• Each person lives in harmony with many microorganisms, including Candida albicans, a fungus that lives in the mouth, gut and genitourinary system. Every so often, something upsets the delicate balance that people have with the yeast and it proliferates wildly, causing massive overgrowth and a host of serious health problems.
  
  

Gastrointestinal and Genitourinary Symptoms

• While not every patient has every symptom, some of the common gastrointestinal and genitourinary symptoms include painful bloating and gas, constipation or diarrhea, vaginal itching, vaginal discharge, bladder infection, painful urination, abdominal pain, increased PMS symptoms or heartburn. Because the gastrointestinal tract begins at the mouth, symptoms also can include bad breath, blisters in the mouth, sore throat and thrush of the mouth. Yeast colonies can dig deep into the walls of the intestines and damage them badly when Candida is allowed to proliferate in the body unchecked.
  
  

Mental Symptoms

• Patients who have Candida overgrowth can experience mental and emotional symptoms in addition to their physical symptoms. One of the most common mental symptom is difficulty concentrating. Other patients have complained of constant and overwhelming exhaustion, anxiety and mood swings, irritability and depression.
  
  

Allergic Responses

• Allergic responses to Candida can manifest in many different ways. Some patients have reported coughing and difficulty breathing, hay fever, hives and rashes. Other patients have experienced eczema, wheezing, psoriasis, joint swelling, joint pain, failing vision and tearing eyes. Sufferers have also reported increased sensitivities to food and other allergens as the Candida infection worsens. This is called "suppressor cell disease," and is when the immune system kicks into overdrive and attacks almost everything with which it comes into contact, making the person incredibly sensitive to all environmental toxins.