Symptoms of Mould Exposure
Many people don’t know that excess mould exposure can lead to serious medical problems, and in some cases, even the physicians don’t know about these problems. That means that a diagnosis of mould illness is rarely given. However, in cases where it is known that mould illness is the problem, testing can be performed. But it’s essential to be aware of how severe mould illness can be, as symptoms are often similar to Lyme disease.
A person can receive a positive test for allergies to mould and then experience a condition known as mould toxicity. But in contrast to allergies, mould toxicity causes inflammation and issues with the immune system. We’ll explore everything relating to mould exposure in the rest of this article.
Mould Exposure
Mould is a problem in many households across Australia, and it’s closely associated with water damage. A survey was performed relating to leakage and water damage, and the results were disturbing.
It only took an additional 2 days from the time of leakage or damage for pathogenic substances to begin growing. That’s quick and underlines how essential it is to get a grip on mould. The mould only required dampness and a growth medium based on plants, such as paper, dust, wood, or drywall. Wherever moisture is present, the mould growth will intensify. That explains why some people have seasonal mould allergies. To conduct mould remediation, the source of the leakage or damage needs to be found and fixed.
It’s also important to remember the role of mycotoxins. These can spread at the same speed as smoke when you’ve overcooked something on the stove. That’s one reason why mould exposure can escalate so quickly.
Mould Growth
f your property is in the shade, on the side of a hill, has a basement or has a flat roof, the risk of mould growth is significantly increased. If you have an HVAC system, this can also cause problems, particularly in basements. There can also be water damage from leaky pipes, roofs, or appliances.
If your building isn’t well-maintained and damage has gone for a long while unrepaired, then you’ll notice that mould is more likely to grow there. This is often the case with buildings that are rented out or owned by the government.
Sometimes, the damage that can lead to mould is easy to spot and rectify before serious problems occur. An example would be when a wall caved in after leaning a paint roller against it simply because the sheetrock had become too damp. Mould loves the dark too, so you’ll often find it gathering on walls behind furniture.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that you can become sick even in relation to mould exposure from the past and the present. But generally, you’ll have to be tested to find out if you have issues from mould exposure. Often it’s the case that you lived in a house with mould problems for several years before you had health problems. You can know this is the case if the space you lived in smelt musty.
Mould Toxicity
Although the focus of this article is on mould, other pathogens can grow when a building suffers from water damage. Fungi, spores, volatile organic compounds, bacteria, and mycotoxins are all examples. These build up over time, so the longer the mould problem goes untreated, the more toxic the environment becomes. And that can have severe effects on your health. Because these toxins concentrate in an enclosed indoor space, you don’t have to be exposed to them for too long before you start noticing health issues. In addition, mycotoxins can exacerbate mould problems because they reduce the efficacy of the immune system.
The symptoms that you can notice from this toxicity are similar to Lyme disease. Inflammation and poor immune system function are both linked to Lyme disease and mould toxicity. Other unpleasant symptoms are linked too, like joint pain, fatigue, anxiety, and headaches. So that means you should deal with mould exposure as soon as possible and repair any damage caused by it.
Mould Illness
Now you’re aware of the severity of mould illness, we’ll look at the symptoms in more detail. We’ve mentioned inflammation, but there’s also a process called oxidative damage. This affects how the tissues and organs of your body operate. A complete list of the symptoms is included below, and we’ve classified them by the systems in the body they relate to.
Psychiatric
Psychiatric symptoms include volatile mood, panicking, fear and anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and an inability to deal with stressful situations. It can also include hallucinations.
Cognitive
Your brain can also be affected by mould exposure, and you can notice it’s harder to learn, concentrate, commit facts to memory, find the right words, plan out your day, or motivate yourself to get stuff done.
Musculoskeletal
Sometimes you can experience aches and pains in your muscles, stiffness upon waking up, and shooting pains.
Cardiovascular
Your heart can be affected by three conditions relating to mould exposure – edema, palpitations, and vasculitis.
Respiratory
Mould spores are often breathed in and can cause coughing, shortness of breath, congestion, and a runny nose
Neurological
You can also experience various mental problems, including migraines, seizures, light sensitivity, and numbness.
Digestive
Mould exposure can also cause pain in your abdomen, changes in your appetite, diarrhea, and nausea.
Other Symptoms
Other symptoms you can experience that doesn’t quite fit into the categories above include the following:
- Itchy and tearing eyes
- Fatigue
- Electromagnetic sensitivity
- Multiple chemical sensitivity
- Mast Cell Activation Syndrom
Often it’s the case that these symptoms overlap with a range of conditions, like Alzheimer’s, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. It’s for these reasons that a lot of physicians either misdiagnose the problem or miss it entirely. They need specialist training to identify mould exposure.
Testing for Mould Illness
Luckily, these serious symptoms can be avoided by testing for mould illness and taking action to cure it. Some tests are more effective than others, but there has to be an understanding by the physician that mould is a probable cause before completing these tests. The tests often involve samples being sent to a lab and analysed to see if mould particles are present.
Suppose someone is experiencing any combination of the symptoms covered above, and they aren’t diagnosed with any alternative medical problems like those that mould exposure often gets mistaken for. In that case, it’s likely the mould causing the problem. On the other hand, a person may have Lyme disease as their official diagnosis, but treatments don’t fix it. In that case, it’s worth treating it like it’s mould exposure.
Urine Mycotoxin Test
As we mentioned, one common pathogen that often occurs alongside mould, and those are mycotoxins. A test can be performed to see whether they’re contained in the urine, and most importantly, to what degree. Some in the urine won’t usually mean there’s a problem, but if numbers are high, there is likely something more serious happening.
Different labs use different testing methods, so it’s difficult to compare the test results. However, it’s possible to improve the testing accuracy through therapy before taking the test. Therapies include charcoal, clay, or cholestyramine. It’s also vital that you take oral glutathione for 5 days, then intravenous glutathione the day before the test, and finally, enter a sauna for 20 minutes before collecting the sample.
If any of the therapies cause your symptoms to flare up, discontinue them and collect the sample anyway. The results from that single sample will be analysed, and although this is helpful, it is limited because it doesn’t track mycotoxin levels over time. They could gradually decrease or gradually increase, and you wouldn’t know.
Mycotoxin Antibody Test
An alternative test you can take is the mycotoxin antibody test, which detects the antibodies present in the immune system that the body deploys to combat mycotoxins. It won’t detect mould spores or similar particles in your body, but mould exposure can be inferred by detecting how the immune system responds to mycotoxins. It’s also handy to perform this test alongside the previous one because someone may have mycotoxins in their urine but not be experiencing an immune response. That’s why it’s best to do both tests to get a clear picture of what’s going on.
Treating Mould Exposure
Home Testing
If mould is causing you problems, then a big part of that could be where you live. If your home isn’t appropriately tested for the presence of mould or water damage, then it could build up to dangerous levels without you knowing. A professional can come to visit your home and conduct thorough tests. It’s essential that you hire the right people because a generic inspection will not be sufficient.
However, once the testing is done, you’ll be informed about the scope of work required for mould remediation. Most of the time, the inspector that you’ve hired will be able to point you in the direction of a good mould remediation company.
Medication
You can take a range of supplements called binders, which help cut down mycotoxin numbers inside the body. Binders absorb them and prevent them from building up in the body. They’ll be excreted instead. Sometimes this causes a reaction and flares up your symptoms, but this can be avoided by limiting inflammation.
You can take cholestyramine, which was formerly used solely for the treatment of high cholesterol. It’s now good for clearing out mycotoxins, but sweeteners and sugars in the product make it less beneficial. You should take it half an hour before a meal, or two hours after one. You should also make sure you take it after any other medication.
You can also take welchol, which was also once used exclusively for the treatment of high cholesterol. You can take two tablets twice a day. Finally, you can take charcoal and clay together if you want a more natural alternative.
Glutathione
One major option you can also consider is glutathione, which we’ve devoted a separate section to because of its efficacy. It’s great for the immune system, for repelling toxins, and serves as an antioxidant. Glutathione is often depleted through exposure to mould, so it’s vital to restore it to natural levels, especially as it removes mycotoxins.
If you are prone to glutathione deficiencies, this can explain why you have issues with mould exposure compared to other people. You can take glutathione orally or intravenously, but it’s important to get the correct medical guidance on this.
Reducing Inflammation
Banish Mould and Boost your Health
As you now know, it’s easy for mould to spread. Not only that, it’s everywhere, and it doesn’t take much of it to become toxic to your mind and body. When it affects you severely, the symptoms you experience can occur all across the body and often be confused with other diseases. That’s why it’s vital to understand mould exposure and its effects on you, and hopefully, you now do.
Many doctors don’t assess the environmental causes, so patients don’t get asked relevant questions. This is why mould exposure is often confused with Lyme disease and others. To get the best advice, you need to speak to someone with specialist training. Then you can develop a plan of action that best suits your circumstances. However, there’s a much simpler option.
You can hire a company that can help prevent mould exposure from ever affecting your health. Mamba Mould is precisely that. They specialise in mould inspections, mould remediation, and mould prevention. That way, mould is dealt with properly and doesn’t have the chance to cause you to experience difficult symptoms. You can book a quote from Mamba Mould or enter your contact details below to receive more information.
