Signs Of A Moldy Bedroom
If youre inspecting your bedroom for mold, its important to know that mold can grow for some time before it becomes visible. Therefore, when assessing your bedroom, keep an eye out for these signs of mold growth:
- A humid or damp closet
- Condensation on windows
- Cracking paint, a dark area on a wall, or other signs of water damage
- An unusual, musty odor
You may also see mold develop in areas with regular moisture or condensation. For example, black mold spots may become visible in corners of your bedroom or behind furniture that is kept up against the wall.
Sometimes mold may be concealed underneath wallpaper, paneling, carpet, or behind walls. If you suspect that hidden mold is growing in your bedroom, its smart to consider hiring a professional who can perform a thorough investigation of your home.
Important Safety Information For Venlafaxine Extended
Warning: Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors
Suicide is a known risk of depression and certain other psychiatric disorders, and these disorders themselves are the strongest predictors of suicide. In short-term studies, antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults under age 24. These studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior with antidepressant use in patients over age 24 there was a reduction in risk in patients 65 and older.
Patients of all ages being treated with antidepressants should be observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, and unusual changes in behavior, especially early during antidepressant treatment and when the dose is adjusted up or down. Families and caregivers of patients should look for the emergence of symptoms on a day-to-day basis, since changes may be abrupt.
How Should I Take Venlafaxine Extended
You should take venlafaxine extended-release with food.
You should take venlafaxine extended-release exactly as prescribed, and continue to take venlafaxine extended-release as prescribed even after your symptoms improve. You should not change your dosing regimen or stop taking venlafaxine extended-release without discussing with your provider first. A gradual reduction in dosage rather than abruptly stopping is recommended whenever possible.
If your symptoms are not improving or you have any questions about changing or stopping medication, reach out to your Ro-affiliated provider for guidance.
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Signs Of Mold Illness
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.
Night Sweats Vs Hot Flashes
Night sweats occur when we get too hot, and the blood vessels in our skin expand to increase blood flow to release heat. The body then transfers this energy from our bodies to the environment through sweat, which is then released and evaporated.
Hot flashes are periods of sudden, intense warmth that typically affect your face, neck, and chest area. Your skin may become sweaty and red, or appear as if you’re blushing.
Night sweats and hot flashes can be related, but they can occur separately from one another as well. Hot flashes often arise due to menopause or other conditions that alter hormone production, and the hormonal shift can cause both of these issues. However, night sweats can happen due to various other conditions, too so, while menopause and hot flashes are mutually exclusive, menopause and night sweats are not.
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What Is Black Mold
Stachybotrys chartarum is a common black mold. It can also be a greenish color. It grows on cotton, wood, and paper products. It sometimes produces toxic chemicals that are found in its airborne spores and fungus fragments.
These are called mycotoxins and are dangerous if they’re eaten. There’s no link to inhaled Stachybotrys chartarum mycotoxins and deadly diseases. But there are risks for people with allergies, asthma, and other hypersensitivities.
There is no evidence that black mold causes symptoms such as fatigue, memory loss, an inability to focus, or a headache. These symptoms have been referred to as “toxic mold syndrome” but are largely due to media hype. Yet some people are allergic to mold. It should always be removed from your home.
Night Sweats In Men: What Causes Them And When To Worry
During Mens Health Week, we are trying to focus more on the problems men confront with. People can have night sweats, which are bouts of heavy sweating during sleep that soak through night clothes or sheets, at different times in their lives. Women who are going through menopause often have night sweats. But men can also get the condition for several different reasons.
There hasnt been a lot of research on how common night sweats are, but one study from the National Library of Medicine in Maryland found that 41% of people had recently had night sweats, and another study of people over 64 from the same institute found that 10% said night sweats bothered them more often. Men should be able to tell when their symptoms are nothing to worry about and when they need to see their doctor if they know some of the causes.
Many of us can feel too hot in a warm bedroom, but night sweats are a more aggressive response that can cause sheets to be soaked when someone wakes up. The second one is more likely to mean something is wrong with your health.
Men who sweat at night may have a number of health problems, such as sleep apnea, acid reflux, or low testosterone. Other things that can make you sweat a lot at night are autoimmune diseases and some types of cancer.
James Mold, a retired family doctor and professor emeritus of family and preventive medicine at the Oklahoma University College of Medicine, said that it can be hard to find the cause.
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Your Sleepwear And Sleep Environment
Everyone likes a cozy sleep environment. But, sometimes, there’s a fine line between being cozy and overheating.
Dr. Ram says that the most common reason for night sweats are:
- Bedding, sleepwear or even a mattress that doesn’t “breathe”
- A sleep environment that’s too warm
“In fact, if you’re sweating excessively at night for these reasons, we don’t actually consider it true night sweats,” says Dr. Ram.
Dr. Ram’s tips for avoiding overheating while sleeping:
- Keep your bedroom cool. Lower your thermostat and/or leverage a fan.
- Dress light. Don’t overdress and choose moisture-wicking materials if you need to.
- Choose lightweight bedding. Avoid fleece, flannel, down and synthetic fibers.
- Consider your mattress. Foam materials can limit airflow.
Talk To Your Doctor About Night Sweats
You should talk to your doctor if you have night sweats that are
- Frequent
- Affecting other aspects of your daily life
- Occurring along with other health changes
Its important to consult with a doctor in these situations, but unfortunately, one study of over 900 people who experienced night sweats found that the majority had not raised the issue with a doctor.
Meeting with a doctor is important because they can help determine the most likely cause and order tests to get to the bottom of the situation. Based on that information, a doctor can work with you to create a treatment plan that takes your symptoms and overall health into account.
Its also important to let the doctor know about any sleeping problems that you have. Sleep disorders, like obstructive sleep apnea , may be causing daytime sleepiness and, according to some research, may also be a factor promoting night sweats.
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What Are The Most Serious Side Effects That I Or A Caregiver Should Monitor For When Taking Venlafaxine Extended
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical attention.
These serious side effects are rare, but can occur with venlafaxine extended-release. You or a caregiver should carefully monitor for these side effects, especially in the beginning of treatment and with dose changes.
- Serotonin Syndrome: Serotonin syndrome is an uncommon, potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when taking too much of an SSRI or SNRI at once or when venlafaxine extended-release is taken along with other drugs that increase the activity of serotonin in the central nervous system. These medications may include MAOIs, triptans , tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. Johns Wort. Monitor for symptoms of elevated body temperature, flushing, sweating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, agitation, and a racing heartbeat.
- Increases in blood pressure: Your blood pressure should be well controlled prior to starting treatment. Your provider will monitor your blood pressure regularly. Consider monitoring your blood pressure at home.
- Abnormal Bleeding: Tell your provider if you experience any increased or unusual bruising, bleeding, or nose bleed. Venlafaxine extended-release may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with NSAIDs , aspirin, warfarin, and other anticoagulants.
Reason#: You Havent Run The Right Tests
Lets begin with the GI MAP. There are 2 pictures I tend to see when mold is at play. Profile One: The GI Map come back relatively clean. Perhaps theres a few opportunistic bacterial infections, but its nothing really ground breaking compared to what your symptoms are. This is a GI MAP without worms or amoebas. This is because the GI map is not going to be adequately testing for mold. It does test for candida and some fungal species, but that is typically not comprehensive enough to pick up a mold problem. Sometimes on this type of profile there is a very low secretory IGA meaning the guts immune system in tanked. There also tends to be high beta-glucuronidase when mold is a play. But there is nothing definitive on the GI MAP that will point to mold as the issue. The second profile I tend to see with mold on a GI map is someone whose GI MAP comes back with a lot of infections. These clients tend to be very diligent in treating the discovered infections, but on a retest, often the infections still remain, or new infections have popped up.
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Toxic Mold Symptoms To Look For
Some black mold symptoms can be serious. And many of them mimic chronic Lyme disease. Some of the more common toxic mold symptoms are:
- Fatigue and weakness
- Poor memory, difficult word finding
- Difficulty concentrating
- Imbalanced hormones and thyroid disorders
- Diabetes
- Unusual skin sensations, tingling, and numbness
- Shortness of breath, sinus congestion or a chronic cough
- Appetite swings and blood sugar deregulation
- Poor body temperature regulation
- Increased urinary frequency or increased thirst
- Red eyes or blurred vision
- Hot flashes or sweats
- Mood swings, depression, anxiety, and other mental or emotional disorders
- Sharp pains
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
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The Impact Of Toxic Mold On Your Health
Naturally found outdoors, mold spores can easily enter your home through doorways, windows, and HVAC systems. Spores in the air can also hitch rides on people and animals, which spreads the mold indoors and compromises shoes, clothes, and furniture.
These spores are always in the air, and they grow and thrive on moisture.
When they land on places where there is water or water damage, they will grow. Mold can grow on anything that is damp and porous, such as paper, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood, drywall, and carpet.
Even brand-new homes can harbor mold, as builders hastily install water-damaged materials like drywall, which is then covered by plaster and paint, hiding its dirty secret.
But the impact of toxic mold goes beyond the black stuff growing inside damp spaces.
The real culprit is the nanoparticle mycotoxins that are released by the mold spores. These toxins are considered a natural poison, and their dangerous effect will vary by the individual.
The severity of health decline due to mycotoxins depends on the duration of the exposure, age, health, and sex, and also genetics, vitamin deficiency, and even infectious disease status. If your body is strong, effects may be minimal.
But if your body is already weak, or fighting something like an autoimmune disease, it could affect you greatly. Those with certain genetic mutations may also be more sensitive to mold.
Other Causes Of Night Sweats
Night sweats can be a symptom of certain types of cancer or a side effect of cancer treatments. Hot flushes may occur in people with lymphoma. They frequently arise as a result of hormone therapy for women with breast cancer and men with prostate cancer. Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy for cancer may provoke night sweats.
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Molds Effects On Human Health & Treatments
Mold toxicity is an important topic to address since I have seen a significant rise in mold-related symptoms here in New York City. Symptoms can vary depending on the individual and their lifestyle, and mold is often a great pretender and instigator of dormant viruses or bacteria. Unfortunately, the signs of mold toxicity are often unrecognized or misdiagnosed by traditional doctors.
Traditional doctors examine you, but without proper context, they often fail to see what is causing your health problems. Mold illness goes predominately undiagnosed due to the inordinate lack of knowledge on environmental and toxicological diseases in the US. Unfortunately, this leaves a large number of people to advocate for themselves, turning to the internet and Facebook groups to heal. Yes those are helpful but they often misdirect people into ill-timed and improper treatment paths. When you work with a functional doctor, we go over your habits and environment to paint a complete picture of your lifestyle, make sure to run the correct labs throughout treatment and get to the root cause and downstream effects of the mold toxicity in your body.
In this article, well go over the most common health effects toxic mold patients face, common mold hiding places, diseases that go hand in hand with mold poisoning, as well as my methods of diagnosis and treatments.
Reason #: Its Not Evident On A Standard Blood Chemistry
If you go to a conventional MD, and they runs a blood test on you, chances are if youve mold illness, most of the markers on the blood tests are going to come back within the normal range because those blood markers within a classic blood chemistry, arent geared to detect mold illness. There are several key markers you can special-order to determine mold illness, including c4a.
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Similarities And Differences Between The Primary Symptoms
We anticipated and confirmed strong univariate associations between the 3 primary symptoms. Also, of the 50 variables with univariate associations with at least 1 of the primary symptoms, 23 were associated with all 3 symptoms, and 33 were associated with 2 of the 3 symptoms. Thus, all 3 primary symptoms appear to be fairly nonspecific in nature, similar to fatigue or anorexia. That none of them was associated with an expectation of worse health and only hot flashes were associated with being illness prone suggest, however, that they are not simply meaningless items in the positive review of systems. The 3 symptoms were also somewhat different. In the multivariate models, the only variables common to more than 1 of the models were fever, common to all 3 models, and impaired vision, shared by night sweats and hot flashes.
When To Go To The Doctor
Mold says that night sweats shouldnt be a cause for worry right away, but there are some cases where a doctor should be consulted. If you sweat at night more than three times a week or for more than a month, it could be a sign that something is wrong with your body.
Also, if you sweat a lot, need to change your pajamas or bed sheets, or have trouble doing normal things because you didnt get enough sleep, that could be a warning sign.
Night sweats could also be a sign of an infection if they come with other symptoms like fever, chills, loss of weight, cough, shortness of breath, pain in the joints and muscles, or extreme tiredness. Some infections that can cause night sweats and these other symptoms are tuberculosis, HIV, endocarditis, an infection of the valves of the heart, and osteomyelitis, an infection of your bones. Sweating can also happen when a person just started taking a new supplement or medicine.
Night sweats can be treated in many different ways, depending on the cause and severity, from making changes to the bedroom to cognitive behavioral therapy. Men with low testosterone may be able to get testosterone replacement therapy, but men with sleep apnea, cancer, or an infection that is causing the low testosterone will need to see a doctor for their specific conditions.
For people with certain conditions, like those who take SSRIs, doctors may be able to give them medicine to make them sweat less.
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