Understanding mold exposure

Not all mold is bad, but there are certain types of mold - like aspergillus, fusarium, stachybotrys, and citrinin - that release mycotoxins (1) that can lead to health problems. The biggest problem with these types of mold is that they often go undetected, slowly wreaking havoc on your health with little to no indication that they are the reason behind your symptoms. And since mold thrives in dark, damp places hidden to the human eye, you can go on for years without even knowing that it's there. 

That is why it is so important to not only understand where to find mold (read my article here to learn more about common mold habitats) but also how to recognize the varied symptoms of mold exposure so you know how to take action at the first signs of trouble.

What are the symptoms of mold exposure?

The reason why there is not a one-size-fits-all set of mold toxicity symptoms boils down to the fact that everyone’s biochemistry is unique and different types of mold can lead to different symptoms. Even though this is not a complete list since researchers are continuing to find connections between mold and various illnesses, these are the signs of mold exposure I see most often in my telehealth functional medicine clinic.

• Respiratory issues: Persistent coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and sinus congestion are some of the first signs of mold exposure. Mold spores can irritate the respiratory tract, triggering allergic reactions or aggravating existing respiratory conditions.
• Fatigue and weakness: Chronic fatigue and unexplained weakness typically coincide with mold toxicity. Mold exposure can hinder your immune response, leading to persistent tiredness and decreased energy levels.
• Neurological symptoms: Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and frequent headaches are telltale signs that mold toxicity is affecting your nervous system. 
• Skin issues: Rashes, itchiness, or general redness can be due to mold exposure, as the body reacts to the allergens present in mold spores by trying to detox them through your largest organ - your skin.
• Digestive problems: Digestive issues like nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or changes in bowel habits are also symptoms that can happen when mold toxins are ingested through contaminated food or inhaled spores.

Why is mold toxicity difficult to diagnose?

As you can see, mold exposure can be so difficult to diagnose because it doesn’t correlate with one set of symptoms. Plus, these symptoms overlap with a multitude of other health problems, making mold toxicity far down on the list of things that most doctors consider as a driving force. Because of the multifaceted nature of mold toxicity, researchers have coined the term chronic inflammatory response syndrome - or CIRS for short - to encompass any sort of health problem triggered by mold exposure. 

A functional medicine approach to mold

When it comes to treatment for mold exposure, conventional medicine focuses on alleviating symptoms through medications like oral corticosteroid or antifungal drugs depending on the severity of your case. Functional medicine on the other hand, looks to support your body’s natural ability to get rid of mycotoxins and fight the damaging effects of mold exposure

Functional medicine is also able to run more labs to identify whether or not mold exposure is a factor in your health case that look at specific biomarkers and genetic variants that can make you more susceptible to mold toxicity. Mycotoxin labs in particular are the gold-standard for uncovering mold toxicity as they look for the presence of mycotoxins in your urine and antibody production against mycotoxins in your blood.

Natural treatments for mold exposure

If you are struggling with symptoms of mold exposure, start off by eliminating the source and implementing these natural remedies into your routine

1. Eliminate mold in your environment

The first step in eliminating mold in your environment is to find the source of your exposure through an inspection. To find someone to do the inspection, check out this online directory from the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors. The next step is to fix the source. Depending on the results of your inspection, the person doing your inspection can usually recommend a remediation specialist.

2. Keep mold from coming back

Keep moisture at bay - mold’s preferred environment - by using dehumidifiers in your home. These devices work by reducing excess moisture in the air to lower overall humidity levels and inhibit mold spores from germinating. Another thing you can do is invest in a high quality HEPA air filter that can be added to your HVAC system or as stand-alone units for certain rooms. These can help remove mold spores from the air you breathe and give you that extra peace of mind knowing that there is another layer of protection in your home.

3. Take a look at your current diet

Just because fuzzy green mold isn’t growing on top of your food, doesn’t mean there aren’t mycotoxins hiding inside. In fact, you would be surprised at how many of the foods you eat on a daily basis harbor microscopic mycotoxins including rice, corn, and even coffee. For a complete list of the foods most likely to contain mycotoxins, check out my article here.

4. Limit your sugar intake

Speaking of your diet, giving up sugar is another crucial step in overcoming mold toxicity since sugar is the preferred fuel source of fungi, including mold and yeasts like candida. Studies have even found (2) that people with high blood sugar are at a higher risk for mold infections.

5. Boost your liver health

Your liver is your body’s main detox organ and if your liver isn’t functioning well your body won’t be able to rid itself of the onslaught of mycotoxins it's been exposed to. There are many ways to support your liver health, but my go-tos are milk thistle (3) and dandelion (4) which have both been shown to restore liver function in the case of toxin and inflammation overload.