Lyme Science Blog

Does Alcohol Make Lyme Disease Symptoms Worse? After 37 years treating Lyme disease, most patients and providers don’t realize that alcohol can make Lyme disease symptoms worse. Even light drinking can trigger brain fog, fatigue, heart palpitations, poor sleep, or sudden emotional shifts. If your symptoms return after “just one drink,” you’re not imagining it. […]

Can You Heal From Lyme Disease? Patient: “Doctor, can you heal from Lyme disease—or is this something I’ll live with forever?”Dr. Cameron: “You can heal. But the timeline and process depend on when you were diagnosed, the treatment you receive, and how your body recovers.” This question is one of the most common I hear

Do You Have Lyme Disease for Life? Patient: “Doctor, do I have Lyme disease for life? Am I stuck with this forever?”Dr. Cameron: “That’s a question I hear often. The short answer is no—you don’t have Lyme disease for life. But the longer answer is more complicated, and it depends on when you were diagnosed,

Lyme Disease Racial Disparities: Missed Diagnoses A major new study analyzing more than 168,000 Lyme disease cases has uncovered troubling disparities in diagnosis and outcomes across racial lines. The research, published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, shows that non-White patients consistently face worse outcomes than White patients. These findings highlight the urgent need to address Lyme

Tick Bite Antibiotics: Why Doctors Disagree Tick bite antibiotics are one of the most contested decisions in Lyme disease prevention. Depending on which doctor you see, you might get a full course, a single pill, or nothing at all. When it comes to preventing Lyme disease, doctors disagree on the amount of antibiotics to prescribe

The 24-36 Hour Tick Bite Myth If you’ve been told you’re safe from Lyme disease if you remove a tick within 36 hours, you’ve heard the 24 – 36 hour tick bite myth. This belief is often publicized in brochures, websites, and even at medical conferences. The problem? The science shows it’s not always true

Fiber and Lyme Disease: Can Gut Health Boost Recovery? The Overlooked Link Between Fiber and Lyme Disease When we talk about Lyme disease, the conversation usually centers on infection, inflammation, and immune response—not dietary fiber. But gut health is a powerful ally in immune recovery, and fiber plays a critical role. For patients navigating persistent

Why I Stayed in Lyme Disease Care The Patients Who Changed My Path In 1987, I met three patients who would change the course of my medical career. Each had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. Each had already completed treatment. And yet — each remained ill. At the time, I hadn’t been trained to manage

Shortness of Breath in Lyme Disease: What to Know When It’s Hard to Breathe: Could it be Lyme? Shortness of breath can feel frightening — especially when it strikes without warning or a clear cause. While heart and lung conditions are common culprits, there’s another, often-overlooked possibility: Lyme disease. This tick-borne infection doesn’t just cause

Post-treatment Lyme may signal persistent infection Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) may involve a persistent Lyme infection — not just a lingering immune response. Yet many patients are never told this is possible. When symptoms persist after antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease, most patients are reassured that their illness is “resolved.” For some people (between