .
Tucking helps as well, so tuck your shirt as well as your pants into your socks. And do not forget to apply insect repellent made for clothing on your garments before wearing them.
4. Check Pets
If you take your pets outdoors, it is crucial to inspect them for ticks. Since pets love lying on the ground, they may act as carriers for ticks. Once the pet returns to you, it transfers the tick, which gently crawls onto you, biting your skin and transmitting Lyme disease.
To inspect your pet for ticks, brush your fingers through its fur with slight pressure to feel a bump. Pull the fur back to examine more closely if you feel a bump. Ensure you also inspect your pet’s claws.
5 If Found, Remove the Ticks Properly
The longer a tick stays attached, the greater the likelihood of transmitting Lyme disease. If you find a tick, eliminating it immediately reduces the likelihood of infection. Utilize tweezers to capture the tick as close to the skin as feasible and pull it straight out with even, steady pressure.
Do not twist as you pull. You must also avoid squeezing the tick because its bodily fluids might contain Lyme-causing bacteria. After eliminating the tick, carefully mhtspace clean the region.
Enjoy time outdoors without worrying about ticks and their associated illnesses by taking the correct precautions. Regular inspections, insect repellent, and the right clothing are good first lines of defense.
However, it is also possible to miss some ticks, which might end up causing Lyme disease. Therefore, do not hesitate to reach out to a Lyme disease specialist if you notice any warning signs of the condition.
