What to Know About Mold Toxicity & Chronic Illness

Part One in Our Mold Toxicity & Chronic Illness Series

Living with complex chronic illness is, well, complex. There are so many different factors that come into play, and one that’s finally getting the attention it deserves is mold. Mold makes other complex chronic illnesses so much worse, preventing us from healing conditions like mast cell activation syndrome/MCAS, Epstein-Barr virus/EBV, hormone and thyroid dysfunction, Lyme disease, seasonal allergies, and numerous others. Mold toxicity is a key player for many individuals with complex chronic illnesses, and it’s something that must be addressed in order to heal the body and protect it from further harm. 

As Part One in our Mold Toxicity and Chronic Illness Series, this blog post discusses mold sickness as a potential root cause of complex chronic conditions like Lyme disease, EBV, Hashimoto’s, and others. Keep reading to learn more about the dangers of mold and stay tuned as our Mold Toxicity and Chronic Illness Series continues over the next two months!

Why is Mold Dangerous to Humans?

Many of the people Dr. Fox and I see in our practice are affected by mold in one way or another, as mold exposure is responsible for causing mold allergies, mold toxicity, and/or mold colonization in the body. Some people are affected by all three of these mold-related health conditions, while others might have mold toxicity without mold allergies or colonization. Likewise, it’s possible to have a mold allergy without mold toxicity or mold colonization. 

So why are only some people affected by mold exposure? And why does mold toxicity seem to affect everyone differently? It’s because the majority of people (about 75 percent of the population) are genetically able to recognize mold and mycotoxins as threats. Their immune systems destroy these toxins before they invade the body and pose a problem. 

The remaining 25 percent of people, however, aren’t so lucky. As mold toxins build up in their bodies, these individuals (often referred to as canaries in the coal mine) are much more likely to be affected by mold toxicity. And though symptoms of mold toxicity vary widely, some possibilities include: 

• Very specific symptoms such as ice-pick pains and electric shock, vibrating, or pulsing sensations. 
• Cognitive impairment, anxiety, and brain fog. 
• Headaches, migraines, and muscle aches.
• Fatigue, weakness, nausea, and dizziness. 
• Abdominal pain, bloating, and irritable bowels. 
• Skin sensitivities. 
• Coughing, chest pain, sinus congestion, swollen lymph nodes, and irritated eyes.
• Night sweats and body temperature dysregulation.
• Urinary, reproductive, and immune system dysfunction. 

Mold: The Great Imitator

Because many symptoms of mold toxicity resemble those of other complex chronic conditions, mold sickness (like Lyme disease) is often referred to as a “great imitator”. Mold-literate practitioners like Dr. Fox and I understand just how important mycotoxin testing is, even when our clients have not had obvious exposures to mold or mycotoxins. 

Mold is often sneaky and odorless; it hides behind walls, ceilings, floors, wallpaper, and other building materials. Most of the time we have no idea it’s there! 

How to Test for Mold Toxicity & Mold Exposure

If you’ve been struggling with your health for some time, mold toxicity and possibly mold colonization could be key players in your wellness journey. And by testing your home and urine for mold and mycotoxins, we’ll work together to determine if mold toxins are currently present in your body and whether you’re presently being exposed to mold at home, work, or in your vehicle. It’s possible to have mold toxicity from past mold exposures, current exposures, or both. 

When looking for mold toxicity, our team utilizes several types of tests:

• Urine mycotoxin panels. Mycotoxin panels from Great Plains Laboratories, RealTime Labs, and Vibrant Wellness measure the specific species and amount of molds present in the urine. However, since many individuals with mold toxicity have impaired detoxification systems that prevent mycotoxins from being excreted through the urine, we recommend supplementing with oral glutathione prior to collecting urine mycotoxin samples. Sitting in a sauna or hot bath prior to collecting samples can also be helpful. 
• Environmental testing. While urine mycotoxin panels measure the amount and types of mold toxins in your body, environmental tests look for mold in your home, office, and vehicles. Completing an Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) for your home, vehicle, or workplace is a good starting point, as this can help you identify the specific types of molds that are present in your living environment — and whether they could be harming your health. 
• Mold inspections. Once you’ve tested your home and body for mold and mycotoxins, a whole-home mold inspection will be needed if your ERMI values are higher than deemed safe. We’ll discuss mold inspections more thoroughly as our Mold Toxicity and Chronic Illness Series continues. 

If you think you could be living in mold, be sure to take these six steps immediately to reduce toxin levels in your home and improve your home’s indoor air quality. 

Your Body Can Heal From Chronic Illness

Whether you’re experiencing mold toxicity, mold exposure, mold colonization, Lyme disease, Hashimoto’s, or any other type of complex chronic illness, it’s important to remember that your body can and will heal. Healing is a non-linear journey with many steps and layers, but it is possible to feel well again (trust me, I’ve been in your shoes!). With the knowledge you’ll gain from mold and mycotoxin testing, you’ll be one step closer to getting the answers you need to take back your health! 

Are you ready to heal from mold toxicity, Lyme disease, or other complex chronic conditions? Schedule your Vital You Consult, book a call for the Vital Basics Method™, or visit our website to learn how Dr. Fox and I can support you in your healing journey. 

References:

• Nathan, N. (2018). Toxic: Heal your body from mold toxicity, lyme disease, multiple chemical sensitivities, and chronic environmental illness. Victory Belt Publishing, Inc.
• Crista, J. (2018). Break the mold: 5 tools to conquer mold and take back your health. Wellness Ink Publishing.