INTRODUCTION: Candida Albicans is a commonly occurring yeast that is present in all of our bodies and it is supposed to be there in balance with lots of other micro-organisms. It is responsible for superficial infections such as oropharyngeal candidiasis (AKA Thrush) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (Vaginal Candidiasis). Infections of the latter category are also known as candidemia and are usually confined to people with severely compromised immune systems, such as cancer, transplant, and AIDS patients, whereas superficial infections of skin and mucosal membranes, creating local inflammation and discomfort, is common in many peoples around the world.
A Candida Infection is often brought on by various components of our modern lifestyle such as the foods we consume, toxins in the environment, antibiotic use, etc. and after you have an overgrowth it can be very difficult to get it under control.
INFECTIONS: The introduction of the mass use of antibiotics has paralleled the growth in yeast infections. Initially nearly all yeast infections were preceded by a prescription for antibiotics and during the 1950′s an infection usually followed a few weeks after treatment. By the 1970s both women and men start to have the condition even when their Doctors did not prescribe antibiotics.
The past 10 years has seen the growth of opportunistic infections due to different Candida species mostly because of the worldwide increase in the number of persons with compromised immune systems, who are highly susceptible to opportunistic infections. These infections can be cured with antifungal drugs, but they do represent a concern in AIDS patients.
OVERGROWTH: People have been on this Earth a long time but Candida Overgrowth is a recent problem. Antibiotic and steroid use are the most common reason for yeast overgrowth. Sugars assist and aid the overgrowth of yeast, possibly explaining the increased prevalence of yeast infections in patients with diabetes mellitus. Some Doctors will tell you there is nothing wrong with you because they have no training specific to fungal infections, so without specific training, most do not even believe in Candida yeast overgrowth.
Some alternative practitioners believe that overgrowth in the intestines is responsible for a yeast syndrome that results in symptoms such as fatigue, headache, mood swings, sinus congestion, depression, poor memory and concentration, and cravings for sweets.
SYMPTOMS: Symptoms frequently include severe itching, burning, and soreness, irritation of the vagina and/or vulva, and a whitish or whitish-gray discharge, often with a curd-like appearance. Alternative medicine practitioners routinely use the term Candida to refer to a complex and broad spectrum of symptoms, most of which center around gastrointestinal distress, rashes, sore gums and other miscellaneous signs.
A lot of women mistake the symptoms of the more common Bacterial Vaginosis for a yeast infection. In men, signs include red patchy sores near the head of the penis or on the foreskin, severe itching and/or a burning feeling. However, having no signs at all is very common and usually, a more severe form of the symptoms emerges later.
Symptoms are vast and all embracing and can even incapacitate the patient. They can vary from one person to another and often move back and forth between systems within the individual. One day you may experience symptoms in the musculoskeletal system and the next day it could be the digestive system etc. The majority of people with yeast overgrowth are also suffering from nutritional deficiencies and correcting your deficiencies can help you in your fight with candida symptoms.
TREATMENTS: Local treatments may include vaginal suppositories or medicated douches. Treating it with antibiotics can worsen the condition by eliminating the yeast’s natural competitors. If you have to take an antibiotic for some reason, you should also take an acidophilus supplement during the course of the treatment. There are a variety of natural health products that are helpful in the treatment of Candida infections such as caprylic acid, garlic, peppermint, oregano oil, grapefruit seed extract, colloidal silver as well as a few prescription medicines you can get from your physician. One very popular treatment product is called Threelac.
During any treatment approach most people experience a temporary worsening of the infection. Probiotics are a popular treatment for chronic candida, probably because the condition is thought to happen (in some cases) because of the reduction in gastrointestinal flora following treatment with antibiotics.
CONCLUSION: Candida depends on a living host for survival and is usually present in most of us, but uncontrolled multiplication resulting in disease symptoms usually is kept in check by other naturally occurring micro-organisms. It has grown to nearly epidemic levels in our society and is responsible for many of the chronic illness we see so frequently and is also an instigating factor for alcoholism. Candida thrives in a sugary environment, so your food should be low in carbohydrates and have no yeast products or sugar in any form.
Thousands of people suffer from it with out even knowing it. Nearly 15% of those with weakened immune systems develop a systemic illness because of Candida. Since the fungus thrives in warm, moist and dark places, exposed areas with these conditions such as the mouth, skin folds, arm pits and vagina’s are more vulnerable. If you feel you have a candida infection, consult your Physician or dermatologist for an examination and advice.