May 2025 Newsletter

Greetings! I hope everyone is having an enjoyable spring. This month I'm going to provide information regarding ticks and tick bites since everyone will be getting outside and enjoying the nice weather.

Tick Bite Management

Ticks are small arachnids that can transmit various diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and anaplasmosis. Here are some important steps to follow if you encounter ticks or get bitten by one:

Preventing Tick Bites:

- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when in wooded or grassy areas. Light-colored clothing can help you spot ticks more easily.

- Use insect repellents that contain DEET or permethrin on your skin and clothing.

- Stay on well-trodden paths and avoid high grass and leaf litter.

- Perform thorough tick checks after spending time outdoors, especially in areas like the legs, arms, and back. Bathing or showering within two hours of being outdoors can help remove ticks before they attach.

Removing a Tick:

- Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible.

- Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting or jerking the tick, as this can cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin.

- If the mouthparts break off and cannot be easily removed, leave them alone and let the skin heal.

- After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.

- Dispose of the tick by placing it in alcohol, a sealed bag, or flushing it down the toilet. Never crush a tick with your fingers.

Monitoring for Symptoms:

- Watch for signs of tick-borne diseases, such as an expanding red rash (erythema migrans), fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes.

- If you develop any of these symptoms within 30 days of a tick bite, seek medical attention promptly.

When to Seek Medical Attention:

- If you are bitten by a tick and it has been attached for 36 hours or more, especially in areas where Lyme disease is common, consult your doctor. Prophylactic antibiotics may be recommended in certain high-risk cases.

- Pregnant women should discuss the risks and benefits of antibiotic treatment with their healthcare provider.

General Tips:

- Avoid using home remedies like petroleum jelly, nail polish, or heat to remove ticks, as these methods are ineffective and can increase the risk of infection.

- Educate yourself and your family about tick prevention and removal techniques to reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases.

By following these guidelines, you can effectively manage tick bites and reduce the risk of tick-borne illnesses.

Office Updates

Just a friendly reminder to schedule your annual physical for the year if you have not already done so.

I am offering access to a new cancer screening test called Galleri which is a multi-cancer early detection screening blood test. It can identify DNA fragments shed from cancer cells and can predict the origin of the cancer based on the DNA. Right now it is targeted for patients age 50-79. Unfortunately it is not covered by insurance at this point and would have an out of pocket expense of $949. However, if this is something that interests you please let me know and we can have a deeper discussion if this test is right for you.

I hope you all have a happy and healthy upcoming month. Also, feel free to share this newsletter with anyone!