How to Test for Mold Illness
Why I recommend testing
Not going to lie – I'm a bit obsessed with mold. This is mainly because of how often I've seen chronic mold hijacking the health of the people I support. I also know from clinical and personal experience that chronic mold majorly block your ability to get well.
If you experience one (or many) of the health problems associated with chronic mold exposure, you might be wondering what's next? If mold is a possible issue, I recommend starting with an evaluation of your home, car, and work environments for any on-going mold exposure. If you are continually exposed to mold, this must be dealt with as part of treatment.
If you experience one (or many) of the health problems associated with chronic mold exposure, you might be wondering what's next? If mold is a possible issue, I recommend starting with an evaluation of your home, car, and work environments for any on-going mold exposure. If you are continually exposed to mold, this must be dealt with as part of treatment.
First: Assess Your Environment
In fact, there are many molds in our world that are not very toxic to human health. However, many molds produce mycotoxins, which are very toxic, and many humans (about 25% is the estimate) are very sensitive to these mycotoxins. Mold is often a hidden cause of many types of chronic health problems, including allergies and asthma. Diagnosing and treating it can dramatically improve your health and prevent serious long-term health problems.
In general, the mold that grows on man-made materials like flooring materials, drywall, and cardboard is often much more toxic for us than the molds we encounter in the forest.
What is "Chronic Mold"?
Imagine if you enter a moldy building for a few minutes. You might smell some odd musty smell, or possibly feel a bit sneezy, but once you leave the building, you may feel normal again.
When I say chronic mold I'm referring to situations where you are either exposed to mold in the environment for a long time, or worse yet, when mold actually enters your body and lives inside of you – forever. This can happen from breathing in mold spores, from unknowingly eating mold in your food, or from touching it.
Even if your last known mold exposure was 10 years ago, it's possible that mold entered your body 10 years ago and has been living inside of you ever since. Isn't that gross?
Once inside our bodies, mold can produce mycotoxins forever – until the mold is addressed. Mold can be a hidden cause of many types of sickness, and it often is goes completely undetected... unless we shine a light on it.
When I say chronic mold I'm referring to situations where you are either exposed to mold in the environment for a long time, or worse yet, when mold actually enters your body and lives inside of you – forever. This can happen from breathing in mold spores, from unknowingly eating mold in your food, or from touching it.
Even if your last known mold exposure was 10 years ago, it's possible that mold entered your body 10 years ago and has been living inside of you ever since. Isn't that gross?
Once inside our bodies, mold can produce mycotoxins forever – until the mold is addressed. Mold can be a hidden cause of many types of sickness, and it often is goes completely undetected... unless we shine a light on it.
What are symptoms of chronic mold?
Mold can cause problems in almost every system of the body. Here are just a few symptoms and diagnoses that can be associated with mold toxicity:
Respiratory problems
|
Shortness of breath
Wheezing Burning lungs Chronic respiratory illness Sarcoidosis of the lungs |
Asthma
Chronic dry cough Chest pain Blood-stained mucus Respiratory distress |
Ears, Eyes, Nose, Throat (EENT)
|
Sneezing
Hayfever Chronic sinusitis Nasal congestion and runny nose Hearing loss Ringing in the ears Frequent sore throat |
Red bumps on throat/palette
Post-nasal drip Inner ear infection Plugged ears Nasal polyps Eye irritation Light sensitivity |
Vascular (blood)
|
Increased fragility of blood vessels
Clotting abnormalities Loss of tone of blood vessels (varicose veins, low blood pressure) Atriovenous malformation |
Iron deficiency anemia
Irregular heartbeat Small vessel vasculitis Hemorrhages POTS |
Digestive problems
|
Loss of appetite
Vomiting Cyclical vomiting syndrome Abdominal pain Food sensitivities Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohns, colitis) |
Nausea
Diarrhea Ulcers Bloating IBS |
Nerve-related problems
|
Headache & migraine
Lack of muscle tone Difficulty with balance and walking Incoordination Seizures Numbness and tingling |
Dizziness
Dysautonomia Tremors Insomnia Difficulty regulating temperature |
Mental health problems
|
Anxiety
Depression ADHD |
Personality disorders
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) |
Skin problems
|
Burning sensation
Rash Erythema nodosum Acne |
Sun sensitivity or allergy
Hives Peeling/sloughing skin Psoriatic lesions |
Hormone-related problems
|
Irregular menstrual cycles
Heavy periods Painful periods |
PMS/PMDD
Infertility Endometriosis |
Urinary problems
|
Frequent urinary tract infections
Irritated bladder Blood in urine Kidney toxicity |
Urinary pain, frequency, and urgency with no known infection
Interstitial cystitis |
Cognitive problems
|
Fatigue**
Brain fog Cognitive impairment |
Confusion
Memory loss |
Musculoskeletal problems
|
Muscle pain
Joint pain Chronic pain |
Stiffness
Back pain |
Immune problems
|
Frequent colds and flus
Increased susceptibility to cancer Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) Histamine intolerance Multiple allergies Swollen lymph nodes |
Grave's disease
Hashimoto's disease Chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) Frequent vaginal yeast infections Fungal skin infections |
Complex problems can be due to mold
In addition, there are several complex diagnoses that may be associated with mold toxicity, including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, and multiple sclerosis.
Odd or unusual symptoms such as frequent electric shocks, "ice pick" sensations, and a sensation of internal vibration or tremor can all be associated with mold toxicity. In fact, I have found that many patients who ultimately test positive for mold illness will describe their symptoms as "odd" or even hesitate to tell me about their symptoms because of how strange they seem.
The terms "mold illness" or "chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS)" are sometimes used for people who have chronic and complex health problems associated with mold toxicity. As you can see, the symptoms of mold illness / CIRS can vary widely!
Odd or unusual symptoms such as frequent electric shocks, "ice pick" sensations, and a sensation of internal vibration or tremor can all be associated with mold toxicity. In fact, I have found that many patients who ultimately test positive for mold illness will describe their symptoms as "odd" or even hesitate to tell me about their symptoms because of how strange they seem.
The terms "mold illness" or "chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS)" are sometimes used for people who have chronic and complex health problems associated with mold toxicity. As you can see, the symptoms of mold illness / CIRS can vary widely!
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Why mold toxicity matters
If you don't have any of the health problems listed here, you might be thinking mold isn't a big deal. In fact, as I mentioned, only about 25% of people exposed to mold will get really sick from it (this statistic applies even to people within the same family). You might be part of the other 75% that isn't overly affected, and if so, you are lucky!
But you still might be interested to know that in addition to being associated with numerous potential health problems, chronic mold is associated with a couple of big-deal health problems: dementia and cancer, as well as numerous immune system disorders.
If you have any of the symptoms or problems above and you're interested in preventing cancer and dementia, I would recommend checking for mold illness. Treating mold can improve your life today and help prevent long-term health problems.
But you still might be interested to know that in addition to being associated with numerous potential health problems, chronic mold is associated with a couple of big-deal health problems: dementia and cancer, as well as numerous immune system disorders.
If you have any of the symptoms or problems above and you're interested in preventing cancer and dementia, I would recommend checking for mold illness. Treating mold can improve your life today and help prevent long-term health problems.
The good news: mold is treatable!
If you experience any of the above symptoms, the good news is that, if mold is behind them, addressing the mold can greatly improve your life and prevent long-term problems.
The first step in mold assessment is to do a mold test.
If you're in British Columbia (BC) and are ready to find out if mold might be contributing to your symptoms, please book an appointment or a discovery call to get started right away.
The first step in mold assessment is to do a mold test.
If you're in British Columbia (BC) and are ready to find out if mold might be contributing to your symptoms, please book an appointment or a discovery call to get started right away.
