Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the United States.
Lyme disease: Why it is on the rise and how to protect against it (msn.com)
Prevention is the Best Medicine
When discussing potentially harmful pests, a common one you’ll often hear about is ticks. These strange creatures latch onto a host through physical contact. You might be out enjoying nature and inadvertently come in contact with them in the grass or by brushing against one on a tree branch. These opportunistic pests can also be transferred onto you by another person or your pet.
Unfortunately, these pests can negatively impact your health. While mosquitoes are known to carry certain diseases like West Nile or Zika, infected ticks can transmit Lyme disease, which can cause serious health issues for many people. The thought of ticks may have you asking the question: Where did Lyme disease originate? To help you better understand Lyme disease and its origin, the pest control experts at Mosquito Joe® have some valuable information to share.
What Is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is a product of the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, commonly found in ticks in the United States. While you can get Lyme disease from a tick bite, not all ticks carry the disease. But you should take extra precautions, especially when walking in areas that are heavily wooded or have a lot of tall grass.
Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Symptoms of Lyme disease can vary between individuals who are infected, and symptoms don’t always show up immediately. Lyme disease skin manifestations and other symptoms can begin to appear anywhere from 3 days to a month after the initial bite.
If you have be bitten by a tick or suspect you have Lyme disease, here are some critical signs to look for:
Stage One
- A standard bug bite: Most people won’t know they’ve received a bite from a tick because they won’t feel the initial bite. Tick saliva has a chemical that acts as a local anesthetic. The chemical numbs the bite area, which often results in a bite going undetected. However, things can change by day three.
- Rash: Rashes are common Lyme disease skin manifestations. They may not hurt, but they’ll be warm to the touch. It’s best to stay away from scratching it. The tell-tale sign of a tick bite is a bulls-eye rash that appears around the bite area. The rash is red in the center and has additional red rings of red around it, which may increase in size over time.
- Fever, headache, chills: In addition to a rash, you may also experience a high fever, headache, and/or chills.
If you experience any of these symptoms after a tick bite, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon a s possible.
Stage Two
Failing to treat stage one of Lyme disease can lead to more severe symptoms in stage two, such as:
- Widespread rashes over your entire body.
- Extreme muscle soreness and weakness.
- Facial weakness on one or both sides of the face.
- Pain in lower limbs.
Once again, if any of these symptoms appear, you should seek help from a medical professional.
Stage Three
Stage three of Lyme disease includes many of the symptoms in stage two. However, a person may experience more pain and swelling in localized areas, such as the knees and other joints. You may also experience arthritis in certain joints.
FAQs About Lyme Disease
How Is Lyme Disease Diagnosed?
Lyme disease is tricky to diagnose because it shares similar symptoms with many other medical conditions. However, if you have been bitten by a tick or suspect that you may have Lyme disease, a blood test should be taken to confirm any presence of the disease.
It’s important to note that depending on when the test is administered, blood tests for Lyme disease are not always 100% accurate. During the early stages of the disease, a blood test may come back negative. However, if you receive positive results from your first blood test, you’ll be asked to submit another to determine the severity of your Lyme disease.
How Is Lyme Disease Treated?
Additional research still needs to be done to improve Lyme disease treatments. It is currently treated with antibiotics While this treatment is effective in the early stages, many people report experiencing long-term effects like fatigue and muscle pain.
Can You Get Lyme Disease From Mosquitoes?
When you hear that one pest has a disease, it’s not far-fetched to think others may carry the same disease. While mosquitoes can carry insect-borne illnesses, according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), the answer is no.
There’s currently no evidence that indicates you can get Lyme disease from mosquitoes. Additionally, mosquito bites are typically very brief, whereas ticks must hang onto their host for hours or days to fully transmit Lyme bacteria.
Long-Term Complications of Lyme Disease
As mentioned above, if you don’t address the symptoms of Lyme disease during the initial stages, it can lead to longer-term complications. Even after treatment, some people still experience side effects of the disease, such as:
- Bodily aches
- Arthritis in knees and other joints that don’t seem to go away
- Lethargy
You could also face some neurological effects of Lyme disease that can impact your memory, facial muscles, and the muscles around your neck.
Related: Beware Ticks In These States (msn.com)
Ways To Protect Yourself From Lyme Disease
Lyme disease can be very debilitating for those infected, but this doesn’t mean you should never venture outside again. There are steps and precautions you can take to mitigate the risks. Follow these simple steps when visiting heavily wooded or sparsely populated areas, especially areas with tall, unkempt grass:
- Use tick repellants: Spray tick repellant on your clothes and shoes before going to a grassy or wooded area. It’ll keep them away while you’re outdoors.
- Wear light-colored clothing: Ticks and other pests are attracted to dark colors. Wear lighter colors to reduce the risks and to help someone spot one on you.
- Dress for protection: Although it might be warm during the summer, you’ll still need to wear the proper clothing when venturing outdoors. Avoid wearing open-toed shoes in areas where ticks may lurk. Also, wear long-sleeved shirts and/or pants for the time you’re outside to avoid a tick latching onto your legs.
- Hire service professionals: Rather than waiting to find out if you have ticks on your property, be proactive and hire a professional service. A barrier spray treatment provides a protective shield around your property, keeping pests out and away from your family and pets.
- Check for ticks: Always check for ticks if you’ve been engaging in an outdoor activity. Have someone inspect your clothing or use a mirror to check yourself and areas you cannot easily see.
Protect Yourself From Ticks and Other Annoying Pests
Insects are innovative, adaptable creatures, which explains why they have been in existence for so long. Protecting you, your family, and pets from the dangers of ticks requires a proactive approach. If you enjoy the outdoors, take preventive measures to keep ticks and other pests off your property.
For ultimate peace of mind, call on the professionals at Mosquito Joe®. Our tick control services are developed to protect your property from potentially harmful insects. We offer a range of pest control services. that are all backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise™, which ensures your satisfaction. You don’t have to spend all your time indoors, because Mosquito Joe is making the outdoor fun again! Request a free quote today!
The symptoms of those suffering from Lyme disease are different but the cause of the illness is the same: infected ticks. These celebrities give visibility to Lyme disease and advocate for treatment and a cure.
While it’s important to be mindful of ticks when camping and hiking, they can also be found in parks, walking trails, and even our own backyards. Tick prevention can start at home by eliminating places where ticks like to hide. Keep your yard mowed and trees trimmed. If you are in an area where ticks are active, make sure to wear long sleeves and pants and apply a tick repellent with DEET or Permethrin.
Mosquito Joe knows what a pest ticks can be, that’s why we offer tick control as one of our signature services. We target bushes and shrubbery, which helps keep ticks out of your yard and creates a barrier around your property, protecting you against the risk of tick-borne illnesses. Call us today at or request a free quote on our website.
To learn more about Lyme Disease or other illnesses that are caused by outdoor pests, visit our learning center.
Lyme disease is one condition that doesn’t care whether or not you’re a celebrity or a normal person. In fact, there are a plethora of stars who have spoken out about their own lifelong struggles with the condition. There are over 30,000 cases of the tick-borne illness reported each year. Among those are celebrities we frequently see on TV or on magazine covers; others are sports icons and some are Grammy award winners.
How to Survive Tick Bites (youtube.com) Bing Videos
You’re hiking in the woods. Suddenly, you feel something extremely itchy. You scratch it, and find a rash like a red bull’s eye on your body. Looking closely, you see a small hole. And it’s painful. If you don’t act quickly, your life could be in danger. What to do if you find a tick on you? How long does a tick need to be on you? How do you remove a tick that is embedded?
Note: This video is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have seen on this channel. If you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor, the ambulance or the police immediately. Underknown does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned in this video. Reliance on any information provided by Underknown is solely at your own risk.
An Underknown show: <a href=”https://underknown.com#howtosurvive“>https://underknown.com#howtosurvive</a> #ticks #tickprevention #tickbites #tickremoval
Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller contracted Lyme disease while in Nantucket, Mass., a few years prior to October 20111. . He went to his doctor complaining of persistent knee pain, but it took lots of tests and time to determine that Stiller was dealing with the condition.
He was tentatively diagnosed with Lyme in 2010 when a lingering knee injury became increasingly painful and wouldn’t go away2. He was treated and is now symptom-free123.
Lyme disease can remain in the body indefinitely3.
Thankfully, the star reports that he’s been symptom free after treatment. Ben Stiller health: Star’s ‘arthritic’ Lyme disease symptoms – ‘it’s a really tough thing’ – Worlds Family Medicine (wfamilymedicine.com)
Shania Twain’s song about lyme disease – Search (bing.com)
Shania Twain
The country singer opened up about her struggle with Lyme disease in July 2018, stating she suffered from dysphonia which affected her vocal cords. The disease kept her from touring and even singing. “I never thought I would sing again,” Twain said. Thanks to physical therapy and vocal training, Twain has released a new album and resumed touring. Shania Twain – Giddy Up! – Lyrics (youtube.com)
Shania Twain, the renowned country music superstar, faced a challenging battle with Lyme disease. In 2003, she was bitten by a tick while horseback riding, which led to this tick-borne infectious disease. the condition left her in such bad shape that she struggled to continue singing. If left untreated, Lyme disease can affect the joints, heart, and nervous system1.
Twain’s symptoms were quite alarming: dizziness, balance issues, and even millisecond blackouts while performing on stage. It took several years for doctors to connect her voice problems to Lyme disease. The infection caused nerve damage that affected her vocal cords, resulting in a condition called dysphonia. Although her voice was permanently impacted, she feels fortunate that the disease didn’t attack another part of her body, like her heart. Despite the challenges, Twain now owns her different voice and continues to inspire fans worldwide23.
Shania Twain feared Lyme disease destroyed her voice | Daily Mail Online 
Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin, the talented actor and comedian, has been dealing with Chronic Lyme disease for approximately 20 years. His experience with this tick-borne illness has been challenging, and he has faced intense joint pain and soreness1. The first time he battled Lyme disease, he felt like he was going to die. But it wouldn’t be the last time the two would face off. The flu-like symptoms hit him suddenly, leaving him bedridden and sweating through his sheets. He described it as if someone had snapped their fingers and put a spell on him2. Nearly 18 years ago, the actor was bitten by an infected tick.
The result was numerous bouts of severe Lyme disease symptoms.
Because of his struggle, Baldwin is vigilant in checking his children for ticks after they’ve been outdoors. “I want my kids to grow up riding horses and bikes and enjoying themselves every day and not have to spend every day with us going over them with a magnifying glass to make sure they don’t have any ticks on their body or their dogs, but that is part of the lifestyle of where I live,” he said.
Since then, Baldwin has been cautious about letting his six children play outdoors in the Hamptons, an area known for ticks. He and his wife, Hilaria, are vigilant about tick prevention, especially during mild winters when ticks become more active1. 
In an interview with People magazine he revealed that he was bitten and contracted the disease 17 years ago–and that a few years later he was bitten and infected again. Alec Baldwin on Dealing with Years of Lyme Disease Pain (people.com)
Debbie Gibson
Debbie Gibson got her start in the music world in the 80s and she’s had a solid career ever since. However, in 2013 she began experiencing scary symptoms without any discernible cause. “I was at a stop sign in my home town and literally didn’t know if I was turning right or left, but I was aware enough to know I didn’t know, which was really scary.” Her condition was eventually diagnosed as Lyme disease, but Gibson says she still struggles with some persistent symptoms, even years after the fact. Debbie Gibson, the ’80s icon and singer, has been living with Lyme disease for six years12. Lyme disease is a bacterial illness primarily transmitted by ticks and causes flu-like symptoms, joint/muscle pain, fatigue, and weakness13
Justin Bieber
Pop sensation, Justin Bieber, announced his battle with Lyme disease in January 2020. “It’s been a rough couple years but getting the right treatment that will help treat this so far incurable disease and I will be back and better than ever,” Bieber said. The singer plans to use his voice to create content on YouTube about chronic illness.
Members of the Hadid Family
Yolanda Hadid, of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fame, has been vocal about her battle with Lyme disease. Yolanda has published a book chronicling her experience living with the illness entitled “Believe Me: My Battle with the Invisible Disability of Lyme Disease.” Recently, the former model admitted after nearly a year of remission, her symptoms have returned. At the Global Lyme Alliance, Yolanda said she realizes “the higher purpose of [her] journey is to continue to bring awareness to this awful disease until the change is made.” Her children, Bella and Anwar Hadid, also have the chronic illness.
Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water | Greatest Hits Tour (youtube.com)
Avril Lavigne
In a letter to fans, Lavigne revealed she had been fighting Lyme disease. The singer started The Avril Lavigne Foundation in 2010 to support causes such as Race to Erase MS, Special Olympics, and UNICEF, in addition to Lyme disease. In October 2018, Lavigne joined the Board of Directors for the Global Lyme Alliance. Her most recent album, “Head Above Water,” addresses her battle with the chronic disease. “This is me and my fight. This album tells my story,” Lavigne said.
Kris Kristofferson
Kristofferson’s doctors originally told him his deteriorating memory was due to Alzheimer’s disease. After many years of strenuous testing, it was clear the singer had been misdiagnosed; after a positive test for Lyme disease, his symptoms were correctly identified. With the proper treatment, Kristofferson’s condition improved. A friend said of the iconic artist, “Kris is as sharp as he’s been in the past 20 years because of his treatments.”
4 Lesser-Known Lyme Disease Symptoms That Doctors Say May Deceive You (msn.com)
Celebrities That Have Lyme Disease and Their Experience – Business Insider
The Anatomy of a Tick and How Permethrin Works on Them (youtube.com)
15 Things About Ticks Everyone Should Know (msn.com)
List of Famous People with Lyme Disease (ranker.com)