Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) and Other Reasons to Avoid Tick Bites

By Susan Tanner M.D. complete article written originally for and found at SinusitisWellness.com.

Exposure to tick saliva from the lone star tick has been associated with the development of Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) in humans, an allergic-type response rather than a more balanced immune system response when beef, pork, or lamb are ingested. Someone who has never had a problem before when consuming these mammalian meats may start to react severely and without other symptoms or warnings. Cross-reactivity, when the body’s immune system identifies the proteins in one substance (e.g., mold) and the proteins in another (e.g., beef) as being similar can also become problematic, leading to constant allergy-like symptoms and activated mast cells that make identifying the underlying cause of the issue even harder to pinpoint.

Continue reading here for information on how to diagnose and treat AGS.