Healthy Options 3/6/13

Host/Producer: Rhonda Feiman, L.Ac
Co-producer: Petra Hall
Engineer: Amy Browne

Program Topic: Lyme Disease & other tick-borne infections: An update and review as we March into Spring
Key Discussion Points:
* Borrelia miyamotoi is a newly identified bacterial co-infection, transmitted by deer ticks. What are the signs and symptoms of this bacteria? Is there a treatment for Borrelia miyamotoi?
* There have been a few changes in the interpretation of some of the blood tests commonly used in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and co-infections. What are these changes and are they significant?
* What precautions should we all take to prevent tick-borne diseases?
* What is the proper way to remove a tick if you find one on your body?

Guests:
A) Dr. Beatrice M. Szantyr is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the American College of Physicians, and is board certified in both internal medicine and pediatrics. She currently participates on the State of Maine Vector-borne Disease Work Group, and is a member of the Maine Medical Association and the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). Dr. Szantyr has lectured on Lyme disease and related tick-borne disorders, to professional and community groups throughout New England, and has given testimony before the Maine Legislature concerning Lyme disease in the State of Maine.
B) Constance “Happy” Dickey, RN is a founding member and board member of MaineLyme, a non-profit dedicated to awareness and prevention through education and advocacy. She facilitates support groups for people with Lyme, both in-person in Maine, and online, and she is also an advocate for patients with Lyme disease. She has traveled extensively with Dr. Szantyr, educating medical personnel -and the public- about Lyme disease.

Websites:
MaineLyme www.mainelyme.org
Lyme Disease Association (includes great illustrations of ticks, rashes, how to pull out a tick, and much more) www.lymediseaseassociation.org
ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society) www.ilads.org
Rhode Island Tick Resource Center http://www.tickencounter.org/
U Mass Exten. Tick Assessment Lab http://ag.umass.edu/services/tick-borne-disease-diagnostics
“New Illness (Borrelia miyamotoi) transmitted by same tick that carries Lyme”- Boston Globe article:
http://bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2013/01/16/new-illness-transmitted-same-tick-that-carries-lyme-discovered-northeast/LLAaJjOaFjJT18QEeUYdeN/story.html

Rhonda Feiman ‘s previous information-packed HEALTHY OPTIONS programs about Lyme Disease & other tick-borne infections, are archived at:
June 6th, 2012- http://weru.macrevival.com/healthy-options/healthy-options-6612
July 11th, 2012- http://weru.macrevival.com/healthy-options/healthy-options-special-71112

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