FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE:
ILADS WELCOMES
PHYSICIAN RECOVERING FROM ALS
DOCTOR’S CASE SUPPORTS THEORY
LYME DISEASE MAY BE THE CAUSE OF ALS
Bethesda
MD September 2, 2004
— The
International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) strengthened
its impressive membership today with the addition of Dr. Dave Martz of Colorado
Springs, who joined ILADS 15 months after being diagnosed with Amyotrophic
Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). In April of 2003, Dr. Martz began suffering weakness
and pain in his muscles. Dr. Martz soon lost much of his mobility. His condition
worsened forcing him to retire from the medical practice he loves.
After six frustrating
months with hope fading, Dr. Martz discovered the work of Dr. Gregory Bach
of Colmar, Pennsylvania. Dr. Bach, who is a member of ILADS, suggested a
link between ALS and Lyme disease. IGeneX Reference Laboratory of Palo Alto
then confirmed Lyme bacteria in Dr. Martz’s DNA. Dr. Martz then sought
out a local ILADS physician who started Lyme disease treatment based on
the recommendations of Dr. Bach. The results were dramatic.
“Before I found
Lyme “literate” professionals, I could only function at a level
of about 20 percent,” says Dr. Martz. “But now that I’m in
expert hands, I am up to 75 percent of full function and I hope to return
to work soon as a physician, helping others with Chronic Lyme Disease.”
An internist, and Past President of the Colorado Medical Society, he is
committed to giving others opportunities that have been given to him.
The Centers for Disease
Controls says that Lyme disease may be under-reported by as much as ten-fold.
This means as many as a quarter of a million Americans may contract Lyme
disease each year, yet most of them are unaware of it. ILADS will hold its
annual meeting in October of this year in Rye, New York.
ILADS president, Dr.
Steven Phillips, says, “Dr. Martz is an example of the many physicians
and medical experts we encourage to join ILADS so we can continue to raise
awareness and make vital advances in the world-wide fight against Lyme disease.”
For more information
about Lyme disease go to www.ilads.org
| CONTACT |
|
| Barbara
Buchman |
(301)
263–1080 |
| Christi
O’Connor |
(415)
883–2491 |
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