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•Th e IF P• H al to n H ill s • Th ur sd ay , M ay 2 2, 2 01 4 16 360 Guelph St., Unit 44 Georgetown (In the Knolcrest Centre) For 20 years, we've been helping the hearing impaired improve their hearing - and quality of life by providing the most professional, personalized, state-of-the-art hearing health care. Constantine Karolidis BA, HIS, Reg. AHIP Hearing Instrument Specialist Call 905.877.8828 today for your free consultation DON'T LET HEARING LOSS SLOW YOU DOWN We have solutions that will change your life - guaranteed. Try hearing aids for 2 weeks, at no cost or obligation to see if hearing aids are right for you! For a limited time: • Save up to 30% on a pair of hearing aids • 3 Year Warranty • 3 Years of Batteries Armstrong Ave Delrex Blvd Georgetown's trusted choice for hearing care secivreS htlaeH dna laicoS egatireH nwoT dna ytinummoC smargorP gnisuoH laicepS snoitpO tnemeriteR dna secivreS roineS secruoseR noitatropsnarT laicepS 1129-468-509 ac.nfhc@ofnd ac.nfhc.www mp00:9 ot mp00:7 ht82 yaM ,yadsendeW ddddd daoR raglafarT 49411 esuoH xuaereveD ddcalP nwotegroeG retteb eb dluoc ti woh su llet emoC ...evil ot ecalp taerg A Protect yourself from Lyme disease when enjoying summer Exploring the great out- doors can be great fun, but not if you develop Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a serious ill- ness that's present in Canada and spreading, says the Pub- lic Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Canadians at risk from Lyme disease include those who live, work or play in proximity to ticks that spread the illness. If not identified and treated early, Lyme disease can cause serious health issues, says the PHAC. The disease can be spread by the bite of blacklegged ticks that are infected with the bac- terium Borrelia burgdorferi. In regions where black- legged ticks are found, people can come into contact with ticks by brushing against veg- etation while doing things like golfing, hiking, camping and gardening. While not all blacklegged ticks carry Lyme disease, the populations of infected black- legged ticks are growing, says the PHAC. Blacklegged ticks can be ac- tive throughout much of the year however the risk of a tick bite is highest in the spring and summer. Blacklegged ticks are most often found in forests and the overgrown areas between woods and open spaces, al- though it's possible to be bitten outside of those areas. Ticks don't move far by themselves but they can attach to migratory birds and may fall far from their original location. Blacklegged tick popula- tions have been confirmed in southern and eastern Ontario as well as in parts of British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Sco- tia. As ticks are very small and their bite is usually painless, you may not know you've been bitten. Ticks can be infected with more than one type of bacte- ria that can cause illness in humans so guarding against tick bites will protect you from more than just Lyme disease. Initial symptoms differ from person to person, and some people will not experience any symptoms, which makes Lyme disease difficult to diagnose, notes the PHAC. Some may experience mild symptoms like a fever or a skin rash soon after being bitten while others may suffer severe symptoms, but not until weeks after the bite. Signs and symptoms of Lyme disease can include one or a combination of the follow- ing in varying degrees of sever- ity: • Fatigue • Fever or chills • Headache • Muscle and joint pain, spasms or weakness • Numbness or tingling • Swollen lymph nodes • Skin rash • Cognitive dysfunction, diz- ziness • Nervous system disorders • Arthritis and arthritic symptoms • Heart palpitations Untreated, symptoms can last years and include recur- ring arthritis, neurological problems, numbness and pa- ralysis. Although not common, fatalities from Lyme disease have been reported. If you de- velop symptoms of Lyme dis- ease, contact your healthcare provider right away as the ear- lier you receive a diagnosis the greater the chance of success- ful treatment. If you saved the tick that bit you, bring it with you to your medical appoint- ment as it may help the doctor in assessing your illness. Getting a diagnosis of Lyme disease can be difficult because symptoms vary from one per- son to another and may be similar to other infectious dis- eases that are spread by ticks, says the PHAC. Symptoms are an impor- tant part of getting a diagnosis because lab results may not always detect Lyme disease in the early stages if you were re- cently on antibiotics. Blood tests are clearer when the disease is further along. Lyme disease can be effec- tively treated with 2-4 weeks of antibiotics. Depending on your symptoms, and if you are diag- nosed in the later stages of the disease, you may require a lon- ger course of antibiotics. Some people experience symptoms that continue more than six months after treat- ment. The Public Health Agency of Canada offers the following ways to protect yourself if you venture into forests or over- grown areas: • Wear closed-toe shoes, long-sleeved shirts and pants • Pull your socks over your pant legs to prevent ticks from crawling up your legs • Wear light-coloured cloth- ing to spot ticks easier • Use insect repellents that contain DEET or Icaridin. Repellents can be applied to clothing as well as exposed skin. • Shower or bathe within two hours of being outdoors to wash away loose ticks • Do daily full body checks for ticks on yourself, your chil- dren and your pets • If you find a tick on your skin, removing it within 24-36 hours usually prevents infec- tion.