What Health Effects Can Be Caused By Exposure To Mold
Some people are more sensitive to molds than others. These include
- infants and children
- elderly persons
- immune compromised persons
- individuals with existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma and allergies
The same amount of mold may cause health effects in one person, but not in another. Exposure to molds can cause allergic symptoms such as watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, itching, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and headaches.
When airborne mold spores are present in large numbers, they can cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, asthma episodes, infections and other respiratory problems for people. Exposure to high spore levels can cause the development of an allergy to the mold. See the Illinois Department of Public Healths fact sheet, Mold and Your Health, for more information about health effects.
If You Use Bleach To Clean Up Mold
- Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. Mixing bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products will produce a poisonous gas.
- Always follow the manufacturers instructions when you use bleach or any other cleaning product.
- Open windows and doors to provide fresh air.
- Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles during cleanup of affected areas.
- If you need to clean more than 10 square feet, check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guide titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, which gives advice on all building types. You can get it by going to the EPA web site at .
How To Deal With Black Mold And Recover From Mold Poisoning
- Black mold is extraordinarily toxic, and more common than you might think. An estimated 22 percent of people and half of all buildings in the U.S. have a mold problem.
- The good news is that the word about mold is spreading, and its becoming easier and easier to deal with black mold and mycotoxins .
- This guide will tell you how to test for black mold, permanently remove it from your home, and flush mycotoxins from your body and repair the damage they do.
- Mold can make you feel hopeless and like your health is out of your hands. Dont worry with these steps, you can take control of your body and brain and get rid of mold for good.
Black mold is nasty stuff. It causes chronic fatigue, mood swings, allergies, asthma, unexplained weight gain even cancer.
Mold contamination is also more common than you might think. In a recent Bulletproof Radio podcast episode , geneticist and mold researcher Dr. Andrew Heyman explains why.
We estimate that 22 percent of the population is vulnerable to , says Heyman. Forty million people and at least half of all buildings in the U.S. have a mold problem.
Heyman goes on to say that people frequently overlook black mold, partly because it often shows up in hard-to-reach places, like ventilation systems in commercial buildings or apartment complexes.
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What Is Mold Toxicity
You may have heard of mold allergies. But mold toxicity, also called chronic mold illness, can cause problems that extend beyond common mold allergies.
Mold allergy symptoms tend to be limited to your eyes, respiratory tract, and skin . Allergic reactions happen when your immune system overreacts to mold spores dormant forms of the fungi. Theyre lightweight and easily float through the air, under the radar.
In contrast, mold illness results from mold growing indoors that produces toxins that trigger varied and widespread symptoms throughout your body.
Water-damaged buildings harbor mold toxins. This damage can result from any water intrusion, such as flooding, leaky pipes, or melting snow. Everyday activities like showering without good ventilation are a danger as well. Warm, humid environments also increase mold growth risk.
Several molds have many different species or subtypes, and some of them are more problematic than others.
Examples of the different insidious mold types include:
Toxic mold growth could happen in any type of building. The most problematic ones are those where you spend a lot of time such as homes, schools, and workplaces. Studies suggest that up to 50% of buildings in North America and Europe may have water damage. Just to be on the safe side, its better to suspect a building has a mold growth problem rather than to assume it doesnt.
Mold Detox Diet Vs Candida Diet
The amount of carbs is a topic we are often asked about, usually in the context of the candida diet.
People with candida overgrowth or excess yeast in their body usually get better when they limit their carbs and sugars which are the primary fuel source of candida yeast.
People that experience mold issues, also seem to be affected more by candida, or dont get well when they eat more carbs. For this reason, we highly recommend to limit your carbs on the mold detox diet.
Remember that this is not a diet for life. Just for a short term to help your body get rid of the excess mold.
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Removing Mold From A Coffee Maker
The last most common household appliance to hold mold is your coffee maker . Unfortunately, the moist interior of a coffee maker is prime real estate for mold and mildew growth.
The Spruce / Olivia Inman
So Is Mold Toxicity A Real Thing
Mold toxicitythe idea that mold can produce harmful substances called mycotoxins that can contribute to autoimmune conditions and other chronic diseaseis a bit controversial. Thats because there isnt any kind of test for it or scientific evidence that any kind of disease exists solely because of mold exposure. Keep in mind that theres a lot of misinformation out there, both about the toxicity of mold and the treatment options.
Theres clear, validated proof that breathing in enough mold in your home over a period of time can cause or exacerbate both allergies and asthma, Dr. Parikh says. It can even cause an invasive respiratory infection, she adds, but any chronic health condition resulting from mold hasnt yet been proven to exist.
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Reducing The Risk Of Mold Exposure And Removing Mold In The Home
The best way to avoid mold toxicity is to reduce your risk of exposure and this starts at home. There are many ways to reduce the possibility of mold in your home. They include:
- First, address any potential water leaks. This includes plumbing problems or leaky roofs. Second, fix leaking pipes and make roof repairs. In addition, let any areas that receive water damage from the leaks dry completely. Use fans if possible.
- Increase the airflow in your home. For example, open windows and allow fresh air to come in. Above all, ensure that air can circulate throughout the entire home. This may mean moving furniture away from the walls, allowing for full air circulation.
- Install or repair broken exhaust fans in the bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry room. This helps reduce increased moisture levels.
- Check that you have adequate insulation and ventilation in your attic and crawl spaces.
- Clean and dry carpets, bedding, and furniture within 24 to 48 hours of exposure to water damage.
- Vacuum and dust on a regular basis to help remove mold spores from carpeting and furniture.
- Check all your windows for signs of water droplets or condensation. Immediately dry the water and check the window seals. Finally, repair as necessary.
- If you live in a humid climate, consider a dehumidifier to reduce humidity levels.
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How To Clean Mold From A Dishwasher
Now that you know your dishwasher is likely harbouring some unwanted guests, it is time to figure out what to do about it. To get a handle on mold in the dishwasher, you need to focus on doing three things: disinfecting, cleaning, and ventilating.
DO NOT use bleach. Bleach is often touted as one of the most effective solutions for eliminating mold growth, however, it is not suitable for use in your dishwasher. While it might be great for disinfecting your bathroom or shower, bleach is caustic and might cause negative effects to both your health and the health of your dishwasher.
Bleach might damage the heating probes within the dishwasher, meaning it will be unable to effectively dry your dishes, leaving them covered in water droplets, and therefore creating a perfect humidity chamber for mold to continue to grow.
Instead, make use of baking soda and vinegar these ingredients, when added together, create a foamy paste that is both safe for use inside your dishwasher and effective in killing off mold, bacteria, and other potentially harmful microbes. Vinegar kills up to 99% of bacteria and 82% of mold species.
Mix small amounts of baking soda into a cup of vinegar until the mixture forms a foamy paste. Using a dish scrubbing brush, scrub the dishwasher, paying close attention to the small cracks, crevices, and harder-to-reach areas inside of the dishwasher. You can also use a toothbrush to get into smaller areas more effectively.
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How Mycotoxins Affect Your Body
Like mold spores themselves, mycotoxins are often airborne and enter your body through your respiratory tract. In the short term, this can cause a number of respiratory symptoms including asthma, allergies, sinus infections, and cold- and flu-like symptoms.
If you have a leaky gut, mycotoxins may also pass through your intestinal wall and travel throughout your bloodstream to your skin, brain, and other organs. This can lead to mycotoxins symptoms in any part of your body such as eczema, psoriasis, anxiety, brain fog, and autoimmunity.
One way mycotoxins wreak havoc on your health is by adversely affecting your cells mitochondria. Mitochondria are the powerhouses of your cells, making them essential to nearly every bodily function. They provide your cells with energy. Thats why you can experience chronic fatigue or weakness when dealing with mycotoxin poisoning.
When mitochondria are not functioning optimally, they release free radicals, which are unstable atoms that can cause cell damage. This cell damage, in turn, causes inflammation. The more inflammation you have, the higher up on the autoimmune spectrum you are. This is why its so challenging for autoimmune patients to reverse their symptoms while dealing with mycotoxin poisoning.
Mold Toxicity Can Be A Difficult Thing To Diagnose And Treat Especially Because Many Conventional Doctors Dont Know The Signs Of Mold Toxicity With Our Science
At Parsley Health, hundreds of members come to us hoping to find the root cause of their many symptoms. In our new Case Studies series, we take a look at a few members health journeys, what brought them to Parsley, and their road to recovery. In this case, we take a look at mold toxicity.
Concerned about your own symptoms? Take our free quiz to connect the dots between your symptoms and your overall health and find out how you really feel.
When I first met Jenn, she came in for a Parsley Assessment, a one-time evaluation with one of our doctors, essential lab testing, and a health coaching visit. At that time, her goal was to optimize herself for a future embryo transfer. During our conversation, she discussed long-standing issues like eczema, fatigue, and unexplained pain that radiates throughout her body. She also disclosed that she is highly sensitive to chemicals such as cleaners, perfumes, etc. Her symptoms were similar to other patients I have seen who had mold toxicity.
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How Does Black Mold Get Inside A House
Mold spores find their way inside by hitchhiking on clothes, pet fur, and air currents into your home. But spores cant get comfortable without plenty of water. This is why youll usually find black mold around water-damaged areas impacted by plumbing issues like floods or leaky pipes.
Materials like drywall, carpet, or gypsum board can soak up water, creating a perfect home for a black mold colony. If you find water damage at home, its crucial to remove all the affected materials to prevent mold from growing.
A water leak sensor can alert you to leaks in hard-to-reach places where the water damage would otherwise go unnoticed.
How To Identify Black Mold
While most molds are green or gray, toxic black mold is easily identified by its dark black or greenish-black color. You can also identify black mold by its musty, mildew-like odor.
Black mold thrives in warm, humid, and damp areas. Be sure to check basements, bathrooms, HVAC units, attics, and crawl spaces for signs of mold and inspect any areas with water damage. It can also grow on materials with a high cellulose content, like wood, paper, and dust.
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Symptoms Of Mycotoxin Exposure
Now, I want to point out that mycotoxin poisoning is not the same as having an allergic reaction to mold exposure. People with a mold allergy tend to get typical hay fever or allergy symptoms such as runny nose, stuffy nose, itchy eyes, or sinus infections when the mold count in their environment is high. And remember, the vast majority of these molds are not toxic molds that produce mycotoxins.
How Do You Prove Mold Is Making You Sick
How are mold allergies and exposure diagnosed?
- Blood test. Your doctor takes a blood sample and then sends it to a laboratory to measure the number of certain antibodies, which can indicate your immune systems sensitivity to different mold species.
- Skin prick test.
Is there a natural way to get rid of mold?
Activated Charcoal it traps the toxins released due to mold illness and help the body to eliminate them. It is a natural way to detox your body from the mold. It is better to use charcoal prepared from natural sources like coconut husk or shells.
Where to start detoxing your body from mold?
With spores that are easily airborne, molds can get just about anywhere, but they really thrive in damp, humid environments, like certain areas in your home. When learning how to detox your body from mold, the first place to start is your home.
What foods to eat to Detox Your Body from mold?
Farmed fish, or large wild fish like tuna, catfish, king mackerel, sea bass, and swordfish. Factory farmed animal dairy like milk, yogurt, cheese, cream, regular butter, and soy milk. Peanuts .
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Other Studies Confirm The Benefits Of Hyperbaric Oxygen And Hbot For Mold Exposure And Toxicity
Another 2002 study looked at the use of hyperbaric oxygenation on 10 patients with invasive aspergillosis, where the traditional treatments were amphotericin B and surgery. Unfortunately, this modality of treatment still came with an unacceptably high mortality rate. The 10 patients, most presenting with rhinosinusinal infection with hematologic malignancies, received treatment with HBOT along with traditional care. Six of the 10 patients were infection free within three months of the first treatment. As a result, they concluded that HBOT is a valuable tool in treating this devastating condition.
HBOT and Hyperbaric Oxygen Improve Attention SPan Associated With Mold Toxicity
For more information on HBOT mold exposure and toxicity, click HERE to fill out our online request form.
Detox With Glutathione And Other Supplements
Glutathione is considered the mother of all antioxidants. Its made of three types of molecules known as amino acids. Its also found in every cell in your body. Glutathiones job is to oxidize toxins and free radicals and help other antioxidants work better. Your body is able to make glutathione in the liver. Low levels of this antioxidant have been associated with several medical conditions.
Some of the richest dietary sources of glutathione are spinach, avocados, asparagus, and okra. In addition to glutathione, quercetin and N-acetylcysteine support mold detox.
If youre recovering from mold exposure, you may benefit from a concentrated dose of glutathione through supplement pills, inhalation or IV.
The power of IV therapy is that it allows nutrients to be absorbed quickly and directly into the bloodstream, which boosts your body with higher levels of vitamins and minerals.
Our Detox IV features glutathione and may promote better energy levels, circulation, blood sugar, immunity and more.
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Detox With Glutathione & Other Supplements
There are a number of unique supplements available to improve the detoxification process from mold, but Glutathione remains one of the most prominent as well as activated charcoal and bentonite clay, as described above. Glutathione is naturally found in every cell in your body.
With that said, you can detox your body from the mold with a variety of different antioxidants but glutathione is one of the best. Antioxidants help remove toxins and free radicals from the body.
Toxic Exposures Burden To The Body
Around the time I turned 25, these toxic exposures resulted in significant health effects. Some of the symptoms resulted from my history of exposures in our lab and others were immediate reactions to acute events. For instance, I performed mold inspections on homes that, while they were well taken care of, were loaded with mold. These types of exposures resulted in a sequence of symptoms that featured immediate heart palpitations, then flu-like illness, with a sinus infection following 5-7 days later, and a respiratory infection occurring between 7 and 10 days after the exposure. One large Stachybotrys exposure took me nearly 6 months to recover from. Ultimately, my ever-increasing sensitivities to mold resulted in my having to give up property inspections and onsite consultations to reduce these health threatening exposures.
As time went on, the chronic health effects included cyst-like fat deposits that I was told were my bodys mechanism of grabbing and storing some of the toxins/toxicants, constant allergies even on medication, weight gain, nearly constant mild headaches, a highly compromised immune system allowing me to catch on average 6 viruses per year, chronic fatigue, reduced cognitive function, decreased oxygen levels, strong reactions to fragrances and many chemicals and eventually numbness on the left side of my face.
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