Candida overgrowth is one of those difficult to diagnose diseases because it has many symptoms that indicate other ailments.

How does Candida create problems?

When there is an abnormal increase in the amount of yeast, it can secrete a large volume of toxins into the body which may weaken the immune system.  Once this happens, a self-perpetuating cycle can develop.  The longer the yeast is in the system, the weaker the immune system becomes.  The weaker the immune system, the higher the tolerance it has to the yeast itself.  This allows the yeast colonies to continue to grow, releasing more toxins and further impairing the immune system.  

This results in a variety of conditions at different levels of severity and discomfort, experienced by millions each year.   Candidiasis occurs in both males and females, although it is more prevalent among females.

A Yeast Infection Symptoms

Since candida can cause multiple systemic illnesses, a whole gamut of symptoms, ranging from the general to those affecting specific areas are possible.

These include low energy and fatigue, irritability, anxiety, fear, depression, 'brain fog", memory loss, mood swings, prostatitis, canker sores, persistent heartburn, headaches, lightheadedness, muscle and joint pain, constipation, gas, bloating, indigestion,  diarrhea, abdominal pain, bad breath, nagging cough, congestion, numbness in the face and extremities, tingling sensations, acne, night sweats, severe itching, clogged sinuses, PMS, burning tongue, vaginitis, kidney and bladder infections, hyperactivity, adrenal problems, rectal itching, impotence, sensitivity to chemicals, poor circulation, resulting  in consistently cold hands and feet, urinary tract infections, white coating on the tongue or esophagus (thrush), heart palpitations, and irregular pulse and even diabetes. 

Symptoms often worsen in damp and/or moldy places, and after consumption of foods containing sugar, high amount of carbohydrates (Carbs are actually a lot of glucose molecules linked together) and/or yeast or fungus in the food. (Candida thrives on sugar)  Because of its many and varied symptoms, this disorder is often misdiagnosed.  Although it may affect both men and women, however, it is rarely transmitted sexually.  

Very often, allergies to foods are present in people with candida infections.  

In the respiratory tract, problems caused by candida range from chronic, post-nasal drip and coughs to sore throats, colds and asthma.  

The skin can be affected too, with eczema, itching, rashes, acne, and fungal infections.

A variety of gynecological symptoms are possible with candida, the most common one being a vaginal yeast infection characterized by itching, redness, irritation, and a cheesy, white discharge. 

Candida sometimes can be thought to be chronic fatigue syndrome.

Reasons

Candida overgrowth is the result of living habits, dietary, and environmental influences that have led to a reduced level of biological functioning. Yeast and other potentially harmful micro-organisms would have no place to multiply out of control and mutate into pathogenic forms unless the proper conditions for their mutation and proliferation existed.  Fungus in the foods we eat, contribute to fungal/yeast infections. 

When concentration of healthy bacterial species is greatly diminished, the candida yeast organisms begin a process of mutation into harmful fungal forms. In their mutated forms, these fungal rhizoids develop elongated root like structures capable of penetrating the intestinal lining, entering the circulating blood and colonizing tissues throughout the body.

Such fungal organisms produce powerful toxins, posing a severe challenge to the system's detoxification pathways and cause many of the candida /dysbiosis sufferer's symptoms.

Damage to the intestine's lining makes it more permeable to substances that were previously incapable of gaining entrance into the blood stream via the intestinal lining. Because of this phenomenon (leaky gut syndrome) toxins and large food molecules which would normally have no way of getting into the circulating blood are absorbed and create an enormous burden on the immune system that now has to neutralize, destroy and eliminate them. This produces many of the "allergic" and inflammatory symptoms that so often impact individuals with candida overgrowth.

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