VIDEO: Matt Dawson opens up about his heart surgeries following Lyme Disease diagnosis

Former England scrumhalf and TV celebrity Matt Dawson has opened up about undergoing heart surgery following a battle with the tick borne infection - Lyme Disease.

Dawson was eventually diagnosed with the disease after he was bitten by a tick in a London park. The disease attacked his heart, causing scare disease to form, forcing the 44-year-old to undergo corrective heart surgery.

Dawson is now campaigning to raise awareness of the disease.

It is vital to educate people about Lyme Disease, because it is often misdiagnosed. Early symptoms can include a bull’s-eye rash, fever, headaches and fatigue.

If the disease is left untreated it can result in joint, heart problems, chronic pain, neurological/cognitive problems

to name a few. Treatment is more likely to be effective if Lyme disease is diagnosed early.

Public Health England estimates that there are around 2,000 - 3,000 new cases per year

whereas Caudwell LymeCo charity and Lyme Disease UK estimates that there could be as many as 45,000.

There is a huge discrepancy in estimates, highlighting the fact that the true number is unknown. The fact is, thousands of people will be infected this year and are many are likely to go untreated which can leave people disabled or misdiagnosed with conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer's and multiple

sclerosis.

Cases are growing by 65% per year worldwide and without intervention, Lyme disease is estimated to be an official epidemic by the year 2028.

Dawson won 77 caps for his country in total, including nine as captain and is England's most capped scrum half.