Deborah Dera — Candida albicans, aka yeast, grows naturally within the body. When the balance of natural yeast and bacteria becomes 
skewed, a Candida overgrowth can occur, causing a wide variety of yeast-related conditions. While some of these conditions are easy to detect, the overgrowth itself can leave you feeling ill without necessarily manifesting in the form of vaginal infection, thrush, or skin infection.
Some of the symptoms of Candida albicans infections are easy to identify. These include vaginitis, oral thrush, toenail or fingernail fungus, jock itch, and other fungal skin infections.
A wide variety of Candida symptoms are a little more difficult to place as they mimic the symptoms associated with other conditions. These can include gas, bloating, food cravings, anxiety, depression, muscle and joint pains, urinary tract infections, ringing in the ears, sinus infections, coughs, excess mucous, heart issues, headaches, dizziness, indigestion, gastrointestinal difficulties, fatigue, and a host of other issues. It’s easy to see how some of these symptoms could lead to a misdiagnosis.
There are several things you can do at home to determine whether or not you have a problem with yeast. The sooner you identify your problem, the sooner you can get proper treatment.
Itching – The first test has to do with itching. The average person does not realize how much he itches throughout the day. Scratching an itch can often turn into a subconscious habit. Slow down and really pay attention to how much you itch throughout the day. Does your scalp itch? How about your feet, eyes, or palms? Can you match up your itching with some of the other Candida symptoms?
Spitting – The spit test is one of the more common home tests for a Candida overgrowth. You’ll need to do this test first thing in the morning, before you have any water or brush your teeth. Grab a glass of water and then spit some saliva into the glass. Check the water every 15 minutes throughout one hour. A person who does not have a Candida overgrowth will find his spit floating at the top of the glass. A person who does have a Candida overgrowth will see stringy legs floating from the top down into the glass.
CanDia5 – CanDia5 is currently the only professional blood test on the market for Candida infections. You can look for the test on line or ask your healthcare provider to access it on your behalf. This test is great on its own or combined with one of the above methods of testing.
There are other things you do to test after you begin to recognize your candida symptoms, but these three are the most common. When in doubt, talk to your healthcare professional and be very specific about your concerns so that you aren’t misdiagnosed!
About the Author
Deborah Dera is a massage therapist and Reiki Master and is a huge advocate of alternative healing methods. She loves writing about health and wellness and is particularly interested in food, herb, and spice remedies for common conditions.
Hi Deborah Dera, you have really done a great work here. this are really the top symptoms of yeast. thanks for sharing.