The world has come to a standstill because of COVID-19. Millions of people are confined to their homes, economic activity has almost ground to a halt, and all resources are being devoted to understanding this virus, quantifying its effects, and finding a vaccine. Our daily lives revolve around this disease, and rightly so. But it is also true that life goes on in parallel, with its joys, routines, and also illnesses.
If there is one positive thing that the current health crisis can leave us with, it is an awareness of self-care and prevention. People are also responsible for transmission and can put barriers in place to prevent the spread of many diseases. Does this mean we won't get sick? No, there are many factors involved in illness, but we will reduce the likelihood of suffering from them.
At Biosalud Day Hospital, we believe in promoting health as a means to a fulfilling life, and we emphasize disease prevention and maintaining a healthy lifestyle that will enable us to better cope with any health issues.
That is why we believe it is important to raise awareness about lesser-known diseases that can seriously affect people's lives. We see this every day with Lyme disease , in which we are specialists and whose spread concerns us.
May is a key month for raising awareness about the consequences of this disease, especially in the United States. It was in this country that Lyme disease was discovered, and it has spread most rapidly there. It is also where those affected have formed mutual support networks that also seek to inform and raise awareness among the population in order to prevent the spread of Lyme disease.
The first step is awareness: informing and raising awareness about the risk of contracting this disease. Although it may seem like an exaggerated statement, Lyme disease patients are at a disadvantage compared to patients with other diseases.
We say this because, in general, medical professionals have little knowledge and expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. On the one hand, this is due to the difficulty involved in diagnosing the disease. On the other hand, because the actual incidence is unknown, there is no unified criterion among the autonomous communities for reporting the number of Lyme diagnoses. It is we, the professionals, who, based on our experience and interest in receiving specialized training, have made progress in patient care.
The environment in which this disease is contracted and what causes it is essential to understanding that a walk or excursion in a natural environment should be undertaken with caution. A tick, the carrier of the Borrelia bacterium, can jump onto our body and attach itself to our skin. The less space we give it and the sooner we detect it if it has already bitten us, the better.
To raise awareness, we created "The Adventures of Professor Lymevsky, " a story that reminds us of the importance of prevention and early detection of this disease.
Furthermore, to advance knowledge and treatment of this disease, we have formed an alliance with international professionals, the LymExpert Group. Undoubtedly, working together will contribute to expanding global knowledge of the disease.
From our perspective of integrative medicine, we understand that a strong immune system will also help us prevent disease and prepare us to face it with a greater chance of success.
At Biosalud Day Hospital, we develop personalized treatments that coincide with a necessary phase of immune system activation. Lyme disease is very aggressive, can affect all our systems and organs, and attacks the immune system. Once we see the extent to which our body is affected, we design a protocol to strengthen the immune system.
You can add some habits to follow at home to this treatment. And not just for Lyme disease—you can follow them all the time.
– Quality and quantity of sleep are essential for maintaining good health. If you have a disease such as Lyme disease, you should increase your hours of sleep to up to 10. This will help regulate your immune system, as the processes related to it take place during the night.
– Drink water and herbal teas. Staying hydrated is essential for maintaining a healthy immune system, as dehydration can affect your body's processes. Natural herbal teas, when properly prescribed, can also help cleanse your body.
– Start an exercise routine. Our personal characteristics, especially if we are weaker or have limited mobility, mean that we should tailor our exercise to our individual needs. Even a gentle exercise routine can be effective in improving our immune system. However, always respect your own limits and don't push yourself too hard.
– Nutritional support. Your diet can play a very important role in the functioning of your immune system. Try to eat in a way that provides you with all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals you need. The Mediterranean diet is ideal for this. Of course, keep sugar, processed foods, and alcohol off your menu.
