Proper Testing For Mold Illness
Physicians that specialize in mold illness have narrowed in on tests that are most effective in determining if mold is an underlying cause of someones symptoms. Before considering laboratory tests, there is often a clinical suspicion someone may be suffering from symptoms of mold exposure.
When someone is experiencing any of the above symptoms and no other diagnosis has been made that explains these symptoms mold illness should be considered. There is also the circumstance when someone has another diagnosis such as Lyme disease, but treatments have not been effective in resolving symptoms.
There is no one perfect test to diagnose mold toxicity. I use the two testing methods below to determine if mold and mycotoxins are undermining someones health.
Urine Mycotoxin Test
A urine mycotoxin test indicates whether or not a person is excreting mycotoxins from mold exposure. However, our bodies should excrete mycotoxins after exposure to mold and this does not necessarily mean someone has mold illness. The degree of elevation of mycotoxins in the urine suggests the severity of mold toxicity.
Great Plains Laboratory and Real Time Laboratory are the labs most commonly used by physicians treating mold toxicity. The two labs use different testing methodologies and test for different mycotoxins, so it is hard to compare results between the labs.
Preparation for urine mycotoxin testing
Mycotoxin Antibody Test
Is Mold Causing My Nosebleed
If you are experiencing a nosebleed, it could be caused by an allergy. There is a DNA trait that makes certain individuals more susceptible to mold allergies. Due to this, it is a good idea to rule this out as a possible cause of your nosebleed. Also, it is best to leave the diagnosis to medical professionals. Self-diagnosis may exacerbate the problem and prolong treatment and recovery.
Contact your doctor to discuss mold and nosebleeds. They will be able to present tests that will get to the root of the issue.
There are two types of tests that your doctor can administer that are characterized by skin and blood tests.
- The skin test will use the bodys immediate reaction to mold to determine if an allergy is present.
- A blood test will analyze a blood sample to determine a mold allergy. Interestingly enough, doctors whove used the blood test have reported a positive result in up to 90% of patients. The percentage is much lower for doctors whove administered the skin tests, starting at 30%.
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Symptoms Of Fungal Infection In Hair:
Once you notice the above symptoms of the fungal infection in hair, you should also understand when you should see a doctor.
If you see any of the above symptoms affecting your childs scalp or any family person like:
- the unusual appearance of the scalp,
- itchiness of the scalp,
You should consult a doctor immediately. It is beneficial to get an appropriate diagnosis to understand what type of type is best to cure the fungal infection in hair.
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Rental Properties With Mould Issues
When a rental property has mould, the owner should fix any mould caused by faults in gutters or other fixtures, but the tenant should ensure that extractor fans are used when available and the home is aired regularly where possible.
Sometimes, the cause of the mould growth may be due to a building fault that may not be easily rectified.
If as a tenant, you have taken measures to make sure the building is properly ventilated and mould is still growing, you should raise the issue with the owner.
Information on mould in rental properties is available on Consumer Affairs Victorias website.
on Tel. .
Symptoms Of Black Mold Poisoning
- Written by Hannah Madans Welk on Nov 18, 2022
Recognizing the symptoms of black mold poisoning could potentially help avoid serious health problems for you and your family.
Toxic mold is one of the most common problems for homeowners today. There are many potential black mold symptoms that you could experience as a result of being around black mold. Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to mold in your home.
Difficult to Detect
Detecting when black mold is present can be very difficult based solely on someone’s symptoms. There are many different types of mold, and the only way to tell for sure which type of mold you have is to have it tested.
Everyone will react differently to being subjected to mold, which makes it even more difficult to detect. It may appear that one person has a cold or allergies, and others may not be affected at all, so you might not even think to test for it.
However, if you have experienced any symptoms for prolonged periods of time and there are no other explanations, black mold should be considered. Here are a few of the things to watch out for that could be caused by black mold poisoning.
1. Lack of Focus
2. Irregular Blood Pressure
3. Respiratory Problems
One of the most common symptoms of black mold poisoning is respiratory problems. These problems could come in any number of forms. Some people experience trouble breathing or catching their breath.
4. Headaches
5. Urinary Problems
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Trust The Experts Trust Proclean
Our highly-trained, certifiedmold removalprofessionals follow a proven, step-by-step process to make your home or business safe again.
First, we visually inspect the area to find any potential mold, tracing it to the source if possible. Then, our team contains the affected area and removes moldy, non-salvageable, porous material and implements negative air pressure technology to keep harmful mold spores from traveling from the air to your lungs.
Next, we utilize advanced HEPA filtered vacuums to help eliminate mold on non-porous surfaces, then set up air scrubbers with HEPA filters.
Finally, we ULV fog with a powerful antimicrobial solution to ensure that we treat the deepest, darkest corners of your home then, we clean and sanitize the remaining salvageable contents as necessary.
The moment you notice mold, you must act. Even a small amount of mold in the home can multiply quickly, and its entirely possible that there is more existing mold than what meets the eye.
today to ensure the safety of your home and health of your loved ones within it.
Toxic Mold Syndrome: It Was Like I Lost My Personality
Kimberlyn, a 46-year-old married mother living in Arizona is not your average patient. She is highly detailed, analytical, logical, and carries with her a masters degree in pattern analysis. When Kimberlyn got sick, she applied as much as she could from her work life to try to uncover what was adversely affecting her. Even so, coming to the right diagnoses took a lot of work and required outside help.
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Can Mold Exposure Cause Mental Illness
Mold toxicity can manifest in different ways in people. Its more commonly linked to physical problems, such as difficulty breathing, fatigue, and headaches, but research shows that it can present itself in a psychiatric way, too. This includes brain fog, depression, anxiety, problems concentrating, and insomnia.
Signs Of Mold Illness
by Dr. Michele Neil-Sherwood | Health Tips, Top Posts
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.
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How Is Mold Toxicity/cirs Treated
Treating mold toxicity/CIRS can be complicated, but the basic elements involve:
- Evaluating your environments and removing yourself from any mold exposure at home, work, school or in the car. (Any continued exposure will perpetuate the toxicity and prevent healing! This could mean moving out of your home altogether, or at least until the mold has been thoroughly remediated.
- The use of binding agents to escort the toxins out of the body through stool
- Supporting detoxification
- Appropriate treatment for any hormonal imbalances related to the biotoxicity
- Treatment of MARCoNS, which is a type of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus bacteria. It frequently colonizes the nasal passages and sinuses of people with mold illness.
- A very low-carbohydrate diet
Of all of the treatment steps outlined above, #1 is the most important. You MUST get out of the affected building and eliminate the exposure. Sadly, many people who feel sick and tired stay home more often, not realizing that their home is the source of their illness. So they become sicker the more they stay home, and its a vicious cycle.
While the home or workplace is being remediated, you cannot be in that space. Also, any belongings form a moldy building can make you sick . Books, papers, furniture and other household items can all be sources of re-exposure and will likely have to be thrown out. Remember, material possessions can be replaced people cannot!
How Do Doctors Test For Mold Exposure
If you are aware of mold growth in your home and you feel sick, inform your doctor about the mold and your symptoms right away. But sometimes you cant see mold, and it is not clear whether its mold exposure thats made you sick or not.
Because mold allergy or mold exposure symptoms can resemble that of other allergies, the doctor will typically start by asking about your medical and family medical history. Additionally, doctors usually run tests for mold exposure which may include one or more of the following:
- Skin test for reactions to allergens, including mold
- IgG mold antibodies test to see the immune systems reaction to molds. A positive test means that an individual was or is currently exposed to mold
- Urine mycotoxins test
- A fungal culture of the nasal sinuses
The type of testing youll receive depends on the doctor you visit, so be sure to ask questions ahead of time so you can feel confident in your diagnosis.
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What Happens If You Eat Food With Mold
The thought of eating something moldy likely makes you want to gag. Most of the time, this is the only symptom youd get after eating moldy food. If somethings not right with your immune system and you eat something moldy, you might experience symptoms like:
- If you are allergic to mold, those allergy symptoms may be triggered also
If you notice mold on your food that you dont want to throw away, consult the USDAs guide on handling moldy food.
How Does Mould Affect Health
Mould associated with damp buildings can trigger nasal congestion, sneezing, cough, wheeze, respiratory infections and worsen asthma and allergic conditions.
People who are more susceptible to these symptoms and other serious health effects include those with:
- weakened immune systems
- chronic, obstructive, or allergic lung diseases.
You should seek medical advice if you are concerned about the effects of mould.
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Signs Of A Mold Illness
What Is Black Mold
Black mold is often described as a toxic mold and is considered to be the most dangerous type of mold. In actual fact, there is nothing to suggest that it is more dangerous than any other type and it encompasses several different varieties. It can still be toxic mold, but just because itâs black doesnât mean that itâs deadly and just because itâs not black doesnât mean that itâs safe.
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How Do You Know If You Have Mold Toxicity Or Cirs
The first step is to just CONSIDER that it could be a possibility. If youre not aware that this condition even exists, theres no way youll seek answers and treatment for it.
Mold is a sensitizer, meaning it overexcites the nervous and immune systems, and it makes any other existing health issues worse. CIRS affects multiple body systems and creates a bizarre set of symptoms.
The symptoms of mold illness can vary widely, but here are some of the most common. Please note that the symptoms with a are quite characteristic of mold-related illness:
- Extreme seasonal allergy symptoms or sinus congestion
- Frequent urination
Great Plains Laboratory provides a urine mycotoxin test, which tests for toxins from 40 different species of mold.
In addition to the basic labs and urine test, the Visual Contrast Sensitivity Test has been shown to be a reliable screening indicator of biotoxin illness. Biotoxins cause inflammation of the optic nerve, and this inflammation can manifest as changes in visual perception. The VCS test involves looking at different patterns of wavy lines. You can take the VCS test online for free. If you pay a $10 donation, they will provide you with a compete report of your results. As biotoxicity improves, the VCS test score also improves.
How Do You Identify Black Mold
Black mold, as the name implies, is often dark in color. When searching for black mold, look for circular-shaped spots that are black, dark green or dark brown. Some black mold can also take on shades of orange or have flecks of white within it. Most of the time, black mold has a slightly furry appearance.
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How Are We Exposed To Mold
Mold needs organic matter to feed upon and moisture in order to grow. When growing conditions are right, mold releases spores and volatile organic compounds into the air, which may make some people feel sick.
Mold spores may be breathed in or absorbed through skin. Mold can also grow on food and may be hazardous if ingested.
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What Is A Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections occur when bacteria invade the urinary tract, usually working their way from the outside in towards the bladder, or worse, into the kidneys. Often, the bacterium responsible for this type of infection is a common resident of the large intestines, such as E. coli. While typically harmless in the intestinal tract, these bacteria can cause significant trouble if theyre unintentionally introduced into the urinary tract. If you have a history of previous UTIs, you should know that you are more likely to experience a recurrence.
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Symptoms Of Peripheral Neuropathy
No matter the cause, the symptoms of this condition can include:
- Loss of sensation and/or itching in the hands and/or feet
- Moderate to severe nerve pain in the extremities
- Muscle weakness in the limbs
- Burning sensation in the hands and/or feet
- Sensitivity to touch
- Lightheadedness
People who have this type of neuropathy may also have trouble walking or experience heat intolerance, dizziness, and increased sweating. They may also have changes in their blood pressure and problems going to the bathroom. Here is more about the neurological symptoms of mold exposure.
Besides mold exposure, there are a variety of medically-related reasons why patients may have neuropathic symptoms, including conditions like lyme disease, diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV, shingles, hepatitis C, Epstein-Barr virus, liver disease, alcoholism, benign tumors and growths, and cancer. Since peripheral neuropathy is often a sign of a serious illness, it is important to see your doctor right away if you think you have it.
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Test Your Environment For Mold
Testing your environmenthome or workplacefor mold can be very beneficial since the symptoms of mold-related illness can be similar to other chronic inflammatory conditions such as Lyme.
There are different avenues you may take to address mold testing. Options exist for both professional testing and for self-testing.
DIY Mold Testing
There are pros and cons to each so a combination of these may be used:
Find a Qualified Indoor Environmental Professionals for Inspection
An indoor environmental professional knowledgeable about the effects of mold on sensitive populations can be helpful. Their trained eyes and tools can be helpful in identifying the source of your mold. Here are tips for finding a qualified mold inspector:
- Be sure the professional offers just inspection, not inspection with remediation to avoid conflicts of interest.
- Consider a virtual or phone consultation with indoor professionals aligned with the International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness and their standards for indoor health.
- Look for a local IEP through ACAC.org
- Find inspection professionals with the CIEC and CMC certifications.
- Find remediation professionals with the CMRS and CMR certifications.
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