Mold species and its components including mold spores and hyphal fragments have been recognized to be involved in inflammation and as allergens that can cause different diseases [31].
According to Cole, mold exposure is one factor in the autoimmune-inflammation space that is potentially overlooked. “Mold can trigger, exacerbate, or perpetuate the inflammatory storm,” Cole says.
The next time the mast cells encounter black mold spores, the mast cells release histamine and other chemicals. Histamine is what causes your immediate allergy symptoms. Your symptoms develop very fast — usually within seconds or minutes. The other chemicals can cause ongoing inflammation.
Mold illness causes many of the same symptoms as Lyme disease. Both trigger systemic inflammation and immune dysregulation leading to symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, headaches, joint pain, and anxiety.
Mold can produce toxic chemicals in airborne spores, which are called mycotoxins. Some people are allergic to mold, but for others, there are broad symptoms that can occur with exposure, known as toxic mold syndrome. There are also links to mold and immune system disorders, including autoimmune disease.
The problem is that mold can affect our immune system and lead to serious health problems. How mold affects a person's immune system depends on the person's age, sensitivity to mold, and how much exposure they have to it.
Detoxing out mold (after confirming the individual has a clean environment) takes around a year in most cases. For these reasons, working with a professional is necessary.
Each person's 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.
Testing Methods
We use a variety of specialized methods to look for mold toxicity in your body. These methods may include blood and urine tests. We may also perform sputum, sinus, or tissue analysis. These tests are easy and straightforward.
A blood test, sometimes called the radioallergosorbent test, can measure your immune system's response to mold by measuring the amount of certain antibodies in your bloodstream known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies.
Mold exposure can cause issues with concentration, judgment, and overall brain function. Luckily, memory loss caused by mold is often reversible once the mold is eliminated from a home.
Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores can cause a person to become allergic to mold. Molds can trigger asthma symptoms including shortness of breath, wheezing, or cough in people with known allergies. People who do not have allergies can also become irritated.
Testing for Mold Poisoning
The doctor will take a health assessment and health history, and will order blood testing. Antibodies in the patient's body will be checked for a reaction to mold and to other allergens and poisons. The severity of the reaction will also be determined.
Yes, if you have damp and mould in your home you're more likely to have respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma. Damp and mould can also affect the immune system.
Exposure severity will depend on the species of mold, amount of time in the contaminated environment, volume of spores, and an individual's immune system. How long does it take to get sick from mold exposure? Mold can make you sick in 3 ways (1) allergic reaction (2) Invasive fungal infection (3) Mycotoxin poisoning.
Activated charcoal can be taken as a supplement for mold cleansing. Most people don't think about mold living in their bodies, but it can. Activated charcoal is a potent natural treatment. It traps toxins in the body, allowing them to be flushed out so the body doesn't reabsorb them.
Sugary, Starchy Foods
While they are preferable to processed sugar, natural sugar sources like honey and maple syrup should also be avoided. Even fruits that are especially high in sugar, like bananas and grapes, should be eaten sparingly. Sugar substitutes like sorbitol are also a no-go when following a low mold diet.
Exposure to a large number of mold spores may cause allergic symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itching, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, headache, and fatigue. Repeated exposure to mold can increase a person's sensitivity, causing more severe allergic reactions.
Human exposure to molds, mycotoxins, and water-damaged buildings can cause neurologic and neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms.
Some types of mold are known to cause infections in immune-compromised people. Such infections can affect the skin, eyes, lungs or other organs.
Antibiotics and steroids make the health effects of mold exposure worse, not better.