Each year, approximately 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to CDC by state health departments and the District of Columbia. However, this number does not reflect every case of Lyme disease that is diagnosed in the United States every year.
While it is not fatal, Lyme disease causes variety of symptoms including fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes. If left undiagnosed and untreated, chronic Lyme Disease can cause more serious health issues such as dysfunction of the immune and nervous systems, problems with short term memory, dizziness, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, cardiac problems and inflammation of the brain or spinal cord.
The usual first course of action after detection of Lyme disease is a course of antibiotics.
Alternative therapy with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) was studied extensively in medical community. Increase amount of oxygen helps promote healing, restore many functions within the body and provides a boost to the immune system. Dr. William Fife and Dr. Donald Freeman of Texas A&M University conducted a study in which HBOT was administered to 40 Lyme disease patients. Some patients continued their antibiotic treatments; others received HBOT as the only treatment. Most patients experienced improvements in their overall health and were symptoms free after HBOT therapy.
