Recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, studies estimate about 476,000 Americans may be diagnosed with Lyme disease each year. But there’s another fast-growing tick-borne condition you’ve probably never heard of – and it could change your life forever. Tick-borne diseases are on the rise, and not just in the places you might expect. Alpha-gal syndrome, or AGS, is one tick-triggered allergy that can change what you eat, the medications you tolerate and how you live the rest of your life. The rise of tick-borne diseases According to an article by the National Institutes of Health, “bites from infected ticks are responsible for about half a million new illnesses each year in the U.S. And those numbers are rising.” While Tick-Borne Conditions United notes that Lyme disease remains the most commonly reported tick-borne disease, AGS is quickly emerging as a serious – yet widely overlooked – threat. A recent analysis of lab data suggests that AGS may already be the second most-common tick-borne illness in the U.S., even though it’s not officially tracked in most states, and the CDC determined that many health care providers are unfamiliar with the condition. As a result, most Americans are unaware that a single tick bite could make them allergic to mammalian meat, dairy, medications, and even health and beauty products. Communities at risk The risk of encountering disease-carrying ticks extends far beyond remote wilderness trails. People with certain occupations and recreational lifestyles face predominantly high exposure. Farmers, landscapers, park rangers and military members often work in wooded or grassy environments where ticks thrive. With extended hours outdoors and frequent contact with vegetation and animals, these workers are at the front lines of tick-borne illness risk. Outdoor enthusiasts, including hikers, campers, hunters and birdwatchers – even people walking their dog – regularly immerse themselves in tick habitats, often during peak season, which is April through June. Children involved in youth organizations such as the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and 4-H also spend time in similar environments, increasing their vulnerability to tick bites and potential infections. Unexpected sources of tick bites Many people assume tick bites only happen in the deep woods or on backcountry hikes. In reality, some of the most overlooked risk factors are much closer to home. Household pets that spend time outside, particularly dogs, can unknowingly bring ticks indoors. Even if a pet is treated with a tick preventive, it may still carry ticks on its fur, creating a potential exposure risk for everyone in the home. Ticks are also increasingly found in urban and suburban areas. Landscaped golf courses, well-tended city parks and even community gardens can harbor these parasites. In some regions, tick presence has even been documented near beaches. Since their initial sighting on Martha’s Vineyard more than a decade ago, the Vineyard Gazette recently reported that lone star ticks have been sighted along nearly all of the island’s coastline. On the West Coast, NPR reported that the coastal shrubs and grasses in Northern California are a surprising new habitat for ticks. Common tick species and the diseases they carry While Lyme disease remains the most recognized tick-borne illness, alpha-gal syndrome is rapidly gaining ground. Once thought to be caused only by the lone star tick, CDC studies now confirm that other tick species – including […]