Miss Directed. Weight Loss

THE CANDIDA-ASTHMA CONNECTION: CHRONIC CANDIDIASIS SENSITIVITYCandidiasis is a condition which occurs in the human body when its defences are locally impaired, as in disturbance of the gut flora, or systemically, as in immune destabilisation.Local defences: altered host/pathogens balance as can occur with a variety of intestinal problems, ranging from parasitic infections to over-use of antibiotics or an inappropriate diet containing factors to which a person is allergic.Systemic: Nutritional deficiencies, sometimes secondary to malabsorption caused by the above-mentioned factors as well as other conditions. Allergies, viral infections, altered glucose metabolism (hypoglycaemia and diabetes), and so on may cause immunosuppression.Therapies such as antibiotics, corticosteroids and oral contraceptives are important factors.Predisposing ConditionsImpaired immunity: Decreased numbers of phagocytic cells, caused by leukemia, radiation, chemotherapy, chronic viral illness, Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV).Cell-mediated immunity: Genetic defects, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, chemotherapy, iatrogenic (doctor-induced) factors, environmental chemical exposure/sensitivity.Nutritional and dietary factors: High carbohydrates/sugar diets, low serum folate, low serum iron or zinc, vitamin and nutrient deficiencies or imbalances.Hormonal factors: Pregnancy, oral contraceptives, menses.Medications: Antibiotics, steroids, metronidazole, cimetidine.Underlying diseases: HIV, diabetes, mellitus, polyendocrinopathies, thyroid-parathyroid-adrenal, malignancies.Candida has sensitisation potential as well as infective potential.SymptomsCandida albicans can cause a number of illnesses and symptoms associated with different organ systems. This situation is extremely distressing for the patient and confusing for the physician, who is trained to look for a clear-cut association between organisms and symptoms.Fatigue, moodiness, depression, anxiety, inability to concentrate and lack of energy are common nervous and endocrine system symptoms. As well, female sufferers are often convinced they are experiencing the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) because almost invariably the symptoms are much worse premenstrually. Victims may also suffer sore, weak or aching muscles and joints, leading to a diagnosis of arthritis or myalgia. Some experience cardiac symptoms such as palpitations, while many complain of gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal bloating, flatus, constipation, diarrhoea or irritable bowel. Skin rashes, vaginal and rectal itching and urticaria are sometimes present, as are cystitis and persistent vaginal discharges. A considerable proportion of people also have asthma or other respiratory and ear, nose and throat symptoms. Recurrent ear infections, throat mucus and throat thrush, post-nasal drip, sinusitis, wheezing and dyspnoea are not uncommon in individuals who have been colonised by or sensitised (often unknowingly) to Candida albicans. In males an association has been shown between chronic candidiasis and some instances of prostatitis. Both male and female sufferers experience an ususual degree of craving for sweets and carbohydrates.Candida ToxinsVarious strains of Candida albicans have the capacity to produce a number of toxins which can have the following effects:Suppression of some immunity factors such as T cells.Enhanced vascular permeability, which allows leakage from blood vessels.• Enhanced histamine release which can trigger or aggravate asthma.Candida and the OvariesIn chronic cases of vaginal thrush, Candida may indirectly cause the formation of auto-antibodies. This may contribute to the symptoms of ovarian dysfunction sometimes found in patients with chronic candidiasis. The addition of anti-fungals to the treatment causes a dramatic improvement and reduction of symptoms.Candida and the ThyroidAuto-immune thyroiditis and its symptoms of menstrual irregularities, fatigue, temperature intolerance, weight gain and depression are more common among Candida sufferers than the general population. I have seen some thyroiditis patients who do not respond well to medications until they also take antifungals.*57\145\2*

CONDITIONS WHICH MAKE ASTHMA WORSE: CLIMATIC FACTORSGenerally speaking, dry climate is better suited than a humid one for children with asthmatic tendency. A child feels better away from a sea coast than near it.Rain, with its increased humidity, may also be troublesome to some. But children who are allergic to pollens feel better after the rain, as all the pollens present in the air get washed down. The same thing happens in an industrial area because most of the air pollutants get washed down.Wind. Some children experience breathing problems when wind from a particular direction starts blowing. It is likely that the wind picks up pollens in its path, to which such children are sensitive, and an attack is triggered.Barometric Pressure. A sudden drop in barometric pressure before a thunderstorm may also trigger symptoms. Some children, including those suffering from sinusitis, are so sensitive to this fall in barometric pressure that they can forecast storms on the basis of the symptoms even when there are no other obvious indications.Altitude. It has been observed that many children do not develop symptoms of asthma when they go to the mountains (hill stations) from the plains. This happens not so much due to higher altitude as because of a change in environment. The plants at higher altitudes are different from those in the plains and likely to produce much less pollen.There is also less dust in the air. The house dust mites do not grow as fast at the lower temperatures in the mountains as in the plains.Eliminating or reducing air pollutants, cigarette smoke, emotional stress etc., can decrease the severity of asthma symptoms and the agony of the child.*45\260\8*