Thursday, March 21, 2024

How To Treat Mold Exposure

Coughing Due To Mold Exposure

Diagnosing and treating mold exposure in schools

Experts say that a persistent cough is one of the most common reasons why people visit their doctor. While occasional coughing is considered normal, one that is due to mold exposure in the home is not. A cough is considered acute if it lasts three weeks or less. It is considered chronic if it lasts longer.

A cough is a common symptom of mold exposure, along with sneezing, a runny or a stuffy nose, a sore throat, shortness of breath, wheezing and headaches. Not everyone exposed to mold develops a cough, but many people that are considered to be mold-sensitive do, especially with prolonged exposure. Infants and young children, because their immune systems are not yet fully developed, elderly people, because their immune systems have weakened with age, pregnant women, and those individuals with respiratory disorders or disorders of the immune system , are at an increased risk for mold-related illness. However, anyone can be affected. In fact, even family pets can get sick if they are exposed to mold in the home.

Question 3 Of : How Do You Treat Mold Exposure Naturally

  • 1Use nasal lavage to help with your nasal symptoms. Nasal lavage involves rinsing your nose with saline to irrigate your nasal passages, which can really help with nasal symptoms caused by exposure to toxic mold. Pick up a nasal lavage kit from your local pharmacy. Most of them have specially designed bottles, a bulb syringe, or a neti pot that make it easy to flush your nasal passages. Follow the directions on the packaging to make sure youre doing it correctly and rinse your nose once a day.XTrustworthy SourceMayo ClinicEducational website from one of the world’s leading hospitalsGo to source
  • Use distilled, sterile, or previously boiled and cooled water. Make sure you rinse off and clean the irrigation device after each use and let it fully air dry.
  • 2Meditate for a few minutes each day to help with your mental symptoms. Toxic mold exposure can lead to mental effects such as mood swings, depression, anxiety, brain fog, insomnia, and memory issues. Additionally, mold illness can be stressful and take an emotional toll on you. Try starting with 10 minutes of simple meditation. Take a comfortable seat, close your eyes, and focus on the natural rhythm of your breathing. Work your way up to meditating twice a day for 20 minutes at a time to help calm your mind and ease your symptoms.XResearch source
  • Meditation doesnt have to be super complicated. Just taking a few minutes to focus on your breathing and calm your mind can make a world of a difference.
  • How Can You Tell If Theres Mold In Your Lungs

    If your exposure to mold is fairly minimal, chances are you may not even experience any symptoms. For more prolonged cases of exposure, the symptoms are generally recognizable across the board: sneezing, coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or discomfort, and shortness of breath are all strong indicators that there are mold spores in your lungs.

    The issue here is that all of these symptoms can be found in a variety of illnesses or allergic reactions, so it can be difficult to directly pin down mold exposure as the cause. Pay close attention to your symptoms, as well as when they started and how they change. Make a mental note of when you discovered mold growing around you, how long you were around it and whether or not you had any protection . If you fear at all that there may be mold in your lungs, dont hesitate contact medical professionals and let them know whats going on. Its always better to be safe than sorry.

    Mold exposure can potentially cause serious problems, but most healthy people have nothing to worry about aside from some uncomfortable, temporary symptoms. If youre worried about mold in your home, contact your local professional to learn what you can do about it.

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    Take It One Step At A Time

    I know that the whole topic of mold exposure, remediation and recovery from mold toxicity can be overwhelming, especially since it is such an under-reported and not commonly understood issue.

    But it can all be handled, one step at a time.

    And rest assured that a combination of guidance from an experienced practitioner, natural remedies , and specific interventions, especially:

    • Infrared sauna
    • Rife therapy
    • And ionic foot baths

    are so effective at eliminating mold toxins from the body and repairing all the systems that have been impacted by them!

    The results can be quite amazing: resolution of chronic and often inexplicable issues with your health!

    Ways To Boost Mold Detox

    The Ultimate Asthma Treatment At Home For Mold Exposure

    August 17, 2021 By Michael Schoenwalder

    When you think of mold, what comes to mind?

    Maybe you picture furry leftovers forgotten in the back of the fridge. Or a black-spotted window sill that leaks every time it rains. Perhaps you remember a white fuzzy growth in your garden. Mold is everywhere. Indoors and outdoors. In fact, scientists have identified more than 100,000 species of mold, including about 80 species that are considered harmful to humans.For many people, mold is a mystery: Where does it come from? Whats the best way to get rid of it? How is mold affecting my health?

    Its easy to misinterpret symptoms of mold exposure, because they mimic so many other conditions. Thats why people with mold allergies and mold-related illnesses often have no idea mold is causing harm.

    Supporting your bodys natural detoxification system can be helpful, regardless of your health status. In this article, youll learn 6 practical tips to help you overcome the effects of mold toxins by detoxing your body and home.

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    Removing Mold From Leather Shoes Coats Accessories And Furniture

    Mold on leather coats, shoes, purses, and furniture should be removed outside, if possible. Wipe down the surface with a cloth dipped in distilled white vinegar and then with a good leather soap and warm water. Dry with a soft cloth and allow to air dry completely. Once completely dry, treat the item with a leather conditioner.

    Preventing A Mold Exposure Relapse

    The best way to ensure that you do not experience mold-related sickness in the future is to arm yourself with the knowledge of how to recognize and rid yourself of mold.

    Believe it or not, it is in your power to control mold.

    Although it can be sneaky, if you take the necessary steps to keep your environment dry and airy, you can help eliminate the likelihood of mold growth.

    This is because mold thrives in dark, dank, and moist environments. So, creating an environment opposite of this will help to prevent any and all mold growth.

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    Proper Testing For Mold Illness

    Physicians that specialize in mold illness have narrowed in on tests that are most effective in determining if mold is an underlying cause of someones symptoms. Before considering laboratory tests, there is often a clinical suspicion someone may be suffering from symptoms of mold exposure.

    When someone is experiencing any of the above symptoms and no other diagnosis has been made that explains these symptoms mold illness should be considered. There is also the circumstance when someone has another diagnosis such as Lyme disease, but treatments have not been effective in resolving symptoms.

    There is no one perfect test to diagnose mold toxicity. I use the two testing methods below to determine if mold and mycotoxins are undermining someones health.

    Urine Mycotoxin Test

    A urine mycotoxin test indicates whether or not a person is excreting mycotoxins from mold exposure. However, our bodies should excrete mycotoxins after exposure to mold and this does not necessarily mean someone has mold illness. The degree of elevation of mycotoxins in the urine suggests the severity of mold toxicity.

    Great Plains Laboratory and Real Time Laboratory are the labs most commonly used by physicians treating mold toxicity. The two labs use different testing methodologies and test for different mycotoxins, so it is hard to compare results between the labs.

    Preparation for urine mycotoxin testing

    Mycotoxin Antibody Test

    Why Does Exposure To Mold Cause Coughing

    How to heal from black mold, black mold exposure

    Coughing is one of your bodys defense mechanisms. It helps you get stuff out that doesnt belong in your body. This could include dust, food, and especially mold spores. Even a small colony of mold in your home can produce thousands and thousands of mold spores, which are very small, and very light. The average mold spore is 10 to 30 microns in size. To put that into prospective, more than 250,000 mold spores can fit on the head of a pin. The average person can inhale as many as 750,000 mold spores per minute when breathing at a normal rate. Because of their small size, mold spores can easily be dislodged and become airborne. Once airborne they can easily be inhaled.

    Inhaling mold spores can irritate the sensitive lining of the throat and nasal passages, causing a cough. Exposure to mold frequently causes other illnesses too, like bronchitis and pneumonia, which also cause coughing.

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    What Causes Black Mould

    Stachybotrys chartarum is a greenish-black mold. It can grow in damp conditions and on material with a high cellulose content, such as fiberboard, gypsum board, and even paper. Growth also occurs when there is moisture from water damage, water leaks, condensation or flooding. Moisture is required for the growth of black mold.

    Here Are Some Of The Common Symptoms I See In My Patients:

    • GENERAL: insomnia, fatigue, hair loss, weight gain or loss, sweet cravings, light sensitivity, poor depth perception, memory loss, intolerant of fragrances and chemicals, nose bleeds

    • NEUROLOGIC: headaches of all types, including icepick headaches, brain fog, numbness, tingling, weakness, tremor, nerve pain, dizziness

    • MUSCULOSKELETAL: joint and muscle pain, muscle cramps, general weakness, tics, muscle twitches

    • PSYCHIATRIC: anxiety, depression, OCD, short fuse

    • SKIN: rashes and pruritus

    • IMMUNE SYSTEM: recurrent infections, autoimmunity, allergy, asthma

    • GASTROINTESTINAL: nausea, bloating, pain, vomiting, diarrhea

    • URINARY: urgency and incontinence

    • HORMONAL: continuous dehydration , night sweats, poor temperature regulation

    What about mold makes it dangerous to our health?

    I dont want to minimize the danger mold allergy has on the respiratory system: Allergies and asthma can significantly impact quality of life, and can be deadly.

    Mold toxicity, specifically, can have big health consequences, because of the kind of toxins molds make as their biological byproducts. These toxins fall into two main categories: mycotoxins or microbial volatile organic compounds . The fungal MVOCs, produced as mixtures of alcohols, aldehydes, acids, ethers, esters, ketones, terpenes, thiols, and their derivatives, are responsible for the characteristic moldy odors sometimes associated with damp indoor spaces. Mold toxins range from mildly toxic to extremely potent .

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    How To Kill Black Mold With Bleach

    Killing Black Mold with Bleach work well on a hard, non-porous surface and will kill nearly any type of mold spore that it comes in contact with.

    Eliminating Mold with Bleach is also very cost effective.

    However, bleach does not get to the root level of mold growth in porous type items such as tile grout , wood and cement block.

    Have you ever wondered why mold stains keep coming back to the same area so if it does you know you may have an issue inside the wall of black mold spores living there.

    Never mix bleach with ammonia This is extremely dangerous and will likely produce Toxic Chloramine Fumes or Vapors.

    Never mix bleach with vinegar Combining these two mold cleaners together will not give you a better cleaning agent to work with.

    Removing Mold From Fabric

    Black mold exposure treatment symptom options

    If your home has been flooded and mold and bacteria have been left to grow for many days, it may be impossible to salvage fabric items. However, if mildew has developed due to dampness and is caught early, it can easily be removed from most fabrics.

    Begin by taking the items outside to brush away as much surface mold as possible and to prevent spreading the mold spores inside your home. If the fabric is washable, use the hottest water recommended on the care label and add a disinfectant. If stains remain, create a solution of oxygen bleach and water and allow the clothes to soak for at least eight hours. Oxygen bleach can be used safely on any washable fabric.

    For fabrics that are dry clean only, brush away the mildew outside and then head to a professional cleaner. Identify and point out the stains most fabrics can be successfully restored.

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    Mold Prevention And Removal

    The best way to prevent mold is to remove water and moisture sources. Fix leaks, dry damp areas and remove humidity from the air to help stop mold growth and keep it from coming back.

    To remove mold:

  • Seal off moldy areas using a plastic sheet and duct tape until cleaned. Keep children and pets away.
  • Use water and soap to clean small areas of mold on walls or other hard surfaces when you see it. Wear waterproof gloves while cleaning.
  • Dry the cleaned area completely.
  • Clean any visible dust from work areas. Use wet mops or HEPA vacuums.
  • Throw away all cleaning-related waste in heavy-duty plastic bags and seal securely.
  • If the mold returns quickly or spreads, there may be an underlying problem, such as a water leak. Report repeated mold problems to your landlord.

    If large areas of mold are present, you may need outside help such as a professional mold abatement company. Be sure your contractor is licensed and follows NYS Labor Law requirements.

    To report a large amount of mold in an apartment if you are a tenant, or if the mold is in a non-residential location, submit a complaint online or call 311.

    Remedies To Get Rid Of Mold From Your Home

    When using natural methods you might have to repeat the process, but it is well worth it. Chemicals give off harsh fumes that can aggravate allergies. Heres how to Get Rid of Black Mold from your home the Easy and Cheap Way. It will also help prevent it coming back and is an important step in how to detox your body also from black mold.

    • Find the source of the moisture.
    • Create a dry environment by fixing leaks and ventilating rooms.
    • Throw out moldy rugs and other items.
    • Lower humidity levels natural, eco-friendly dehumidifiers are available on Amazon
    • Clean visible mold or treat areas that have been moldy or damp with a trigger spray bottle and some natural ingredients, listed below.

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    What Are The Treatments For Black Mold Poisoning

    Fact Checked

    Black mold, or Stachybotrys atra, should be treated the same as all other molds with regard to health risks and removal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 13. All molds may pose risks for people with allergies and allergy-induced asthma. High concentrations of fungal colonies, such as those growing in water-damaged flooring or building materials, can cause severe allergy symptoms, from flu-like discomfort to life-threatening asthma attacks.

    If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

    Mycotoxins Damage Your Health

    How to Treat Mold Toxicity

    Mycotoxins are sneaky. While mold itself cant enter your bloodstream though it can hang around and colonize in spots like your nostrils and lungs mycotoxins can get into your bloodstream and circulate throughout your body.

    These opportunistic toxins can hijack your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections. If your immune system is already compromised , mycotoxins take advantage. If youre healthy, they can make you very sick.

    Studies show that mycotoxins can:

    Unfortunately, mold toxicity is frequently misdiagnosed. Because of its wide-ranging effects, its typically mistaken for other conditions including depression, multiple sclerosis, or autoimmune conditions. Plus, because mycotoxins are opportunistic, theyre often connected with debilitating diseases such as Lyme disease, IBS and fibromyalgia.

    Your Genes Can Make You More Vulnerable

    Around 25% of people are genetically predisposed to get sick from mold exposure. A simple test, called the HLA-DR, can tell you if youre in that more susceptible population.

    If you are, it means your immune system cant easily identify and get rid of mycotoxins. That can allow them to build up in the body, causing harm wherever they end up. On top of that, because of that genetic twist, even relatively small exposures to mycotoxins can affect you.

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    How To Detox Your Body From Mold

    Even if youre not especially sensitive to mold, your body still needs help safely clearing out mycotoxins. When these arent removed properly and completely, they can cycle back around, and cause ongoing damage and symptoms.

    The best way to clear out these toxins is with proven toxin-binders. Its important to make sure youre working with safe, gentle detoxing agents so they dont overtax your bodys clearance system . At the same time, you must use proven binders that dont allow toxins to be reabsorbed in the intestines rather than excreted from the body.

    One prescription cholesterol-lowering medication called Cholestyramine binds strongly to some mycotoxins especially ochratoxin and keeps them getting reabsorbed.

    On the natural front, modified citrus pectin has been extensively researched as an effective detoxifying agent. Because MCP works so gently, its safe for long-term use, which is often necessary for completely removing mycotoxins from your system. MCP works especially well when paired with another natural detoxifier: seaweed-derived alginates, natural gel-like substances that bind tightly to toxins.

    The combination of MCP and alginate prevents toxins including mycotoxins and heavy metals from being reabsorbed in the intestines. And although they make a strong detoxifying team, MCP and alginate are easily tolerated and their gentle action wont strip essential minerals from your body.

    Other mycotoxin detoxifiers include:

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