Mold exposure is unfortunately very common, especially in older homes and buildings, as well as geographic areas near water, flooding or heavy rainfall. It usually builds up in leaky roofs, air conditioning systems, windows, pipes, or where there has been flooding. However, mold can also grow in fabrics, drywall, carpet, paint and wallpaper. The more mold that is present, the more likely you are to experience symptoms quickly. However, any level of exposure has potential to cause a reaction. 

Are you curious how to get tested for toxic mold exposure? Molds are microscopic fungi that are naturally occurring and can be found both indoors and outdoors. They are often hidden culprits that can silently affect our health, causing a wide range of symptoms that are often ambiguous and challenging to diagnose. Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by molds. They can have acute and chronic health effects, with the severity varying based on factors such as age, genetics, and underlying health conditions. Accurate testing is crucial to identify mold spore or mycotoxin exposure and guide appropriate next steps. 

When Should You Suspect Mold?
Mold is certainly present if you can see mold in any part of your home, especially black mold, or if any part of your house smells musty. Older homes or homes with basements are especially likely to have mold, but newer homes can have mold as well.

If you feel you may have been exposed to mold, it is a good idea to get tested. It is abundantly common for individuals to be unaware of toxic mold exposure. 

What Are Symptoms of Mold or Mycotoxins?
Symptoms of mold and mycotoxin exposure can be diverse and may include:

• Respiratory issues: Persistent coughing, wheezing, and nasal congestion
• Skin problems: Rashes, itching, and irritation
• Neurological symptoms: Headaches, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue: Constant tiredness and low energy levels
• Digestive problems: Nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea
• Joint and muscle pain: Unexplained aches and pains
• Mood changes: Anxiety, depression, and mood swings
• Immune system issues: Frequent infections and a weakened immune response

Why Will Some People Get More Sick With Mold Exposure Than Others? 
Some of us have genetic variations that limit our ability to filter and attack toxins in the body. This means that some of us just don’t detox mold spores or mycotoxins as well as others do. But that’s not the whole story… our current overall health plays a role. If our detox pathways are sluggish, or our immune system is not in top shape, or if we have too much histamine in the body, or our adrenals are weak and unable to respond as well to the stress from a mold exposure, the effects of mold will be more pronounced. Likewise, a little mold in the environment may not be problematic, but if you’re exposed to a lot of mold or exposed to mold for a long period of time, that plays a role in symptom intensity as well. 

Your current state of health is driven by everything that’s happened to you throughout our life – the good and the bad. Think of your health like a bank account: every good food and experience is a credit to the account; every bad food and experience is a debit. And our genetics determine the quantity of credit or debit we get for each good or bad experience. We are the culmination of every fast food meal we’ve eaten or not eaten, every trauma we’ve been through, every good day we’ve spent with our bestie, every toxin we’ve ever put in our body getting ready in the morning, every time we hit our goal of 5,000 steps for the day, and every moldy basement apartment we ever lived in during college. We don’t have to be perfect with our diet & lifestyle to be healthy, we just have to do enough good to outweigh the bad and keep a positive balance.