Let’s talk about candida. This extremely common fungal infection is one that you’ve likely encountered at some point in your life.
In fact, 75% of women experience candida overgrowth in the form of a yeast infection at least once during their lifetime. But are you familiar with other signs of candida overgrowth?
Having unbalanced candida can actually cause an array of health issues in men, women, and even children. Keep reading to learn about candida overgrowth symptoms and whether or not you should be concerned.
1. Fatigue
Surprisingly, chronic tiredness or fatigue can be caused by candida overgrowth. Although the candida itself isn’t causing the fatigue, some of the same root causes of candida contribute to feelings of tiredness.
Candida overgrowth often comes along with issues of vitamin deficiencies, particularly deficiencies in magnesium and B6 which have been linked to chronic fatigue. Candida also tends to thrive when the immune system is in a weakened state, which can also leave you feeling tired.
2. Oral Thrush
Commonly seen in children and infants, oral thrush is a candida overgrowth inside of the throat or mouth. Oral thrush can also occur in the elderly since they tend to have a weekend immune system.
Oral thrush appears as bumpy, white patches inside of the mouth or on the tongue. They can also appear in the throat and along the tonsils. These bumps and lesions are typical sore and painful, and may even bleed when brushed.
3. Digestive Problems
Another common symptom of candida overgrowth is digestive issues. Your gut health largely depends on maintaining a balance between good and bad bacteria growth.
Because candida is considered a “bad” bacteria, when you are experiencing a candida overgrowth your gut health gets thrown out of whack. This can cause an array of digestive issues including nausea, gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.
4. Sinus Infections
Chronic sinus infections are no fun. Especially if you can’t seem to get rid of them. If you’ve had a chronic sinus infection that you can’t seem to shake, candida overgrowth may be to blame.
In fact, according to this Mayo Clinic study, 96% of chronic sinus infections are fungal. Unlike bacterial based sinus infections, fungal sinus infections are hard to treat with antibiotics and antibiotics can actually make them worse.
If you have a sinus infection that you can’t seem to shake, ask your doctor if candida could be the cause.
5. Skin Infections
Last on our list for candida overgrowth symptoms is skin and nail infections. Similar to your gut, your skin actually maintains a balance of bacteria to keep bad bacteria from growing rapidly.
A drastic change in your environment or introducing new products such as lotions or soap can throw off this balance and can cause candida to thrive. This often happens in moist areas such as your armpits and groin and can result in itchy or red rashes on the skin.
What To Do If You Have Candida Overgrowth Symptoms
If you begin to experience any of these candida overgrowth symptoms, you should contact a medical professional for further treatment. Candida overgrowth can be extremely uncomfortable and can impact your quality of life when not properly addressed.
Don’t let these symptoms go untreated. And be sure to contact us for any of your health needs!