Chronic Yeast Infections - How To Cure and Prevent Infections In The Future

Yeast infections are never pleasant, but chronic yeast infections are worse in that they can become quite annoying, embarrassing, and difficult to treat. With proper diet to build the immune system, and oral or topical antifungal medications, not only can they be prevented, but these treatments just may be the cure too.

Yeast is found in abundance in the body and is considered a good thing because it is controlled in the gut by good bacteria. Good bacteria keeps the yeast in perfect balance, but sometimes when the immune system is compromised, such as when there is a cold or flu, or even recent surgery, the yeast become more plentiful and spread to areas of the body where they will thrive, such as the mouth or skin and moist, warm, dark places. Men as well as women may have chronic yeast infections especially if their partners do, because they are constantly being reinfected.

Birth control contraceptive pills may also contribute to chronic yeast infections as well as drinking beer, eating too much sugar and taking immune suppressing medications such as those for rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Women usually know when an infection is present because there will be an incessant itching, burning, and discharge which makes is impossible to enjoy any type of social activities. Even work becomes a nightmare because the itching is so severe. Often there are cramps, indigestion, bad breath, fatigue and headaches as well.

Treatments for recurring or chronic yeast infections, focus on reigning in the abundant yeast with antifungal creams and oral medication. Other treatments are a simple change in diet. Eliminating all gluten from the diet, such as wheat, white flour and rice, in addition to adding in white, lean, chicken and fresh vegetables, will help to increase the flora in the gut. Adding olive oil and garlic to the diet has been shown to be a natural and effective antifungal and they taste good too. Acidophilus is used to replenish the good bacteria antibiotics kill when fighting infections, so it would be wise to keep it on hand. Remember, just making a few changes will treat, cure and even prevent infections in the future.