Mold exposure: An often-overlooked cause of chronic inflammatory symptoms

October 20, 2024

Mold exposure in the face of an underlying immune system imbalance can lead to chronic inflammatory reactions producing symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, muscle aches, skin rashes, sinus infections, bronchitis, asthma, anxiety as well as autoimmunity and even cancer. In fact, approximately 24% of the population is extremely susceptible to developing a mold-related illness due to a genetic variation. The good news is that you can recover from the harmful effects of mold exposure and rebalance your immune system.

Mold Exposure: It’s more prevalent than you think

In the aftermath of the Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the number of homes, office buildings, and schools that have sustained severe water damage is enormous, putting residents in the affected areas at significant risk for mold exposure.

Even if you don’t live in a hurricane prone region, you can be exposed to mold. In 2019, approximately 11.7 million American households reported water leakage on the outside of their homes while 9.4 million reported water leakage from inside of their homes. Water-damaged schools, apartment buildings and office buildings are also significant sources of mold exposure for both children and adults. In fact, in a 2015 study of 12 schools in the Northeast, 100% of the classrooms tested for mold were positive.

Mold exposure can also come from the food you eat. Grains, peanuts, coffee beans, legumes, dried fruits, and spices are most prone to mold contamination due to improper processing and/ or storge. Mycotoxins can also accumulate in dairy and other animal products due to mold contamination of livestock feed. These toxins can then be passed on to those who consume these products. Since 1985, FDA regulations limit the number of mycotoxins in foods for both humans and animals.

Mold Exposure: It can wreak havoc with your health

Mold spores produce toxins in order to survive. These toxins, known as mycotoxins, can have adverse effects on every system in your body:

  • Respiratory System: Recurring sinus congestion & infections, asthma
  • Nervous System: Brain fog, chronic fatigue, headaches, anxiety, depression, neuropathy
  • Immune System: Immune imbalance/suppression, allergies, autoimmune illness, cancer
  • Digestive System: Intestinal inflammation
  • Detoxification System: Liver failure, disruption of bile acid metabolism
  • Urinary/Reproductive System: Acute kidney failure, endocrine disruptor effects
  • Musculoskeletal System: Joint pain/inflammation

Exposure to mold also can set off a cascade of inflammation in your body called Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). Dr. William Shoemaker, an expert on CIRS and mold-related illnesses, reports that individuals prone to CIRS have a genetic susceptibility that renders them unable to clear mold toxins or other biotoxins. When these individuals experience a
triggering event such as a serious illness, an inflammatory response occurs which then sets
them up for an even more severe inflammatory response (CIRS) once they are exposed to mold. Lyme Disease and Epstein Barr Virus are two such triggering illnesses.

Mold Exposure: Is it the source of your health problems?

If you suffer from chronic symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, skin rashes, sinus infections, asthma, headaches, anxiety, joint pain, or frequent infections, you could have a toxic load of mycotoxins from mold exposure. These mycotoxins can cause harmful responses in your body that range from an allergic response to the disruption of cellular function and detoxification pathways, as well as the suppression of your immune system.

The degree to which your health is negatively impacted by mold exposure is based on several factors:
● Your length of exposure
● Your total toxic load
● Your health history, especially a history of asthma, sinus problems or other forms of immune imbalance
● Your genes and how they impact your body’s detoxification capacity

Due to the immune suppression caused by mycotoxins, your recovery from infections and injuries is impeded and your risk of autoimmune illness or cancer increases. Moreover, mold exposure in individuals who have an imbalanced immune system can lead to hypersensitivity reactions which exacerbate underlying chronic conditions such as Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Lyme Disease.

Mold Exposure: You can recover!

While mold exposure can cause serious health issues, you can eliminate mold toxins from your body and recover your health. The first step involves removing yourself from further mold exposure. If you cannot remove yourself from the moldy area, the use of a HEPA air purifier can help to limit additional mold exposure. Also, keeping indoor humidity levels between 45-50% through use of a dehumidifier in your basement can limit further mold growth.

The functional medicine approach to mold recovery involves specific testing to not only determine your mycotoxin burden, but to also assess for immune imbalances and detoxification defects that can impact your recovery. These imbalances are corrected with specific nutraceutical protocols to support effective detoxification of mold mycotoxins. Since all of your body’s systems are interconnected, your mold recovery plan will also address any additional health issues in order to optimize your overall health.

Interested in learning if mold exposure lies at the root of your health challenges?

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References

Campbell, AW er al. Mold and Mycotoxins: Effects on the Neurological and Immune Systems in Humans. Advances in Applied Microbiology. 2004:55:375-406

Campbell, AW. Lyme Disease and Mycotoxicosis: How to Differentiate Between the Two. ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES, JUL/AUG 2019 VOL. 25 NO. 4

www.census.gov/library/stories/2022/06/house-tour-by-the-numbers.html

Ehsanifar M, et al. Mold and Mycotoxin Exposure and Brain Disorders. J Integr Neurosci. 2023 Oct 17;22(6):137.

Howard, EJ et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2021 Mar; 9(3): 1318

Kinkade, CW. et al. Associations between mycoestrogen exposure and sex steroid hormone concentrations in maternal serum and cord blood in the UPSIDE pregnancy cohort. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2024 Jun 14;260:114405.

Kraft, S. et al. Mold, Mycotoxins and a Dysregulated Immune System: A
Combination of Concern? Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22, 12269

Kumar, P. et al. Aflatoxins: A Global Concern for Food Safety, Human Health and Their Management. Front. Microbiol. 2017, 7, 2170.

Rosenblum Lichtenstein, JH et al. Environmental Mold and Mycotoxin Exposures Elicit Specific Cytokine and Chemokine Responses. PLoS One. 2015 May 26;10(5):e0126926.

Shoemaker, RC et al. Sick building syndrome (SBS) and exposure to water-damaged buildings: Time series study, clinical trial and mechanisms. Neurotoxicology & Tetratology. Volume 28, Issue 5, September–October 2006, Pages 573-588

The contents of this blog are intended for educational purposes only. The information presented here is not a substitute for proper medical attention, diagnosis, or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider before starting or making any changes to an existing treatment plan, exercise program or dietary regimen, and before using nutritional supplements.

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