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What Are The Symptoms Of Mold Illness

How Quickly Can Exposure To Mold Make You Sick

Mold Toxicity Symptoms| The Symptoms of Mold Exposure

Mold sickness wont kill you, but it can make you pretty ill. Certain groups of people are more vulnerable, not just those with asthma or allergies.

How quickly you get sick depends on your environment and overall health. Everyone reacts differently to mold exposure your personal sensitivity will dictate how quickly you get sick.

If you have a mold allergy, your immune system will respond to the spores as invaders or allergens. An estimated 5% of Americans have an allergy to mold.

When you inhale the spores, your body will react with a typical allergy response. Common reactions include sneezing or nasal congestion.

This response can be almost immediate or can take several days. Its individual to the person.

Some people who dont have an allergy will still respond others will not. Your response is like your fingerprintunique to you.

Unsurprisingly, the size of the infestation is also relevant to how quickly it takes symptoms to appear. The more mold there is, the more likely you are to develop symptoms and the quicker they will appear.

The duration of exposure is also essential, as is the proximity to the source. The closer you are, the more spores you will inhale.

For people with inherent sensitivity to mold, a small exposure in terms of duration and proximity will be enough to cause symptoms.

Retrace Your Past Experiences

A case in point is a young male patient who came to Amen Clinics with complaints of sleep disturbance, anxiety, and brain fog. He was initially seen by one of our psychiatrists and referred to me for further workup. A careful history-taking found that these symptoms all started when he moved back home from college into his parents basement apartment. The whole family seems to have forgotten that the basement flooded on several occasions. Mold diagnostic testing revealed the patient had high levels of mold toxins in his body.

The first step is always to remove oneself from the moldy environment, and then treatment can begin. Treatment for a Toxic Brain typically consists of binding agents and other medications, such as antifungals, and metabolic support supplements. This patient improved with proper treatment and remediation of the mold problem. Here was a patient who didnt need any psychiatric medications he simply needed the correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment. What would have been the outcome for this patient without the proper diagnosis? He almost certainly would have been misdiagnosed as having a mental illness and treated with psychiatric medications.

The good news is that there are ways to determine if a patient has been exposed to toxic mold and that there are successful treatments available.

What Causes Black Mold

Molds are an important part of our environment. They decompose dead plants and animals. All types of mold will grow if the conditions are right. Mold grows and spreads quickly in the right conditions, which include:

  • Moisture level at or over 70%
  • Adequate food source
  • Temperatures that range from 40 to 100 degrees F

Mold can grow anywhere in your house that provides these conditions. The most likely places mold will grow are:

  • Anywhere that there has been a water leak.
  • Damp rooms without adequate ventilation, such as bathrooms.
  • Basements where humidity tends to be higher.
  • Any areas with a lot of water condensation.
  • Any areas where flooding has occurred.

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How Can You Be Exposed To Black Mold

You can be exposed to black mold, or any species of mold, by breathing in microscopic mold particles in the air, or through consumption of food that contains it.

Stachybotrys is unique because its spores are sticky and easily adhere to a surface when the mold colony dries. They are not regularly found in the air unless the mold colony has been disturbed. Though its spores are not readily airborne, black mold can produce other harmful contaminants more easily found in the air .

A disruption to a black mold colony can be as simple as slamming a door, opening a window or knocking into contaminated furniture. More force is required for Stachybotrys spores to become airborne, as compared to other commonly found indoor molds .

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How Do Molds Get In The Indoor Environment And How Do They Grow

Pin on Mold

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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Health Effects Of Mycotoxins

Mold can cause irritating symptoms, but mold toxins called mycotoxins are often the bigger problem.

Not all types of molds produce mycotoxins, but many do, including common household molds like Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Stachybotrys chartarum . Fungal mycotoxins have been shown to cause adverse human health effects , may behave as allergens, and some types can be more toxic than industrial toxins .

Consider these examples:

  • A mycotoxin called trichothecene, released by mold species such as Stachybotrys chartarum, has been shown to disrupt the immune system, nervous system, and hormone and energy production [19

Trusted SourcePubMedGo to source].

But despite all this controversy, many people do seem to become ill from mold exposure in moldy buildings and appear to improve when treated for mold illness. The challenge we need to meet is to determine who truly needs mold illness treatment.

Need Help Contact All Dry Usa For Mold Removal & Remediation Services

Dont make the mold problem worse in your home by trying to tackle it yourself. Call the experts at All Dry USA for 24/7 mold removal and remediation. We can make an assessment of your home, test the air for spores, help identify the sources of moisture and decontaminate the building, removing all traces quickly and safely.

All Dry USA can also consult on keeping your home with the proper moisture level. The best treatment is prevention, and we can help you in just a few simple steps.

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New Study Shows Mold Triggers Brain Inflammation

Landlords dismiss it, friends and family think youre making it up, and doctors have no idea what youre talking about but mold illness is often an unsuspected trigger of chronic health problems. The recent revelation of a string pediatric deaths at a Seattle hospital due to mold in the air system brought national attention to the gravity of mold illness.

Newer construction methods and materials, water damage that was not properly addressed, high indoor humidity levels, and genetic susceptibility are all factors that play a role in whether a person becomes sick from mold. Estimates vary, but some research shows up to 85 percent of building inspected had past water damage.

A new study found that people affected by mold illness experienced:

  • Brain inflammation in the hippocampus, the area of the brain that governs memory, learning, and the sleep-wake cycle.
  • Impaired memory.
  • Increased sensitivity to pain.
  • Increased anxiety.

The study also noted that the mold spore alone is not necessary to trigger mold reactions and mold illness. Weve long known that mycotoxins, toxic compounds produced by mold spores small enough to pass through most materials, are the primary trigger in mold illness.

The study also found that mold spore skeletal elements and other mold metabolites also cause symptoms of mold illness.

Dont Give Mold A Chance To Grow My Tips To Prevent Mold:

Sick From Mold Symptoms? | Tips For Removal
  • Keep indoor humidity between 40-60 percent.
  • Use top-load washers. Front loaders are more prone to mold since they collect water which allows mold to grow.Let the washer dry out completely before you close the lid.
  • Use an oscillating fan after you shower. Helps to dry all wet areas when youre out of the shower.
  • New houses can have mold issues too. People are often surprised to learn that mold issues in new homes is also common. Modern building guidelines do not usually look at mold prevention as their main priority. If you have an opportunity to move to a new building, it is always best to work with reputable professionals who specialize in mold and have them inspect the home.

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Whos Most At Risk For Developing Symptoms From Exposure To Mold

Anyone can develop symptoms from mold exposure. However, some people are more susceptible.

People with chronic respiratory conditions like asthma will experience worsening symptoms. The same heightened reaction will also occur among those with allergies.

Older people are more likely to react to mold toxicity, but it can also affect babies, children, and pregnant women.

Those with conditions that weaken the immune system, like HIV or cancer, are also at risk.

People in good health who do not fall within one of these categories may be able to tolerate low levels of exposure without developing any symptoms or problems. However, prolonged or proximate exposure can eventually cause problems in even the healthiest individual.

Home Testing For Mold

A home test for mold called ERMI screens for 36 mold species in dust samples you collect at home. Think about it as a way to test the health of your home in terms of mold.

If the type of molds found on the test overlaps with the ones found on the urine test, then we know you probably have a current mold exposure in your house. If theres no correlation, there may be other sources of exposure , or there could be a problem with mold exposure in the past.

While the ERMI can be very helpful, it doesnt tell you the location in the house where theres a mold problem. For best results, I usually advise my patients to run multiple ERMI tests: one for the basement , another test for the main floor, and another if you have a top floor.

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Effective Treatment For Symptoms Of Mold Exposure

Get Your Home Tested Properly

Proper mold inspection requires hiring an experienced Indoor Environmental Professional that uses various testing techniques to ensure there has not been water damage leading to mold growth in your home. When someone is sick in the household, the degree of mold testing needs to be more comprehensive than if someone was doing a general home inspection. I have witnessed mold inspectors miss water damage and mold growth in patients homes because they did not do a thorough investigation, or used the wrong testing methods.

Proper testing for mold helps to establish the scope of work for remediation. It is a conflict of interest to hire an inspector who also does remediation. However, most reputable inspectors can recommend a contractor who specializes in mold remediation.

To find a certified IEP in your area, visit www.acac.org and look for CIEC and CMC certifications. You will also find certified remediators with CMRS and CMR designation.

Treatments for mold Illness

Prescription medications and supplements referred to as binders are used to reduce the mycotoxin burden in the body. Technically these compounds do not bind mycotoxins, but they adsorb like static cling. Mycotoxins are secreted with bile from the gallbladder into the intestines. Mycotoxins adhere to binders in the intestines and then excreted through the stool.

Glutathione in Treating Mold Toxicity

Reduce Inflammation in Mold Toxicity

  • Transfer Factors Enviro

Myths About Black Mold

Mold In Your Bedroom: Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Removal Tips in 2020 ...

Its important to address myths some people may have about black mold. One common rumor is that black mold releases toxic compounds called mycotoxins that cause health issues, like memory loss, headaches, and infant pulmonary hemorrhage.

But according to a review from 2017, theres no evidence that exposure to black mold causes particular health conditions.

Furthermore, while a variety of molds produce mycotoxins, these compounds are primarily dangerous for humans only when eaten in significant quantities.

A 2019 review of research into this topic states theres currently no evidence that mycotoxins in the air cause disease.

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What Causes Mold Allergy

Molds produce spores. Allergies happen when your immune system is very sensitive to outside substances, such as mold spores. Your body produces antibodies against the mold spores. As youre repeatedly exposed to the mold spores over time, your body sees the mold spores as something to be destroyed and your immune system creates bigger reactions to protect you.

Its also possible to allergic to fungi in food, like mushrooms or fermented foods. This type of allergy generally causes local symptoms in the mouth and can cause rashes or even affect breathing.

When Should I See My Healthcare Provider About Mold Allergy

If you have symptoms you think are related to mold, call your provider. They can treat your symptoms and may want to do allergy testing.

If you do have asthma or other breathing problems, and you suspect you have an allergy to mold, contact your provider. If you have any type of severe breathing problem, call 911 or go to an emergency room.

If your mold allergy is confirmed, make sure that you follow the instructions of your provider. You may need to carry an epinephrine injector if you have severe reactions to mold. This type of medicine treats life-threatening allergic reactions.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Allergies are common conditions. If you have them, it means you react differently to certain substances than other people do. The best thing to do is avoid what youre allergic to. Among people with allergies, an allergy to mold or other environmental substances happens to 1 in 5 people. Many allergic reactions to mold are similar to the types of reactions you have to other allergens like pet dander or dust. You may have itchy eyes or skin, and your nose might run. Some reactions to mold are more dangerous, like when it acts as an asthma trigger. Keep in contact with your healthcare provider to know the best ways to treat your mold allergy.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 01/10/2022.

References

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How To Get Rid Of Mold

There are plenty of DIY mold removal options for you on the web some more effective than others. These may suffice if the problem is minor. After DIY treatment, it may be good to have an air quality test taken to measure the effectiveness of your work.

If the problem is more than minor, DIY methods will likely only remove the appearance of mold for a short time. For more serious problems, the best approach is to hire a certified and reputable local mold remediation company.

Most mold remediation companies will recommend demolition of the infected part of your home to literally remove the mold, so keep in mind that you might have additional expenses to restore a portion of your house. On top of that, the process might take several days.

If you are looking into demolition-free mold removal, then consider companies that use a dry fog technique. When properly done, this method not only kills mold without demolition, but it also takes less than a day to complete.

How Is Mold Allergy Treated

10 things I do | How I Heal From Mold Illness

One of the most important ways to manage a mold allergy is to avoid mold. Reduce your exposure to mold as much as possible by avoiding damp places and things like piles of wet leaves. Make sure your bathroom has an exhaust fan or window you can open to limit dampness and beware of leaks in your roof, walls or pipes in your home.

Your provider might suggest immunotherapy to reduce your sensitivity to mold, commonly known as allergy shots.

Medications, like antihistamines or nasal steroids can give you relief from symptoms. If you have asthma, your provider may suggest a different medication, like inhaled steroids or mast cell stabilizers.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Black Mold Exposure

Black mold, also known as toxic black mold or Stachybotrys, can cause many serious health problems if found inside a home. There are numerous negative health effects from mold exposure, such as mental impairment, breathing problems, internal organ damage, and in some cases, even death. The symptoms of black mold exposure can be separated into different groups depending upon the area affected by mold presence.

What About Tiny Mold Toxins Aka Mycotoxins

As mentioned above, though the Stachybotrys spores may be sticky and not easily airborne, there are other airborne contaminants to worry about: tiny fragments of mold and special toxins called mycotoxins. These contaminants may cause illness in those who are exposed, with mycotoxins being the most concerning.

You can think about mycotoxins as the molds defense: they are used for protection from environmental threats. Mycotoxins are minute organic compounds as small as 0.03 microns. These tiny molecules can stick to particles already floating through the air. Studies have found Stachybotrys mycotoxins on mold fragments that have broken off from a mold colony after it has been disturbed . This can be harmfulairborne particles less than 1.0 microns are easily breathed into the respiratory system, where they can cause irritation and potential allergic reactions. If this occurs, mycotoxins could accumulate onto local tissue and ultimately enter the bloodstream. The study by Brasel cited above showed that trichothecenes could be measured in the blood of people exposed to an indoor environment that had Stachybotrys.

Stachybotrys creates a class of mycotoxins referred to as trichothecenes. Trichothecenes have been widely studied and have been proven to be detrimental to the health of humans, animals and plants. In fact, trichothecenes have been investigated for the purpose of biological warfare needless to say, they are not something to which you want to be exposed.

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