What Doctor To See For Mold Exposure

Mold And Mycotoxin Testing Options

There are many different kinds of tests available, and they each have their own benefits and challenges.

Some tests look at levels of mold exposure or the burden of mycotoxins on the body, while others analyze how the immune system is reacting to mold and mycotoxins.

Research on all mold and mycotoxin testing is limited, and there is no perfect test . There are currently no FDA-approved laboratory tests for mycotoxins.

Keep in mind that two people may have similar levels of exposure to toxins but very different capacities to detoxify from them.

When selecting a test, ideally with the help of a practitioner, consider your main question. Is it Have I been exposed to mold? or is it How is my body handling a known mold exposure?

Toxic Mold Doctors A Comprehensive List

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Mold illness is an emerging area and not all patients may benefit from the same treatments. With so many medical practitioners claiming to know how to treat mold patients, it is hard to know who to choose.

I have personally been under the care of 4 different mold doctors at various times. They all took me to various stages of healing. Currently, I am my own mold doctor. I have taken all of the pieces of the puzzle my practitioners have provided me with and figured out what really works well for me. You can learn more about my approach in How To Detox From Mold Exposure.

In an effort to help as many victims of mold exposure as possible, I have compiled a list of medical practitioners who understand mold illness and offer treatment options for it. These are organized by state.

The mold doctors listed here use a wide range of treatment modalities, many of which may not be appropriate for all situations. The information on this page is provided only to give patients a starting point with regard to doing their own due diligence in terms of learning about and interviewing practitioners that might be appropriate for their situations.

Please understand that the listing of physicians and other medical practitioners on this page does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by me.

Mold Exposure Problems Will Persist When Underlying Problems Arent Resolved

Seeing a doctor for diagnosis and treatment of mold symptoms isnt enough. You might temporarily regain your health only to start experiencing similar symptoms.

This mostly arises when initial mold removal is hurriedly performed. As stated earlier, moisture presence will always give rise to mold growth.

Other Mold Prevention Tips:

Keep the temperature of your home consistent
Keep humidity levels in your home below 50%
Make sure your walls are well insulated

Clean up any water damage immediately
Frequently open windows in rooms that are dark and musty
Clean or repair roof gutters

Immediately fix any leaks in your homes roof, walls, or plumbing

When in doubt, if youre worried that mold might be growing in your home again, it is always a good idea to call a professional to come and evaluate.

They will be able to determine if mold is infesting your home and if your symptoms are cause for concern.

We have Mold Remediation Specialists that can help Find the Source of the Mold In your home, Remove it & Prevent it from Returning.

For Disasters of all Sizes,available in 95% of the USA

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Why Some People Are Susceptible

As mentioned by Dr. Shoemaker, approximately 24 percent of the population is genetically vulnerable to mold toxicity they have a certain immune response gene . If youre one of those people with mold susceptibility genes, you are far more likely to have an adverse reaction to mold when exposed to a sufficient quantity. In fact, 95 percent of mold illness occurs in this subgroup. Additionally, theres 2 percent who are particularly susceptible with a sicker quicker variation of the genes. If you arent susceptible, your chances are lower but not zero.

People like me who are genetically mold susceptible arent able to recognize specific toxins as toxins, such as mold, and the toxins get recirculated in their bodies. As a result, the toxins, in this case mold, trigger a persistent inflammatory response. Most of these folks dont know that they have a genetic susceptibility.

Mold illness from water-damaged buildings is a serious health problem.4Dennis, D. P. Chronic sinusitis: Defective T-cells responding to superantigens, treated by reduction of fungi in the nose and Continue reading Its not an allergy its a state of chronic inflammation caused by the immune system becoming out of whack. The CIRS doesnt heal on its own, will not abate, and will continue to provoke illness unless its treated. Their illness is built into their DNA and once triggered, the inflammatory response and resulting symptoms can last for years.

What Are The Symptoms That Youve Been Exposed To Mold

Symptoms range from person to person and may be related to your genetics. For example, 25% of Americans have the HLA-DR gene which makes them susceptible to toxic mold they experience more severe symptoms compared to the rest of the population.

Some symptoms that indicate toxic mold exposure include:

Respiratory problems including sneezing, runny nose, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, sinus congestion, chronic cough, and chronic respiratory tract problems

Chronic fatigue and weakness
Neurological symptoms and cognitive problems such as anxiety, depression, sensitivity to light, headaches, vertigo, poor memory, and difficulty concentrating
Digestive problems including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps

Metallic taste in the mouth
Morning stiffness and joint pain
Tingling and numbness

Others may be highly sensitive to mold toxins and have Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome a term coined by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker. CIRS is a condition thats caused by exposure to biotoxins, including mold.

The symptoms above are not specific to only mold toxicity and could be caused by something else. Mold tests will help rule out mold as the cause of your symptoms. Here are ways that you can test for mold in your home.

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Question: How To Find An Environmental Medicine Doctor In Canada

I’m from Calgary Alberta, Canada and I believe I need to find a doctor that has experience with mold illness. The place that I work, I believe has mold underneath their sinks. I’ve been sent home from work four or five times, two of which I ended up in hospital and one of those times, taken in an ambulance.

This is what happens: -Left side of my face swells up -My eyes hurt -I have a burning fever -Hands swell -Feet swell -Vomiting -Shortness of breath -Feelings of Constant Fatigue -Nausea -Weight Loss -Hair loss -Memory Loss “Short Term” -Chronic Sinus Infections -Pain in the Joints and Muscles -Swelling is painful -Skin is itchy -Losing coincidence -On going headaches for sometimes days

Any information or a point in the right directions to finding someone that can help me out in Calgary Alberta, Canada would be a huge weight off me. No doctor I’ve seen has been able to help me. None of them seem to take me seriously or want to do any testing on me that isn’t an allergy test. I’ve had allergy test and they come back negative. More of my co-workers are starting to get ill with the same symptoms that I have. One of my co-workers was taken to hospital as well in the same week I was. – D. Alberta, Canada 11/27/2013

Reply:

That said, try contacting EHA Alberta – Environmental Health Association of Alberta P.O. Box 25 Main Edmonton, AB, Canada T5J 2G9, Tel: 780-289-5719 , Email , Website: www.eha-ab.ca

How Can I Prevent An Allergic Reaction To Mold

Diagnosing and treating mold exposure in schools

You can reduce your allergy symptoms by avoiding contact with mold spores. These steps can help:

Reduce your exposure to mold spores outside.

Limit your outdoor activities when mold counts are high. This will lessen the amount of mold spores you inhale and your symptoms.
Remove leaves and piles of dead plant material or tree clippings as soon as possible.
Wear an N95 mask, hat, and sunglasses when caring for your lawn or garden.

Have someone without a mold allergy do yard work, if possible.
Promote groundwater drainage away from your house.

Reduce your exposure to mold spores inside.

If you have houseplants or potted herbs, only water them when the soil is dry. Here are some other ways to prevent mold in houseplants:
Plant them in sterile soil
Give them more light

To reduce mold in your laundry area:

Remove clothes from the washing machine right away.
If you have a front-loading washing machine, clean and dry the rubber seal and inside of the door often. Leave the door cracked open when the machine is not in use.

Dont leave wet, damp clothes sitting around.
Make sure your laundry area has good air circulation.

To reduce mold in your bedrooms:

To reduce mold in your basement:

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Treating Mold Allergies Or Exposure

Allergy shots and oral medications, including over-the-counter antihistamines, may be recommended or prescribed to treat mold toxicity. Detoxifying the body from the effects of mold toxicity is best performed with a multi-pronged approach.

Holistic medicine is also useful in treating mold poisoning, particularly by employing therapies that harness the bodys natural healing processes. These natural processes can help to trigger antioxidants and act in combatting toxicity.

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.

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What Type Of Doctor Should I See Concerning Mold Exposure

You should first consult a family or general health care provider who will decide whether you need referral to a specialist. Such specialists might include an allergist who treats patients with mold allergies or an infectious disease physician who treats mold infections. If an infection is in the lungs, a pulmonary physician might be recommended. Patients who have been exposed to molds in their workplace may be referred to an occupational physician. CDC is not a clinical facility. CDC does not see patients, diagnose illness, provide treatment, prescribe medication, or provide referrals to health care providers.

http://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm#help

For Help With Mold Removal

If you need to hire someone to remove black mold from your home, we suggest scheduling a free consultation with a mold removal professional. Even if you are planning to do the work yourself, you can benefit from some free expert advice from an experienced professional, including information on the safe handling of materials that may be contaminated with mold. For a list of qualified mold removal professionals offering free in-home consultations in your area, just follow the link.

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The Institute For Functional Medicine

This website gives an explanation of functional medicine. It has the most comprehensive functional medical practitioners search tool for practices situated in the U.S. It has easy navigation and exceptional practitioners, like chiropractors, wellness clinics, and nutritionists. Inspectapedia This website is dedicated to building and environmental inspection. It as well, offers a detailed list, by country and state, of environmental medicine and also mold doctors.

What Happens If You Eat Food With Mold

The thought of eating something moldy likely makes you want to gag. Most of the time, this is the only symptom youd get after eating moldy food. If somethings not right with your immune system and you eat something moldy, you might experience symptoms like:

If you are allergic to mold, those allergy symptoms may be triggered also

If you notice mold on your food that you dont want to throw away, consult the USDAs guide on handling moldy food.

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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

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Symptoms Of Mold Toxicity

#3 office video POTS – dysautonomia, midodrine and mold exposure

The most common symptoms of mold exposure are a stuffy nose, itchy skin, and red, watery eyes. However, people who are allergy sufferers can suffer respiratory symptoms or have an asthma flare-up.

Prolonged exposure to toxic mold can have the effect of memory loss and confusion. The patient may also experience muscle cramping, anxiety, and difficulty breathing.

If you have a pulmonary or lung condition, it is extremely important to avoid exposure to mold. Mold will exacerbate symptoms that exist with conditions like asthma, COPD , and cystic fibrosis.

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Is All Mold Toxic

Mold is not the only pathogen that grows from water damage. Fungal fragments, spores, mycotoxins, bacteria, mycobacteria, actinomycetes, VOCs, and other biotoxins can also form in damp buildings. These pathogens combine to produce a toxic soup that can lead to a multi-systemic and multi-symptomatic illness.

Not all mold is toxic, but many mold species from water-damaged buildings produce mycotoxins. It is the indoor concentration of mycotoxins and the rest of the toxic soup that can contribute to chronic debilitating symptoms.

Wide Range Of Treatments

Another way that can help you get the best doctor is by scrutinizing the types of treatment they offer. Great mold exposure treatment doctors who have been in the health industry for a long time would have a wide range of treatments to help get your condition under control. You need a doctor who can provide a wide range of treatments for mold exposure because some conditions may require different treatment techniques. Some of the treatments to check include Antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, oral decongestant, Montelukast, immunotherapy and many others.

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How Do Doctors Test For Mold Exposure & Mold Poisoning

Your doctor will first consider your symptoms and the potential for mold exposure.

Next, they will likely conduct a physical examination to identify or rule out any other medical problems or underlying issues.

Your doctor may also run other allergy tests, which can conclude if you have a mold allergy or sensitivity.

Finally, if your physician suspects mold exposure or mold poisoning, there are a few different types of tests they will choose from.

These tests will confirm if your symptoms are a result of mold exposure.

How Is Mold Poisoning Treated

What Doctor Do You Go To For Mold Exposure

Treatment for mold exposure and allergies may involve the use of nasal sprays or rinses, allergy shots, over the counter drugs, and oral medication. Nasal corticosteroids and over-the-counter medications help to reduce inflammation caused by mold allergies along the airways. You may also be given oral medications to reduce the amount of mucus in your airways. Your doctor may recommend getting frequent shots to boost your bodyâs immune system over time.

It is important to seek immediate medical attention once you notice any symptoms of mold poisoning since prolonged exposure to mold can cause severe health problems. The best treatment for mold is to avoid being exposed to mold spores as much as possible. It is also important to have professional mold remediation in your home as it ensures your home is safe and healthy for you and your family.

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