Ticked Off: What You Need to Know About Tick-Borne Diseases (Dr. Zachary Rubin; Bench to Bedside podcast)

Ticks aren’t just annoying! They can change your life. In this episode of From Bench to Bedside, Dr. Zachary Rubin and Dr. Melanie Matheu break down the most important tick-borne diseases in the United States, including:

Alpha-gal syndrome (the meat allergy from tick bites) Lyme disease Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Ehrlichiosis & Anaplasmosis

You’ll learn: 

• What symptoms to watch for
• Why some reactions are delayed and confusing
• How to safely remove a tick
• What actually works to prevent tick bites 

⚠️ This episode is for educational purposes only and not medical advice. 

• 00:00 Intro + Disclaimer
• 00:40 Relationship Banter
• 01:50 The Tick Story 
• 02:40 Episode Overview: Why Ticks Matter
• 03:10 Alpha-Gal Syndrome (Meat Allergy)
• 05:30 How Tick Bites Trigger Alpha-Gal
• 07:20 Where It’s Found + Rising Cases
• 08:40 Symptoms (Delayed Anaphylaxis Explained)
• 10:20 Lyme Disease Basics
• 11:50 Bullseye Rash + Early Signs
• 13:20 Lyme Complications (Neuro/Cardiac)
• 14:40 Treatment + Antibiotics
• 15:50 Lyme Vaccine Update + Context
• 17:00 Why Lyme Can Be Hard to Clear (Immune Evasion)
• 18:10 Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
• 19:30 Symptoms + Why It’s Dangerous
• 20:30 Ehrlichiosis & Anaplasmosis (The Mimics)
• 21:40 Tick Prevention Tips
• 22:50 What To Do If You Find a Tick
• 23:40 Final Takeaways / Wrap-Up

Interview: 

https://youtu.be/eUSAvyCnAVQ?si=1If_sj-BBEPq2RzI