Recurring Yeast Infections
Recurring yeast infections are difficult to have to deal with. If you have ever had a yeast infection, you know how negatively it can impact your life, and then imagine having to deal with that at least 4 times a year. The main reason that some suffer this way is because the yeast infection was not treated effectively the first time. Too often yeast infection sufferers are focused on clearing up the symptoms, understandably because they are a great source of discomfort and frustration – but if the root cause of the infection is not dealt with effectively, recurring yeast infections are quite likely.
For those who are not aware, here is just a quick explanation of what a yeast infection is. Basically everyone has a small number of Candida Albicans, a fungus, living on the body. They are kept in low numbers by good bacteria. While that balance is maintained all is well, but if there is a disruption the fungus can overgrow and a large number of Candida Albicans means a yeast infection. People that get 4 or more infections a year have a recurring yeast infection problem. It is usually women that have this problem, as the vagina is such a perfect environment for the fungus.
Causes
- Poor diet – a diet that is high in sugary foods is bad as the fungus feeds on sugar so you would therefore be supplying the Candida with what it needs to thrive. Too much refined, processed and junk foods is also a factor. If you treat the yeast infection but continue to have a poor diet, if even just a small amount of the yeast survived, they will be able to feed and regrow in very little time at all.
- Hormonal factors – a woman has a lot of times in her life where hormones fluctuate and rage! Pregnancy, menstruation and menopause are all times when the natural balance of the body is upset. This gives the yeast an opportunity to flourish over and over again.
- Birth control pills – these are not as bad as they once were, as the hormone doses in the latest pills are less, but they still change the natural balance of a woman’s body by introducing more progestrogen which can have a direct affect on infections.
- A weak immune system – if you have been fighting an illness for a long time, whether something serious like cancer or just bouts of the flu, your immune system has been overworked and is not in peak condition. Recurring yeast infections could happen while your body is unable to fight them off.
- Clothing – always wearing tight clothing such as nylons, pants, jeans can be a cause of a recurring yeast infection as the area is always damp and warm, perfect for the yeast to breed. Wearing synthetic materials also does this, as the air cannot circulate there.
- Inadequate treatment – sometimes a woman will use an over the counter treatment thinking that is it. But these do not look at the root cause, and so it is likely the infection will return. So they use that same product again, and again until they reach a point where it is not even easing the symptoms for them anymore. This is because the infection has built up a resistance to those drugs and so what little they were able to do has now become ineffective.
Treatments
A person with a recurring yeast infection needs to use not just the natural remedies or medicated treatments. They need to identify and find a way to deal with the underlying cause. It is important to get a handle on your yeast infection because there are other more serious health issues that can arise if it is not dealt with. If it enters the bloodstream and reaches the organs you could be in big trouble. So when treating an infection be sure to work out what your causing factor is and talk to your doctor about ways to deal with it.
Prevention
The best course of action is to prevent a recurring yeast infections in the first place. Eat a healthy diet high in vegetables and fruits and low in sugars. Exercise and get plenty of rest. Manage your stress effectively and eat more probiotic yogurt, raw garlic, cranberries, all of which are great for the fight against yeast. Wear loose clothing and natural fibres such as cotton. Change out of wet clothing and when washing use gentle unscented products and then dry thoroughly. Use supplements to boost your immunity and not only will you prevent a recurring yeast infection problem, you will feel healthier and better over all!
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