Pop singer Avril Lavigne just opened up to the media for the first time about her battle with Lyme Disease. Through the course of the interview she discussed how to prevent this terrible disease from happening.

In the United States, infected ticks carrying Lyme Disease can be found here in New York State. Here's how to protect yourself from catching this disease.

The New York State Department Of Health has provided some tips and tricks on how to watch out here in the North East:

1) Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.

2) Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. 3) Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.

4) Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors.

5) Consider using insect repellent.

6) Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Walk in the center of trails. Avoid dense woods and bushy areas.

7) Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls.

8) Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening.

9) Bathe or shower as soon as possible after going indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that may be on you.

10)Do a final, full-body tick check at the end of the day (also check children and pets), and remove ticks promptly."

They also go on to remind you that deer ticks live in shady, moist areas at ground level. They will cling to tall grass, brush and shrubs. If you think they can't live in your backyard, you're wrong. They also live in lawns and gardens, especially at the edges of woods and around old stone walls.

In tick-infested areas, your best protection is to avoid contact with soil, leaf litter and vegetation. However, if you garden, hike, camp, hunt, work or otherwise spend time in the outdoors, you can still protect yourself:"

If you need more tips on how to protect yourself, you can go here.

 

 

 

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