Toxic Black Mold: Symptoms Of Black Mold Poisoning
Exposure to mildew or mold can result in some serious effects on the human health. Every year, thousands of people suffer from toxic black mold poisoning. In such circumstances, being aware of the symptoms of black mold poisoning can be of a great help.
Exposure to mildew or mold can result in some serious effects on the human health. Every year, thousands of people suffer from toxic black mold poisoning. In such circumstances, being aware of the symptoms of black mold poisoning can be of a great help.
Have you ever observed a fuzzy black coating on your bathroom and bedroom walls? This can be caused by toxic black mold or mildew. Thriving in wet and humid environment, the toxic fungi cover the walls and other surfaces in a powdery black substance. Black mold is present everywhere around us, outdoors as well as indoors.
At home, the mold can be easily seen on the walls, ceilings, clothing, furniture, carpets, food and other places, if it is present. It can also flourish on equipment that we use everyday, like air conditioners. The mold which appears as fuzzy blotches of yellow, black, green and red are often associated with an unpleasant odor as well. While it may look unsightly and smell horrible, the real danger of this fungi lies in the toxins that it releases.
What is Toxic Black Mold?
Black Mold Poisoning Symptoms
Black Mold and Respiratory ProblemsBlack Mold Induced Allergies
- Runny nose
- Coughing
- Itchy nose and throat
Black Mold and Skin Troubles
Hidden Dangers Of Toxic Mold Exposure That You Must Know
Mold accumulates in damp as well as poorly ventilated buildings. Along with the visible mold, there may an unpleasant odor, water stains, condensation, peeling or cracked paint or wall paper, a damp basement, and standing water under or around the house.
According to the World Health Organization , 15 percent of dwellings in cold climates have signs of dampness and 5 percent have signs of mold problems. The figures in warm climates are 20 percent for dampness and 25 percent for mold.
This issue is more common in low-income communities and rental accommodations, often due to lack of appropriate heating, ventilation and insulation. Plus, global warming and its effect on the climate can increase the problem of mold and dampness even more.
Mold is harmful and toxic due to the mycotoxins, which may contribute to several health problems. More than 50 molds are considered problematic, including stachybotrys, cladosporium, alternaria and trichoderma.
Exposure to mold inside a home can have profound effects on your health through skin contact, ingestion and inhalation. After all, you spend several hours a day at home. Plus, children and elderly people with weak immunities spend most of their time indoors.
Here are the top 10 hidden dangers of toxic mold exposure that you must know.
Contents
Dangers Of Black Mold
There are many health dangers associated with black mold exposure for humans and pets. The effects of mold can range from neurological problems to respiratory problems. If you begin to notice any of the following symptoms, you we recommend that you give the number on our website a call right away so we can check if mold is growing in your property.
- Neurological Conditions can include: confusion, shortened attention span, tiredness, and difficulty concentrating
- Respiratory symptoms can include: difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, sore throat, runny/clogged nose, and nose bleeds
- Circulatory symptoms can include: irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, and blood clotting issues
- Vision issues can include: red or bloodshot eyes, eye inflammation, and blurry vision
- Skin symptoms can include: skin irritations, rashes, blisters, and itchiness
- Immune system and reproductive systems can include: infertility, miscarriage, and recurrent infections
Besides the health risks associated with mold, there are also risks to your property. For example, black mold eats away at and deteriorates your walls.
How Are Mold Allergies And Exposure Diagnosed
There are no proven tests that show when or where you may have been exposed to mold. However, your doctor may check for mold allergies by reviewing your symptoms and performing one of the following tests:
- Blood test. Your doctor takes a blood sample and then sends it to a laboratory to measure the number of certain antibodies, which can indicate your immune systems sensitivity to different mold species.
- Skin prick test. Your doctor takes small amounts of mold and applies it to your skin using a tiny needle. Your skin will break out in bumps, a rash, or hives if youre allergic to that type of mold.
Hbot Mold Exposure And Mold Toxicity
Mold and mold toxicity have been hot topics in the news for the last decade or so and with good reason. While research continues to look at the effects of mold on the body, many organizations, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, agree that living and working in a building with mold damage increases your risk for respiratory and neurological complications. Diagnosing and treating mold toxicity can be a difficult task and many traditional treatments offer little relief. However, new studies show that the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, helps reduce; symptoms of mold exposure and toxicity.
You Can Also Test For Mold In The Body
One reason mold is so harmful is the spores and mycotoxins create a domino effect, causing your bodys inflammatory response to go into overdrive. And some people are more vulnerable to these health effects than others.
About 24% of the population has a genetic susceptibility that prevents proper excretion of mycotoxins. In other words, once youve been exposed to mycotoxins they continue to recirculate in your body, resulting in an overactive immune response that disrupts many symptoms in the body.
If you suspect you have a mold or mycotoxin illness traceable to an exposure to a water damaged building, seek help from an integrative physician who is knowledgeable about the health effects of mold. He or she may run the following labs on you to better understand if mold is a contributing factor in your illness: TGFb-1 , MMP-9, C4a , CD-57 , VEGF, MSH, HLA-DR 1-5 and DQ, and a mold IgG allergen panel . Most of these labs are non-specific, so other medical conditions need to be ruled out.
There is also a urine test available through RealTime Laboratories that tests for mycotoxins. It shows you how many mycotoxins are being excreted in the urine, which can provide valuable information about mold exposure. This test is available through some integrative medicine specialists. However, it is very expensivecosting close to $700 so you want to keep that in mind.
Research And Studies Related To Hyperbaric Oxygen Hbot And Mold Exposure And Toxicity
Numerous research studies are looking at the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of mold exposure and toxicity and infections related to mold.
A study published by the American Society for Microbiology looked at the use of hyperbaric oxygen on the growth of Aspergillus fumigatus. Aspergillus fumigatus is an invasive fungal infection that causes aspergillosis in patients with a compromised immune system. This study looked at how hyperbaric oxygen affected the growth of A. fumigatus in vivo and in vitro.
While many mold and fungal infections respond well to anti-fungal medications, mortality rates remain high for A. fumigatus infections. The belief is that the infection causes low oxygen conditions at the infection site. This inhibits the ability of antifungal medications. In addition, the fungi can adapt to the low oxygen levels and continue to grow and spread. The study treated colonies of A. fumigatus with HBOT at 3.5 ATA and noted a 50 percent growth reduction in the fungal colonies. This proves promising for human fungal treatment and recommends further studies on HBOT and fungal infections.
How Can Mold Affect Me
Exposure to mold can affect people in three different ways: Hypersensitivity, infective, and Toxic.
- Hypersensitivity This is an allergic reaction to repeated exposure to mold spores. This reaction is typically IgE mediated or inflammatory.
- Infective A mold infection occurs when mold spores are inhaled, and mold growth occurs in the sinuses or lungs.
- Toxic Certain molds produce toxic chemicals that become airborne and are inhaled. These toxins get into the body where they can remain for an undetermined time.
Again, certain risk factors increase your chances of mold toxicity. Patients with asthma, seasonal allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , or weakened immune systems are at an increased risk to the effects of mold on the body.
How To Remove Black Mold
Protect yourself. You don’t need to worry about having mold tested if you find mold in your house. But you should get rid of it no matter what type of mold it is. Take precautions to protect yourself before you attempt to remove mold.
Use an N-95 face mask to avoid breathing in mold spores. Wear gloves to protect your hands and goggles without ventilation holes to protect your eyes.â
Find and destroy the mold. The most important part of removing mold is finding and removing its water source. Mold can’t grow without moisture. Keep the following tips in mind when you’re cleaning up mold:
- Items that can’t be dried quickly should be discarded if they show signs of mold or water damage. Porous items such as carpet, padding, drywall, and paper soak up moisture.
- Do not paint or caulk over moldy surfaces. Remove the mold and dry the surfaces before you paint. Paint applied over mold will peel.
- Use plastic sheeting to block an area with mold from the rest of your house and keep the spores from spreading.
- Scrub hard surfaces with mold with detergent and water and dry them thoroughly.
- Put any moldy items in a plastic bag before you take them out of the room to prevent mold spores from spreading.
- Use a HEPA filter in your air conditioner and furnace to capture mold spores that may be airborne in your house.
- Consult a specialist if you’re not sure of the best way to clean a valuable or sentimental item.â
House Mold Causes Heart Arrhythmias
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.
Irregular Heartbeat: What You Need To Know + How To Naturally Treat
Each year, millions of people experience irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias. In fact, a recent study found that one in four adult Americans over the age of 40 could develop an irregular heartbeat. This is especially true for people with coronary heart diseaseor for those under constant stress.
Most cases of a fluttering feeling in the chest are harmless, but some;cardiac arrhythmias;are extremely dangerous and require immediate treatment. Its important to be aware of the risk factors for an irregular heartbeat and the natural, non-invasive ways in which you can treat arrhythmias.
How Does Mold Cause Heart Damage
In healthy individuals, exposure to mold typically causes only minor symptoms and those are often respiratory in nature a runny nose, a cough, sneezing, maybe a sinus infection or bronchitis. There are always exceptions and even previously healthy folks can become seriously ill due to mold exposure, but those with pre-existing health problems are at greatest risk.
Organ damage, including damage to the heart, occurs when the immune system is unable to fight off a mold-related infection. Infection can travel through the bloodstream and affect one or more of the bodys vital organs, including the heart. Sometimes a widespread infection occurs, affecting many body systems at once, a condition known as sepsis. A high fever is usually present, along with other symptoms.
Mold can cause a number of heart problems, including myocarditis , endocarditis , damage to the heart muscle and damage to the heart valves. While most types of mold can lead to heart problems, a few types are known for being particularly dangerous in this regard, including aspergillus, paecilomyces and phialophora.;
If you experience symptoms of a possible heart attack, including chest pain, neck or shoulder pain, a heartburn-like sensation, dizziness, sweating and shortness of breath, you should go directly to the nearest emergency room or call 911 . Heart attacks are life-threatening and you need immediate medical attention.
The Common Types Of Mold
Even though mold exists in many types, the one that you are likely to find at the back and under your dishwasher is the black mold, known as Stachybotrys chartarum. This type of mold is highly toxic and causes many health problems. Therefore, if you notice any signs of mold growth, you should call the number on our website for a free estimate on mold remediation services. The mold is not only dangerous to humans, it can effect your pets too. The problems it can cause range from respiratory to neurological problems.
Toxic Mold Exposure Symptoms
Most of us down here in Florida are very familiar with mold. While mold is present everywhere, Floridas high humidity index increases the number of homes impacted by mold, and in turn mold-related illnesses. Most of us are exposed to different types of mold every day. Its in our showers, spoiled foods, water-damaged buildings and cars. Long story short, mold is everywhere. Most of the mold we encounter throughout our day is harmless, but certain types of mold produce chemicals that are toxic. Toxic mold exposure can cause serious disease, from autoimmune disease to cancer.
Black Mold Exposure Can Damage Your Circulatory System
Black mold spores can be inhaled, consumed, or absorbed through a persons skin or eyes. When mycotoxins find their way into the bloodstream, mycotoxins have the potential to cause serious damage.
Symptoms of circulatory system damage from black mold include:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Bleeding in the brain
Health Effects Of Black Mold
Severe over all organ damage can be caused from extended exposure to black mold.
Black mold can enter the body through the skin and eyes very easily. Once the mycotoxins get into the bloodstream, it can lead to a number of cardio vascular symptoms, such as irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure and even haemorrhaging.
Bodys reaction to mold depends on the persons sensitivity and overall health condition, the amount and the type of mold present in the environment, and the duration of exposure. However, the more a child lives in a mold-affected environment the more sensitive to the deleterious microorganisms he/she will become. The resultant allergic reactions will become more and more aggravated.
So, to avert solemn health quandaries and invert the negative effects of mold, you require to take immediate and efficient measures at the first sign of mold growth in your home.
Black Mold Symptoms In Toddlers
Each one of us wants to make this world a better place to live in for our children. But are our children safe even inside their home? Unless we keep our houses clean and free from any kind of fungus we cannot ensure better health conditions for our children. Black mold is one of the most dangerous elements that can cause different types of allergies, breathing problems and lots of other harm to your child. Black mold symptoms in toddlers depend on the severity of the exposure of the toddlers to the black molds. The toddlers usually do not have a developed immune system which makes them prone to serious complications due to molds.
Toxic Mold Symptoms Respiratory System
People living in homes with toxic mold are exposed mainly through breathing in spores and mycotoxins. Toxic mold mycotoxins create irritation and a burning feeling in a persons air passages, like the nasal cavity, mouth, and throat.
The mycotoxins can even become lodged in the mucous membranes, sinuses and the lungs which then causes a burning feeling, breathing problems and bleeding in the lungs.
Symptoms:
- Blurry vision and vision worsening
- Jaundice
Mold And Multiple Sclerosis
One article that Pizzorno discusses looks at the possible connection between fungal toxins and multiple sclerosis. This 2010 abstract shows evidence that pathogenic fungi release toxins that target and destroy CNS astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. This, in turn, degrades the myelin sheath and triggers the onset of multiple sclerosis. As Pizzorno states, As is well known, the incidence of multiple sclerosis increases with distance from the equator, which also correlates with mold exposure and decreased vitamin D A critical nutrient for immune system modulation. He asks the question, Could MS be primarily due to the combination of mold exposure and vitamin D deficiency?
What Are The Mental & Neurological Symptoms Associated With Black Mold Exposure
Black mold produces toxins that can kill neurons in the brain and can impair a persons mental faculties. Exposure to black mold toxins may cause mental & neurological conditions, like nervous disorders. Symptoms of mental & neurological effects of black mold exposure include altered behavior, mood swings, and irritability.
Mold And Chronic Lyme Disease
There is growing evidence supporting a connection between mold toxicity and chronic Lyme disease. In a July 2014 article by Scott Forsgren, Neil Nathan, MD and Wayne Anderson, ND, the connection between mold toxicity and chronic Lyme disease was discussed. Dr. Anderson finds that exposure to Lyme disease makes a patient more susceptible to mold toxicity and vice versa. In many cases, if a patient with Lyme disease does not respond to traditional treatment, an underlying mold infection is often the cause.
Mold exposure and toxicity contribute to many different symptoms and medical concerns that hyperbaric oxygen and HBOT address. With this in mind, if you suspect mold exposure and experience symptoms, give our office a call today to set up an initial consultation with Dr. Spiegel and his team.
Contact Us
