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Whether hot temperatures outside or high humidity levels in your home are to blame, you can invite mold in. Chances are, you won’t even realize that mold has entered your home, whether it’s in your bathroom, basement, or near windows. You must be wondering how bad mold exposure really is … and do you need to worry about mold ‘detox’ every now and then?
Wellness forums and blogs can cause you to panic about the presence of a single mold spore inside your home, and may even convince you that you are going to develop ‘mold toxicity’. if you don’t remove it right away. Many also often recommend alternative treatment options to “detoxify” the body from mold, such as activated charcoal supplements or dietary cleanses.
But many Western medical experts are not convinced that these practices are actually effective. (FWIW, integrative medicine researchers are not even sure whether mold exposure definitely causes chronic disease.) Some people who are susceptible to mold early on may develop allergic-type symptoms or even a more severe mold infection, but others may not develop any symptoms at all. , explains Purvi. Parikh, MD, a certified allergist with Allergy & Asthma Network.
Here’s what you need to know about mold that might be lurking in your home and the degree of damage it can potentially cause.
Tell me the truth: IIs it bad for my health to have mold in my house?
So no mold is really Well or nice to have with you, but it might not be as dangerous as you think having it in your home. There isn’t enough scientific evidence that mold is toxic to the average person, and you may not even know it’s in your home, says Dr. Parikh.
Household mold, which can take hold in an old house with water damage, for example, is more of a problem for people who have mold allergies, asthma (both of which can be triggered or made worse by exposure to molds) or who are severely immunocompromised.
The most common types of fungi that will cause these allergy or asthma attacks or respiratory infections if the immune system reacts badly enough are Aspergillus, Alternaria, Penicillium, and Cladosporium, said Dr Parikh. When people refer to “black mold” as particularly dangerous, this is actually a misnomer, as all of the above molds are blackish or dark in color, and one isn’t necessarily worse to have in your home. house than another.
It’s possible to develop a mold allergy over time as a result of frequent exposure to mold in your home, says Dr. Parikh, especially if you’re predisposed to environmental allergies. In the case of people who are immunocompromised (who are more susceptible to certain conditions in general), the body can develop an infection if the mold enters the lungs or the bloodstream.
So it’s important to watch out for what may grow in your home and watch for any symptoms, but there’s no reason to live in constant fear of mold, says Dr Parikh.
So, is mold toxicity a reality?
Mold toxicity – the idea that mold can produce harmful substances called mycotoxins that can contribute to autoimmune and other chronic illnesses – is a bit controversial. This is because there is no type of test for it nor any scientific proof that a type of disease exists solely because of exposure to molds. Keep in mind that there is a lot of misinformation, both about mold toxicity and treatment options.
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There is clear and validated evidence that inhaling enough mold in your home over a period of time can cause or worsen both allergies and asthma, says Dr. Parikh. It can even cause an invasive respiratory infection, she adds, but no chronic health problems resulting from mold have been proven yet.
What symptoms would I have if mold was a problem for me?
If you have symptoms of an allergy in your home, similar to an allergy to dust or pollen, such as itching, watery eyes, a cough, a stuffy, runny nose, or even a rash or eczema, the mold could play a role, Dr Parikh said. The same goes for asthma symptoms that are more severe than usual, such as frequent asthma attacks, wheezing and shortness of breath.
Your symptoms would be different if you have a mold problem infection; you will likely have a fever above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit and you might experience low blood pressure, dizziness, and even shortness of breath. But “mold infections are actually quite rare, unless you have a very weak immune system,” says Dr Parikh. If you’re immunocompromised, you will have to take any infection more seriously anyway, she adds.
Treatment for mold allergies and infections varies from person to person. If you suspect there may be mold in your home and are developing allergy or asthma symptoms, it is best to see an allergist or pulmonologist for testing. An allergist may prescribe eye drops, nasal spray, or antihistamines, depending on your situation (but don’t self-medicate, says Dr Parikh, let your doctor call you!).
Allergy shots have also been shown to be effective in treating mold allergies by stopping reactions of the immune system in some cases, studies spectacle. For more severe respiratory symptoms related to asthma, a doctor may prescribe an inhaler or additional medications such as steroids.
If you have signs of complications from a mold infection, especially a high fever, severe chest pain, or dizziness, you may need to go to the emergency room. Mold infections can usually be treated with an antifungal medication, appropriate for the type of fungus causing the infection, says Dr Parikh.
So, is there a reason to “detoxify†my body to negate exposure to mold?
There are various treatment methods for mold exposure, like ‘sweat it in’ and even gut health cleanses that claim to ‘detoxify’ mold, but none of these have been proven by studies to treat. anything (like the so called mold toxicity cannot necessarily be proven as a medical condition).
For example, activated charcoal is often used in emergency rooms to prevent drug overdoses, but it won’t necessarily do anything to treat or ‘detoxify’ mold exposure, says Dr Parikh (despite what health blogs say). Probiotics, which in themselves are beneficial for your overall gut health, have also been used to treat mold-related illnesses. But they can’t treat an active bacterial infection under any circumstances, notes Dr Parikh.
Many touted mold treatment options are also not FDA approved and may not be covered by health insurance, Dr. Parikh points out, so you need to approach what you read about mold with a critical eye. .
How much should I make cleaning my house for mold a priority?
There is no need to panic about small amounts of mold. Of course, if you’ve recently experienced a flood or water damage, it’s worth contacting a mold inspector. Or, if you’re in a high-risk immune category or have allergy and asthma symptoms that could be mold-related, you definitely need to take care of it, says Dr. Parikh. However, regular home inspections should detect mold.
To prevent mold from growing in your home, the ideal scenario is to use the central air conditioning with a certified anti-allergy and anti-asthma filter, according to the American Asthma and Allergy Foundation.
If you don’t have access to air conditioning, try using a dehumidifier, especially when it’s foggy and humid outside. When you shower, turn on an exhaust fan or break a window so that mildew does not appear over time. Regularly cleaning the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room with a mold remover is your best bet for removing mold in its tracks.
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