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What Autoimmune Diseases Are Associated With Lyme?

Lyme disease can develop in people who are bitten by a tick infected with the Borrelia Burgdorferi bacteria. It takes roughly 24–36 hours for the tick to pass on the infectious bacteria to humans through feeding. Once that happens, the bacterium goes through the body, potentially affecting multiple aspects of overall health (including triggering several autoimmune diseases associated with Lyme).

There are over 40 symptoms associated with Lyme disease, all of which can present in a severe and debilitating manner. Diagnosing and treating Lyme disease comes with its own challenges because it can present similarly to other diseases. In some cases, post-treatment symptoms can still occur. The bacteria can evade the immune system well, leading to long-term infectious and adverse health effects.

While Lyme disease can cause severe health issues and permanent damage to tissues, organs, and joints, new research is shedding light on what other detrimental effects a Lyme infection can have. Researchers have found a connection with one specific type of disease, known as autoimmune disease. But what autoimmune diseases are associated with Lyme, and why does the bacterial infection drive the onset of these diseases in otherwise healthy individuals? Let’s investigate.

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Complications Of Lyme Carditis

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection with various symptoms depending on the stage. When people contract Lyme disease after being bitten by an infected tick, they enter Stage 1. In this stage, flu-like symptoms and a bulls-eye rash surrounding the tick bite develop. 

After one to four weeks of an untreated Lyme infection, the body progresses into Stage 2, which is early disseminated disease. At this point, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease has begun to spread to other areas of the body. 

The bacteria is a good traveler and can make its way to organs, joints, muscles, and tissues. One vital organ that Lyme bacteria can infect is the heart. When that happens, a condition known as Lyme carditis develops. But what is Lyme carditis, and what can happen to a person if they develop it? Read on to learn about the various complications of Lyme carditis.

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Could Lyme Disease Infection Increase Your Chances Of Developing Certain Cancers?

Lyme disease, caused by the borrelia bacteria, can cause a wide variety of different health issues – even after it has been treated. The bacteria can evade detection by the immune system in many ways. It inhibits the action of the immune system, changes its own outer membrane antigens so that immune cells can’t detect it, and hides within tissues in the body. It isn’t just the immune system that can get confused by the borrelia bacteria, but antibiotics as well. Because of the way borrelia biofilm blocks antibiotics from getting inside the extracellular matrix, antibiotics can be ineffective at killing it.

Due to these sly functionalities of the Lyme disease-inducing bacteria, it can often lead to the development of further health complications. But just how serious can these complications be? Does Lyme disease increase cancer risk, for example? 

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Can Lyme Disease Cause Balance Problems?

Lyme disease often goes unreported because of the way its symptoms can mimic other health conditions. The borrelia bacteria, the culprit behind Lyme disease, is spread through tick bites. When a person contracts the illness, it can be treated with antibiotics, but if that doesn’t happen swiftly, the bacteria will make its way throughout the body, camping out in tissue and joints in an effort to evade the medication designed to kill it.

When the bacteria escapes detection, it can affect the entire body, including the heart, joints, muscles, central nervous system, and even the eyes. The prognosis for Lyme disease recovery varies based on several factors, with the main factor being how long it took to receive treatment. The symptoms caused by the disease will also need to be addressed – some of which may be neurological in nature. So can Lyme disease cause balance problems?

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3 Treatment Options For Lyme Arthritis

Lyme disease is transmitted by infected ticks. It is caused by the borrelia bacteria and can lead to initial health issues such as flu-like symptoms, muscle aches and pains, and a bulls-eye rash around the area of the bite. If Lyme disease is caught early and doesn’t have the chance to spread too far throughout the body, it can be easily treated with antibiotics. In some cases, though, antibiotics may miss some of the bacteria, and this can lead to significantly more serious health conditions such as Lyme arthritis.

Lyme arthritis is a condition that occurs when bacteria invade the tissue in the joints and cause inflammation. When this is left untreated, that inflammation worsens and can eventually lead to permanent damage in the affected joints. Roughly one in four people who get Lyme disease will develop Lyme arthritis. So what are the treatment options for Lyme arthritis? Read on to find out.

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