Seattle Bartonella, Lyme Disease & Environmental Illness Doctor
In the 18 years that Dr. Marra has been practicing tick-borne disease illness, there has been great controversy over the use of antibiotics in the treatment of these stealth and persistent infections. She doesn’t think the answer to this controversy is any easier today than it was 20 or 40 years ago. However, over the … Read More “The Antibiotic Controversy” »
Dyslipidemia and Lyme Disease Dyslipidemia is abnormal lipid metabolism. Patients who have had or have Lyme Disease often have significant abnormalities in their lipid metabolism. This results from chronic inflammation and prolonged activation of the proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha). Elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL, and LDL are commonly … Read More “Dyslipidemia” »
Leaky gut is a condition common in the American culture because of the food choices we make. Digestive issues, food sensitivities, sugar cravings, weight gain, brain fog, mood savings, fatigue, headaches, skin issues, yeast infections, bloating, constipation and urinary tract infections can all result from a leaky gut. Typically, it is characterized by a damaged … Read More “Leaky Gut” »
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) Mast cells are specialized immune system cells found in nearly all tissue types of the body. They are part of the allergic immune response and release chemical messengers such as histamine, interleukins, prostaglandins, cytokines, and chemokines. These chemical messengers and histamine, in particular, produce both local and systemic inflammation and … Read More “Mast Cell Activation Syndrome” »
Many patients who suffer from chronic Lyme Disease and coinfections or chronic complex illness, also suffer from a low core body temperature (less than 97.0 degrees F). Sometimes this cold body temperature is due to hypothyroidism, which is relatively easy to diagnose with blood tests and a thermometer, an easily treated with some combination of … Read More “Low Core Body Temperature” »
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition characterized by nausea, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, motility issues, and malabsorption of food. It is very commonly observed in patients with tick-borne illness, whose gut microbiome is extremely out of balance and diseased. This should come as no surprise since Borrelia species have a particular affinity … Read More “Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth” »
Many patients with tick-borne illness will experience dental issues including cavities, jawbone erosion, enamel weakening, gingivitis, periodontitis, and teeth movement. Borrelia and Bartonella are probably the root cause for these dental changes, as these organisms can penetrate the bone and mucosa and establish biofilm colonies. The organisms cause localized inflammation and tissue destruction over time … Read More “Dental Issues & Tick-Borne Illness” »
