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Spotting Yeast Infections
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In the doctor’s office patients who complain of yeast-related symptoms
are not always taken seriously. Frequently doctors attribute their problems
to stress or imagination. It wasn’t until Dr. Orian Truss, an allergist from
Birmingham, Alabama, connected fungus-related diseases to a large number
of other disease symptoms that yeast’s effect on the body was clearly
understood. Yeast sufferers with their many symptoms aren’t hallucinating
after all. Dr. Truss’s research has demonstrated yeast influences the body
in many ways.
How Yeast Affects the Body
As yeast fights for its survival, the toxins it gives off causes the red blood
cell walls to stiffen. Consequently, they are unable to slip into tiny
capillaries and supply oxygen to all body tissues and organs. Yeast toxins
also cause white blood cells to become stiff and brittle, reducing their ability
to absorb invading organisms. With a weak immune system, yeast can now
attack a variety of body sites. However, this fungus seems to favor the
urinary tact, prostate gland, gastrointestinal tract, mouth (thrush) and
vagina.
Symptoms That Indicate Yeast Overgrowth
Allergic responses. Since yeast weakens your immune system, your
immune system is less able to distinguish between harmful and harmless
substances. You may suffer from an increased number of allergic reactions
as a result of yeast overgrowth. Therefore, you may have fewer allergy
problems once your body’s yeast supply is under control. You may still have
the allergy, but bigger “doses” of the allergen are required to create a
reaction. Symptoms to watch for include dizziness, diarrhea, congestion,
hives, asthma, headaches, depression and weakness.
Digestion
Any food with a high sugar content encourages yeast growth,
and yeast in turn produces extra carbon dioxide. This can lead to gas,
bloating and heartburn. Other symptoms that indicate yeast problems are
abdominal pain, gastritis, gastric ulcer. A gastric ulcer crater is often the
home of Candida albicans. And the effect of yeast doesn’t stop with the
stomach. Diarrhea (due to yeast’s direct invasion of the intestinal tract) and
constipation or episodes of alternating diarrhea and constipation can also
point to yeast overgrowth.
Respiration
Signs of yeast problems in this area include sore throat and
sore mouth (thrush), canker sores, sinus and bronchial infections, pneumonia,
chronic cough and asthma.
Circulation
Palpitations, rapid pulse rate and a pounding heart can
signal yeast problems since yeast hinders the hormonal balance necessary
to govern circulation. The result is fluid retention, along with cold, clammy
hands and increased perspiration.
Genital and Urinary
Symptoms of vaginal or urinary difficulties due to
yeast infection include the following symptoms: vaginal discharge, itching,
urinary burning, frequent urination, lack of bladder control and bedwetting,
menstrual cramps and PMS.
Muscles and Bones
As yeast affects the musculoskeletal system, these
symptoms can occur: night leg pains, muscle stiffness and muscle weakness,
deep muscle pains, particularly in the shoulder and neck, and poor
coordination.
Skin
Yeast also attacks the skin in warm, moist areas like the groin and
breast in adults or the diaper rash area in children. Skin conditions such as
hives and eczema are often an allergic response to yeast.
Nerves
Headaches are one of the most common symptoms that result
from yeast problems. Other symptoms that stem from yeast’s effect on the
nervous system are anxiety, irritability, restlessness, panic attacks, sudden
anger, sleep disturbances.
Other symptoms that point to multiplying yeast are fatigue, sugar
cravings, high insulin levels and low metabolism.
How Yeast Grows
Lack of Proper Nutrition
When nutrition is poor, yeast tends to get a stronger hold on the body, especially when refined sugar is part of the diet.
If you’ve ever made bread, you’ve seen the bubbling action of yeast and
sugar in warm water. Yeast seems to flourish on sugar, breaking it down
quickly. Large amounts of highly refined foods, particularly sugar, as part
of your diet tend to replace other important nutrients. Without these
nutrients the immune system is unable to keep infection or yeast from
dominating your body.
Antibiotics and Other Drugs
The colon’s “friendly” bacteria, lactobacillus
acidophilus, is destroyed by antibiotics. Acidophilus produces chemicals
that curb yeast growth. When the friendly bacteria die, yeast takes over.
Other drugs can also encourage yeast growth. As an example, cortisone may
hamper the immune system and increase yeast growth.
Knowing If You’ve Got It
Modern-day diagnostic tools are not reliable when it comes to detecting
yeast overgrowth. Cultures, for example, only work to recognize organisms
within the body that should not be there. Likewise, tests for antibodies only
help identify invading organisms for which the human body has developed
an antibody. Since each of us is supposed to have some yeast and yeast
antibodies, these two methods of testing are useless.
The best diagnostic tool to pinpoint yeast problems is a yeast treatment
program (below). If you experience a noticeable improvement,
you have candidiasis and would benefit from ongoing treatment. If you see
no change after six to eight weeks on the program, you may be having health
problems that stem from other causes.
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