Many people know that being around mold is not good for their health. Mold exposure can cause a wide range of health problems and symptoms, which vary from person to person. This can make it difficult for people to know they are sick because of mold, and they might assume their symptoms are due to a different condition entirely.
Furthermore, while some people may experience no symptoms when exposed to mold or feel better after leaving the infected area, other people’s conditions may linger and worsen over time. So, what is mold biotoxin illness and why does it affect people differently? Here’s a guide on mold exposure and the common symptoms you may experience.
What Is Mold Exposure?
When someone is exposed to mold for an extensive amount of time, they may get mold biotoxin illness or Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). This is a complex condition related to indoor air, food, water, or insect bite contamination. It comes from biotoxins such as mold, fungi, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulates, inflammagens, and other gram-negative bacteria.
Some people can be at a higher risk of becoming sick from mold exposure because of their genetics. People who aren’t genetically susceptible can have an acute illness when exposed, but their bodies will process it in the liver and release it from the body. Compromised people can develop chronic illnesses, which make it difficult to identify mold biotoxin illness as the underlying cause of their illness unless they know they’ve been exposed.
What Are the Symptoms of Mold Exposure?
Mold exposure can affect many bodily systems, which makes it difficult to identify. Since mold biotoxin illness can present as neuro, allergies, cardiovascular, or digestive issues, identifying the underlying cause is challenging. Some symptoms of mold biotoxin illness include:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Disorientation
- Static or electric shocks
- Skin sensitivity
- Body aches
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Muscle cramps
- Impaired memory
- Shortness of breath
- Watery eyes
- Blurred vision
- Red eyes
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Lightheadedness
- Sensitivity to light
