How Do We Make The Diagnosis Of Mold Toxicity
The simplest and most accurate test is a urine test for mold toxins from the RealTime Laboratory. Two other laboratories now offer the test, but it is not clear that their results are as accurate or reproducible. The test measures four of the main families of mycotoxins that cause illness, namely ochratoxin, aflatoxin, tricothecene and gliotoxins. A positive test not only nails down the diagnosis, but also serves as a blueprint of how to treat it. One of the important concepts to understand with mold toxicity is that the toxins interfere with the body’s innate ability to excrete those toxins. What this means is that this test may not accurately reflect the toxic load unless we use some means of provocation to help the body excrete toxin as we prepare to collect the urine specimen. The current ideal way to collect the urine is to take 500 mg of liposomal glutathione twice a day for a week, and on the 7th day, just before the urine is collected, to do either a sauna or hot bath to promote sweating and to collect the urine 30 minutes after getting out of the sauna or bath. Elevated levels of mycotoxin make the diagnosis.
Other tests can be helpful, but are not as specific as the direct measurement of mycotoxins in the urine. Dr. Shoemaker has outlined a series of blood tests including c4a, TGF-beta-1, MSG, VEGF, and VIP which point towards this diagnosis, and also utilizes the Visual Contrast Test as additional confirmation .
Identifying Mold In Your Home
- Appearance or dark spots or clusters. Look for spots or clustered growths, especially in warm, moist rooms.
- Musty smell. You may be able to identify mold by a musty smell.
- Allergies or asthma. If you experience asthma attacks or allergy symptoms in your home, that may also indicate theres mold.
- Potential causes. Look for causes of mold growth, like a leak, water damage, lack of ventilation, or old food, papers, or wood.
How To Treat Black Mold Poisoning
Black mold, scientifically referred to as Stachybotrys atra or Stachybotrys chartarum, is typically black or dark green and often linked to serious health problems.
In fact, black mold exposure can lead to poisoning, or stachybotryotoxicosis a condition thats dangerous, particularly for young children and the elderly.
Even though black mold poisoning typically affects horses, cows, and pigs, humans can become infected if they inhale or ingest the spores.
Symptoms of stachybotryotoxicosis include skin rashes , throat and sinus irritation, burning eyes, and a decrease in the production of white blood cells.
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What Are The Signs Of Mold In Your House
Musty smells are a tell-tale sign of mold. Another common indicator is visible signs of water damage.
As mentioned earlier, mold grows fast. Within 24 hours of a water leak, or a flood, mold will begin to take hold. This mold can grow on anything thats humid walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, and even wet laundry.
When there is a chance of mold, its important to have a professional in to test. Professionals qualified to do environmental investigations can:
- Check the surfaces of your house for mold
- Test the air for spores
- Help you to identify sources of moisture
- Identify where the mold is growing and help you decontaminate your house
- Use natural enzymes to kill mold spores
If you dont get rid of all sources of mold, you risk getting sick from it.
What Is Chronic Fatigue
Chronic Fatigue isas its name impliesa condition thats most prominently characterized by constant, profound fatigue. Other symptoms include:
- Joint and muscle pain
- Cognitive impairment
- Enlarged lymph nodes in your neck or armpits
- Headaches
- Increased sensitivity to pain
- Anxiety, depression, or malaise
Chronic fatigue can be tricky to pinpoint, as its a disease of exclusion. Before a doctor can diagnose someone with chronic fatigue, they must rule out all other possible causes of the patients issues. Adrenal Insufficiency, Lyme Disease, clinical depression, and various diseases of specific organs can all cause symptoms similar to Chronic Fatigue.
Now, most of us know at least one person whos seemingly always tired because they dont get enough sleep at night. But thats NOT what Chronic Fatigue is. For people with this illness, it seems that theres no amount of rest that will give them a normal energy level, and bouts of physical or mental exercise can leave them too exhausted to do much of anything for more than 24 hours.
Chronic Fatigue sufferers often have trouble at their jobs or maintaining relationships with others the condition robs them of their ability to concentrate and their will to socialize. And, unfortunately, many folks will write sufferers off as lazy or whiney instead of understanding that the person is struggling with a real illnessthey dont just need to go to bed earlier.
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Question: What Health Problems Can Black Mold Cause
The most common black mold symptoms and health effects are associated with a respiratory response. Chronic coughing and sneezing, irritation to the eyes, mucus membranes of the nose and throat, rashes, chronic fatigue and persistent headaches can all be symptomatic of black mold exposure or black mold poisoning.
Study Suggests Mold Exposure Can Cause Severe Effects In Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Me/cfs
by Cort Johnson | Apr 13, 2013 | Mold, Research |
Theres certainly good reason to connect mold exposure with chronic fatigue syndrome . The symptoms are very similar and if you stick around long enough youll hear of chronic fatigue syndrome patients who were disabled by mold or who got better through mold avoidance.
Mold is ubiquitous in our environment but certain types of mold, particularly indoor black mold, can be very hazardous
Many ME/CFS patients dont do well in moldy environments and they may have other issues going on as well. For me, living in the desert did improve my symptoms nor did living in the more moldy south make them worse but I definitely have to limit my exposures to moldy houses. Mold is in play for me Im just not sure where.
Many doctors use the concept of total load to describe what they think is going on in ME/CFS. They believe ME/CFS is not due to one virus or one toxin or one species of gut bacteria its the virus plus the toxin plus the gut bacteria that causes this disorder and they treat the disorder by attempting to reduce the load ie by getting rid of the toxin or the allergen or the mold or whatever is that is depressing your system.
If youre not one of the lucky people who found mold was it for them, mold may still very well be in the picture.
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How Do You Know If Mold Is Making You Sick
Are you sick and suspect it might be from mold?
Determining whether exposure to mold is making you sick isnt always easy.
Each persons body is affected by mold toxicity in different ways. Some experience constant migraines and headaches, shortness of breath, brain fog, fatigue or even depression.
Since symptoms differ from person to person, they may not be quickly associated with mold exposure. Many people suffering from mold illness struggle to get a proper diagnosis and investigation.
Its common to think my house is clean it cant be mold! However, mold comes in many forms. In this article, well share what toxic mold is, the signs and symptoms, and how it can be treated.
How To Get Rid Of Black Mold
Trying to kill or remove toxic black mold yourself is not advisable. If not handled properly, you could end up disturbing the mold and releasing millions of spores and mycotoxins into the air. This could worsen you indoor air quality and cause damage to your home.
Since black mold is toxic, youre better off contacting a professional mold remediation company with experience in cleaning mold in buildings and homes.
Mold removal specialists will be able to accurately determine the extent of the mold infestation and can suggest the right course of action for your home. If you suspect that your home has black moldthat is, if you can see and/or smell it .
A healthy, mold-free home ensures a healthy, happy family.
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Mold Could Thrive In Your Home
It is estimated that half of the buildings in the United States may be WDB, meaning water-damaged buildings. Construction techniques in the U.S. turn out to be a feast and buffet for mold and fungal organisms. Our homes here are often built of wood and drywall rather than stone or brick as in Europe. Mold and fungi thrive on drywall, wood, and other soft materials.
Mold thrives in dark and moist environments and doesnt take much water to get the process going. A small drip from a leaky toilet, shower, or sink is all it takes. Small roof leaks are also common causes. If you see a stain on the ceiling or the wall there is very likely an associated hidden mold growth. This is not the type of mold that you see on the shower wall, but rather it is lurking behind the walls and in air ducts, crawl spaces, attics, and other areas.
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Linking Mold Depression And Anxiety
Linking Mold, Depression, and Anxiety
Recently, emerging evidence between depression, anxiety, and environmental factors has surfaced. Exposure to mold is most commonly associated with allergies and asthma. However, it is now thought to be associated with many complex health problems, since black mold species such as Aspergillus, Fusarium and Stachybotrys. These black molds produce mycotoxins that are toxic to central parts of the body, including the brain.
When the environmental conditions are right and toxic black molds begin to grow, they produce by-products that are released from the growth area, they include MVOCs, Spores, and Mycotoxins. Many mycotoxins are neurotoxins causing lesions in the brain in the grey matter and the white matter. This directly affects the frontal cortex, cause dopamine dysfunction which can create psychological disorders like anxiety or depression. These disorders occurs when the nerve cells in the brain that make dopamine are slowly destroyed. Without dopamine, the nerve cells in that part of the brain cannot properly send messages.
About 40% of the residents lived in visibly damp, moldy households, and overall their risk for depression averaged 3444% higher than that for residents of mold-free dwellings, with moderate exposure associated with the highest increase in risk.
My ears were ringing and it felt as if my head was about to explode.
I had anxiety, brain fog, memory and cognition problems, difficult concentrating and speaking.
How Are Mold Allergies And Exposure Diagnosed
There are no proven tests that show when or where you may have been exposed to mold.
But your doctor may check for mold allergies by reviewing your symptoms and performing one of the following tests:
- Blood test. Your doctor takes a blood sample and then sends it to a laboratory to measure the number of certain antibodies, which can indicate your immune systems sensitivity to different mold species.
- Skin prick test. Your doctor takes a small amount of mold and applies it to your skin using a tiny needle. Your skin will break out in bumps, a rash, or hives if youre allergic to that type of mold.
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Is It Safe To Live In A House With Black Mold
In short, yes. Exposure to black mold can be harmful in the long term, particularly in people with respiratory conditions and other risk factors. Black mold can be one of several different species of fungus, including Stachybotrys chartarum. Short term exposure to black mold is unlikely to cause harm in healthy people.
Common Symptoms Of Both Fibromyalgia And Toxic Mold Exposure
Some people suspect that toxic mold might cause fibromyalgia because fibromyalgia and mold-related illness share many of the same symptoms, including:
- Achy joints and muscles
- Headaches or migraines
- General feeling of malaise
People with mold-related illnesses usually have respiratory symptoms, however, such as coughing, sneezing, wheezing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, in addition to the symptoms listed above. They may develop sinus infections, bronchitis or pneumonia. These are not symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Still, since many of the symptoms of both conditions are similar, mold-related illness may be misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia in some cases.
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What Are Signs Of Mold In Your House
What are the signs of mold? It has a musty, earthy smell. Theres a nearby source of moisture, but not much light. You see warping, cracking, or peeling of whatever material its growing on. A drop of bleach lightens its color in a minute or two. Unchecked, mold will continue to grow. Dirt and old stains wont.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
According to the CDC website, there are 12 symptoms associated with ME/CFS.
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Schedule A Free Home Inspection For Mold
If you suspect there may be a link between your symptoms of fibromyalgia and toxic mold, you can schedule an appointment with a mold remediation professional for a free home inspection. An experienced professional will visit your home, inspect for mold and, if any mold is found, explain the steps necessary to remove the mold and make your home safe again. The inspection and in-home consultation are free, so you have nothing to lose and you have your health to gain. To find qualified mold remediation professionals offering free inspections in your area, just follow the link provided.
What Does Black Mold Do To Your Brain
Inflammation: Mold spores act as irritants, which can trigger the body to mount an immune response. This can lead to inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation in the brain can impair cognitive function, and in the case of chronic inflammation, this can lead to long-lasting cognitive impairment.
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Olfactory And Visual Investigation:
We then conduct a visual inspection of your home and see if we can smell any musty odors that indicate mold growth.
When mold is visible or odorous, it means the issue has been going on for a while. So, this investigation helps us determine where mold is growing in your home and the level of severity.
Four Types Of Mold In Our Home
Three of the mold spore types initially found in my home were known to pose threats to the respiratory system and/or brain. These included aspergillius, pennicilium, and cladosporium. The other mold, basidiospores, is not talked about much, as it is generally found in gardens and forests not in homes.
But the level of basidiospores in my home was 640, as compared to the levels found in the air outside my home, which was < 13. The mold inspector was a little surprised about the higher reading inside our home. He said that particular type of mold spore is usually found more outdoors than inside. Yet in my home they were like 600 times higher inside, than out.
Basidiospores is a type of fungus that comes from mushrooms. The spores travel in the wind, and can get inside your home through an open door or window. I used to open my front door to allow fresh air inside on cooler days. So its possible that it got into my home that way.
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What Medical Tests Are Available To Determine If I Am Allergic Tomold
There are medical tests to determine if you are allergic to a particularsubstance, such as mold. These can be performed on skin or blood. Skin testsare considered more reliable than blood tests to determine allergic reaction toa substance. Skin tests yield results more quickly, are less expensive thanblood tests and are generally considered more sensitive. If an individual hassymptoms year-round, which may indicate an indoor allergy, skin testing may berecommended.
Blood testing called the RAST test can be done to showif you are allergic to a substance. The RAST test detects levels of antibodiesto particular allergens. The test is expensive to perform and results areusually not available for about two weeks.
How Can You Tell The Difference Between Black Mold And Regular Mold
While other types of mold may have a fuzzy, light texture, black mold will usually be slimy or wet. Some early forms of black mold have a powdery feel. Rub the mold with a paper towel to determine the texture, but be sure to wear gloves, a face mask, coveralls, and safety goggles when going near mold.
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