5 Ways to Protect Yourself from Ticks
It is always a good idea to have a walk in the nature. However, this walk comes with certain risks like being bitten by ticks. These insects are most active during springtime. These small, barely visible parasites are the main cause of many diseases and the Lyme disease is certainly the most dangerous among them.
What is interesting about Lyme disease is that the symptoms don’t appear right after an insect bite, but it may take a long time before you notice the disease. The most common symptoms include redness in the areas around the joints and this redness is transferred from one joint to another. In the later stages, this disease starts to cause damage to the peripheral nervous system and encephalitis (or inflammation of the brain). That’s why experts recommend several preventive measures that can help people protect themselves from tick bites.
- It is recommended to wear suitable clothes and footwear. Wear clothes with long sleeves and tuck the sleeves and the trousers tucked into socks and closed shoes. The clothes should have bright colors because it is much easier to notice a tick on these types of colors.
- Try to walk on marked trails and avoid crawling through the bushes, lying on the ground and placing your clothes on shrubs, trees, and green areas.
- It would be good to use some special tick repellents. You need to apply them on the exposed parts of your body. It is a good idea to inspect your body and have a shower after your trip is finished.
- During this inspection, pay closer attention to the parts of the body where the skin is softer and more sensitive – the area behind the ears, neck, armpits, back of the head, breasts, the area behind the knees and navel. When it comes to children, ticks usually target their heads.
- If you find a tick on your clothes or skin, visit your doctor as soon as possible. Try to remove the tick only if you know what you are doing.