How Long Do Mold Symptoms Last
The tricky thing about mold exposure is that its different for each person. The amount of time mold exposure symptoms persist depends on:
- What type of mold they are exposed to,
- How long the exposure has been,
- How well their bodies eliminate toxins
Those who process toxins well can see their symptoms disappear as quickly as a few days.
Others who eliminate toxins slowly can experience symptoms for much longer. They could be ill for months or even years after the source of mold is eliminated.
Do You Have Toxic Mold In Your Home
Toxic mold is generally referred to as Black Mold in the mainstream media. The dangers of black mold are well publicized. Black mold refers to a particular type of mold spore called Stachybotrys.
Heres the good news:
Stachybotrys is not typically found in your home randomly. This type of mold needs a ton of water over an extended period of time to grow and thrive
This means you will usually need a significant leak in your home whether it be a roof leak, plumbing leak window leak, etc..
In most cases, if you have a significant leak, you will know about it.
Now:
There are exceptions. Maybe you have a room that you rarely go in or you have a big piece of furniture in front of where the leak is located.
Here is an example of black mold in a home:
In this particular scenario, the homeowner had no clue that mold was growing in this area because there was a baseboard in place. It was also a guest bedroom closet which was not accessed very often.
It wasnt until the homeowner actually saw standing water on the ground before he took action.
Turns out:
A shower was leaking directly into a closet for months
The bottom line is this:
You may not always know that toxic mold is present.
What Does Black Mold Do To Your Body
The most common black mold symptoms and health effects are associated with a respiratory response. Chronic coughing and sneezing, irritation to the eyes, mucus membranes of the nose and throat, rashes, chronic fatigue and persistent headaches can all be symptomatic of black mold exposure or black mold poisoning.
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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.
How Do You Know If Its Black Mold
Pay attention to the color and consistency: We already talked about black mold above, though its more accurate to say that Stachybotrys chartarum has a greenish-black hue. Toxic mold can also have a grayish, soot-like texture, or a slimy, wet surface. In some cases, you may even notice furry orange or brown spots.
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Can Mold Kill You
Often times, when clients ask us this question, theyre not actually inquiring about the dangerous mold strains like Aspergillus fumigatus orCandida auris that have been known to cause serious fungal infections, especially in immunocompromised people. What they really want to know is whether or not household moldthat is, the stuff they smell in their carpets or notice growing on their wallsis truly life threatening, or if they can ignore it.
As with nearly all things in the mold testing and remediation biz, the answer to that question is a little more complicated than a simple yes or no.
Can You Have Mold Inside Your Body
If mold spores are inhaled or ingested you can become seriously ill. As mold continues to grow inside your body it produces poisons called Mycotoxins, these poisons leach into your body day after day. Each day untreated the colonies of mold grow larger producing and releasing larger amounts of toxins into your body.
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How To Kill Mold With Vinegar
This article was co-authored by . Marcus is the owner of Maid Easy, a local residential cleaning company in Phoenix, Arizona. His cleaning roots date back to his grandmother who cleaned homes for valley residents in the 60s through the 70s. After working in tech for over a decade, he came back to the cleaning industry and opened Maid Easy to pass his familys tried and true methods to home dwellers across the Phoenix Metro Area.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 96% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 505,760 times.
Black mold, or Stachybotrys Chartarum, can be unsightly and can also pose a health hazard in your home. Large mold problems should be handled professionally using the necessary cleansers to rid your home of mold. Smaller mold removal projects may be able to be tackled organically using plain distilled white vinegar.
How To Test Your Home For Mold
Along with symptoms, one of the best ways to know if you are being poisoned by biotoxic mold, is to test your home . The average mold testing company does not properly test for mold. Many companies test the ambient air for mold, which generally yield negative results. The mold is not in the air, it lurks behind the walls and floorboards. The air is infested with mycotoxins, the airbound molecules that wreak havoc on our health, but they are not detectable by conventional mold testing.
Two better options for effective testing include:
- An ERMI Test, which tests bits of dust that have been vacuumed out of key places . This test is much more accurate in locating the spores.
- Hiring mold dogs. These dogs have been trained to sniff out the mold, and they are an incredible tool to locate mold in your home or other living space.
Apart from exhibiting symptoms of mold exposure, the biggest clue that your home may have mold is any sustained moisture, either as a result of the humid weather or a leak. If your home or office has wallpaper on drywall, this is also a major red flag- because the cellulose feeds mold. Moisture combined with cellulose is a guaranteed mold infestation.
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What Happens If You Breathe In Black Mold
For people sensitive to mold, inhaling or touching mold spores can cause allergic reactions, including sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. People with serious mold allergies may have more severe reactions, including shortness of breath.
However, if you breathe in large amounts of mold for a long time, it can cause chronic allergy or cold like symptoms, or more serious side effects such as chronic fatigue, brain fog, or even mold growth in lungs or respiratory systems.
How Common Is Mold In Buildings
Molds are very common in buildings and homes. Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.
The most common indoor molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. We do not have precise information about how often different molds are found in buildings and homes.
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Baking Soda: A Great Cleaning Powder
If you want to remove black mold relatively quickly andin a non-toxic way, all you need is baking soda and water. Mix in two tablespoons of baking soda with two cups of water, until the baking soda is completely dissolved. Soak the black mold in the mixture, and allow it to sit for 15-20 minutes.
Then, start scrubbing until the mold is completely removed. You might have to repeat the process a second time if the mold is deeply rooted in the surface.
Will A Dehumidifier Do The Whole House
You of course need to tackle the root cause of this to fix humidity problems, but a dehumidifier is an important step towards reducing excess moisture in a room. However, the great thing about a dehumidifier is that its not room-specific. Unlike an air purifier, it will deal with moisture throughout your whole home.
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Brain Spect Imaging Helps Treat Brain Toxicity Caused By Black Mold
Kimberlyn had booked a Full Evaluation, which took two days to complete. She filled out multiple questionnaires and history forms, talked to specialized counselors, and finally had a set of SPECT images taken of her brain. Just to really see exactly what was happening to my brain in the SPECT scans and that I do have a toxic injury due to mold was amazing, said Kimberlyn. They did such a good job with all of the evaluations, and they were so thorough. By the end of the second day, Dr. Arsalan Darmal had a whole binder of material that discussed the results of the testing I had done while I was there.
Dr. Darmal and the staff at Amen Clinics Orange County, CA discovered that Kimberlyn also had ADHD and a previous traumatic brain injury that was increasing the effects of the mold injury. When my brain swelled from the mold exposure, I was getting almost no blood flow to my prefrontal cortex, explained Kimberlyn.
Co-occurring conditions that can increase the effects of an injury or illness on the brain are common, yet can be easily overlooked. Kimberlyn was shocked to hear that the brain injury she had suffered in high school was impacting her life today and even more surprised that she had ADHD. The medication for ADHD has made a huge difference in my productivity and ability to focus. That was like the bonus prize that I wasnt even expecting, said Kimberlyn.
What Are The Symptoms Of Mold Sickness
If your Total Body Burden is high, or you are genetically predisposed to recycling toxins, regular exposure to mold can cause allergy symptoms, such as:
- Wheezing/shortness of breath
- Long standing or frequent sinusitis
And, serious pain and neurological symptoms, such as:
- Headaches and migraines
- Muscle cramping, aches and pains
- Persistent nerve pain
- Fatigue and weakness
- Poor memory, brain fog, difficulty with focus
In some cases, the spores from mold take root and grow in specific parts of the body, such as the lungs and sinuses. This can cause serious respiratory illnesses and infections.
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How Quickly Can Mold Make You Sick
These spores proliferate quickly and can take hold in places with poor ventilation and high humidity in less than 24 hours. The problem starts when you inhale these spores. They produce toxic substances known as mycotoxins that can produce an immune response in some individuals and actually extremely toxic themselves.
How Do I Get Rid Of It
Getting rid of any kind of mold can be tricky. Usually, any kind of mold whether it is toxic mold or your regular everyday mold, youre going to want it gone.
While mold removal should be left to the experts, there are some things you can do at home to help prevent future mold growth.
- Wear protective gear .
- Seal off the contaminated area with mold using plastic sheets as to not let the mold spores spread.
- Clean the air by opening doors and windows or by using an air purifier or dehumidifier.
- Remove all visible mold from surfaces using either mold removal cleaner or bleach/water combo . Natural remedies can also include tea tree oil, baking soda, vinegar, and grapefruit seed extract.
- Remove materials that have or had mold .
- Remove items that have not been affected by mold to clear space preventing any contamination.
- After cleaning, remove any used cleaning supplies and place them into closed garbage bags. Change clothes and wash hands thoroughly.
- Keep damp areas clean and dry .
- If remodeling, use mold inhibitors in the paint to prevent mold growth on walls/ceilings, and be sure to allow everything to fully dry.
- Dont use carpet in areas with high moisture .
- Maintain less than 50% humidity level throughout the day to prevent mold growth.
- Keep rooms with moisture well ventilated.
- Use air purifiers and dehumidifiers.
- Close windows at night
Now, onto the burning question…
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What Is Black Mold
Mold is one of the most common living things on Earth. Molds love damp environments. They grow indoors and outdoors, including in places like showers, basements, and garages.
Black mold, also known as Stachybotrys chartarum or atra, is one type of mold that can be found in damp places inside buildings. It looks like black spots and splotches.
Black mold developed a reputation for being toxic after a string of eight infants became ill in Cleveland, Ohio, between January 1993 and December 1994. All of them had bleeding in the lungs, a condition called idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage. One of those infants died.
Results from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigation revealed these infants had been living in homes with severe water damage and increased levels of toxin-producing mold inside. This led many people to believe that the black mold was toxic and could kill people.
In the end, scientists concluded that they were unable to link black mold exposure to illness and death in the Cleveland infants.
In reality, all molds including black mold can produce toxins, but exposure to mold is rarely deadly.
People are exposed to mold through spores that are released and travel through the air.
Its true that some people are more sensitive than others to mold. These people tend to be very young, very old, or have:
- a compromised immune system
People who are very sensitive to black mold may develop severe respiratory infections when exposed.
How Do Molds Get In The Indoor Environment And How Do They Grow
Mold is found both indoors and outdoors. Mold can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, and pets can and be carried indoors. When mold spores drop on places where there is excessive moisture, such as where leakage may have occurred in roofs, pipes, walls, plant pots, or where there has been flooding, they will grow. Many building materials provide suitable nutrients that encourage mold to grow. Wet cellulose materials, including paper and paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood, and wood products, are particularly conducive for the growth of some molds. Other materials such as dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation materials, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery, commonly support mold growth.
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Preventive Measures To Get Rid Of Mold
Since freezing is not a permanent solution for getting rid of mold, you have to take certain measures to discourage mold growth.
- Prevent water damage by fixing leaks and wiping off the surfaces on an immediate basis.
- Place a humidifier in the room so that no surface becomes a breeding ground for molds.
- It should be a daily ritual to open doors and windows for some time to promote air circulation.
- Also, open cabinets and cupboards daily for at least half an hour to avoid the objects from getting infected by mold.
- Keep every surface and every object clean to avoid bacterial growth.
- Keep moldy objects from other objects as mold spores can easily jump off to another surface.
Freezing temperatures are not entirely discouraged when it comes to treating molds. However, the method is not preferable either, as it only deactivates the mold spores and prevents it from growing further. The issue goes back to square one once thee moldy surface is exposed to moisture and humidity again. Also, sometimes the issue can only be resolved by calling in a professional mold remediation team and using specific chemicals. In a nutshell, the response to will cold kill mold is certainly not positive.
What Does It Look Like
You wonder, how will I know if I have black mold inside my home?
First and foremost, there will be an odor of a musty mildew-type smell. The smell could be in a room, or a small area depending on the presence of mold.
Since there is a variety of mold species, it may be difficult to tell if the mold that is present in your home is toxic or not.
Green or gray mold is likely to not be harmful to you or your home. If the mold appears to be dark green or black, it could be black mold.
In addition, the black mold could look slimy and wet and resemble something like Jell-O. When the black mold looks like this, there is a water source nearby.
Check in areas where there could potentially be water damage and also near hot water heaters, sump pumps, and HVAC systems to find possible mold colonies.
Without water, black mold can look like a powder or even black dust and will be dry.
Even without seeing mold, the toxic spores could still be in the air. Take notice if you find yourself coughing, sneezing, or having breathing difficulties when going into a certain room or area.
If you have any concerns about the possibilities of black mold being in your home, contact a mold remediation specialist to identify and remove any mold in your home.
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Mold Exposure: The Long And The Short Of It
Most fungal allergy sufferers can withstand small doses of mold. But prolonged exposure increases sensitivity thereby slowing the recovery time. This is why it is so imperative to make sure during your recovery that you are living and working in clean environmental air.
So assuming that your mold exposure is relatively short, the recovery can be fairly quick. People often see results in just days, by following our protocol. Now, if you have had a relatively short exposure to mycotoxins it will likely take several weeks to get relief from your symptoms. As we stated earlier, if the exposure to mold has been prolonged your recovery could take up to a year and involve environmental steps, sinus washes, as well as diet and nutritional supplements. The good news is that our system is scalable so if you are having severe symptoms due to longer term exposure you can add product to speed up the healing process.
If you would like more information on mold allergies or how to treat your environment check out the other great articles on this site. Also visit Micro Balance Health Products for mold cleaning solutions for nose, clothes, and home.
