subject: How Do I Know if I Have a Stomach Yeast Infection? [print this page] How Do I Know if I Have a Stomach Yeast Infection?
Very often you will here someone say they have a stomach infection or stomach bug and generally a 24 hour fast will cure it. However, it can be something more serious and if the symptoms are recurring then it probably is.Because most doctors will look for an everyday type of illness with certain symptoms you may be left to diagnose yourself. It can be difficult to believe that a yeast infection can cause all of the related symptoms that have been reported.There are two types of candidiasis infection. The first is mucocutaneous candidiasis which describes infections in the mouth, vagina, stomach and intestine. This type of infection is more common and thought of as external.The second is disseminated candidiasis, also called systematic candidiasis, and describes candida which has entered the bloodstream and spreads through the body. It will then attack the eyes and other organs, although rare this can be life threatening.Usually a candida infection is caused by the immune system becoming unbalanced. This can be after a long course of antibiotics, oral contraceptives, poor diet or stress. With this imbalance the yeast fungus expands and develops rhizoids similar to roots. The roots can then puncture the intestine wall and allow the yeast toxins and partially digested food into the bloodstream. This is known as 'leaky gut syndrome'. If it goes to this stage the next step is systematic candidiasis.Many of the symptoms are attributable to other problems which makes it difficult to diagnose. The differences in symptoms between men and women is minimal and there is no evidence that either is more, or less, susceptible to a yeast infection. Candida symptoms can include:Fatigue and depressionOral thrush and bad breathBloating and indigestionCravings for sugar or alcoholJoint pains similar to arthritisUrinary infectionsSkin rashes, acne, eczemaDifficulty concentratingTaking a long hard look at your diet can be a good indicator and help towards diagnosis. Fruit, bread, cakes, biscuits and most processed foods all contain sugar, natural and processed, which will feed the yeast. Alcohol breaks down into sugars which will feed the yeast; this has also been linked to alcoholism via the cravings that are a symptom. Lack of exercise can also point to an infection.When you exercise you breath heavier which brings more oxygen into the bloodstream. Oxygen is a well known antibacterial although it is indiscriminate in which bacteria it attacks.If you decide that you have a yeast infection you should still get it diagnosed correctly by a doctor or health professional. Self diagnosis is never a good idea and there are simple tests that can be done to confirm it. You can also purchase test kits from private sources but the reliability of these will have to be decided by you.
