Or...Search this site Home Symptoms Live Discussion Diagnosis Treatment Area Support Library Research Lymelinks Contact Pets & Lyme DONATIONS Drug Info Medical Dictionary Board of Directors      Click on the graphic to vote for this site as a Starting Point Hot Site. -- No Warranties or Representations The data and information presented in this web site are presented in good faith and believed to be accurate. Any and all liability for the content or any omissions including any inaccuracies, errors, or misstatements in such data or information is expressly disclaimed. The web site is compiled for the sole purpose of informing community members of resources and information pertaining to Lyme Borreliosis Disease and its coinfections. The Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation, Directors and members are not liable for any direct or indirect damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data or profits, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tortious action arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of information available from this website. Consult a qualified Lyme ( Borreliosis ) Disease literate doctor for medical advice if Lyme Disease is suspect. en français For Physicians Ticks Coinfections Prevention Our Stories Click Here to order our free Lyme Disease Flyer,    Here for our free Lyme Disease Poster ..documents may be copied (to distribute) but edit only for alignment. BOSTON, July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- When the weather is warm, working outdoors or walking in the woods may net you a tiny, blood-sucking hitchhiker - a tick that could carry Lyme disease. And the spiral-shaped bacteria that cause Lyme disease sometimes head for the heart, where they trigger problems that often masquerade as new or worsening heart disease. The August issue of the Harvard Heart Letter tells you how to spot trouble and prevent contact with ticks. Lyme carditis is the heart infection caused by Lyme disease. The bacteria that cause Lyme carditis disrupt the heart's pattern of electrical activity, delaying or blocking electrical signals that travel between the upper and lower chambers of the heart. This infection affects only 1 in 10 people who get Lyme disease, but its symptoms are often mistaken for other cardiac problems and can result in misdiagnosis. The Harvard Heart Letter tells you what symptoms to look out for and what Lyme carditis treatment options are available: Symptoms * Dizziness or fainting * Shortness of breath * Heart palpitations * Fatigue * Trouble breathing when lying down or sleeping * A throbbing sensation in the neck Source: The Harvard Heart Letter (http://www.health.harvard.edu) Treatment * Four weeks of the oral antibiotic doxycycline will usually clear up mild cases of Lyme carditis. * Intravenous antibiotics may be needed for more serious problems such as heart block. * A small percentage of patients require temporary or permanent pacemakers to stabilize their heart's electrical activity. Source: The Harvard Heart Letter (http://www.health.harvard.edu) The Harvard Heart Letter also offers tips to help avoid ticks and Lyme carditis: * If you're going into tick territory, wear bright-colored clothes that make it easier to spot dark-colored ticks. * Make barriers by tucking your socks into your pants and wearing a long-sleeved shirt. * Use an insect repellent that contains DEET on your skin and clothes. * Before you go to bed, check yourself for ticks - if you find one, use tweezers to gently but firmly pull it off. Source: Harvard Heart Letter (http://www.health.harvard.edu) Harvard Heart Letter is available from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division of the Harvard Medical School. You can subscribe to Harvard Heart Letter for $32 per year at http://www.health.harvard.edu or by calling 1-877-649-9457 toll-free. Contact: Christine Junge E-Mail: Christine_junge@hms.harvard.edu Phone: 617-432-4717