Spring back pain season was prevalent at church this Sunday. So, it must be going around as I am receiving a glut of advertisements for devices to take pressure off the lower back as well as the Top-Rated Nerve Health Supplements. Who knew there was so much… I think I’ll stick to my heating pad.
It is also tick season in Oklahoma again and there is currently a bill before the Oklahoma Legislature to add alpha-gal syndrome to the state list of tick-borne illnesses. It will require health care providers to report cases of alpha-gal syndrome to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Oklahoma already has a requirement to report Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis (similar to Lyme disease), Tularemia (more prevalent in Oklahoma than in most other states), and Anaplasmosis. These illnesses are public health concerns in Oklahoma and reporting helps monitor and manage tick-borne diseases.
Alpha-gal Syndrome starts with a bite from the lone star tick, commonly found in Oklahoma. The bite can trigger a potentially life-threatening allergy that causes people to have an immune response to any mammal product like red meat and dairy products. Symptoms vary from breathing problems to skin irritation and abdominal distress.
