Parasites: Symptoms You May Be Missing...
First, this isn't your fault! Parasites can create strange and hard-to-identify symptoms that many traditional healthcare professionals may overlook. Compound that with the fact that many of the diagnostic tests don't always give us a conclusive answer and you might start to believe that these little creepy crawlers and squirmers have the upper hand...
But they don't have to!
By checking in on ourselves, we can better determine if something is "off" with our health or were experiencing parasitic symptoms! Through my practice, Jenerate Health, I help people regain their vital energy by identifying the CAUSES of adverse symptoms versus treating a symptom until it becomes a chronic affliction. Becoming an advocate of your own health and becoming confident in identifying symptoms and causes isn't easy—but that's why I'm here!
By learning what questions to ask ourselves and really understanding the answers to those questions, we're on our way to finding a cause for things like overwhelming exhaustion, ongoing rashes, reactions, sensitivities, headaches, hormonal imbalances, and more...
Buggy background...
Consider this—parasites are not racist. They don't only live in Third World countries. The truth is we are exposed to parasites every day. It's estimated that millions of people in the United States are affected by harmful parasites.
Specifically, over 300,000 Americans are believed to have Chagas disease, a condition caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite. If left untreated, this condition can lead to serious heart and digestive system problems. This disease is much more common among people who have lived in or traveled to areas where the parasite is endemic, such as Mexico, Central America, and South America, but an uptick in cases has been noted across the US (CDC)(AAFP).
Another prevalent parasitic infection in the US is cysticercosis, caused by the larvae of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium. This infection can lead to neurocysticercosis, where the larvae invade the central nervous system, potentially causing seizures and other neurological issues (AAFP).
Toxoplasmosis, caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is another significant parasitic infection, affecting an estimated 60 million people in the United States. This parasite is often acquired from undercooked meat or contaminated food and water, and it can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women and individuals with weakened immune systems (CDC).
Overall, these numbers indicate that parasitic infections are a growing public health concern in the United States, despite common perceptions that such infections are rare or only occur in developing countries.
Common parasites we see in practice are cestodes, nematodes, protozoa, rope worms, sporozoan, strongyloides, and trematodes. And I cited the info above, but just realize that the CDC also states only 14% of Americans have been exposed to parasites and this could not be more false. We are seeing differently in practice. We are seeing differently in real life.
Questions to ask yourself.
Worried some of the symptoms you or your family are experiencing may stem from a parasite? Ask yourself a few of these questions...
Do you experience restless sleep (toss or turn, or wake up often)?
Do you have acne, eczema, hives, itching, rashes, skin issues?
Do you experience abdominal pains, burning, or cramps?
Do you have lethargy and apathy (disinterest)?
Do you have dry lips?
Do you drool while asleep?
Do you have hyperactive tendencies (nervousness)?
Do you have dark circles under your eyes?
Do you need extra sleep and wake up unrefreshed?
Do you have allergies and/or food sensitivities?
It's possible you related to a few of these questions even answering "yes". I've included a tool below called the Parasite Questionnaire. Use this tool to bring awareness to the symptoms you may be experiencing and their severity. And feel free to share these answers with your health practitioner.
Whether it's with me or on your own—I just want you to feel and live better!
Download Questionnaire here:
Jenerate Health Parasite Questionnaire (7.10).pdf
See you next week!
Jenny
