Neurologist Elena Frid, MD, discusses the latest Lyme disease findings, Lyme misinformation, how to protect yourself against Lyme disease, and how to treat ongoing Lyme symptoms. Serena Marie, RD, explains how to become a fat-adapted runner and how to transition away from fueling with carbohydrates. Featured Guest: Elena Frid, MD Pleate note: Always consult your physician. The following interview is not intended to replace the advice of your physician or medical care provider. The mid-Atlantic, northeast region of the United States, among other areas, faces a great risk for Lyme disease—of an endemic (regularly found among particular people or in a certain area) proportion. Neurologist, Dr. Elena Frid, who specializes in Lyme disease, joins Kari to inform listeners about this horrible disease. For the last five years, Dr. Frid has treated adult patients with Lyme disease, and she feels that ultimately Lyme disease is a neurologic condition. She has attended different conferences, such as the International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILADS) conference. She has attended such events as the Hugged by Global Lyme Alliance and has become part of their medical advisory board. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection and is a very elusive type of organism. It is often very difficult for doctors to diagnose. For more information, go to the Lyme section of Dr. Frid’s website. To find a Lyme-literate physician in your area, visit org. There are certain laboratory tests and physical exam findings that you can undergo, but not everyone will test positive even if they do have Lyme disease. The testing that’s available now may be up to 50 percent inaccurate, according to Frid. She sees symptoms at the onset of the disease, such as low-grade fever, fatigue, chills, aches, headache, joint pain. The typical rash that occurs may actually happen in less than 50 percent of patients, and many times the rash isn’t the classic bull’s eye rash that people are told to look for. People can also develop neurologic symptoms when symptoms go undiagnosed for weeks or months, such as debilitating headaches, facial weakness (Bell's palsy), numbness or weakness in limbs, muscles aches and twitches, difficulty moving, debilitating fatigue, dizziness, nerve pain, and so on. Listen to your body, and you will know that something is wrong. Don’t excuse symptoms as just stress. To diagnose Lymes disease, doctors should consider the patient’s history, a physical exam, and blood work, as well as MRIs or nerve testing. Blood tests may be 50 percent inaccurate, and if you get tested within 4 weeks of a tick bite, the test is only 30 percent accurate. The criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is very strict. Frid recommends getting to know more about the blood testing and speaking to Lyme-literate physicians, especially if you’ve had a thorough medical workup for your symptoms and all other tests come back negative. She recommends going to org to find Lyme-literate physicians. In terms of geography, Lyme disease is more prevalent in the northeastern states like NY, CT, PA, and NJ. However, Lyme has been reported in every state in the United States, according to Frid. If you do find a tick on yourself, you can send the tick in to be tested to bayarealyme.org. Ticks are extremely small. Adult ticks are only the size of a poppy seed. You should check for ticks after you’ve been outdoors in grassy, wooded areas. Have a partner check for you, particularly around the groin area, between your toes ,under your armpits, behind the ears and knees, and in the hair line. To remove a tick, grab it by the head and pull it out. Use a magnifying glass and tweezers. You can save the tick in a plastic, sealed bag. Many Lyme-literate physicians are now saying that the literature that says you are not prone to Lyme disease if a tick has been attached for 72 hours or less is incorrect. If you go into an emergency room and they say you don’t need