Could You Be Suffering from Candida and Not Even Know It?

*Note: This article is about a women's health issue and includes sensitive information.

Because Candida is normally present in a healthy person, you could be suffering from Candida and not even know it. While it commonly presents itself in the vagina resulting in a yeast infection, Candida can surface in the areas where the skin is moist, as well as in the mouth, also known as thrush.

Specific to yeast infections, however, you may develop a yeast infection if symptoms such as itching or irritation of the vagina is present. You may also notice a thick white discharge or have pain and soreness during intercourse.

The cause of Candida is the overgrowth of a fungus called Candida albicans, which oddly enough is normally present in the vagina. However, when conditions change and become more inviting for the fungus to grow excessively, it replaces the good bacteria and Candida develops.

While yeast infections are common, the best way to prevent the infection is to follow these rules: wear cotton underpants, do not use deodorants or feminine hygiene sprays, avoid powders and deodorant tampons, and, above all, do not douche. It is a common misconception that douching will alleviate the infection. In fact, what it does is take away the normal bacteria, which is present in the vagina as a protection against infection.

If you develop Candida and need help in diagnosing and treating the infection, you may want to talk to several doctors. The reason being is that because there have been no definitive studies to ascertain the cause and cure of Candida, many women have found it difficult to find a doctor who is willing to treat them. Or they have encountered doctors who could not or would not accept the fact this is a serious infection, one which could develop into a more serious problem.

Doctors who are aware of Candida and its effects have offered this advice to women, “Get somebody to take you seriously.” Others have agreed that doctors need to reassess their attitude towards Candida and understand the seriousness of the infection, especially if it spreads to the bowel or throughout the body.

If you are not satisfied with your doctor, find another. If he or she is non-sympathetic to your needs, then keep searching until you find a doctor who is willing to properly diagnose and treat the infection and take every precaution to ensure it has not spread.

How to Reduce Tummy Bloating

For many women, abdominal bloating can be painful, uncomfortable, or just annoying. Bloating is when your tummy feels tight or full, and is usually caused by excess gas. Often bloating is caused by overeating, but if you’re exercising portion control and still feeling tight; here are some other causes and how to treat them.

If you’re not overeating, but feel bloated shortly after you eat; you may have food intolerance. Unlike food allergies, food intolerances are when your body can’t properly digest a certain kind of food. While the most common of these is lactose intolerance, it isn’t the only one. Observe your eating habits. If a specific food makes you feel bloated, try to avoid it.

Many people who feel bloated regularly have a condition called irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. This occurs when your colon doesn’t work properly. Other symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. If you suspect you have IBS, you should check with your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment options. If you have this syndrome; it can be controlled by diet, medicines, fiber supplements, or herbal remedies.

Many women feel bloated during their period. Most attribute this to water weight gain, but studies have shown that most women don’t actually gain weight during their period. Most women simply feel boated as opposed to actually being bloated. These symptoms can be caused by fluctuating hormones, irritability, and depression. The best cure for this is to eat a good diet and exercise. If you still feel bloated, you can try using natural diuretics to get rid of water weight.

There are other rare, but much more serious causes of abdominal bloating. If you start to bloat in the abdominal area and it doesn’t go away; don’t just assume you’ve put on weight. Prolonged abdominal bloating can be a symptom of ovarian cancer, liver disease, or tumors in the abdominal cavities. If you exercise and eat right and the bloating just doesn’t go away; see a doctor as soon as possible.

Hopefully these suggestions will lead you down the road to recovery. And as always: if in doubt, talk to your doctor.

Getting Help for PMS

Many women accept PMS as a fact of life. They think that the have to deal with the crabbiness, moodiness, cramps, bloating, and other painful and annoying symptoms over and over with no relief. Many women never even mention their PMS symptoms to the doctor for this reason. But there is help and you don’t have to live with these symptoms month after month until you reach menopause. In fact, it’s important that you talk to your doctor and get treatment as soon as possible.

The most obvious reason you should get your PMS symptoms treated is if you’re experiencing depression as one of your symptoms. Women who experience depression normally may have an increase in symptoms shortly before their period. If you are being successfully treated for depression, you also may have breakthrough symptoms with your PMS. It is vitally important not to let depression go untreated even if it is only periodic. Untreated depression symptoms can escalate to suicide and destructive behavior.

We used to think that women either got PMS or they didn’t. Now we are aware of a more serious form of PMS called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, or PMDD. While the symptoms of PMS are painful, annoying, and bothersome, the symptoms of PMDD are so severe that they cause you to alter how you live your life. It is important that PMDD be recognized and treated immediately before it causes serious damage to your psychological health. That’s another reason why it’s important to see your doctor about your symptoms. He or she will be able to help you tell the difference between the two disorders and offer you treatment options.

Another reason to get treatment for your PMS is that it might not be PMS at all. There are a lot of other disorders that have similar symptoms. It is important to have these symptoms diagnosed and treated in case there is a serious problem.

If your symptoms are not serious and you are not having suicidal or dangerous thoughts, you might want to start keeping a journal of your symptoms for a few months before you see your doctor. This way, she can pinpoint if your symptoms are caused by PMS, PMDD, or some other problem. This will help you get treated properly and have you feeling better in no time.

Once you go to the doctor and find out you do have PMS or PMDD, there are treatment options that can help, including; dietary changes, herbal remedies, and hormonal birth control. Just remember, you do not have to live with these symptoms.

Resources for products to help with PMS:

• Nature's Remedies - Get more info on Femalite for PMS.
  
• The Herb Barn LLC


• As We Change - the preferred destination for women searching for solutions for thier changing lives.