Yes, there is mold in your life and the question is whether that mold is causing you adverse symptoms. Mold is everywhere. It is in your home but at what level? Safe vs Toxic. Can your body purge and detox mold mycotoxins or do you hold a gene that prevents your ability to get rid of it? You don’t the answers to these questions without testing.
Here is a short list of symptoms and diagnoses that mold exposure can cause:
• Headache
• Light sensitivity
• Fibromyalgia
• Skin rash and itch
• Blurred vision
• Sinus problems
• Cough
• Morning stiffness & Joint pain
• Focus & concentration issues
• Confusion – Disorientation
• Memory issues, mental fog
• Excessive thirst
• Increased urination
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Muscle cramps, ache, soreness
• Unusual pain
• Ice pick pain
• Shortness of breath
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Mood swings
• Appetite swings
• Sweats
There are dozens of mold forms and they are natural in our environment. Most forms of mold exist outdoors and if you have ever spread mulch of walked thru wet leaves in the fall then you inhaled mold spores and mold endotoxins. Allergy to mold and exposure to mold are 2 different things. Most people are not allergic yet all of us can be affected by mold biotoxins if exposed on a regular basis at high enough doses.
It is when mold moves indoors and lives in our homes or workspace that we can experience bigger problems. Water damaged buildings can hold dangerous mold forms such as Stachybotrys and Aspergillus that produce both spores and endotoxins, also called mycotoxins. If your basement has ever flooded or even simply had repeated water leaks then you may be at risk. If your roofline has a small persistent leak or a window has water near it on a regular basis then this is the potential first step in developing dangerous mold. If you have a finished basement with drywall, realize that drywall is the preferred food of mold and as it covers the cement wall behind you may have no way of seeing it. Mold may be living in your air ducts or in an old furnace. And who doesn't have a cardboard box in their basement holding family memorabilia or old clothes. Paper and cardboard are once again a favored source of food that mold feeds on.
So what’s the big deal, should we all be living in fear of mold toxins? No, fear is never a good place to hang out but let’s discuss what all of this means and develop a few ideas and strategies to identify if you are at risk. This is often the hidden, undiscovered element that is giving so many of my patients a “disease diagnosis” but does not have an identified CAUSE.
Understanding Mold
Mold is all around us so when is it dangerous? Mold can grow when fed with humidity and stagnant air. It feeds on vegetative matter like old leaves, wood, paper, cardboard and gypsum (drywall). Any stagnant water will eventually grow mold. And yes, mold can even grow inside of the human body if our immune system is weak and we offer a welcome environment. Mold growing inside of us is very uncommon and typically affects only those with a damaged immune system such as that caused by chemotherapy, immune suppressant drugs, AIDS or chronic Lyme infection. Once mold establishes itself it begins to produce spores and biotoxins (endotoxins) that in fact work to weaken your immune defenses. This is why mold exposed people often report frequent colds or infections and the many of the family may also be demonstrating frequent infections. Biotoxins are poisons and some examples are bee and wasp stings, poisonous snakes, reef fish and brown recluse spiders. Biotoxins enter the body and are normally tagged by the immune system to be removed. In approximately 24% of the population, the immune system genes, called HLA DR genes, that normally help to remove the foreign toxins, do not work. Biotoxins are able to thrive and cause illness in individuals with these susceptible genes as they struggle to remove the toxic load. A simple blood test can be done to detect HLA-DR genes, to see if you are susceptible.
Mold can grow in any season or environment and can cause serious problems. Molds reproduce by forming spores that can survive under extremely harsh conditions. Molds can cause serious illness and can present with a variety of different vague symptoms. A 2007 study found that 21.8 million people reported to have asthma in the United States and of those individuals; an estimated 4.6 million cases were attributed to mold and dampness in the home. This equates to $3.5 billion to the national annual cost of asthma. So how do we know if you have mold exposure? MEASURE IT!! A simple urine test can uncover if mold is behind your medical dilemma.
It is quite common for someone to be diagnosed with headaches or focus issues and be assigned a diagnosis of ADD, fibromyalgia, IBS or other diagnosis that has no testing to prove or disprove its source. The first step is to take a serious look at your home and don't assume that your house is “clean”. This has nothing to do with how tidy you are. Here are a few questions to consider.
• Has your basement ever been breached by water? Even a small repetitive leak can be an issue.
• Do you have a “crawl space” as a basement. These are notorious mold breeding grounds.
• Do you have your clothes drier operating in a small closed off area of your basement? This can produce humidity at high levels.
• Has your roof ever leaked or have you been up in your own attic to explore for signs of frost and thaw that lead to moisture accumulation?
• Have any of your appliances such as dishwasher, clothes washer, or refrigerator ever had a leak? Would you be able to see it if it did occur?
• Showers and sinks are all potential sources for leaks that can occur behind the wall or cabinet. Has there been staining water or signs of staining to floor, cabinet or walls?
Decreasing Exposure Risk
There are a number of simple things you can do to reduce your risk. Mold has a difficult time growing and existing in an area that is well ventilated and is of low humidity.
• Keep humidity level <50% in your home. Get a simple “hygrometer” (costs $10) that measures room humidity.
• Use dehumidifiers especially during humid months
• Run a fan in your basement or suspicious areas all day, every day, to keep air moving.
• Seek VALID professional help to assess water leaks, water stains and mold suspicion. Look for an inspector that has “Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification” (IICRC). My guy is Chuck Billingsley whom I have used for years. He is user friendly and very sharp. Chuck Billingsley - home mold inspection. Phone: (513) 405-1209. Thur-O-Check.
Who To Trust
The best scenario is a mold inspector who is not tied to a remediation company. You want someone to test and judge the situation who isn’t financially incentivized to find a problem or clear a problem.
If you don't have this option in your area then test your home yourself using a “DIY Mold Test” that can be purchased online for $180 and will run a 5 minute air quality test which is far and away the most reliable testing method.
Tools
Visual Contrast Sensitivity Test (VCS): A simple visual test can be a great first step to assess the presence of mycotoxins. Your second cranial nerve, the optic nerve can be affected by mycotoxin presence leading to a reduction in your ability to distinguish black from white. This test was developed by the military decades ago to detect when troops had been affected by toxins on the field of battle. 92% of those with biotoxin illness will fail the VCS test. You can go online to take this test at VCStest.com.
Mosaic Mycotoxin Urine test: It is easier and more reliable to test YOU than it is to test your home. Mosaic lab offers a simple urine test to assess if mycotoxins are present in high quantities in your urine. This test can be ordered by clinicians who treat mold toxicity in their practice.
Podcast – “Dr. Gary Huber – Road Map to Longevity” found on Spotify or Apple networks offers a discussion of my personal experience with mold in my house and how I resolved it.
Mold detection and treatment is not a straight line and you would do well to find a practitioner skilled in helping you navigate this path. We deal with mold cases every day in our office and have extensive experience resolving these issues. We are here to help if you have questions.
