I saw Matt Dawson, the retired rugby player, on BBC Breakfast this morning. He is fronting a Lyme Disease awareness campaign. He had been bitten by a tick and subsequently developed the disease.
In the introduction it was claimed that he had had ' multiple heart operations.' It transpired that he had had 2 ablations, the last one taking 7 hours.
It's useful to know that this disease can affect the heart.
I saw that as well.....would have liked to have known more details. Probably come out later in the media.
Sandra
I thought he was very open & truthful during the interview.
Lymes disease often causes valve problems as "stuff" grows on them. My Brother In law wearing shorts on a Greek walking holiday some years ago picked up a tick where you really wouldn't want and ended up having a carbon fibre valve fitted about 12 years ago as a result. It can also cause behavioural anomalies as well I understand.
Yes, I have a smallholding and check myself every evening - evidently if you get them off using the correct procedure within 24 hours there is less risk. I had 4 on me last season but touch wood nothing this season. One more caveat if you get one make sure you get the right anti-biotic (I believe there is just one that works, sorry forgotten the name) from your GP; last year I saw a Locum GP who despite the bullseye mark and a clear central bite mark fobbed me off with some lightweight pills and a wry smile when I mentioned I thought it was a tick bite. Needless to say, I made another appointment with my regular very switched on GP who gave me the right AB immediately.
Rather unusual to catch it in a London park
Interesting as we live in the Highlands and we, and our animals, get ticks fairly regularly. When we first came here 25 years ago we asked for vaccination, we had experienced these in Sweden, and were told that ticks here don't carry encephalitis. Is there any prospect of inoculation against Limes Disease?
A sad tale of disastrous heart disease
Heart disease
AF Heart disease 
QRISK2 cardiovascular disease 10 year risk score
AF. - heart disease ?
