Matt Dawson, former England Rugby Captain, talks openly about how he contracted Lyme disease and offers important advice on how to prevent feature cases. <br /><br /><br /><br />Matt Dawson shared his experience of Lyme disease with us this morning. The former England rugby player contracted the disease from a tick bite while training in London back in 2016.<br /><br />The bacterial infection affected his heart and resulted in him having several operations.<br /><br />Thankfully, after a lengthy recovery process, Matt is on the mend and is now supporting the Big Tick Project to help raise awareness of the disease.<br /><br />Being a former Strictly Come Dancing contestant himself, Matt offered our latest Strictly star, Charlotte Hawkins, the advice she needs to waltz her way to victory.<br /><br />Here's five facts about Lyme disease:<br /><br />The disease is transmitted through a bite from an infected deer tick<br /><br />Common symptoms include: fatigue, muscle pain, headaches, a stiff neck, light and sound sensitivity<br /><br />After being bitten, some people can develop the Lyme symptoms weeks, months, years or even decades later<br /><br />One in three pet dogs have ticks<br /><br />Groom your pet regularly and check for any evidence of tick infestations<br /><br />
