Tips For Mold Prevention
Wondering how you can prevent mold from affecting your home? Here are a few tips that may help you prevent mold from forming altogether.
What Are The Symptoms Of Mold Inhalation
Walking into a room where the mold spore count is high could have a significant effect on your response system. For those who have an allergic reaction to mold spores, the response is more immediate. These individuals may experience watery or itchy eyes, a runny nose, redness around the eyes, shortness of breath, or wheezing. Persistent exposure can create a nagging cough, asthma, or frequent sinusitis. As these symptoms sound much like the common cold or seasonal allergies, it can often be hard to narrow down the culprit as mold exposure.
As symptoms and severity are different for every person, it is difficult to say how long the symptoms will persist. Generally, the length of exposure, the type of mold that an individual has been exposed to, and the bodys natural health and detox process impact how long a person may struggle with a mold illness. Natural detoxing can see symptoms subside in a few days, particularly if the source of mold is eliminated or the individual leaves the environment where the mold is present.
How To Tell If Black Mold Is Hiding In Your Walls
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Black mold – the words alone are enough to make you cringe. It’s the last thing you need in your home. Any mold can cause problems for people who are allergic, of course, but those molds referred to as “black” or “toxic” are particularly dangerous. Chances are, if the conditions inside your home are hospitable to mold, you’re going to have it. If you suspect the mold is “black” or toxic, however, consider hiring a professional to remove it for you.
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How To Identify Black Mold On Wood
You can positively identify this toxic fungus on wood in your home by knowing its most common signs. Rot, for example, is one of its most tell tale signs. If the wood in your floors, ceilings, walls and other fixtures appear to be rotted, you may suspect that this fungus is present in them.
Likewise, if the wood appears discolored or looks like it has water stains on it, you also may inspect them further for it. It can make wood bow out or warp after spores have taken root and spread. You may want to hire a professional inspector or remediation company to confirm its presence in your homes wood.
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Other Exposures & Infections
Mold illness or CIRS stems from more than just mold! Dont forget about the following exposures:
- Lyme disease and Co-infections
- Ciguatera
- Brown Recluse Spider Bite
- Chlamydophilia Pneumoniae
- Viruses
A history of exposure is essential for the diagnosis of CIRS, however it can be difficult to pinpoint at times, especially if a person does not recall being bit by a tick or contracting food poisoning for example. Some markers can also be difficult to diagnose via bloodwork as most labs do not use the gold standard lab test methodologies for work up.
References
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Gabrilovich, D. I., & Nagaraj, S. . Myeloid-derived suppressor cells as regulators of the immune system. Nature reviews. Immunology, 9, 162174.
Liu RM, Gaston Pravia KA. Oxidative stress and glutathione in TGF-beta-mediated fibrogenesis. Free Radic Biol Med. 2010 Jan 1 48:1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2009.09.026. Epub 2009 Oct 2. PMID: 19800967 PMCID: PMC2818240.
Derynck R, Budi EH. Specificity, versatility, and control of TGF- family signaling. Sci Signal. 2019 Feb 26 12:eaav5183. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.aav5183. PMID: 30808818 PMCID: PMC6800142.
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How Do You Keep Mold Out Of Buildings And Homes
Inspect buildings for evidence of water damage and visible mold as part of routine building maintenance, Correct conditions causing mold growth to prevent mold growth.
Inside your home you can control mold growth by:
- Controlling humidity levels
- Promptly fixing leaky roofs, windows, and pipes
- Thoroughly cleaning and drying after flooding
- Ventilating shower, laundry, and cooking areas.
Zero Help From The Owner
Of course I informed my landlord about the problem, and he said that he would fix it, but he never did. After a couple of weeks, I realized that he probably had no intention of fixing the problem I believe that he was only interested in the property as an investment in the land and not the actual house.
As it turned out, the house needed a major facelift! I certainly wasnt going to spend my own time and money to fix the place. Sure, I had agreed to do some specific cosmetic work to the house, demolition and construction were not included! Not realizing what the true problem was, I simply sealed off the front room from the rest of the house.
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How Do You Starve Mold Out Of Your Body
Any kind of sugar. If you suffer from mold, you need to cut out any and all types of sugar, including artificial sweeteners and natural sweeteners like honey and agave. My physician did allow me to utilize Xylitol because it does not raise your blood sugar, nor does it feed mold. Make sure you read all the labels.
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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How Do You Treat Mold Toxicity Symptoms
Right now, youll see a lot of experts recommending handfuls of supplements and strict diets but the reality is, we just dont know for sure if these are the right treatment approach, says McElroy. Instead, she recommends the steps below. You might be surprised to see that killing the mold is only one out of five. Thats no coincidence! As McElroy explains, I often dont focus on killing mold since most symptoms are due to the immune response, not the mold itself. Instead, she starts with simple lifestyle steps and utilizes non-pill practices to achieve a state of better immune health, including:
How Do Doctors Test For Mold Exposure
If you have molds in your home and youre not paying any heed to your surroundings, you are putting your health in jeopardy. Molds are fungal species known to create havoc in your life. It is the moisture to be blamed for insidious mold growth in your homes. Having molds in homes and buildings is a pressing problem that should not be overlooked.
Wherever there is high humidity, these spores grow abundantly. Not only humidity feeds molds but also the puddles and the damp materials in your homes give these molds a safe and favorable place to live. Therefore, living in a water-damaged home or building can lead to serious health issues. This allows the tiny bubble of fear to expand in the heads of landowners and business owners.
If you have a hunch that molds are thriving at your place, take it seriously. The best way to get to these molds is by noticing water stains on walls, discoloration of paint, surface deterioration, flaky wallpaper, musty odor, etc.
Before we let you know how doctors test for mold exposure, it is of supreme importance to first get you acquainted with the mold-centered health problems for which youll turn to your doctor.
Molds are capable of producing many substances that can be detrimental. Allergens, irritants, and biotoxins are a threat to human health.
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Treatment For Mold Exposure:
The best treatment is to avoid places that trigger your allergic reactions. To put you at ease, your doctor may suggest the following:
My Thoughts On Toxic Mold Syndrome Diagnosis Through Testing
For toxic mold syndrome diagnosis, many have found it is very hard to find a doctor that is familiar with this syndrome to order the diagnostic testing.
Many times, in the past, I have just made a toxic mold syndrome diagnosis based on a patient’s symptoms and demonstration of toxic mold in the patient’s environment. And I still do this clinical diagnosis quite a bit, mostly due to the costliness of diagnostic testing. But, I now feel that diagnostic testing is worth the extra cost. I think the tests are accurate enough to be used with confidence.
But, testing does have other advantages as well, one being a sense of closure. Also, testing gives you confidence that this is really what you are dealing with and psychologically this can be a huge help for the patient as well as family members struggling to believe that their loved one is not crazy.
Another benefit to testing to get a toxic mold syndrome diagnosis is getting a baseline level for the testing so you can see how you are progressing with the detox.
The Biotoxin Mold Illness Panel offered by Life Extension Foundation is able to be ordered by a patient through physicians at Life Extension Foundation. This is similar to a lot of the direct labs out there that use a physician on staff at their lab to order the test. This allows patients to order their own testing if they cannot find a doctor to order these test for them.
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BIOTOXIN MOLD ILLNESS PANEL |
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Mold Inspection And Testing For Homebuyers And Homeowners
Are you a homeowner? Are you looking to buy a home? Did you know that mold can be extremely harmful to health if left undetected or untreated. Mold inspection and testing can help homebuyers and homeowners make an informed decision about best options to avoid the health and safety issues that mold can cause.
When you are purchasing a home, it is standard practice to get a home inspection. During the inspection, the home inspector might notice a buildup of moisture or other indicators that could indicate the presence of mold. Due to increasing awareness about the potential hazards of mold, home inspectors have the training to perform a thorough mold inspection.
You may also want to consider a mold inspection and testing if you currently own a home. If there has been water damage, a leaky roof, or broken plumbing, there may be mold in the house.
Gene Testing For Mycotoxin Susceptibility
If youre aware that you are susceptible, youll know you need to take immediate action, even if no one else has symptoms of mycotoxin poisoning. Youll also be able to quickly identify the signs if it happens again. For example, if you check into a hotel room and begin to feel mycotoxins symptoms within a few hours, youll know to request a different room or even move to another hotel.
HLA-DR Testing
If you learn you have been exposed to mycotoxins, you may find HLA-DR testing helpful. As I explained previously, nearly one-fourth of the population lacks the HLA-DR gene, which prevents your body from clearing mycotoxins.
The HLA-DR mold toxicity test is a simple blood test for the immune response genes on chromosome six. Since your genes dont change, you only need to test once in your lifetime. While we cant change our genes, knowledge is definitely power.
Glutathione Panel
Mycotoxin poisoning can decrease the formation of glutathione, a natural antioxidant produced in your body, due to decreased gene expression of the enzymes needed to form glutathione. Compromised glutathione production can result in an excess of oxidative stress that leads to tissue damage and systemic illness.
However, keep in mind that even people without the gene can still be affected by mycotoxin poisoning. Thats because anyone with a compromised immune system can become sick from mycotoxins.
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Should You Test Your Home For Toxic Mold
Whether or not to conduct toxic mold testing is not an easy question to answer. This is because there are laws that require homeowners to disclose any known environmental issues affecting the quality and safety of the home they are selling. The law does not require homeowners, however, to disclose any suspected problems to buyers. Not to disclose a known problem is considered fraud! For those who would like an inexpensive and accurate test for mold in their home, go to:
Check Your Petri Dish
After 48 hours, check your petri dish for signs of mold growth. If you do not see mold, wait another 24 hours and check again. If you still dont see mold, wait again for 24 hours and check one last time. If you do not see mold growth after 96 hours, your test did not detect any mold. If you do see mold on your test plate, you should take additional steps to remove the mold.
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How To Tell If You Have Mold In Your House
It can be hard to tell if you have mold in your house. Obviously, if you see mold somewhere, youve got a mold problem in your house, but mold can hide in walls, ventilation ducts, crawl spaces, and in other hard-to-see areas.
A common way to check for mold is to smell for it. A musty smell in an area of your home is often an indicator that there is some kind of mold present. Symptoms like a persistent runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing and throat irritation could also be indicative of mold.
In addition, anywhere that has been exposed to a significant amount of moisture such as water damage from flooding is a potential area where mold may be growing. Look for water where it shouldnt be, and check areas which may have flooded in the past.
Mold Identifications: Black Mold Vs Regular Mold
It is also important as a homeowner that you do not confuse toxic black mold with regular mold. In fact, both types can look similar to each other. However, the regular type of fungus does not pose as much risk to your home or your family.
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The regular variety may be black in color but is not toxic. Toxic black mold can be either green or black. It releases mycotoxins that can make you seriously ill if you come into contact with or inhale them.
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How To Identify Mold Vs Mildew In Your Home
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Mold and mildew are often spoken of together, almost as if they were the same substance. We fear mold and mildew growing below our homes in crawl spaces, under house siding, around the bathroom wall surround, and behind the sink. Excessive, pervasive mold and mildew can hamper a house sale or cause homeowners to move their bedroom elsewhere. Neither mold nor mildew is welcomed in the home, in any form.
Though the terminology can be confusing, mildew refers to specific types of fungus, including some types of mold. That said, not all mildew and mold should be treated the same. Safely eradicating mold and mildew is crucial to keeping you safe and your home in good shape.
