The recent research on Gabepentin focuses on the off-label use and why it’s becoming a drug of increasing concern for abuse and misuse. Off-label use means the drug is not approved or monitored by the FDA, for the ailment prescribed. The question becomes what is the reason the doctor thinks it will work, do they have patients who have seen improvement and will it help or do harm.
Doctors write prescriptions for off-label conditions on a regular basis and that doesn’t mean you need to pass on taking the medication. There were numerous occasions my Psychiatrist wrote me off-label prescriptions with great success. This is not a make or break decision, it’s a call to gather more information before making your choice.
This is what I gathered through reseach papers and articles.
Gabapentin is widely used in the United States for a number of off-label indications, often as an alternative to opioid therapy. Increasing evidence has emerged suggesting that Gabapentin may not be as benign as once thought and may be associated with substance abuse in concert with opioids. With concerns for safety mounting, it is prudent to examine the efficacy of Gabapentin across its many uses to understand the risk-benefit balance. Reviews on off-label indications such as migraine, fibromyalgia, mental illness, and substance dependence have found modest to no effect on relevant clinical outcomes. This high-quality evidence has often been overshadowed by uncontrolled studies and limited case reports. Furthermore, the involvement of Gabapentin in questionable marketing schemes further calls its use into question. Overall, clinicians should exercise rigorous appraisal of the available evidence for a given indication, and researchers should conduct larger, higher-quality studies to better assess the efficacy of Gabapentin for many of its off-label uses.
Gabapentin may cause breathing problems in people who use opioid pain medicines and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Older adults who take Gabapentin are also at a higher risk of breathing problems.
Because Gabapentin can enhance the psychological effect of opioids, it has the potential to be abused and has contributed to drug overdose deaths.
Drugs such as Gabapentin have been linked in rare cases to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. If you take Gabapentin, you or your family should tell the doctor about any unusual changes in your mood, such as agitation, violence, aggression, depression, or talking about wanting to hurt yourself.
Side effects of gabapentin
Common side effects of Gabapentin include:
drowsiness or dizziness
headache or blurred vision
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation
dry mouth
weight gain
swelling of the hands, feet, or ankles
back or joint pain
flulike symptoms such as fever or body aches.
Rare but serious side effects
Rare but serious side effects of Gabapentin include:
rash, itching, or yellowing of the skin
swelling of the face and throat, a condition called angioedema
problems speaking or swallowing
changes in memory, ability to concentrate, or personality.
Safely stopping treatment with Gabapentin
If you stop taking gabapentin suddenly, there is a chance of having seizures. Instead, you may need to gradually reduce how much Gabapentin you take until you stop it completely. Your doctor can advise you on how to safely stop treatment with Gabapentin.
Several large studies published in 2025 and earlier have tracked patients with ongoing Gabapentin prescriptions. The results were eye-opening. Adults who had six or more prescriptions showed about a 29% higher risk of dementia and an 85% higher risk of MCI compared to people who didn’t take Gabapentin. For those with 12 or more prescriptions, the numbers jumped even higher, roughly 40% greater dementia risk and a 65% increase in MCI. What’s especially surprising is that this wasn’t limited to older adults. Even people under 65, who typically aren’t considered high risk for dementia, seemed more vulnerable.
The cognitive side effects of Gabapentin are often subtle at first but can become harder to ignore with long-term use. Patients have reported memory loss, difficulty concentrating, slower thinking, and that frustrating “brain fog” feeling. Some research suggests these issues can appear within just a week of starting Gabapentin, while other studies found they show up more clearly after extended treatment. Either way, it’s clear that Gabapentin can have an impact on mental sharpness and attention.
Of course, it’s important to keep things in perspective. These studies show an association, not direct proof that Gabapentin causes dementia. Chronic pain itself is known to affect brain health, and many patients on Gabapentin are also taking other medications that could play a role. So while the findings are concerning, they don’t mean every person who takes Gabapentin long-term will develop dementia.
Many of you know I never really left because if I can type with one finger, I will take a stab at writing or at least working on a post. It’s in my blood, during childhood I kept a journal and knew then writing was in me. Anyone ready is a different story.
Thank all of you who have sent me well wishes, your words not only touch my heart, they also tell me you care.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a month that has received a great deal of attention over the years due to the tremendous donations to support new treatment options. That does not mean we should look the other way and think it has enough attention. The success rate of survival has increased but there is still so much to know about Breast Cancer.
NBCF is dedicated to delivering comprehensive, educational information on breast health and healthy living. From understanding the importance of early detection, to knowing how to prepare for a mammogram, NBCF’s online resources and guides aim to empower women and men with useful information. View guides. Click here to learn more about breast self-examination steps.
The Patient Navigator Program is a proactive approach to helping patients overcome the barriers of cost, fear, and misinformation surrounding a disease and its prevention. Find a facility.
Other Resources
In addition to the breast care services that NBCF provides to women in need, the following resources offer financial assistance for breast cancer patients.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides access to breast cancer screening services to underserved women in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 5 U.S. territories, and 12 tribal organizations.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) provides resource lists for free or low-cost mammograms and financial assitance based on your location. When you go to their website, Cancer.org, look for the “About Us” tab in the top right corner. When you click on that, select your state in the “Where We Help” menu to be directed to a list of local resources.
Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (BCCTP)
This state program is funded through Medicaid to provide underserved women free healthcare throughout treatment. The program is available in all 50 states. For the application process, contact your local hospital and ask to speak to a nurse or patient navigator regarding the program.
The CFAC is a coalition of organizations that help patients reduce financial barriers during cancer treatment. When you visit their website, select the type of assistance needed and enter your zip code to find resources near your area.
The Mammography Facility Database is updated periodically based on information received from the three FDA-approved accreditation bodies: the American College of Radiology (ACR), and the states of Arkansas and Texas to provide a list of facilities where mammography services are available based on your location.
Breast Cancer needs to be taken seriously by all and it starts with self-exams and reaching out at the first sign of trouble. You also need to keep your doctor aware of your family history because it can play a big role in whether to not you have the DNA makers for Breast Cancer. Always air on the cautious side.
The FDA says even small amounts of lead consumed over time can elevate blood lead levels
With the holiday baking season quickly approaching, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers to check their spice cabinets.
Over 10 ground cinnamon products sold under different brand names have been recalled nationwide after testing showed they may contain higher-than-safe levels of lead.
The latest announcement, issued Friday, Sept. 12, expands on earlier alerts from March 2024 and July 2025. The FDA says the newly recalled products were distributed by several retailers across the U.S. and could be sitting in home kitchens, which may affect seasonal holiday gatherings.
Brands newly flagged include Jiva Organic, Super Brand and Asli, among others. The products tested at retail locations in multiple states, including California, Arkansas, Virginia and Connecticut, showed lead concentrations ranging between roughly 2.03 to 7.68 parts per million (ppm).
According to the agency, lead is not naturally found in cinnamon, but can enter food through contaminated soil, water or during processing. Health experts stress that even small amounts of lead exposure can be dangerous over time, particularly for children and pregnant people, where it may impact neurologic development.
“Long-term exposure (months to years) to elevated levels of lead in the diet could contribute to adverse health effects,” the FDA noted in its updated guidance. “Consumers should avoid using the affected products and discard them immediately.”
The alert lists more than a dozen brands and packaging sizes, many of which were sold in discount stores, local groceries and through online retailers. In addition to urging people to throw away recalled items, the FDA is advising anyone who suspects they may have been exposed to speak with a healthcare provider about testing for lead.
The affected products are listed below:
Jiva Organics Organic Cinnamon Powder is sold at Taj Supermarket. Lot code: AF-CINP/822 with a best-before date of July 2025
Super Brand Cinnamon Powder is sold at the Asian Supermarket in Little Rock, Ark.
Asli Fine Foods Cinnamon Powder sold at A & Y Global Market in Columbia, Missouri, with lot code DDDLUS
El Chilar Ground Cinnamon is sold at El Torito Market in Maryland with the lot codes D181EX0624 and E054EX0225
Marcum & Supreme Tradition Ground Cinnamon sold at Save-A-Lot Food Stores in Missouri and Virginia with best-by dates of Dec. 5, 2025
SWAD Cinnamon Powder sold at Patel Brothers in Connecticut, containing the batch number KX28223 and a best-before date of October 2026
Supreme Tradition Ground Cinnamon sold at Dollar Tree in California with the lot code 10A11 and best by date of Oct. 6, 2025
Compania Indillor Orientale Ground Cinnamon sold at Eurogrocery in Connecticut with the lot code L1803231
ALB Flavor Ground Cinnamon sold at Eurogrocery in Connecticut with the lot code LA02 and best-before date of March 8, 2025
Shahzada Cinnamon Powder is sold at Premium Supermarket in New York
Spice Class Ground Cinnamon is sold at Fish World in New York with a best-by date of December 2026
La Frontera Ground Cinnamon is sold at Frutas Y Abarrotes Mexico in New York
The FDA notes that the agency will continue its “activities at import to prevent unsafe cinnamon from reaching consumers in the U.S.,” which will include adding firms and products to import alerts when appropriate.
This is not the first time spices have been flagged for contamination. Earlier this year, cinnamon was also at the center of recalls after lead was linked to contaminated applesauce pouches. Regulators are now taking additional steps to monitor imported spices more closely.
A full list of recalled cinnamon products, along with photos of packaging and additional health information, is available on the FDA’s website.
By fluke a CT Scan of my shoulder also showed damage to my lungs, a complete shock to me. The first scan showed I had Chronic Bronchitis and Moderate Asthma. He ordered a High Resolution CT Scan to better identify the damage to my lungs. The outcome was I had Sjogrens Related Lung Diesase that had caused Bronchiestasis, which has damaged my lungs.
The damage to my lungs are in the airways, they have developed pouches which makes it hard to clear your lungs and can cause frequent infections. Each infection causes more damage. The answer is using a nebilizer twice a day to clear my lungs.
When I was diagnosis with Sjogrens Disease years ago, all I knew was it affects the salivary glands which caused dry mouth, eyes and nose, when the salivary glands became enlarged they were hard, and slightly painful. The doctor never mentioned that Sjogrens is known to cause damage to you lungs.
The diagnosis of Asthma didn’t make sense to me, I hadn’t had an Asthma attack before but three weeks after the diagnosis I had a really bad one and thought I was going to die, it was like my airways closed off. It was so scary. The three other attacks where not near as bad, It was like I couldn’t catch my breath but it was more like breating hard, those lasted much longer. I use an all day inhaler and a rescue one.
My life live has changed so much knowing my lungs are damaged, there’s no cure and it’s progressive.
I’ve had time to wrap my mind around it, not overfocusing on the what if’s and now determined to live my best life.
The post is from 2015 and is still relevant today. All chilldren’s health is critical and the FDA is the only place to find factual and the most recent medical information. The FDA’s Medwatch site is where all the warnings are listed and includes more than medications.
FDA MedWatch – Codeine Cough-and-Cold Medicines in Children: Drug Safety Communication – FDA Evaluating Potential Risk of Serious Side Effects 07/01/2015
Codeine Cough-and-Cold Medicines in Children: Drug Safety Communication – FDA Evaluating Potential Risk of Serious Side Effects AUDIENCE: Family Practice, Pediatrics, Surgery, Patient
ISSUE: FDA is investigating the safety of using codeine-containing medicines to treat coughs and colds in children under 18 years because of the potential for serious side effects, including slowed or difficult breathing.
Children, especially those who already have breathing problems, may be more susceptible to these serious side effects. In 2013, FDA warned against using codeine in children who recently had surgery to remove their tonsils and/or adenoids.
In April 2015, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced that codeine must not be used to treat cough and cold in children under 12 years, and that codeine is not recommended in children and adolescents between 12 and 18 years who have breathing problems, including those with asthma and other chronic breathing problems.
FDA will continue to evaluate this safety issue and will consider the EMA recommendations. Final conclusions and recommendations will be communicated when the FDA review is complete.
BACKGROUND: Codeine is a specific type of narcotic medicine called an opioid that is used to treat mild to moderate pain and also to reduce coughing. It is usually combined with other medications in prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) cough-and-cold medicines.
RECOMMENDATION: Parents and caregivers who notice any signs of slow or shallow breathing, difficult or noisy breathing, confusion, or unusual sleepiness in their child should stop giving their child codeine and seek medical attention immediately by taking their child to the emergency room or calling 911. Parents and caregivers should always read the product label to find out if a medicine contains codeine and talk with their child’s health care professional or a pharmacist if they have any questions or concerns. Health care professionals should continue to follow the recommendations in the drug labels and use caution when prescribing or recommending codeine-containing cough-and-cold medicines to children.
Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:
Complete and submit the report Online: http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178 Read the MedWatch safety alert, including links to the Drug Safety Communication and previous MedWatch alerts, at:
Here are some ideas on how to prepare for conversations with your doctor about a new early-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Asking key questions can help you feel less overwhelmed, better understand your stage, symptoms, and treatment options, and also navigate any feelings of uncertainty and potential challenges.
We compiled a list of important questions and talking points to discuss with your doctor to determine the best path forward.
What stage is the Alzheimer’s disease currently in?
One of the first questions for your healthcare professional should be about which of the seven stages of Alzheimer’s disease you’re experiencing.
An early diagnosis, commonly referred to as early-onset Alzheimer’s, is when the condition is detected before the age of 65. Generally, early-onset diagnoses are seen in people in their 50s.
Though no one wants to hear that they’re navigating this overwhelming condition at any stage, the earlier it’s detected, the better for planning for the future, including certain medications and other therapies for improving symptoms.
For example, it gives them time to adjust to any mood or personality changes in the person they’re caring for, explain the changes to other family members, and allows them more time to create the most comprehensive care plan.
Emotionally processing the diagnosis early and having time to plan accordingly also has a significant impact on mental health. Early diagnosis has been shownTrusted Source to decrease depression and anxiety in caregivers.
What are the key symptoms I should expect to see in the near future?
Understanding more about your stage can help you prepare for symptoms commonly seen in that stage.
For example, the hallmark of early Alzheimer’s is lapses in memory, like forgetting recent experiences or conversations.
Asking your doctor about your stage’s symptoms allows everyone involved to understand what to expect, which can also help you give yourself some grace.
How is this diagnosis confirmed and are there any other tests needed?
Unlike some other health conditions, Alzheimer’s is not confirmed with a stand-alone test.
Instead, healthcare providers rely on a slew of diagnostic tools to detect it, which can includeTrusted Source:
neurological exams (like testing reflexes, balance and coordination, and more)
What treatment options are available at this stage?
Talking with your doctor about treatment options is crucial for managing the condition. Though no treatment can stop the condition, certain medications can lower symptoms or delay progression, making coping and daily life activities easier.
Are there any lifestyle changes or interventions that could help manage symptoms?
Certain lifestyle adjustments may also improve symptoms. Talk with your doctor about other therapies you can consider alongside medications, including:
How will we monitor the progression of the disease and the effectiveness of treatment?
Discussing how well your treatment plan is working should be an ongoing conversation with your doctor during follow-up appointments. You can discuss any side effects and symptom improvement and decide if a different treatment plan may be necessary.
When someone living with Alzheimer’s has progressed from one stage to another, it may be time to discuss different options, as certain medications are approved only for specific stages.
Have a plan with your doctor for checking in regularly, which is usually done by scheduling routine appointments weeks in advance.
What strategies can help maintain my quality of life as the disease progresses?
Quality of life should also be discussed during follow-up appointments. Your doctor can discuss coping strategies and help ensure that you and your caregivers maximize joy whenever possible.
For example, adding fun, social, and creative activities into your schedule can be cognitively stimulating and also create opportunities to relax and deepen relationships. Some examples include painting, card or board games, puzzles, coloring, and more.
It’s also important to keep meaningful activities present, including any spiritual practices you may have.
Remember that rest is just as important as socializing and other activities, especially for those with Alzheimer’s, so plan breaks into your schedule, too.
How can I prepare for potential changes in my ability to function?
There’s no perfect way to prepare for changes, but it is important to stay flexible, take breaks when needed, and be open with your doctor about recent function changes. Check in with your doctor about which tasks are becoming more difficult and which are still very manageable.
Keeping lists and Post-it reminders handy, including daily tasks and schedules, can help you stay on track. Your doctor can discuss when it may be time to turn certain tasks over to your caregivers, like driving.
How can my family and caregivers best support me through this journey?
During each stage, your caregivers will have a lot to think about and manage. Counseling or other therapies may be helpful for their well-being.
But overall, when they’re not checking in with your doctor, planning for the future, and helping with certain daily tasks, remind them to stay present and not force activities you have no interest in.
For example, if you’re feeling tired one evening but a caregiver has a movie night planned, remind them it’s OK for you to take a rain check.
Spending time together is important, whether it’s sharing meals or memories.
If you’re up for it, looking over photographs or home movies may be helpful for stirring up shared past experiences. This is referred to as reminiscence therapyTrusted Source, and it’s been shown to improve quality of life for older adults.
If this type of activity is too heavy for either of you to process, you can skip it. The idea isn’t to connect dots to recall specific memories but to spend time enjoying each other’s company while thinking about shared positive experiences.
This free resource offers support through information, local resources, crisis assistance, and emotional support.
What should my caregivers know about managing my condition?
Though caregivers may feel overwhelmed or stressed, a few things are never OK, including:
constant correcting or controlling
rushing
forcing
laughing at mistakes
condescending remarks or suggestions
Your caregivers will need some advice and maybe training for activities they might have to perform during later stages, such as feeding, bathing, and changing.
It’s also crucial to ensure that the home is a safe, comfortable, and easy-to-navigate environment.
You can ask your doctor for other important things for your caregivers to keep in mind. They can offer tip sheets and additional resources.
You can also consider trained attendants for care at home if they’re available to you.
What should I know about planning for future financial and legal matters?
Locking financial and legal matters into place as soon as possible can make you feel more confident about the future. Ask your doctor to guide you to any resources that may help you map these matters out.
For example, the first step is to document your choice of who has power of attorney. Similarly, making a plan for bills to be paid at the same time every month through automatic withdrawal can help relieve some stress and cross one thing off your to-do list.
Additionally, some living facilities offer plans that include rent and all other expenses, like utilities, cable, etc., into one monthly bill, so there’s no need to keep track of a long list of monthly due dates.
How can I ensure that my wishes regarding care and treatment are respected?
This is another area where documentation comes in handy. You can document your preferences across a wide range of areas of your life, including your preferred activities, people to socialize with, favorite and least favorite foods, etc.
It’s important to check in with your caregivers and healthcare providers about whether your care feels right for you. Maintaining open communication with your healthcare providers and being honest if you feel unsafe at home is also important.
It’s important to be proactive and informed in managing early-onset Alzheimer’s.
A strong first step is maintaining open communication with your healthcare providers and asking key questions. Gathering the right information can help you cope and plan for a smoother, more comfortable future.
From there, finding the right support team, whether friends, family, or caregivers, is the next best step to feeling more confident as you moving forward.
Remember that you’re not alone — help and companionship are often just a phone call away.
I’ve heard for a long time that Tumeric can help with Arthrits pain and inflamation, yet more information was needed before I started taking it. What I read was disturbing. Yes, Tumeric is know to help in those areas but there a numbers of side effects that applied to me. The list included that certain health issues were affected and advised not to take if you had one. There were no interations with medication listed but that didn’t matter because I was not taking because of the health issues I have.
The key to remember is manufactures can say what they will about their products but they are not approved by the FDA to ensure what is said is factual and the filler inside is not listed. I’m in no way against supplements but I don’t take what the manufacture states as fact, further reasearch on your part is needed. The last thing you want is other health issues to worsen or discover the supplement interacts with the medication you take.
I saw this video and it cemented why factual information is needed. Talk to your doctor before taking and only take the recommended amount.
She Took a Turmeric Supplement for Inflammation. It Nearly Destroyed Her Liver
The Western Conenose bug carries the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, which bug infestations pass to humans through their kissing bug bite.
According to top medical providers like the Mayo Clinic and Hartford Healthcare behavioral health library, Chagas disease, an inflammatory, infectious disease, is caused by triatomine bugs or the kissing bug. The condition basics include acute illness, fever, fatigue, and inflammation of insect bites.
Due to the dangers associated with this pest, understanding how to get rid of kissing bugs from cracks and crevices in your home or your box spring is essential. Like spider bites, the assassin bug has a painful and itchy bite.
These wingless insects are pests and cause a nuisance, though they have no bearing on sexual health despite their name. Learning how to kill kissing bugs is critical for disease control and preventing insect bites from leading to an allergic reaction or worse.
Kissing bugs might sound harmless, but these blood-sucking insects can carry a dangerous parasite that causes Chagas disease. These pests are becoming more common in homes across the southern United States, making it important to know how to get rid of kissing bugs before they become a serious problem.
Getting rid of kissing bugs requires a smart approach that combines prevention, treatment, and ongoing maintenance. These nocturnal insects hide during the day and come out at night to feed on humans and pets. While they got their name from biting people around the mouth and eyes, they can actually bite anywhere on the body.
The good news is that there are many effective ways to eliminate these dangerous pests. From simple home repairs to natural treatments and professional solutions, this guide goes over methods that will help protect your family and home from kissing bugs.
How to get rid of Kissing Bug
Seal All Entry Points and Cracks
Install and Repair Window and Door Screens
Change Your Outdoor Lighting
Remove Outdoor Hiding Spots
Apply Bug Spray Around Your Home
Use Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth
Make Natural Essential Oil Sprays
Set Up Simple Light Traps
Vacuum Regularly in Key Areas
Hire Professional Pest Control
These are few recommendations. I found conflicting answers on if insect repellant on the face is effective. More research will answer the question.
Please use the second link to read the entire article.
Chagas disease, which is spread through an insect known as the “kissing bug,” has spread to 32 states in the U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the triatomine insect — called the “kissing bug” because it bites people on the face — has been found in several southern U.S. states, and that hundreds of thousands of people could already be infected without knowing.
Human infections have been identified in eight states — Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and California — according to a map on the CDC’s website. Cases of Chagas disease in animals have also been found in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia and Maryland.
The CDC said, per UCLA Health, that more than 300,000 people in the U.S. — including 45,000 people in Los Angeles County — could be affected with Chagas disease. However, fewer than 2% of those people know they carry the parasite transmitted by the “kissing bug.”
A map of where Chagas disease infections have been reported, via the CDC.
Judith Currier, MD, chief of infectious diseases at UCLA Health, explained, “Most people living with Chagas disease are unaware of their diagnosis, often until it’s too late to have effective treatment.”
The disease spreads through triatomine insect bites, per UCLA Health. Once the insect bites people on their face, they defecate and deposit a parasite called T. cruzi onto the skin. When the bite begins to itch and people scratch it, the parasite then gets into the person’s bloodstream.
Infected people can experience common symptoms including fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, loss of appetite, diarrhea and vomiting. However, one of the key signs of the disease is particularly severe swelling of the eyelid, per UCLA Health.
“[Severe eyelid swelling is] almost a hallmark of acute Chagas infection,” said Shaun Yang, PhD, a professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Those who are infected could also risk getting more chronic symptoms, which often affect a person’s cardiovascular system. Between 20% and 30% of people who contract Chagas disease could develop serious heart or digestive problems, risk getting an enlarged heart, colon or esophagus, or risk heart failure or cardiac arrest, per the CDC.
The CDC recommended in its report that Chagas disease be classified as “endemic” in the U.S. The agency defines “endemic” as having a “constant presence and/or usual prevalence in a population within a specific geographic area.”
One of the most important things a person with Lyme disease needs is clear, concise information.Here’s a list of useful resources to get you going in the right direction.LymeDisease.org is one of the foremost Lyme patient advocacy organizations in the United States. We provide a wealth of information on our website–about ticks, Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Special features include:Symptom Checklist: Patients can answer a series of questions, print out the filled-in form and take it to their doctor. The printout describes basic facts, explains the two standards of care for Lyme disease, and endorses the ILADS guidelines. It’s a way to help your doctor help you.Physician Directory: Find a Lyme-literate practitioner near you.Our blogs keep the Lyme community up to date on news, analysis, and opinion.
MyLymeData patient registry: This big data research project allows patients to privately pool information about their Lyme disease experiences. So far, more than 17,000 people have enrolled in the project, providing millions of data points on Lyme disease demographics, tick bites, diagnosis, symptoms, lab tests, co-infections, treatment and quality of life. Add your Lyme data to MyLymeData to help find a cure for Lyme disease.
There is growing evidence that certain types of tick bites can trigger alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) a life-threatening allergy to red meat and meat-related products.
Parasite prevalence mapsEducational website includes a US map down to the county level, showing where dogs have tested positive for Lyme, anaplasmosis, erhlichiosis and other diseases. Also, information about protecting your pet from tick-borne diseases.
Companion Animal Parasite Council website has comprehensive information about how to protect your pets from ticks and other parasites.
Books (Treatment, healing modalities, family life)
This is one of the most comprehensive articles Lyme Dieases and co-infections. When you talk to a expert on the subject matter be sure to ask for referral, it took me two doctors to find the right doctor. I can say that you General Doctor is not the right type of doctor for your treatment and surgical. YES, it’s that important. The best source for referrals for Lyme Literate Doctor is ILADS.
I want to give a special thanks to Managing Editor Soraya Nair for sending me I Can’t Have That I Have Allergies by Katie Kinsella for review.
Blurb
All the animals in the woodland are headed to a party – that is, except Hedgehog, who can’t attend because of his food allergies. But one of his kind friends, Deer, decides to learn more about his condition, and she comes up with a plan so that Hedgehog can safely celebrate, too!
I Can’t Have That, I Have Allergies is a sensitively written story by a mother whose daughter has life-threatening allergies. It will enlighten those unfamiliar with the severity of such allergies, and it will help children who suffer from them to know that they aren’t alone.
My Thoughts
Have you missed school on a special day? You were probably sad that you could not participate in the fun. The Hedgehog has a similar story, he has severe allergies which limit what he can eat. It’s not fun going to a birthday party and not being able to eat cake.
As each of the Hedgehog’s friends stop in on the way to a birthday party, he explains why he can’t go to the party. His friends go on their way but they have a big surprise for him. They cared so much for their friend, they contacted his mother to get a list of what he can’t eat and they made a cake he could. They show up at Hedgehog’s house and have a big Birthday party which allows the Hedgehog to have fun and not worry about what he can or can’t eat.
The book does an excellent job of describing Allergies children can understand. I think the bigger picture is when Hedgehog share’s with his friends why he can’t go, they didn’t abandon him, they embraced him instead. It’s important for kids to know they can talk about their problems instead of keeping everything in.
For every parent who has a child with Allergies of any kind, this is the perfect book to show if you share what is going on with your friends they will have your back.
Trigger Publishing
TriggerHub.org is the first mental health organization of its kind. We are bringing mental health recovery and balance to millions of people worldwide through the power of our books.
We have built a first-class resource of curated books produced and published in-house to create a unique collection of mental health recovery titles unrivaled in quality and selection. We work with experts, psychologists, doctors, and coaches to produce our books, but we also work with real people looking to share their stories to reach out to others and provide hope, understanding, and compassion. These brave authors also aim to raise awareness of mental health’s “human” face and its impact on everyday lives.
The morning after you killed yourself, we went to secure the house. I knew immediately you suffered slowly. Among the papers, trash, and clothes and I found your lockbox. The divorce paperwork to my mother, every card I gave you as a child. I found the pad you were writing on. Your Bible on the coffee table, dried tears as you were reading Job in the Bible.
The note had 11:30 a.m. written in the corner. I could see you called your best friend and the phone number to a suicide line. There were words and a drawing that made no sense. Granny paralyzed, crying, asking why. The house ransacked, nothing anything made sense to her.
Dirty dishes piled high, nothing in the refrigerator, how did you live like this, how long? You phoned me several times in the months before your death. Delusional and highly paranoid each time. Someone was tapping your phone, they were trying to get you and the rest I could not understand, you were already gone. As much as I hated you, I cried, begged you not to kill yourself, trying to reason with him that Granny would never be the same. I paid your bills for months. You weren’t in touch with reality.
The outcome will not change if determined. I knew you would take your life and told no-one. I’ve wondered what went through your mind in the hours doodling to writing the note, then killing yourself. I received the call at 10:00 p.m., Gramps said your dad has done away with himself. I called right back to see if you were dead or going to the hospital.
The boxes of cassettes next to your bed, taking months to listen to. You were mentally ill, not under the care of a Psychiatrist, no medications. Your temper went 1-10 in seconds, obnoxious, loud, racist, screaming, out of control.
You had hit the bottom and I didn’t know because we were estranged,
I’ve experienced being suicidal more than once, God and my husband saved me. If you are thinking about suiside, call your Psychiatrist right away or go to closet hospital, be open with your doctor and follow all medications instructions, these actions may save your life. I’ve stayed in Psychistratic Hospitals multiple times, I had 21 ECT Treatments, and I feel no shame. My mental heath is critical to living a balanced life.
It’s crazy to think I had two hand surgeries in December 2024 and tomorrow I’m having a shoulder replacement surgery. I will wear a sling three to four weeks and go right into Physical Therapy. OUCH!
I could not find the button to turn off comments, now your comment’s will be held in moderation. I’ll starting reading and replying once I’m able.
You’re appreciated and I’ll miss reading and chatting with you.. See you soon.
What if you did everything right after a tick bite—and still ended up sick?
That’s what happened to a 37-year-old woman who followed medical advice after a hike in New York’s Hudson Valley. She removed an engorged tick and went to urgent care. The provider gave her a single pill—200 mg of doxycycline—and told her it would prevent Lyme disease.
Weeks later, she developed brain fog, crushing fatigue, and joint pain. It turned out she did have Lyme disease, and possibly other tick-borne infections too.
Her case raises important ethical questions: Are patients being told enough? Are they being protected—or falsely reassured? And are we doing right by those who follow the rules?
The promise of a single pill after a tick bite
The CDC currently recommends a single dose of doxycycline after a tick bite in certain cases. The idea is simple: take the antibiotic early, and you might prevent Lyme disease from taking hold.
But there’s a catch: this one-pill approach was based on a small study published in 2001. It mostly looked at preventing the bull’s-eye rash—not the full illness.
What’s more, the study didn’t follow people long enough to detect cases of Lyme disease that develop without a rash, or cases involving co-infections like Babesia.
What this patient wasn’t told
This woman wasn’t warned about the limits of the single-dose strategy. She wasn’t told that:
It may not prevent the whole disease—just the rash.
It doesn’t protect against other infections ticks can carry.
It only works in very specific situations (right kind of tick, right timing, right area).
If symptoms appear later, Lyme disease testing can be unreliable.
Because she believed she was protected, she waited too long to seek further care—and her test came back negative at first, adding to the confusion.
By the time she arrived at my clinic, her illness had worsened.
Why This Isn’t Just a Medical Issue—It’s an Ethical One
1. Patients Deserve Full Information (Autonomy)
She should’ve been told that the one-pill approach isn’t a guarantee. Without all the facts, she couldn’t make a truly informed choice.
2. Care Should Be Tailored, Not Just Protocol (Beneficence)
She lived in a high-risk Lyme area. The tick was attached long enough to transmit disease. She might have benefited more from a longer antibiotic course. Instead, a “one-size-fits-all” approach failed her.
3. False Reassurance Can Do Harm (Non-Maleficence)
Believing she was safe delayed her diagnosis and treatment. That delay caused more suffering—and made recovery harder.
4. The System Isn’t Fair for Everyone (Justice)
This strategy doesn’t work well for kids under 8, pregnant women, or people who don’t have easy access to care. It assumes everyone knows what kind of tick bit them—and can get treatment within 72 hours. That’s not realistic for many.
What happened when she got the right help
When she finally got to my office, we ran new tests. Her Lyme Western blot confirmed infection. She also had symptoms of Babesia, a parasite that doxycycline doesn’t treat. On top of that, she had orthostatic intolerance (POTS), which had never been linked to her tick bite before.
With a more complete treatment plan—including antibiotics and supportive care—she began to feel better. But the road was longer than it needed to be.
Bottom line: A simple solution isn’t always the right one
The idea of “just one pill” sounds great—but it can create a false sense of safety. When patients aren’t told the full story, they lose the chance to make informed decisions. And when symptoms are dismissed, the consequences can last for months or even years.
We need to do better. That means:
Being honest about what the single-dose approach can and can’t do.
Offering follow-up when patients remain unwell.
Considering co-infections and other risks—not just following a checklist.
Because when it comes to Lyme disease, patients deserve more than a protocol. They deserve a plan.
Dr. Daniel Cameron is a nationally recognized expert in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. He is a past president of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society and a co-aauthor of the ILADS Lyme treatment guidelines. This blog first appeared on his website,danielcameronmd.com. He can also be found on Facebook.
Hear is a clear message to everyone! Lyme Disease is not picky who the host person is, everyone is prime picking for Lyme Disease’s.
Singer Justin Timberlake has revealed that he has Lyme disease, describing it as “relentlessly debilitating” both mentally and physically.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Timberlake explained that the diagnosis helped him understand why he was experiencing nerve pain, extreme fatigue, and sickness—even while performing on stage during his two-year Forget Tomorrow World Tour
Despite the challenges, he chose to continue touring, saying:
“I decided the joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling. I’m so glad I kept going.”
He also shared that he had been reluctant to speak publicly about his health struggles, but wanted to be more transparent to avoid misinterpretation and to help others facing similar battles.
Timberlake joins a growing list of celebrities—including Justin Bieber and Bella Hadid—who have publicly discussed living with Lyme disease.
My shoulder injury happened years ago, a Slap Tear for which I had injections for the pain for years. I was hopeful that it was on the mend when the pain let up and I stopped injections. That was until I took a tumble falling on the hardwod floor and land on the shoulder.
I dealt with the pain until I could no longer sleep on that side. I scheduled an appointment hoping that an injection would help. After looking at the Xray he said I needed surgery. He ordered a CT Scan to get more detail. The Radiologist who read the CT confirm there was more damage to the shoulder and surgery was recomended. They also found an area of arthritis in the shoulder.
I had two choices for surgery, the less invasive surgery was less painful and had a quicker recovery time. The second option included removing the arthritis. Though the less invasive sounded better but the arthritis would not be removed and would contiune to cause pain. I am having a right shoulder replacement, getting my head around at first was difficult, thinking abut the pain, three weeks in a sling and three months of Physical Therapy.
My mind has changed from thinking about the difficulties of the surgery, to living pain-free after the rehab is completed.
My surgery is 8/20/25 and I will be out of pocket until I can write without pain.
Despite its name, hurry sickness isn’t an actual medical or mental health condition. Still, a pressing need to hurry through tasks and make the most of every moment can represent a legitimate concern for many people.
This time urgency, as it’s also known, often partly relates to the ever-increasing variety of technological devices designed to make life easier:
With so many tools to help you get things done, you have plenty of time to take on additional tasks, right? (Probably not.)
You’ve got a laptop and a smartphone, so you can respond to work emails anytime, can’t you? (Actually, no.)
Shouldn’t it be easy to complete a full day’s work, cook meals, exercise, do chores, connect with loved ones, and still devote 7 or 8 hours to a good night’s rest? (When you do the math, you certainly won’t get a number below 24.)
The more that’s expected of you, the more you might agree to take on, pushing yourself harder to complete every “essential” task.
Yet rushing through life can affect physical health and leave you feeling unfulfilled and unable to devote attention to the people and things you care for most.
Hurry sickness can show up as a driving need to make the most of every second.
“We’ve come to know this habit as multitasking,” explains Rosemary K.M. Sword, author and co-developer of time perspective therapy. “Many people who’ve incorporated multitasking into their life are proud of their ability to do more than one thing at the same time.”
When you juggle too much at once, however, you might forget or neglect important things — even while in the middle of them.
Case in point: Distracted by something your colleague has just said, you forget about the soup. It scorches, setting off the smoke alarm and ruining lunch.
Other signs might include:
speeding, both in your car and through conversations, the grocery store, or meals
rushing through work tasks and household chores, to the point where you sometimes make mistakes and have to do them again
frequently performing time calculations in your head to see whether you can fit in another task
feeling irritable when you face delays
constantly trying to find ways to save time
endlessly running through your to-do list in your head to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything
Hurry sickness frequently involves an undercurrent of anxiety. Perhaps stress and worry creep up when you think of everything you have to do.
Or maybe you quickly become anxious when you find yourself stuck in traffic, early for an appointment, or waiting for something with nothing to do in the meantime.
Hyperaware of the seconds ticking by, you fixate on all the things you could be doing with the wasted time.
The belief that you don’t have time to handle daily responsibilities or achieve more distant goals can create plenty of stress. Packing the tasks you want to accomplish into the time you have available, you worry whether you’ll ever get them all done.
Living with anxiety always simmering on the back burner generally doesn’t feel very pleasant. This anxiety presses you to keep moving, to keep doing, to attach more urgency to your to-do list than it requires.
As you rush from one thing to the next, you might notice trouble concentrating, since you’re always worrying about the next item on your list.
Neglecting to give your work the attention it deserves means you either have to:
do it again, using up more time
leave it as it is, knowing you could’ve done better
Either option can leave you facing more stress, Sword notes, along with feelings of inadequacy, failure, or diminished self-esteem. You might also feel irritable, tearful, and guilty.
Relationship Issues
“Hurry sickness can eclipse what’s really important in our lives — our relationships with others,” Sword says.
Perhaps you don’t listen to your partner because you’re worrying about everything you have to do, or you snap at your children when they’re slow to get moving.
You forget important dates, push others aside because you lack the time to offer emotional support or physical affection, and find it difficult to keep hold of the frayed edges of your temper.
In short, you struggle to remain present and engaged with your loved ones, which can do lasting emotional damage to all involved.
Spending your days hurrying often means you devote less time to self-care.
Relaxation and alone time might be the first “unnecessary” activities you scrap when you feel busy, but many people with hurry sickness also start to ignore things like hydration, balanced meals, physical activity, or sleep.
Prolonged stress can also play a partTrusted Source in burnout, a state where you feel completely drained and no longer able to cope with the demands of daily life.
A 2003 studyTrusted Source found evidence to suggest certain traits associated with type A personalities— including time urgency and impatience — led to an increased risk for high blood pressure (hypertension).
Researchers looked at five traits in more than 3,000 adults between the ages of 18 and 30:
When researchers followed up with participants 15 years later, they found that 15 percent of the participants had developed hypertension.
Study authors say competitiveness, anxiety, and depression didn’t appear to increase hypertension risk. Known risk factors, including lack of exercise, alcohol use, or obesity, also didn’t seem to affect the results.
What did appear to increase risk were two specific traits: Time urgency/impatience and hostility. What’s more, those who experienced these traits more strongly showed greater risk for hypertension.
At first, slowing down might feel impossible — you’ll never get anything done, and thinking about the tasks waiting will only add to your stress. But remember: You can work much more efficiently when your mind isn’t bogged down by racing thoughts.
Instead of coming to a screeching halt, it’s often more helpful to slow down, well, slowly.
These strategies can help you push back the urge to keep rushing and get in the habit of taking life as it comes.
Take a walk
Putting down what you’re doing and temporarily changing your environment can help you counter the need to hurry, even when you feel most rushed.
As you walk, take deep breaths to ground and refresh yourself. Aim to walk for 30 minutes, if you can. A half hour spent stretching your legs, breathing fresh air, and getting some sunlight can energize you and even boost creativity, so you might find yourself returning to your responsibilities with a renewed outlook and improved mood.
Embrace mindfulness
Mindfulness — whether it’s meditation or just taking a few deep breaths — helps you focus your attention on the things happening in the moment, so it’s an important skill to develop when trying to manage hurry sickness.
Trying to multitask and jam several activities into one short span of time can leave you distracted and frustrated:
You’re replying to an email from your boss while making a doctor’s appointment over the phone. Since you aren’t entirely listening, you end up needing the information repeated before you can accurately note down the time and date of your appointment. When you finish the call, you notice you’ve typed some of the receptionist’s words into your email, so you have to review it again to check for other errors.
When your awareness remains with your current task, instead of wandering along to everything else you have to do, you’ll probably notice you do a better job and feel more satisfied with your results.
You’re cooking dinner. Instead of rushing through the chopping and slicing your finger open, you slow down and focus on the rhythm of the knife and the uniform shape of the vegetable slices. Putting more of your attention into the meal allows you to take more pride in your work when it comes out just as you envisioned.
Mindfulness takes practice, and you might notice worries and distracting thoughts keep popping up.
But instead of fixating on the slipping sands of time, acknowledge those thoughts and then let them go. Accept that yes, you have other things to do later, and remind yourself you’ll get there when you get there.
Take care of important needs
There are certain physical needs you simply can’t neglect, no matter how busy you become.
Your body needs fuel and rest to function properly. Without food and water, quality sleep, companionship, and exercise, you won’t be able to maintain your top speed for very long. Eventually, you won’t be able to maintain any speed at all.
Instead of denying your body’s essential needs because you’re in too much of a hurry, remind yourself investing in your body helps prevent hunger, exhaustion, and burnout, making it possible to keep going.
Prioritize relaxation
Sleep, hydration, nutrition, and exercise make up the basics of self-care. Other key components, including relaxation, can improve quality of life along with physical health.
Making time for yourself makes it easier to show up as your best self and stay present as you move throughout the day. Balancing your responsibilities with enjoyable activities also makes it easier to remember that you don’t always need to hurry.
Relaxation might involve quiet moments sitting alone, an hour of online shopping, an afternoon with a good book, or a long talk with your best friend. How you choose to unwind matters less than the fact that you do find time to unwind.
Learn to recognize your limits
People often get stuck in the hurry cycle because they have a hard time saying no. When you accept more responsibilities than you can realistically handle, you’ll almost certainly find yourself rushing to cram everything in.
You might worry saying “no” will upset loved ones or create difficulties at work, but consider another possible outcome: You say “yes” but end up not having time to get to the task or do a good job with it.
Setting healthy boundaries for yourself (and sticking with them) can help:
“I won’t take on extra work when I have more than one current project.”
“I’ll make time for a walk every day so I can relax and recharge.”
Prioritization can also make a difference. You probably can’t refuse every task you’d like to turn down. Instead, evaluate your responsibilities and identify which need immediate attention and which can wait.
Remember, too, that it never hurts to ask for help. If you truly can’t let anything go, a good next step might involve seeking help from a co-worker or loved one.
Get support
It’s not always easy to break free of long-standing patterns. If you just can’t seem to slow down, a therapist can offer guidance and support.
Sword recommends talking to a professional particularly when you find yourself doing dangerous things, like speeding, or struggling to control irritability or anger toward others.
Therapy can also help when a sense of time urgency fuels anxiety and other emotional or physical distress. A therapist can teach mindfulness and relaxation techniques, along with other tools to help manage hurry sickness.
Support from a therapist can also make it easier to identify potential contributing factors, such as people-pleasing tendencies or a fear of failure. By addressing hurry sickness at the root, you’re more likely to see lasting improvement.
Pressing the “pause” button and disrupting the hurry cycle is often easier said than done. But living your life on fast-forward won’t do much to support long-term wellness.
“Stop and smell the roses” might be a cliche, but that doesn’t make it bad advice. Taking life at a more gradual pace leaves you with more time to enjoy important relationships and savor everything life offers, both large and small.
New research has found that cognitive behavioral therapy may help people with fibromyalgia.
The researchers were able to identify differences between fMRI scans between participants as well as a significant reduction using survey-style tools.
Experts are hopeful that these finding can help support patients and clients while reducing bias and barriers to care.
For those in chronic pain, mental health supports are both vital and lack availability. A new study, published September 20 in Arthritis & Rheumatology, has found that the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be especially helpful for those living with fibromyalgia.
The research—conducted by a team from Harvard, Norway, and Pittsburgh—included 114 participants and found that CBT was better at helping to reduce catastrophic thinking related to the disease.
This was compared to people using educational materials alone.
Understanding catastrophizing, according to Dr. Chandler Chang (PhD), clinical psychologist and founder at Therapy Lab, is key to supporting people with a chronic illness like fibromyalgia.
“Let’s say you have fibromyalgia and you start thinking, ‘The rest of my life is going to be like this, my life is ruined, everything is going to suck after this.’ Those are examples of catastrophic thoughts that you might have,” Chang said.
The researchers used tools such as Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), BPI Pain Severity, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire-Revised (FIQR), and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), to assess participants alongside the scans. Once the participants participated in the imaging, they were either given eight weeks of CBT or educational materials about fibromyalgia and chronic pain.
Those who received the CBT were provided weekly sessions across eight weeks.
The researchers used the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), a tool that is scored out of 52, to see how CBT could impact people with the condition.
They found that those who received CBT therapy saw an average reduction of 8.7 points on the scale while those receiving educational materials saw a much lower drop of 4.6.
The team also used an fMRI scan and were able to see the impact of catastrophizing thoughts in the brain patterns. After the CBT, they could see evidence that changes in brain patterns coincided with people who benefited from CBT.
Kelsey Bates (LPC), founder at Women’s CBT, says that catastrophizing is a particularly impactful element of both fibromyalgia and CBT treatment but that providing mental health support for those with chronic illness, in her practice, requires the use of trauma-informed tools.
“Reframing our thoughts is important. But we also need space to acknowledge the grief that might happen when people are going through a chronic illness or dealing with chronic pain,” Bates said. “There’s a level of acceptance that we have to figure out.”
Dr. Jeff Krauss, Chief Medical Officer at Hinge Health and Staff Physician at the VA of Palo Alto, says that this study could help reduce stigma and lead to better patient outcomes.
“One of the problems with chronic pain is that it’s very hard to see it. People used to get, and still do get, accused of faking their pain, because doctors will look and see that there’s nothing wrong with their back, or there’s nothing wrong with their knee… It’s really exciting that we can start to see it in the brain, and know that these feelings that people have are very real, even though it might not be correlated with tissue damage.”
Bates says that while “pain doesn’t discriminate” she also regularly sees clients who feel left behind by the medical system when it comes to the mental health side of chronic illness and chronic pain.
“I meet folks and they’ve felt really gaslit by medical providers, especially with fibromyalgia in particular, that they have heard the phrases like you just need therapy, you just need to relax, just manage your stress,” Bates said.
One of the stated limitations of the study was that, while fibromyalgia does disproportionately affect women, and all the participants were female, more work can and should be done to include both men and non-binary people in future research.
As for what comes next, Krauss says that while these results are encouraging they are still part of a larger picture that has many barriers to treatment for those experiencing these symptoms.
“I think until we have the ability at scale to do this very expensive imaging, and to find those interventions that can actually change the way the brain processes pain through some sort of pharmacologic intervention or something, through a drug, then we’re really left with a lot of these very foundational lifestyle changes that are so effective and necessary for treating chronic pain.”
Bates, meanwhile, says that her hope is that research like this can add to a more integrated approach when it comes to CBT, one that prioritizes trauma-informed care as well as other modalities like Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
“My personal outlook is that chronic illness and chronic pain is considered medical trauma…So I think it’s our clinical duty to provide a safe, warm therapeutic space that’s conducive to holding space for all of those things.”
A new study, published this week in Arthritis & Rheumatology, has found that the use of CBT can be especially helpful for those living with fibromyalgia.
With tick activity hitting alarming highs this summer, the pest control company Terminex has announced its first-ever comprehensive ranking of the Top 25 Most Tick-Infested U.S. States.
Based on proprietary 2024 pest management data, this report reveals which states are facing the greatest tick pressure and risk of tick-borne illnesses.
This first-of-its-kind list arrives at a critical time, offering homeowners and outdoor adventurers new insight into how geography and climate are shaping tick populations across the country.
States like California, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, and New York are at the top of this list due to their warm climates, high humidity and abundance of green spaces.
Notably, New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. rank as the top five tick-infested cities in the country, underscoring that even densely populated urban areas are not immune to tick activity.
Overall, the Northeastern region of the U.S. generally experiences the highest populations of ticks, with common species including the blacklegged tick and the American dog tick.
“This isn’t just a nuisance; tick activity is reaching new levels across the country, posing a serious and growing public health threat,” said Tom Dobrinska, Technical Service Manager at Terminix.
“Climate change continues to increase tick populations. As winters become milder and warm seasons increase in length, tick survival and risk for human exposure increase significantly.”
Top 10 most tick-infested states
California
Florida
Texas
Pennsylvania
New York
Georgia
New Jersey
Arizona
Massachusetts
Ohio
States most impacted by Lyme and other tick-borne diseases
While not all ticks carry illness-causing pathogens, disease risk can vary by tick species.
According to the CDC, Northeastern states like Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, as well as parts of the Upper Midwest, are often identified as the worst places for ticks in the U.S. due to their high rates of Lyme disease cases. Southeast and Southcentral U.S. might see more cases of ehrlichiosis or spotted fever rickettsiosis.
“Scientists and public health experts are constantly researching ticks to better understand the threats they pose,” said Dobrinska. “As these experts continue to monitor tick activity and disease spread, it is essential for the public to stay informed about the dangers and know how to prevent tick bites.”
Tips for tick prevention
To protect against tick bites and tick-borne illness, Terminix recommends the following steps:
Avoid tick-infested areas: Ticks prefer wooded areas with high grass and abundant leaf litter; wear long sleeves and pants whenever you plan to go on a hike or walk through forested areas.
Inspect yourself and pets: After returning home from being outdoors, conduct a full body check, especially under the arms, around the ears and on the back of the knees. Finding them before they bite will help prevent being infected with any diseases they may be carrying.
If you find a tick bite: Using fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. After removal, clean the area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. It’s best to consult with a medical provider for extra precaution.
Mary provides a comprehensive list of ways to heal yourself naturally.
Stuffy nose, headache, upset tummy, and even obesity. There’s a pill for that. Modern medicine has discovered an endless list of pharmaceutical drugs to “cure” whatever ailment may come your way. We also have an extensive list of alternatives or complementary remedies to conventional medicine, most of which have been used for hundreds, if not … Continue reading
Pleasure Beach, a popular summer destination in Bridgeport, Connecticut, will remain closed for the entire 2025 season due to a serious tick infestation.
City officials, in consultation with state environmental and public health experts, made the call after discovering multiple tick species on the island, including the Asian longhorned tick—an invasive species that poses unique risks.
Unlike native ticks, this species can reproduce asexually, allowing a single female to spawn a full-blown infestation. Even more concerning, it can potentially carry serious pathogens.
While disappointing for beachgoers, the closure may benefit the island’s fragile ecosystem. Pleasure Beach is a critical nesting site for protected Audubon bird species, including the endangered piping plover.
With reduced human activity, conservationists expect a boost in nesting success and habitat restoration.
Bridgeport officials plan to conduct treatment and containment efforts throughout the summer, with the goal of reopening the beach in 2026.
Emergency rooms nationwide are reporting a record-breaking increase in tick bite cases, according to new CDC data.
July 2025 is already surpassing previous highs set in 2017.
Director of the University of Rhode Island’s Center for Vector-Borne Disease and its TickEncounter Resource Center, Dr. Thomas Mather, and Dr. Tom Daniels joined the Morning Joe to discuss.
They say Lyme disease is still the top concern when it comes to tick bites, but note that ticks can transmit other pathogens as well.
With ticks being so plentiful right now, they say it’s likely that more people will end up getting sick from tick-borne infections.
Stress can lead to inflammation, muscle spasms, and tension in your back.
Back pain is one of the most common medical conditions, affecting millions of people around the world.
But did you know that apart from physical triggers (like pulling a muscle or slipping a disc), back pain can be caused or worsened by stress? Back pain and stress have a complex relationship that can flow both ways.
Evidence suggests that chronic stress can lead to chronic pain and vice versa. For many people, this involves back pain.
According to a 2021 study, chronic stress eventually leads to cortisol dysfunction as well as problems with the body’s inflammatory response. Cortisol and inflammation problems lead to oxidative stress, free radical damage, cellular injury or aging, and tissue degeneration, all of which can lead to chronic pain.
In addition, research has shown that stress has a direct effect on pain processing.
Overall, stress can be linked to back pain in several ways:
Muscle tension: Stress can cause the muscles in your back to tense up, which can lead to stiffness and pain.
Increased sensitivity to pain: Stress can make the body more sensitive to pain. Research shows that critical life events can trigger changes in the limbic system and related neurotransmitters, which can change pain inhibitory mechanisms.
Inflammation: Chronic stress can lead to inflammation throughout the body, including in the back, which can cause pain.
Poor posture: When you’re stressed, your breathing patterns change and your shoulders hunch up, which can lead to strain and tension in your middle and upper back.
Reduced blood flow: During stressful times, your blood vessels may constrict, reducing blood flow to your back muscles and causing pain.
An analysis of 8,473 people found that severe stress was linked to a 2.8-fold increased risk of chronic low back pain compared to the general population. Another study of 77 police investigators found that stress was significantly linked to upper musculoskeletal pain. However, this particular study didn’t find a link between stress and lower back pain.
Stress-induced back pain varies from person to person and may show up differently, depending on its location.
Lower back pain is often characterized by a dull or sharp ache, stiffness, or muscle spasms, and it may also radiate to the legs or buttocks.
In contrast, upper back pain may cause a burning or stabbing sensation or a feeling of tightness or pressure between the shoulder blades. In some cases, upper back pain can also cause pain in the arms or chest.
How to tell if back pain is from stress
It can be challenging to determine whether back pain is specifically caused by stress since back pain can have many different causes. However, here are some signs that may suggest that your back pain is stress-related:
Physical and emotional stress: If you’ve been experiencing a lot of physical or emotional strain, such as from a demanding job or a difficult relationship, your back pain may be related to stress.
Gradual onset: If your back pain has developed slowly over time rather than suddenly, it could be a sign that it’s caused by stress-related tension in your muscles.
Lack of other symptoms: If you don’t have any other symptoms, such as numbness, tingling, or weakness, and your pain isn’t severe, it may be caused by stress.
Pain that comes and goes: Stress-related back pain may come and go depending on your stress levels, whereas pain caused by an injury or condition is likely to be more consistent.
Improvement with stress management techniques: If your pain improves with stress-reducing activities like exercise or deep breathing, it may be related to stress.
The duration of stress-related back pain may vary depending on several factors. In some cases, it can go away on its own within a few days or weeks. However, if the underlying stress is not addressed, the pain may persist or worsen over time.
Some research suggests that stress can predict the presence of back pain later on. A study of 588 people found that, within a 2-year follow-up, the following stress types were identified as risk factors for back pain intensity and disability:
Heat therapy: Applying heat to the affected area can help relax the muscles and reduce pain. You can use a heating pad or hot water bottle or take a warm bath.
Massage: Massaging the affected area can help relieve tension and reduce pain. You can try self-massage techniques or see a professional massage therapist.
Stretch: Stretches that target the lower back, such as knee-to-chest stretches and cat-cow stretches, can help relieve tension in your back muscles.
Stress and back pain are two interconnected conditions that can significantly impact your quality of life. Regular exercise, stretching, and good posture can help alleviate back pain, while stress management techniques like meditation and deep breathing can help reduce stress levels.
If you’re living with stress-related back pain, seek the help of a healthcare professional, such as a physical therapist or a counselor, who can provide valuable guidance and support in managing these issues.
Gabapentin isn’t a narcotic or federally controlled substance, but it is regulated and recognized as a controlled substance in certain states.
Gabapentin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat seizure disorders and neuropathic pain.
Some people misuse the prescription medication alongside opioids to boost their effects, though this significantly increasesTrusted Source the risk of unintentional opioid poisoning and death.
This has led several U.S. states to classify gabapentin as a controlled substance, with more potentially looking to do the same.
There have also been calls for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to classify the medication as a federally controlled substance, though some doctors disagree with such a move.
Read on to find out more about gabapentin’s current classification status across the United States and the various side effects and risks of the medication.
Although gabapentin isn’t controlled federally, some states have listed it as a controlled substance and therefore regulate its use.
That’s because there have been increasing reports of gabapentin being misused, whether by being combined with opioids or used alone for nonprescribed reasons.
Some neurologists believe that stricter gabapentin regulation may lead to greater opioid use and make it harder for people with neuropathic pain to receive proper care.
The following states classify gabapentin as a controlled substance:
Alabama
Kentucky
Michigan
North Dakota
Tennessee
Virginia
West Virginia
Several other states require gabapentin prescriptions to be monitored, allowing authorities to detect potential misuse:
Gabapentin is generally well tolerated and safe for most people to use. But as with any medication, there’s a risk of side effects. Misuse can increase the risk of side effects.
When first taking gabapentin, it’s best to be cautious when driving, using machinery, or drinking alcohol. The medication can cause drowsiness, which may affect your ability to do certain things, or have an adverse reaction when mixed with alcohol.
But the biggest risks of gabapentin come when people take the medication with opioids, or if a person already has a substance use disorder. In these cases, there may be an increased risk of dependence or overdose.
Finally, there may be a higher risk of fetal cardiac abnormalities in pregnant people, according to a 2020 study. But the same study did not find evidence of a link between gabapentin use and major fetal abnormalities overall.
Before taking any new medication, it’s a good idea to talk with a healthcare professional.
Let them know if you currently take any opioid medication or medications for anxiety or sleep, or if you have any health conditions, such as breathing disorders, kidney disease, or diabetes.
It’s important to be honest about any drug or alcohol use or misuse. This will help your clinician determine whether gabapentin is safe for you, or if there’s a better alternative.
I want to send a special thank you to Dr. Alvin May and Erin Cernuda from Jackson Clara Publishing, LLC for sending me Heal Your Wound to read and review.
About the Arthor
Dr. Alvin May is a general surgeon and wound care physician serving the Southern California area for over ten years. He is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and trained in general surgery at the Boston Medical Center. Shortly after starting his career, Dr. May helped launch a national wound care company providing physician-directed wound care services to nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
This book breaks down complex medical concepts into simple, actionable steps. “Heal Your Wound” offers a unique blend of expert advice and real-life stories, showing you exactly how to accelerate your healing process. You’ll uncover the critical factors that might be holding your recovery back, from underlying medical conditions to poor wound care techniques. With practical tips and proven strategies, this book will empower you to take charge of your health.
Heal Your Wound: A Doctor’s Guide For Hard-To-Heal Wounds
Dr. Alvin May was inspired by a personal experience to write on this all to important topic which receives very little attention. One of the first things you will notice is it’s not written in medical talk, the explanations are complete and easy to follow. In addition to his writing, he shares graphics which explains the different types of would and the care needed. If you are in the medical field, a caregiver or caring for yourself this is a must have book for you.
Some Topics Covered:
Chronic Wounds: Not your typical wound
The non-healing wound
Wound Healing Basics
A Holistic Approach
Surgical wounds
Dr. May also shares stories of others who have experienced hard to heal wounds.
Thoughts on Wound Healing Journal
The journal is invaluable, it provides pages to manage care on a daily and monthly basis, areas to mark medication taken, doctor’s appointments as well as other notes. The journal is a life saver.
Heal Your Wound and the Wound Healing Jornal deserves a permanent place on your bookshelf.
While over 100 million people in the US alone have allergies, not everyone is born with them, and they can develop as an adult, during childhood, or be present from birth. The only way to know you are truly allergic to something is to be exposed to the potential trigger. And, you can be allergic to thousands of different things. You can have pet allergies, be allergic to bee stings, severe food allergies, and common household materials and chemicals such as hair dyes and cleaning products
Talk to your doctor.
In the first instance, you should talk to your doctor if you are concerned you might have an allergy. Your doctor can arrange tests for you to identify if you are allergic to anything and exactly how you are allergic to it. Keep notes of any symptoms and potential triggers you voiced and how you feel. They can talk you through the allergy treatments available and get you started if needed.
Know Your Signs
Prevention is always better than a cure for allergic reactions, but knowing the signs and symptoms of an allergy attack can help you get the treatment you need fast. Some people only experience mild discomfort when coming into contact with their allergens, for others, it is an instant severe reaction that quickly becomes life-threatening. Know your signs, your triggers, and how best to help yourself. This is especially important if you have yet to be diagnosed, as medical professionals can use this information to analyze your allergy and treat your symptoms quickly.
Common allergy symptoms include;
Runny nose or sneezing
Pain or tenderness in or around your face, nose, and throat
Bodily swelling
Difficulty breathing
Itchy skin or rash
Feeling sick
If you experience these symptoms, you should head to your doctor or pharmacist. In the event of more severe reactions, you should go to the nearest emergency room for immediate treatment.
Treatment Options
Some treatment options are available for people with allergies, from using an Epi-pen for more severe reactions, which can be life-saving, to using OTC allergy relief medication. Your doctor can advise you on the right type of medication for you. Be it antihistamines, topical creams for itch relief, desensitization, or immunotherapy to lessen the reaction or avoid the trigger altogether. You can work with them to help you develop a suitable treatment plan based on your lifestyle, specific triggers, and the severity of your reaction. From here, you can adjust your lifestyle to accommodate your allergy and live as healthy as possible.
It is vital that if you are diagnosed with an allergy, you take the proper steps to keep yourself safe. This can be via informing others of your allergy to reduce exposure, carrying around your medication should you need it, or being proactive in asking if your allergens are present in food or environments so you can make a more informed decision. Failure to do this can put you at risk of triggering an allergy, and you will likely suffer the consequences. Always remain vigilant regarding your allergies to ensure you are always prepared.
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