{"id":5991,"date":"2024-04-11T13:24:51","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T13:24:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/victoria\/?p=5991"},"modified":"2026-02-23T19:59:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T19:59:46","slug":"lyme-disease-and-seniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/victoria\/blog\/lyme-disease-and-seniors\/","title":{"rendered":"Lyme Disease: What Victoria’s Seniors Should Know About the Season Ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Seniors<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Every Senior in Victoria, BC, Needs to Know About Seasonal Safety and Getting Outdoors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What is Lyme Disease? <\/strong>Ticks are small arachnids that travel through a behaviour known as questing. They perch themselves on tall blades of grass or plant stems and wait for something \u2013 or someone \u2013 to brush past. That\u2019s when they attach themselves and bite down into the skin to feed on blood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research shows that the tick population in Canada has grown and the number of cases related to tick-borne disease has risen. As a result, Lyme disease is a growing concern. While Lyme disease can be dangerous for all ages, it poses a much greater risk for seniors, whose immune systems are generally less effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> estimates that approximately 300,000 cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed in North America each year.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The Importance of Early Detection in Seniors with Lyme Disease<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tick bites are prevalent from April through September and are found throughout Canada. Given their commonality, people may remove the tick and move on, viewing them more as a nuisance and not thinking of what may be happening under the skin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, ticks secrete a natural anesthetic when they bite. In some cases, people may not be aware that they\u2019ve been bitten. For that reason, seniors must understand the early signs of Lyme disease. The sooner they begin treatment, the greater their chances of overcoming the illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signs of Lyme Disease for Seniors to Look Out For<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the difficulties in diagnosing Lyme disease in seniors is that many symptoms mimic those found in other conditions and diseases commonly found in older adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take the case of songwriter and actor Kris Kristofferson. Kristofferson was misdiagnosed for years as having Alzheimer\u2019s, when in fact the source of his memory loss was caused by Lyme disease. Detailed information, in this case, is paramount to diagnosis and treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Above all, seniors who report symptoms such as those listed below should speak with their physician. Inform the doctor if the senior has spent time outside. In the end, when Lyme disease is detected, an antibiotic will be prescribed, and the infection will resolve within two to three weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lyme Disease Signs and Symptoms:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n