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Most people have some experience with mold, but what does toxic mold look like? The black gunk in a window frame, the moldy smell in a damp basement, or the fuzz on food left in the fridge for too long. Not all molds are inherently harmful. Some strains of mold are common outdoor molds found in nature, serving a critical purpose for the planet. They aid in the decomposition of the planet and are a natural part of nature’s cycle of regeneration and recycling (check out the Netflix documentary Fantastic Fungi – it’s great!). But in large quantities, mold can make a susceptible person very sick. Only about 25% of the population is mold sensitive, so it’s quite common for only one person in a house to get sick from mold. What is toxic mold? The most common cause of mold toxicity is from water-damaged buildings. The mycotoxins that result from water damage are pathogenic, or disease-causing, to humans. They are poisonous and can be deadly. Some of these mycotoxins – trichothecenes in particular – have even been studied as chemical warfare agents.


Symptoms of Mold Toxicity

What are the symptoms of mold toxicity? One of molds most toxic traits (pun intended) is its effect on the immune system. Mold attacks the immune system, suppressing the good immune signaling that helps your body fight off harmful pathogens and increasing inflammation across the body.

The increase in systemic inflammation contributes to a multitude of mold toxicity symptoms including:

Brain fog
Achiness
Weight gain
Frequent illnesses like colds, flu, and viral infections

Because mold toxicity creates so much immune dysfunction, some latent (inactive) infections can become opportunistic and reactivate. For example, in the presence of mold, Lyme and Lyme co-infections can reactivate and thrive. Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and mono also worsen in the presence of mold. It can be difficult for the body to clear these infections in the presence of mold so the mold has to be treated first.

What are common symptoms of mold toxicity?:

Rash
Migraines (which answers the question, “can mold give you headaches?”)
Fatigue
Insomnia
Brain fog
Anxiety
Memory loss
Depression
Multiple neurological issues


Other common symptoms are:

Ice pick sensations (stabbing intermittent headaches)
Visual changes
Hair loss
Chronic congestion, cough, or throat clearing

As you can see, mold disrupts all of the systems in your body. Allergies  get worse when there’s mold in the system. Mycotoxins are also endocrine disruptors, they can wreak havoc on your hormones. We’re often asked “how long do mycotoxins stay in the body?” or “how long do mold symptoms last?”. If you are susceptible to mold and currently exposed, you may have been sick and getting sicker for a long time. Are you currently experiencing some of the above toxic mold symptoms? Keep reading to learn about mold toxicity treatment.

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