Could
It Be Intestinal Parasites?
An
alarming number of Americans are experiencing gastrointestinal
symptoms like nausea, pain, bloating, and gas. People with
these symptoms are occasionally diagnosed with irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis, or excessive stress,
but prescription treatments for these conditions don’t
always bring relief.
You
may be surprised to learn that chronic stomach problems
can be caused by intestinal parasites. Intestinal parasites
are organisms that live inside your digestive system, essentially
“stealing” nutrients from your body. Intestinal
parasites can be single-celled (like protozoa) or helminthes
(worms).
How
common are intestinal parasites and other human parasites?
More common than you might think. There are millions of
people who have parasitic infections and don’t realize
it. To illustrate this fact, here are some startling statistics
from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
-
At least 14 percent of the U.S. population is infected
with Toxocara, a parasite passed from dogs and cats to
humans.
-
Several outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis (a waterborne intestinal
parasitic infection commonly known as “crypto”)
have occurred in the United States, including one 1993
outbreak in Milwaukee that affected 400,000 people.
-
Enterobiasis is the most common pinworm infection in the
United States, with an estimated 40 million people infected,
often school-aged children.
-
Trichuriasis, a roundworm infection also referred to as
the human whipworm, occurs most frequently in the southern
United States. An estimated 800 million people are infected
worldwide.
No
one wants to believe that intestinal parasites could be
lurking inside the body, causing a multitude of painful
symptoms. An obvious sign of intestinal parasites would
be passing worm-like organisms in the stool. However, if
you have been suffering with any of the following symptoms,
an intestinal parasite could be to blame:
- Bloating
-
Gas
-
Nausea or vomiting
-
Stomach pain
-
Weakness
-
Fatigue
-
Weight loss
-
Constipation
-
Diarrhea
-
Dysentery
-
Rash or itching around the rectum
Don’t
be fooled into assuming that intestinal parasites are found
only in third-world countries. Human parasites are becoming
more widespread in the United States, especially for people
who:
-
Travel
-
Enjoy water sports (swimming, waterskiing, boating, etc.)
-
Go on a cruise
-
Live in or visit tropical and subtropical areas
-
Work or spend time inside institutional settings (schools,
health care facilities, fitness centers, etc.)
-
Own pets or interact with animals
In
reality, though, you can be exposed to parasites anywhere
at any time. The good news is, a natural parasite cleanse
is a safe alternative, even if you have not tested positive
for parasites. To prevent a parasitic infestation, many
people perform a natural
parasite cleanse twice a year.
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