What Can Mold Cause To Your Health

Q: Can Eating Mold Make You Sick

A: Yes, it is possible that eating mold can cause health issues such as vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches. According to the Cleveland Clinic, if you can visibly see mold on food, dont risk it. Throw it out.

Mold spores are everywhere, and they can be found in food, water, air, soil, and plants. The best way to avoid getting sick from mold is to wash your hands frequently, and to keep your home clean. If you have a concern, wait the day and see if any symptoms show up. If not, you are probably ok.

Black Mold Exposure Symptoms

One surefire sign of black mold exposure is chronic respiratory issuesincluding coughing, wheezing, sneezing, and irritation of the mouth and throat. Other symptoms include constant headaches and fatigue. Everyone is susceptible to black molds many nasty side effects, including pets. Pregnant women, children, the elderly, and people who are already sick are the most vulnerable to black mold.

Prolonged exposure to black mold can cause even more severe symptoms. Nausea, vomiting, and bleeding in the lungs and nose are all signs of black mold exposure or black mold poisoning. In severe cases, black mold can cause organs to shut downincluding the brainleading to death. Black mold is a neurotoxin, meaning spores attach to the brains neurons and can cause mood swings and tremors. Black mold spores also suppress the immune system, making people more vulnerable to other illnesses. It is important to note that, like other molds, the black mold colony itself is not toxic. The dangerous part is the mycotoxins that are given off by black mold.

What Causes Mold Sickness

The toxins in your system from breathing in mold spores add to the total amount of toxicity in your body. We call this the Total Body Burden. When your burden is high, you start experiencing symptoms many which are seemingly unrelated.

For most people, toxins get flushed out from the body when eliminating waste.

For some, the toxic load is so high that its too much for the body to eliminate them all efficiently. For others, they may have poor detoxification processes or they may even recycle or reabsorb these mycotoxins back, as the body tries to eliminate them. Genetics plays a huge role in this difference from person to person

In short, multiple symptoms happen because, as we say in environmental medicine genetics points the gun, and then the environment pulls the trigger.

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Myths About Black Mold

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.

Q: Can Mold On Toothbrush Make You Sick

A: Yes, mold on toothbrushes can cause health issues such as asthma, sinusitis, and allergies. The best way to prevent mold from growing on your toothbrush is to keep it clean and dry. If you do not want to throw away your toothbrush, then you should soak it in hot water for 10 minutes. After soaking, rinse it thoroughly with soap and water.

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How To Clean Mold On A Shower Door

Use one cup of baking soda, one teaspoon of liquid soap, a few drops of essential oils, and enough water to make a paste. Spread the paste over the mold and allow to sit for a few minutes, then wipe away with hot water. Do not forget to clean mold from the shower door. This should remove most of the mold.

Medical Treatment For Mold On The Lungs

Anti-Fungal Medicine

The most common type of treatment for lungs that incur microbial growth is anti-fungal medicine. It usually involves taking prescription medication whether it be in pill or liquid form. Some of the names of the medications that are usually used are:

• Itraconazole

Anti-fungal medication is generally for the mildest cases.

Surgery

Another option which is for the mod severe cases of a condition which we will get more into below called Aspergillosis is to have surgery. Surgery can be risky and can even involve removing a lung which is the last resort option.

I know, scary stuff!

At least we have two lungs right? Truth is, you can actually breathe perfectly fine with just one functioning lung.

Boosting The Immune System

While this can be done with many types of diseases, boosting the immune system can help fight infections that are associated with mold growing on the lungs.

Boosting the Immune System can involve any type of medication that raises your white blood cells which is essential in helping you fight off diseases and infections.

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Getting A Diagnosis For Mold Sickness

While symptoms to mold exposure are not uncommon , many health care professionals struggle to pinpoint the cause behind these symptoms.

Often only a few people or one person and not everyone, in a home or workplace experience symptoms. This is frustrating and confusing for the sick person. When their doctors cant find any reason for the illness, they can start to feel like the sickness is all in their mind.

People suffering from mold exposure can often be misdiagnosed with disorders such as:

• Depression

How Do Doctors Test For Mold Exposure

If you are aware of mold growth in your home and you feel sick, inform your doctor about the mold and your symptoms right away. But sometimes you cant see mold, and it is not clear whether its mold exposure thats made you sick or not.

Because mold allergy or mold exposure symptoms can resemble that of other allergies, the doctor will typically start by asking about your medical and family medical history. Additionally, doctors usually run tests for mold exposure which may include one or more of the following:

• Skin test for reactions to allergens, including mold
• IgG mold antibodies test to see the immune systems reaction to molds. A positive test means that an individual was or is currently exposed to mold
• Urine mycotoxins test
• A fungal culture of the nasal sinuses

The type of testing youll receive depends on the doctor you visit, so be sure to ask questions ahead of time so you can feel confident in your diagnosis.

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Why Mold Causes Problems

Molds alone dont usually cause many health problems. Its when they land on damp surfaces and reproduce that you feel their nasty health effects.

Mold spores produce allergens substances that can cause you to have allergic reactions resulting in hay-fever-like symptoms: itchy, red eyes, runny nose and asthma. If these persist, you can develop respiratory infections. Its rare, but exposure to mold spores can eventually cause organ damage, cognitive difficulties and even death.

Whats more, mold spores can irritate your lungs even if youre not allergic to mold. When introduced to your body, spores irritate your airways in your nose, mouth and throat, Dr. Ibrahim says. They can also cause burning and bleeding if they become lodged in your mucus membranes, such as in your sinuses and lungs.

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Toxic Mold: How It Survives

Mold lives off of any organic matter and loves a warm, humid environment. This includes your leather jacket, a peach, old newspapers, bathroom walls, windowsills, ceilings, and wall-paper. Most often, mildew, which is a form of mold or fungus, infects our living or workspaces when there is a high level of moisture, like a musty basement or a shower wall. It comes in through our walls, windows, doors, carpets, or under the refrigerator.

Mold spores can also be carried in on our clothing, shoes, pets and our bodies. Doctors warn against breathing in mold over long periods of time. Often times, our homes and offices are infested with toxic mold and mildew. And, because it can hide in cracks in our walls, as well as other invisible places, most of us are unaware that we are being exposed to the extremely harmful effects.

Today, mold growth in homes and places of work is more of a health issue than we may think. So itâs important that you recognize the symptoms of mold in your home, and take steps to protect yourself and your family.

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Mold: How Does It Cause Allergies

Mold is a fungus that grows in places that are moist. During its growth phase, mold is unlikely to cause many allergy symptoms unless youre actively touching or removing it, says Christian Nageotte, MD, staff allergist at Henry Ford Hospital in Novi, Michigan. But on dry and windy days outside, mold goes into the protective part of its life cycle, he says. Thats when mold releases seeds, or spores, that blow in the wind and can be inhaled.

About three dozen types of mold can cause respiratory allergies. Mold allergy symptoms may include a runny nose, sneezing, congestion, mucus buildup, postnasal drip, and an itchy nose and eyes. When mold spores enter the lungs, they could trigger asthma.

If you have experienced allergic symptoms but are unsure of the cause, a skin or blood test done by an allergist can tell you if mold is the culprit.

How Can You Prevent And Treat Mold And Mildew In Your Home

Now that we have gone over how mold and mildew are different, you probably want to know how you can prevent and treat both in your home. Prevention is always the best method for keeping your family healthy and your home free of damage.

How can you prevent mold and mildew from growing?

• Keep all surfaces dryYour bathroom and kitchen are prone to damp surfaces. Keeping them dry will go a long way in preventing mold and mildew. Also, remember to leave your washing machine open between uses so it can air out.
• Use a dehumidifierTo prevent mold and mildew from growing, keep your home at an ideal humidity level .
• Change your air filters regularlyHVAC filters, as well as HEPA filters, are prone to growing mold and mildew. When you change them often, you are preventing this.
• Inspect for mold and mildew regularlyThe earlier you catch it, the easier it will be to treat.
• Keep the air in your home circulatingStagnant air traps humidity, which creates the perfect environment for mold and mildew to grow. Keep the air flowing in your home by opening windows and using fans.
• Use an indoor air purifierIndoor air purifiers like the Molekule device can remove mold spores from the air in your home, helping to prevent them from forming clusters and growing. The Molekule unit is especially a good choice for mold, because it will destroy it completely, leaving no risk for it to grow on the filter surface and be released back into the air.

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How Do You Get The Molds Out Of Buildings Including Homes Schools And Places Of Employment

Mold growing in homes and buildings indicates that there is a problem with water or moisture. This is the first problem to address.

Remove moldy items from living areas. Once mold starts to grow in carpet, insulation, ceiling tiles, drywall, or wallboard, the only way to deal with the problem is by removal and replacement.

It is important to properly clean and dry the area as you can still have an allergic reaction to parts of the dead mold and mold contamination may recur if there is still a source of moisture.

Remove or replace carpets and upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried promptly.

Clean up and dry out your home thoroughly and quickly after any flooding. Dig out mud and dirt . Use a wet vacuum to remove remaining dirt. Scrub cleanable surfaces with soapy water and a bristle brush. Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces with water and dish detergent. Dry surfaces quickly and thoroughly after cleaning. If you have a fan, air conditioner or dehumidifier that wasnt affected by flooding use it to help the surfaces dry after you finish cleaning

Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water to kill mold on surfaces. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners.

If you choose to use bleach to clean up mold:

What Causes Mould To Grow Indoors

Mould only grows when there is sufficient moisture on a surface or humidity in the air. Common causes include:

• leaky roofs and walls including and blocked gutters and downpipes
• leaky plumbing
• condensation from cooking, showering, clothes drying and from breathing inareas with poor air circulation eg cupboards and corners and furniture against uninsulated outside walls. Avoid conditions encouraging mould growth, by using heat, insulation and ventilation. The cheapest and easiest way of reducing moisture and humidity levels is by ventilating a room by opening a door or window. Use exhaust fans where available.

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Five Of The Most Common Indoor Molds

Mold illness is the variety of health problems that can occur from any type of mold exposure. Although a mold allergy is the most common problem caused by exposure to mold, mold can cause illness without an allergic reaction. Mold can also cause infections or irritants and toxic reactions. Infections caused by mold can lead to a variety of problems from flu-like symptoms to skin infections and even pneumonia.

How Long Does It Take For Black Mold To Kill You

Black mold, or Stachybotrys atra, has a reputation for being fatal. This is due to reports that black mold was related to infant deaths in the 1990s. Its also been linked to the idea of sick building syndrome and is often called toxic black mold.

But theres no solid evidence proving that black mold is toxic. Black mold, and mold in general, is not deadly.

Still, black mold can cause unwanted side effects, especially those in people who are sensitive to mold. This includes people who are young, old, or have compromised immune systems.

Visit a doctor if you have:

• persistent sinus and nasal congestion
• frequent headaches
• unexplained skin irritation
• more frequent asthma attacks

Sometimes, it can be difficult to know if mold is causing your symptoms. Many side effects of mold exposure are similar to other conditions, like seasonal allergies. Some symptoms also take time to appear.

Your best bet is to see a doctor, even if youre unsure your symptoms are related to mold. They can help you find relief.

The best way to treat mold exposure symptoms is to reduce exposure. Follow these tips:

• Avoid contact with moldy items or surfaces.
• Avoid damp rooms, like basements.
• Remove mold from the home by cleaning surfaces and drying damp areas.
• Increase ventilation by using a fan or opening windows.
• Reduce indoor humidity with a dehumidifier.

The length of time it takes for mold to leave your body will depend on your level of previous exposure.

• a musty, earthy odor

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Who Gets Aspergillosis

Exposure to Aspergillus is not likely to cause problems in the majority of people whose immune systems are healthy. However, people with chronic lung problems or people with weak immune systems may be at greater risk for developing the infection. People with weakened immune systems include those people taking chemotherapy or those who have had organ transplants.

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Signs Of Mold Illness

by Dr. Michele Neil-Sherwood | Health Tips

Mold is a big problem in most homes, but many people are unaware of the problem. Of course, everyone looks at the shower curtain, under the sink, or in the basement when he or she think about mold issues, but mold can grow just about anywhere.

Mold can be found in drywall, in the roof , and even in ones Christmas tree. One study found that Christmas trees can breed mold, quietly releasing millions of spores into the room causing winter allergies and asthma attacks. Studies have found that indoor air quality dropped six-fold over the 14 days a Christmas tree typically decorates a room.

There are 1,000 types of mold that can be found growing in the modern American home. Scientists classify these molds based on the effect they have on humans and other living things.

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