Can Black Mold Spores Travel In The Air
Yes. Mold spores are airborne and can attach themselves to peoples skin, clothing, shoes, shopping bags, furniture, carpets, and even pets. Once spores enter your home, they can settle onto any surface and start to multiply. They can also enter your house through open doorways, open windows, and HVAC systems.
Mold spores are microscopic and are virtually found everywhere. They are naturally found in the air we breathe, both indoors and outdoors. Since spores are tiny and lightweight, they become airborne easily, every time we vacuum or walk on the carpets or even sit on our couch.
Can We Eat Moldy Bread
The most common notion you would have heard about moldy food is to avoid it strictly since eating mold is dangerous, and may cause a variety of problems.
However, what if we told you that it was okay to have some moldy foods? In fact, some foods are processed with mold as an essential ingredient. Blue cheese, for instance, is made from a type of mold that is safe to consume.
Other food and beverage items that include mold as an ingredient are:
- Alcoholic beverages
But if you are allergic to molds or have a yeast infection eating such foods may not be good for you.
The extent of mold growth is different in salvageable and non-salvageable foods. Salvageable foods are those through which mold cannot easily penetrate. Such food items are edible after cutting out the mold-infected part.
Such foods include vegetables like cabbage and bell peppers, and other items like hard salami, hard cheese, and dry-cured country ham.
Non-salvageable foods, on the contrary, are foods which have more moisture, and hence are softer and easy to penetrate.
Food items such as bacon, yogurt, grains/pasta, jelly, etc. should be discarded immediately if you see mold growing on them.
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Mold Toxicity Treatment In Decatur Il
If you notice any of the above signs, ensure you go for a mold toxicity treatment in Decatur. The doctor may recommend some blood or skin test to confirm if you have a mold allergy. You can also visit any to get medications like antihistamines and decongestants. Your doctor will refer you to the Best Medicine Clinic in Decatur.
The signs mentioned above can be more severe in individuals with a weak immune system. Ensure you see your doctor for the right treatment. Finally, remember prevention is better than cure try to avoid molds in your environment as much as possible. Vero Clinicsspecializes in Mold Illness diagnosis and treatments. Please contact usto discuss how Dr. Jeff Pfeiffercan help you. Our staff will ask some preliminary questions and discuss your options with you.
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Can Mold Grow In Your Stomach
by Dr. Michele Neil-Sherwood | Health Tips
Mold is a big problem in most homes, but many people are unaware of the problem. Of course, everyone looks at the shower curtain, under the sink, or in the basement when he or she think about mold issues, but mold can grow just about anywhere.
Mold can be found in drywall, in the roof , and even in ones Christmas tree. One study found that Christmas trees can breed mold, quietly releasing millions of spores into the room causing winter allergies and asthma attacks. Studies have found that indoor air quality dropped six-fold over the 14 days a Christmas tree typically decorates a room.
There are 1,000 types of mold that can be found growing in the modern American home. Scientists classify these molds based on the effect they have on humans and other living things.
Eliminate The Source Of Mold
Mold can grow anywhere there is dampness. To reduce the risk of mold in your home or office, fix water leaks. Use fans to circulate the air and dry the area. Clean susceptible areas like bathrooms often and use ventilation fans to decrease the humidity in your home. When cleaning, make sure that you wear a mask to prevent the inhalation of mold spores. Once you finish cleaning moldy areas, wash your clothing immediately, and take a shower to prevent spreading mold spores throughout your home. If your home has been subjected to extensive water damage, contact a mold remediation specialist and have your home professionally cleaned. The cleaners may recommend carpets, draperies, and upholstery to be disposed of if they cannot be properly cleaned by the professional.
Mold can be several different colors, including green, black, and brown. Sometimes mold will appear as a spot and begin to grow. Mold has a musty, earthy smell. Mold can be hidden behind drywall, under carpets, or behind wallpaper. Routinely inspect your roof, basement, and crawl space for moisture. Check plumbing pipes, kitchens, laundry rooms, and bathrooms for any signs of mold. Routine inspections of these areas can prevent a large mold infestation. As soon as you notice the first traces of mold, use a mixture of bleach and water to clean the area, and destroy the mold spores.
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Preventing Further Exposure To Mold
To prevent further exposure to mold, youll need to have all traces of mold removed from your home. We recommend scheduling a free consultation and mold inspection with an experienced mold remediation professional. A professional can assist you with the job of removing mold from your home if you choose, but even if you plan to do the work yourself, you can benefit from some free expert advice on the matter. Follow this link to find qualified professionals offering free consultations and mold inspections in your area.
If you think you were exposed to mold in the workplace, talk with your physician about safety measures you can take in the future. Speak with the safety officer at your work, as well, or whoever is in charge of employee health and safety issues there. You can also contact the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor for more information or for assistance dealing with workplace health issues.
It Changes Your Gut Microbiota
Mycotoxins can increase levels of harmful gut bacteria and deplete beneficial microbes. Research has found that exposure to deoxynivalenol , a fumonisin mycotoxin, significantly increases levels of Bacteroides in the gut also, a high proportion of Bacteroides is associated with inflammatory bowel disease . Ochratoxin reduces levels of Lactobacillus reuteri and bifidobacteria the reduction of beneficial lactobacilli and bifidobacteria decreases the intestinal production of short-chain fatty acids, leading to impaired gut immunity.
Mycotoxins also promote the growth of pathogenic bacteria. In animal studies, ochratoxin ingestion increases the growth of a family of bacteria that includes Staphylococcus and Listeria. A combination of aflatoxins and fumonisins enhances the growth of Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli, a type of E. coli that causes diarrhea, UTIs, and bloodstream infections.
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How To Prevent Mole Formation
Now that we have gained some insight into what happens if you eat mold, let us see how you can prevent mold from getting formed on food surface.
One of the most basic, but most essential precautions you must take is to cover your food with plastic wraps or with container lids while storing in the refrigerator.
It is advised to cover your food even while serving on the table. Make sure you store your food in a clean refrigerator. For this, ensure that you clean your refrigerator with baking soda on a regular basis.
While it may be practical to make extra food for the coming week or to get groceries for the entire week, it is also important to ensure that you bring and make food in realistic quantities. It is mandatory to check expiration dates when buying groceries.
Consume leftovers within four days it is not a good idea to keep them stored beyond that. To prevent mold from forming on food, do not leave perishable items out of the refrigerator for more than two hours at a time.
What Are Black Mold Health Symptoms
We all know mold isnt welcomed in the home, but did you know too that breathing in the presence of mold can harm your health? There are over 2,000 different species of mold and the most dangerous of all is called Stachybotrys Chartarum, also known as black mold or the invisible killer.
Why is black mold so dangerous? Black mold releases toxic spores that linger in the air and attack your respiratory health. The potency of these toxic spores has proved to be the most detrimental to human health.
Black mold often appears as slimy and greenish-black. If its water source runs out, it can also appear as dry and powdery. Black mold is also dangerous because its sometimes difficult to distinguish from other species of mold.
The following are health symptoms associated with black mold exposure:
In severe cases, symptoms caused by inhaling black mold can lead to the following health troubles:
- Respiratory complications
Sometimes mold invades spaces that are hard to see and reach. It spreads fast, burrowing into walls and ceilings and hiding in cupboards and under carpets. Quite often, people are exposed to black mold without even knowing it. If you or anyone in your home is experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms without knowing why, you may be exposed to mold.
Black mold should be approached with extreme caution. Tackling it without proper knowledge and equipment is unsafe. The suspected contamination should always be examined and removed by professionals.
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What Happens If You Accidentally Eat Black Mold
If you eat black mold accidentally, then you will most likely get sick. Keep in mind that some people are more susceptible to getting sick from eating mold than others.
For instance, if you have a weak immune system or other health problems, then youll be more likely to get sick from eating black mold. Thats because your immune system has lost some of its ability to fight off the toxins produced by the mold.
Its important to seek medical attention immediately after accidentally eating black mold . If youre not sure you have eaten black mold, you should see a doctor as soon as possible as well.
So What Is A Mycotoxin
Mycotoxins, literally fungus poison in Latin, are secondary metabolites that can be produced by molds, and are not living organisms. Mycotoxins are a byproduct of mold. Not all mold spores produce mycotoxins, but some do. So the molds that produce mycotoxins are the ones that could be categorized as toxic or poisonous.
So, where is the line between an allergic mold and a toxic mold? That line is defined by the presence of mycotoxins, and is NOT defined by color. Mycotoxins are invisible and cannot be detected just by looking at the mold growth.
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Five Of The Most Common Indoor Molds
Mold illness is the variety of health problems that can occur from any type of mold exposure. Although a mold allergy is the most common problem caused by exposure to mold, mold can cause illness without an allergic reaction. Mold can also cause infections or irritants and toxic reactions. Infections caused by mold can lead to a variety of problems from flu-like symptoms to skin infections and even pneumonia.
How Mold Exposure Can Hurt Your Gut Health
If youve encountered mold, either from a water-damaged building or contaminated foods, youve likely encountered mycotoxinstoxic byproducts of mold. Theyre common environmental toxins, and they have adverse effects on many body systems, including the gastrointestinal tract.
While youve probably heard about the respiratory symptoms that can follow mold exposure, research indicates that mycotoxins can cause serious problems for your gut, as well. Read on to learn how mycotoxins impact gut health and the microbiota and what you can do to help restore your gut health if youve been exposed.
You know that mold exposure can cause major respiratory symptoms, but did you know it can hurt your gut, too? In this article, I explain how mold can hurt your GI tract and give my recommendations on how to get your gut healthy again. #optimalhealth #wellness #chriskresser
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It Can Lead To Leaky Gut
The intestinal epitheliumtightly packed epithelial cells that line the walls of your intestinesacts as a barrier to block the entry of pathogens, toxins, and foreign antigens into the bloodstream. Trichothecenes, fumonisins, and aflatoxins interfere with a protein that links epithelial cells together, weakening this barrier they also decrease gut-protective mucin production and lower IL-8, a cytokine that assists with pathogen removal. These effects increase intestinal permeability, causing leaky gut and rendering the gut vulnerable to infection.
Symptoms Of Black Mold Poisoning
If the mold exposure symptoms are ignored and the person continues to be exposed to the mold, black mold poisoning will begin. These symptoms are much more severe than simple mold exposure symptoms:
- Vomiting and nausea
As these health problems progress, serious conditions can occur. These severe symptoms are different for each person, but they may include: depression or anxiety, heart attack, cancer, stomach ulcers, fertility problems, fibromyalgia, or lupus.
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How Common Is Mold In Buildings
Mold is very common in homes and buildings.
One 2017 study found mold in every public building studied, with an average of about 14 instances of mold per building.
Another involving 31 European countries found mold in 1 in 6 homes. The author noted that the prevalence of mold may vary greatly depending on the regional climate.
The Effect Of Mycotoxins On The Microbiome
A healthy microbiome can protect the body by binding and metabolizing mycotoxins. But too many mycotoxins alter the proliferation and balance of the gut microbiota.
Intestinal dysbiosis contributes to the leaky gut cycle and allows gut pathogens to take over as beneficial bacteria are eliminated. As a result, the digestive system is less equipped to handle the continued exposure to incoming mycotoxins, producing a buildup in the gut.
This accumulation produces symptoms such as yeast overgrowth/candida infection, food sensitivities, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth .
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Mold Symptoms: Is Mold Making Me Sick
No one wants to think about mold growing in their home, but since the side effects of mold exposure can be serious, its something you cant ignore. Symptoms are wide ranging, and since mold often grows out of sight, it can be difficult to pinpoint mold as the cause. Check out this symptoms checklist to see if you might have mold growing in your home.
Disclosure: The symptoms listed here are for general informative purposes only. Speak with your doctor for specific medical advice relating to any unexplained symptoms you have.
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Digestive Problems From Mold Exposure
Digestive problems related to mold exposure are not as common as some other mold sickness symptoms, like allergic reactions and respiratory problems, but exposure to household mold can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding in the intestinal tract, intestinal cramping, and the development of bacterial and yeast infections in the intestinal tract. Mold is most likely to affect the digestive system when mold is ingested, such as if you eat spoiled food. However, mold spores can also be inhaled and harmful substances called mycotoxins that are produced by mold can be absorbed through the skin, and these things can also affect the digestive system.
Most often, people that develop mold-related health problems are exposed to mold in their own homes. However, agricultural workers may also be exposed to mold on the job, especially types of mold that can lead to gastrointestinal problems.
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For Help With Mold Removal
If mold is making you ill, we recommend arranging for someone else to handle the mold removal process for you because the process would further expose you to mold spores that could make your condition worse. You can schedule a free in-home consultation with an experienced mold removal professional to discuss the work that needs to be done in your home. Even if you decide to handle the work yourself, you can benefit from some expert advice and theres no cost to you. Find a list of qualified mold removal professionals in your area by following the link provided.
Health Problems Related To Dampness And Mold
Allergies or allergic responses to pollen or animal dander are the most common types of health problems related to mold. Typical symptoms include:
- Nose, mouth, or throat irritation
- Irritation of the nose, mouth, or throat
- Nasal stuffiness and runny nose
- Red, itchy, or watery eyes
Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores can cause a person to become allergic to mold. Molds can trigger asthma symptoms including shortness of breath, wheezing, or cough in people with known allergies. People who do not have allergies can also become irritated. Studies indicate that exposure to molds in the workplace can make pre-existing asthma worse. NIOSH investigates associations between damp buildings and developing new asthma.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a kind of lung inflammation that occurs when people develop immune system sensitization to inhaled organic dust. Immune system sensitization is similar to an allergy. It can seem like pneumonia, but it does not get better with antibiotics for infection. Symptoms of HP can vary. Some persons have:
- Shortness of breath
- Profound fatigue
These symptoms usually first appear 2 to 9 hours after exposure and last for 1 to 3 days. Other affected persons have progressive shortness of breath and cough, as well as weight loss.
This lung disease has also occurred in workers who worked in water-damaged buildings with:
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