Are you moldy? Is there mold in your life that is causing headache, muscle pain, fatigue and other vague symptoms? Let me offer a basic understanding so you can take action in defense of your health.
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. This exposure is not typically a problem unless you are allergic to mold. 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 biotoxins. 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.
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). 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? Well, llet’s explore the broad array of symptoms.
Signs of mold exposure
There are a multitude of symptoms that can occur from biotoxin illness.
- Headache
- Light sensitivity
- Red eyes
- Blurred vision
- Sinus problems
- Cough
- Joint pain
- Morning stiffness
- Focus/concentration issues
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Excessive thirst
- Increased urination
Some of the most common symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Aches
- Muscle cramps
- Unusual pain
- Ice pick pain
- Shortness of breath
- Memory issues
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Mood swings
- Appetite swings
- Sweats
- Many more
As you can see, this list of potential symptoms is very broad and vague. If you have had issues like the symptoms listed above and yet struggled to get it resolved through traditional medical treatments, then perhaps the diagnosis of mold exposure was overlooked. 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 to keep air moving.
- Seek VALID professional help to assess water leaks, water stains and mold suspicion.
Who To Trust
There is no certification to be a “Mold Inspector”. Seek out a referral from an integrative clinician in your area. 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 Mycometrics.com home test kit. You can order the “ERMI” test online which runs roughly $300. This will at least give you an idea in the home is dealing with higher than usual mold levels.
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.
Great Plains Lab Mycotoxin Urine test: The Great Plains 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.
Getting more information might be helpful to you so visit the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) website here: Basic Mold Facts - http://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm#mold
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.
