subject: Could Your Stubborn Chronic Disease Be A Fungal Infection? [print this page] Roughly 400 species of fungi have been diagnosed as a cause in human disease. Fungi Over 100,000 species of fungi have been recognized with approximately 1,500 new species being discovered annually.
Many people think fungi are plants, but closer examination reveals this is not the case. Plant cells do not have a nucleus like fungi, and fungi do not have chlorophyll to photosynthesize like plants. Fungi are classified in their own group, as they are not an animal or plant. They absorb their nutrients from their immediate environment and produce toxic byproducts called mycotoxins.
Exposure
Disease-causing fungi can gain access to the body in many ways; through the food we eat, from soil in contact with broken skin and in the air we breathe.
Some fungi are common in soil, grains, leaves and grass, and some in buildings with moist conditions. Air ducts and vents are excellent growing grounds for molds. Inhaled airborne spores, and later mycotoxins produced by fungi, are usually the cause of fungal respiratory tract infections. To limit exposure to fungi and mycotoxins, avoid areas with heavy construction, often disturbed soil, and recent flooding.
Symptoms and Treatment
Fungal respiratory tract infection can easily be mistaken for chronic upper respiratory infection. Symptoms commonly include headache, fatigue, fever, itchy eyes, sneezing, stuffiness, sore throat, diarrhea, sinus pain, chest pain, cough and general discomfort. People with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to serious and life-threatening complications like pneumonia. Pneumonia symptoms include shortness of breath.
Fungi and molds produce mycotoxins, which may cause serious complications even in people with a normal, healthy immune system. These include jaundice, edema, anorexia, gastrointestinal bleeding, nosebleeds, bleeding in the lungs, burning and blistering of the mouth and nose, and death.
Serious and stubborn fungal infections may require the use of prescription anti-fungal medication. Probiotics are natural fungal growth inhibitors. Yogurt is a good source of probiotics, and health food stores and pharmacies sell probiotic supplements. Diet plays an important role in any health problem. The best diet to starve fungi is low in carbohydrates with high-quality protein. A strong immune system is your best defense against fungal respiratory tract infections.
Sick Building Syndrome
Modern buildings with tightly sealed structures are designed to keep the tiniest pollen out, and after a flood or leaky plumbing, they also keep the fungi and mold inside. Adequate ventilation is essential in avoiding sick building syndrome and fungal respiratory tract infections. Cleaning of flooded houses should be done by professional crews after proper inspection. It can be dangerous to clean large colonies of mold-infested areas without proper protective equipment.
The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult a professional health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Reference
* The Fungus Link; Doug A. Kaufmann, with David Holland, M.D. and Jami Clark, R.N.; 2005
* Cancer is a fungus; Tullio Simoncini Dr., oncologist, 2005
