7 Symptoms of Candida Overgrowth
Many of us have Candida without being aware and yet it’s often misdiagnosed. Candida is a type of yeast typically found in small amounts in the mouth and small intestines and on the skin. Candida is quite common and the symptoms are vast.
At normal levels, the fungi is not problematic. However, when Candida begins to grow uncontrollably, it can cause an infection known as candidiasis.
In fact, Candida is the most common cause of fungal infections in humans.
Typically, the health bacteria in your body keep Candida levels under control, however, if the health bacteria levels in your body are disrupted or the immune system is compromised, Candida can begin to overproduce.
Why does Candida fungal occur?
- High stress levels
- Eating a high diet in sugar and refined carbohydrates
- High alcohol intake
- A weakened immune system
- Taking oral contraceptives
- Diabetes
- Taking antibiotics
When Candida begins to overproduce, it can lead to various health problems.
In this article, we are going to explore the 7 symptoms of Candida overgrowth and how you can treat it.
1. Oral Thrush
Candidiasis that develops in the mouth is called “thrush.” Thrush is most common in newborns, the elderly, or people who have a weakened immune system, as well as people with poor hygiene or removable dentures are also at an increased risk.
2. Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
Candida is often found in the vagina tracts of most women. Men can also have genital yeast infections, although it’s less common. An overgrowth of it can lead to Candidiasis of the vagina, also known as a yeast infection. It’s estimated that 75% of women will get at least one yeast infection in their lifetime, and half of those will have at least one recurrence.
Symptoms of this include redness, swelling, itching, and painful intercourse and thick, which discharge in the vagina.
Candida can also cause a bladder or urinary tract infection (UTI). Symptoms of a UTI include a burning feeling when you urinate and a frequent urge to urinate, and pain and pressure in your lower abdomen.
3. Tiredness and Fatigue
One of the most common symptoms associated with Candida, is tiredness and fatigue which is no surprise because overgrowth of Candida typically occurs when the immune system is weakened.
Candidiasis is often accompanied by nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin B6, essential fatty acids and magnesium. Magnesium has been known to cause fatigue.
4. Skin and Nail Fungal Infections
Just like your gut, there are bacteria in your skin that prevent bacteria from growing uncontrollably.
All bacteria thrive in different conditions, including certain temperatures, moisture or acidity levels.
For instance, cosmetics, soaps, and certain products can alter the skin conditions, making you more susceptible to Candidiasis. While skin candidiasis can affect any part of the body, it is more common in moist areas such as the armpits and groin.
Skin conditions like this aren’t life threatening by any means, but they can certainly be very uncomfortable and do tend to take time to get rid.
5. Digestive Issues
We’ve all heard how important it is to have a healthy gut because when you have a healthy gut, you have a healthy immune system. The health of your digestive system relies heavily on having a good balance of “good” bacteria and “bad” bacteria that live in your gut.
As expected, when the bad bacteria in your gut is imbalanced, you can experience uncomfortable digestive issues.
6. Joint Pain
If the Candida infection gets into your bloodstream, it can infect your joints and cause arthritis. This typically only happens after surgery or when an overgrowth of Candida is left untreated for an extended period of time.
