Can Mold Cause Nerve Damage

New Study Shows Mold Triggers Brain Inflammation

Landlords dismiss it, friends and family think youre making it up, and doctors have no idea what youre talking about but mold illness is often an unsuspected trigger of chronic health problems. The recent revelation of a string pediatric deaths at a Seattle hospital due to mold in the air system brought national attention to the gravity of mold illness.

Newer construction methods and materials, water damage that was not properly addressed, high indoor humidity levels, and genetic susceptibility are all factors that play a role in whether a person becomes sick from mold. Estimates vary, but some research shows up to 85 percent of building inspected had past water damage.

A new study found that people affected by mold illness experienced:

• Brain inflammation in the hippocampus, the area of the brain that governs memory, learning, and the sleep-wake cycle.
• Impaired memory.
• Increased sensitivity to pain.
• Increased anxiety.

The study also noted that the mold spore alone is not necessary to trigger mold reactions and mold illness. Weve long known that mycotoxins, toxic compounds produced by mold spores small enough to pass through most materials, are the primary trigger in mold illness.

The study also found that mold spore skeletal elements and other mold metabolites also cause symptoms of mold illness.

Identifying The Environmental Facts Of Neurological Symptoms

Physicians are not trained to pursue lines of questioning regarding the environment or how to treat environmental illness. In most cases, physicians see several patients per hour and this line of questioning takes too much time. It is in these question that the mystery can become obvious.

Almost 50% of homes have had some form of water damage. There are several reasons why this line of questioning is critical. Several common indoor molds reproduce when water damages building furnishings to a significant degree . These common indoor molds produce mycotoxins. These mycotoxins are metabolites that are sticky neurotoxins that can attach to dust and be inhaled. You can take a free questionnaire that addresses mold sensitivity Here.

Who Is Most At Risk

Although no one is safe from the mold health effects, there are certain individuals who are more likely to suffer adverse effects than others. Those with existing respiratory issues or severe allergies will be more sensitive than others, as will people who suffer from chronically compromised immune systems people with lupus or AIDs, for instance. Also especially vulnerable to health issues from mold are the elderly, infants and young children. Pregnant women should be aware that black mold increases the risk of fetal birth defects and miscarriage as well.

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What Are The Signs Of Nerve Damage

• Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
• Feeling like you’re wearing a tight glove or sock.
• Muscle weakness, especially in your arms or legs.
• Regularly dropping objects that you’re holding.
• Sharp pains in your hands, arms, legs, or feet.
• A buzzing sensation that feels like a mild electrical shock.

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

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Multiple Sclerosis Associated With Elevated Mercury

Mercury is known to be neurotoxic and has been associated with multiple sclerosis. One study compared serum mercury levels in 74 men and women with multiple sclerosis with 74 age and gender-matched controls. The results found the multiple sclerosis group had significantly higher levels of mercury than the control group.

A 2018 article demonstrated astrocytes, the glial cells integral to the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis, took up mercury in a man who had been injecting himself with mercury. The researchers also found other neurological tissues in the central nervous system contained mercury.

Mold Could Thrive In Your Home

It is estimated that half of the buildings in the United States may be WDB, meaning water-damaged buildings. Construction techniques in the U.S. turn out to be a feast and buffet for mold and fungal organisms. Our homes here are often built of wood and drywall rather than stone or brick as in Europe. Mold and fungi thrive on drywall, wood, and other soft materials.

Mold thrives in dark and moist environments and doesnt take much water to get the process going. A small drip from a leaky toilet, shower, or sink is all it takes. Small roof leaks are also common causes. If you see a stain on the ceiling or the wall there is very likely an associated hidden mold growth. This is not the type of mold that you see on the shower wall, but rather it is lurking behind the walls and in air ducts, crawl spaces, attics, and other areas.

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Brain Harmony’s Approach To Lyme Disease And Mold Toxicity

At Brain Harmony, our goal with friends who present with Lyme disease symptoms or mold toxicity is to support them in getting their nervous system back into balance. At the same time, we encourage our clients to work with a functional medicine doctor that can help to treat them on a cellular level, leading the detox process and cellular healing. Pairing the two approaches maximizes healing, beyond conventional expectations.

Many of the physical symptoms like rash, cough, and wheezing that come with Lyme and mold exposure will resolve once the detoxification process begins. However, to get to the root of the neurological symptoms, we engage our 5-step program to treat your underlying neurological infrastructure and get you back on track.

In the second step, we provide neurological reorganization. The brain fog, fatigue, cognitive decline and disorganization that are shared by these conditions can leave us with poor executive function making it hard to complete daily needs much less find enjoyment in our lives. During this phase, your occupational therapist or certified occupational therapy assistant will develop a plan specifically for you with protocols and listening tools to restructure the disorganization that is causing many of your neurological symptoms.

Getting Help For Mold Neurological Symptoms

If youre experiencing symptoms of mold-related neurological problems, it is imperative that you see a doctor right away. Some symptoms may be reversible with prompt treatment but if you delay, things like peripheral neuropathy may plague you for the rest of your life. In addition, some of these symptoms can signal other serious, even life-threatening, conditions, including some types of cancer. You may suspect mold is causing your symptoms but you need to see a doctor to find out for sure.

Describe all of your symptoms to your doctor, including any respiratory symptoms or other signs of illness. Let your doctor know when the symptoms began and if theyve changed or gotten worse over time. If youve been exposed to mold in the home, let your doctor know about that, as well.

Your doctor will take a thorough history and do a physical exam, including a neurological exam. Depending upon your symptoms and the results of your exam, your doctor may order some tests, including blood tests, x-rays, a CT scan or MRI, nerve function tests, a nerve biopsy and/or a skin biopsy. You may be referred to one or more specialists, including a neurologist , an infectious disease specialist, a psychiatrist or psychologist , a neurosurgeon , and/or an otolaryngologist .

As you can see, diagnosing mold-related neurological symptoms can be complicated and it may take some time to get an accurate diagnosis and to rule out other illnesses.

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Neuropsychiatric Effects Of Mold Exposure

• Findings in Children

Long-term exposure to mold that produces potent toxins is associated with hemosiderosis and acute pulmonary hemorrhage among infants. The correlation between the occurrence of respiratory issues and exposure to excessive mold in a school or home environment has shown symptoms such as prolonged cough, repeated wheezing, and sinus infections. Recent epidemiologic studies have also reported a significant correlation between autism spectrum disorder and exposure to mycotoxins produced by mold. The results from a 6-year follow up study in Poland revealed that mold exposure in a childs bedroom during their early years caused a significant decrease in their general cognitive score.

• Findings in Adults

Individuals who have been exposed to mold may experience a wide range of symptoms including cognitive impairment, fatigue, and malaise that may vary depending on the duration of exposure. According to a recent study performed on adult males and females, patients with prolonged exposure displayed symptoms of neurologic dysfunction such as short-term memory loss, verbal recall impairments, and inability to stand firm on ones toes.

Why Does Mold Cause Tingling And Numbness

When your home suffers water damage or has excess moisture, mold can start to grow. Mold can grow just about anywhere, including on your floors, inside your walls, or on carpeting. If the mold is not discovered quickly, airborne levels of mold spores will continue to increase. When mold is absorbed through the lungs, it can lead to neurological issues, including a condition called peripheral neuropathy, where the nerves are damaged.

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health , mold exposure can cause peripheral neuropathy, which gives us that mysterious tingling and numbness feeling. These uncomfortable sensations occur because our peripheral nervous systems are comprised of many motor and sensory nerves which connect the spinal cord to the brain. The nervous system is responsible for communicating critical messages between our sensory organs, nerves, brain, and spinal cord. When the system is disrupted by traumatic injury, vascular diseases, mental health conditions, or, in this case, mold exposure, it communicates that it is in trouble, which is why we feel neurological effects.

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Can Mold Affect Your Brain

Inflammation: Mold spores act as irritants, which can trigger the body to mount an immune response. This can lead to inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation in the brain can impair cognitive function, and in the case of chronic inflammation, this can lead to long-lasting cognitive impairment.

Can Black Mold Cause Nerve Damage

Can black mold cause nerve damage? When mold is absorbed through the lungs, it can lead to neurological issues, including a condition called peripheral neuropathy, where the nerves are damaged.

Can mold exposure cause nerve pain? Exposure to heavy indoor mold growth has been associated with many types of central and peripheral nerve problems including headaches, postural imbalance, concentration and memory problems, tremors, and distal numbness weakness .

What are the symptoms of being affected by black mold? Without effective management, mold infections of the CNS carry poor prognoses, particularly in immunocompromised patients such patients may present with isolated brain abscesses that simulate tumors of the CNS.

Can mold affect your central nervous system? Toxic mold exposure is also connected to more serious, long-term effects like insomnia, memory loss, trouble concentrating and confusion. Mold exposure contributes to depression and anxiety. It can even lead to muscle cramps, numbness in extremities, weight gain, light sensitivity and hair loss.

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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.

Could Your Unexplained Symptoms Actually Be Mold Toxicity

Weve reached a critical point in the field of natural medicine where its not enough to simply eat better and manage stress.

Obviously those lifestyle changes are powerful and important, but sometimes there are much deeper disturbances that have yet to be uncovered.

Most of us can control the types of foods we eat, how much sleep we get and how often we exercise. But what about the factors that are largely out of our control like our environment?

Some practitioners hone in with laser-like focus on a persons individual habits, but fail to consider the external factors that could be THE cause of a persons illness.

In addition to the toxic pesticides, solvents, plastics and industrial pollutants, were facing an epidemic of mold-related illnesses from water-damaged buildings.

But mold has always been around us, so why is all of this happening now?

Well, one of the things thats changed since the 1970s is the widespread use of fungicides in house paints. The problem with putting fungicides in paint is that it breeds the growth of very hearty and highly toxic molds. All it takes is a shoddy construction job like an improperly installed door, window or ventilation system for water to get into nooks and crannies and set the stage for mold to flourish.

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Test After Test With No Answers

That was the first episode, lasting for three months starting in November of 2010. In that time she lost twenty-five pounds, was forced to abandon her practice, and withdrew from activities outside the home. Her doctor, family, and friends told her that they thought she had depression or even bipolar disorder. She resisted, even in her confused and debilitated state, and insisted on further testing, believing that something was terribly wrong.

After a series of blood tests, her general practitioner diagnosed Kimberlyn with heavy metal poisoning and recommended she undergo chelation therapy. After undergoing this treatment, she did feel better. However, within five months the illness returned.

During her second cycle of illness, Kimberlyn sought out another doctor who performed a series of tests and suggested that maybe Kimberlyn was suffering from mold illness, also known as toxic mold syndrome. This was the first time mold had been suggested as a possible cause for Kimberlyns symptoms and was unexpected due to the arid climate of Arizona. Yet after having her home tested, three different types of toxic mold were found, including Stachybotrys, also known as black mold.

How Mycotoxins Can Impact Your Brain

Neurotoxicity refers to brain or peripheral nervous system damage. As you can imagine, its incredible dangerous and even deadly in some cases.

Toxins that cause neurotoxicity, or neurotoxins, can alter your brain activity through disrupting or even killing neurons.

This important review examined four mycotoxins known to induce neurotoxicity in rodent models, including:

• T-2 toxin Known for inducing neuronal cell death in both fetal and adult brains.
• Macrocyclic trichothecenes Causes neuronal cell death and inflammation in the olfactory system.
• Fumonisin B1 Causes neuronal degeneration in the cerebral cortex and disrupts ceramide synthesis .
• Ochratochin A Induces acute depletion of striatal dopamine, which has shown to cause cell death in the hippocampus, substantia nigra, and striatum .

These mycotoxins cause neurotoxicity, especially in oxidative stress-associated pathways. Oxidative stress-associated pathways are areas in your body that are particularly vulnerable to the imbalance between damaging free radicals and neutralizing antioxidants.

Because each of these mycotoxins are dangerous to your brain, lets take a closer look at where they exist, how you can avoid them, and what they do to your body.

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Summary Of Health Problems

Many types of indoor mold, not just black mold, may cause health problems in some individuals.

Long-term exposure to high levels of mold in the home, however,

People who are most at risk of the symptoms of mold exposure are:

• infants and children
• people with allergies or asthma
• people with weakened immune systems

The main health risks related to mold exposure are allergies and irritation, which typically cause respiratory symptoms.

People with weakened immune systems may also have a risk of fungal infection.

What Is Rocker Molding On A Car

Rocker panels are stamped pieces of strong metal that form part of the structural body of the car. They are an integral part that runs along the side of your car between the front and rear wheel wells. In other words, rocker panels keep the back of your car from separating from the front of your car.

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From Concise To Confused

Out of nowhere, Kimberlyn went from a highly-effective, busy, working mother, to a disorganized, uninvolved, confused individual who couldnt focus long enough to put together cohesive, coherent thoughts. She was no longer able to make decisions for herself and struggled to even get dressed in the morning. Insomnia, anxiety, and a loss of appetite accompanied the confusion. It was like I lost my personality, says Kimberlyn.

Journal Of Neurology Research

We welcome manuscripts written in Spanish, the Spanish manuscripts will be reviewed firstly by Spanish peer-reviewers, if accepted for scientific quality, we will translate them into English for publication. Please submit your Spanish manuscript directly to: for evaluation.

Case Report

Volume 7, Number 3, June 2017, pages 59-62

Development of New-Onset Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy Following Exposure to a Water-Damaged Home With High Airborne Mold Levels: A Report of Two Cases and a Review of the Literature

Allan Liebermana, Luke Curtisa, c, Andrew Campbellb

aCenter for Occupational and Environmental Health, 7510 Northforest Drive, North Charleston, SC 29420, USAbThe Wellness Center, 23144 Emerson Way, Land OLakes, FL 34639, USAcCorresponding Author: Luke Curtis, Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, 7510 Northforest Drive, North Charleston, SC 29420, USA

Manuscript accepted for publication March 27, 2017Short title: CIDP After Exposure in Water-Damaged Homedoi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jnr413e

Keywords: Autoimmunity Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy Fungi Molds Mycotoxins Water damage

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