Posts

DIY Mold Inspections

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Identifying Water Damage and Mold

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses
By Cesar Collado

When looking for a new home, anyone who suffers from chronic illness should be interested in identifying red flags that identify structural or unhealthy microbial contamination.  In addition, the must find clues for further investigation of toxic substances in your home. In my opinion, anyone suffering from chronic illness, autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, young children, elderly, and pregnant women, should avoid any home where you  identify red flags.  

Because the real estate industry has such clear objectives in terms of selling as many homes as quickly as possible to maximize income, human safety is not a primary concern.  In  reality, my experience has shown me that they  will often minimize health concerns and inspections.  It has been very clearly pointed out to me by real estate professionals that Sickhouses.com is not a welcome collaborator.  Fortunately, I have found some professionals that identifying the need for matching safer homes with people that have chronic illnesses.

Home inspection services do not always have the expertise and training to identify microbial issues.  Mold inspectors have limited training and certification.  There are only a limited number of building professionals that truly understand the cross discipline sciences and industries that contribute to a safe or unsafe homes.  Knowledge of building science, materials, moisture and ventilation physics, HVAC and ductwork utility, mycology (to identify specific bacteria, fungi, and the toxins they produce, etc.

My Ultimate Objective

My goal here is to help a buyer identify red flags that suggest that home being avoided altogether because of the potential to make the occupants sick(er).  Some home issues are very obvious in the sense that proper reparation may be costly (10’s of thousands).  Less obvious is the further contamination in the home that result from the specific issues.  It is simply not worth the risk.  Water damage is by far the biggest risk factor in  any home that is considered for purchase.  It almost always leaves bacterial and fungal growth, even if dormant when dry.

Identifying the source of the mold is a critical step to validate you physician’s or your concerns.  However, the source of mold can be systemic or concentrated to a specific part of the home.  Even when that is the case, physical laws enable mold to spread throughout a home.  

Accepting this fact is difficult as it may require a significant investment to fix your home.  In the meantime, you and your family must live in it.  What can you do?  If you are seriously sick from mold and mycotoxins or diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) or Lyme Disease, your physician will likely recommend that you get out of your home, take nothing but the clothes on your back with you, and spend significant time in a safe environment to see if symptoms improve.  

This is obviously ideal except for the fact that we all don’t have the financial resources to do so.  That doesn’t change the prognosis or the need to get out of the home.  Physician recommendations simply are not followed for a variety of practical reasons such as financial constraints or that we may be renting the home or apartment.

Science and Medicine are now recognizing that the body needs clean air to heal.  If you are mold sick in a contaminated home, continuous breathing of mold spores will maintain an assault on your immune system and prevent the body’s natural healing process and detoxification from occurring.  The only way for the human body to remove toxins is to excrete them. For that to happen, clean air, food (proper nutrition and supplements), and water is needed to heal.

Time and Cost-Effective Steps You can take to Identify Home Issues 

First and foremost is to  ask questions in  the  beginning to the realtor.  Unfortunately, they may not provide clear answers.  There are two questions that should always be asked, even if they are not answered.

  1. To the best of their knowledge the home had any extensive water damage due to flooding, leaks, or weather?
  2. Do any of the occupants suffer from allergies, sensitivities, autoimmune disease or other chronic diseases?  This question has privacy issues; however, for what is likely one of your biggest investments in your life, you have nothing to lose.  

You can ask the real estate agent to take the questions back to the listing agent and owners.

Recognizing that we are not all comfortable inspecting or fixing our homes, we must rely on some practical steps we can all do to identify potential problems and provide some band aid solutions to remedy. 

Safety Equipment and Helpful Tools

To inspect your home, you only need a few supplies and an able body to assist you if you are too sick.  For starters, you need a bright LED flashlight.  LED light allows colors to be seen more clearly than other forms of light.  Other supplies needed include a hygrometer (measures humidity) and a phone camera for documentation, and safety equipment (N95 mask, Tyrek suit, goggles, and latex gloves. You can buy all for < $25).  Optional equipment includes an infrared camera and moisture meter.

 

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses

 Start With The Outside of the Home, Followed by The Unfinished, Then inside

Outside: 

  • Walk around your home to see if there is any water, puddles, or moisture settling against your home.  
  • Look at the topography of the neighborhood and imagine flooding conditions.  Where will the water flow.  It is better to buy a home on the hill rather than at the bottom. Water flows down.  If the home is on the incline, take a closer look to see if there are swales (small ditches to help water flow around the home vs into it.  Any type of drains that force the water away from the home.
  • Check around all gutters and make sure all water is steered away from the home.  Identify any portion of the roof where gutters and flashing is absent.  Many builders leave unprotected portions of the roof, often at the front door.  
  • Inspect windows and entrances for rotting wood from water.
Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses

The Basement, Attic, or Crawlspace:

  • Check for visible water under the home in the crawlspace.  Ideally, a well built home will appear clean due to a vapor barrier.
  • A moldy smell or stench can often be detected in basements and crawl spaces and may be enough to have it checked out by a professional.  If you do enter the crawlspace, proper safety equipment is essential to avoid a particularly harsh exposure that can make you sicker.
  • In a basement, check the water heater and HVAC system for leaks or evidence of leakage. If the entire HVAC unit is dusty and moldy, there will likely be a systemic mold issue in the home as the HVAC will distribute through the duct ventilation.   Check for moisture in concrete.  Moisture will stain and it can travel through concrete.  Check all visible pipes for leaks and condensation.
  • Check to see what type insulation and ductwork is used.  Is the insulation the typical blown loose fiberglass insulation?  Is it neatly packed in a clear or colored wrapping.
  • Use a hygrometer to check the humidity.  Higher humidity in unfinished space is common so be prepared to get a dehumidifier and a fan for air ventilation in basement. A humidity reading above 50% is a concern and action should be taken to lower the levels so that mold will not grow.

Inside your Home:

  • With a flashlight, you can inspect walls, ceilings, floors and carpets for water stains or moisture.  Moisture stains are often visible.  Take pictures and measure the stain for documentation.  Walls exposed to water can appear to be swollen and be soft to the touch. If you have wallpaper, peel back a corner to look for mold.  Do the same with baseboards.
  • Inspect wood floors for warping, buckling, stains, & rotting.   
  • Inspect all carpet for discoloration or dampness. If carpet is damp, it is likely that carpet pads are damp as well.  This can be a major source of mold and must be professionally removed, fixed, and treated.
  • Inspect windows for interior condensation that indicates excess interior humidity inside or faulty seals. Check internal windows and door frames for mold spots, paint erosion, stains or rotted wood.
  • Check your thermostat or use a hygrometer to determine humidity.  Humidity over 50% is conducive to mold growth.  Keep in mind that common dust is all that is needed for mold to grow with moisture. 
  • Inspect all visible pipes under kitchen and bathroom cabinets.  and check for water or water stains, which can indicate that a pipe or sink is leaking. 
  • Check bathroom tiles for missing or loose caulking, moldy grout, mold and mildew spots. 
  • For any area where there is plumbing, potential for roof leaks, or water damage  (below sinks and behind and below sinks, an infrared camera is helpful in identifying moisture behind walls and ceilings and below floors.

Attic

  • If you find ceiling stains, check the locations directly above the stains for water leaks.
  • Check all attic pipes for excess condensation. Insulating them can prevent the excess moisture, dripping and subsequent mold growth. 
  • Check the attic for stains, especially where the roof meets the walls.  Check insulation for dampness. Check flashing around roof vents and chimneys.
  • If you suffer from sinusitis or respiratory disease, loose fiberglass insulation is a continuous concern. Microscopic fiberglass shards can be inhaled and form divots in lung and sinus tissues. Your immune system will identify and mobilize to the area creating a larger crevace.  After that, bacteria and mold can form a matrix of biofilm which is impervious to antibiotics.  This leads to chronic sinusitis or chronic respiratory disease. 

When mold is visually found or the source of the musty odor is obvious, it is helpful to tap test areas of concern in the the home.  ImmunoLytics Mold Test kits can be sues for visual observation, or to send for testing by the laboratory.  All of this information will enable you to properly evaluate mold remediators.  

Once you have inspected your home and taken pictures, take some time to review them to determine whether they are small enough to fix yourself or hire a handyman to fix them.  This is very cost-effective maintenance to avoid future, bigger problems. Regardless of the job, I have yet to be in a situation where I could not find a very helpful YouTube video to walk me through step by step.  If you discover a significant source of mold confirmed with visual or odor evidence, it is my opinion that you should pass on the home if the specific repairs exceed $25 K.  You can almost count on that amount being doubled if the mold has been systemically distributed into the home.  You will not know if the problem is local or systemic to the household at this time.  If you really want the home, it is likely best to have a professional inspect for mold to determine the size and scope of the issue.

This process can be frustrating for home buyers.  He current “hot” real estate market where homes are being sold at a premium, on the listing day, or sight unseen make it impossible for families with members who have chronic illnesses to participate.  The health risk, financial costs, and human costs are too high in my opinion.  

For Renters

All of the internal inspection steps above are practical for renters.  A proper inspection with pictures will be conducive for landlords to address the issues.  In cases where you discover mold, it is always more effective to test for mold with an ImmunoLytics test kit that has been properly documented and lab tested for a more urgent response from you landlord.  Once the issues are fixed or if there is a long delay. You can use any of these Bio-Balance fogging and misting kits to address the systemic mold in your indoor air 

These solutions will reach all areas of the home including corners and crevices to reduce the fungal air count dramatically, down to close to zero.  These packages do not replace identifying the source of mold, removing it, and fixing it!  To earn more about Bio-Balance DIY Fogging solutions, click HERE.  

Maintenance fogging using a cold fogging solution that aerosolizes Bio-Balance Maintenance Misting Soltuion diluted with distilled water is a quick and easy way to fog regularly to reduce fungal air count and surfaces in the home.

  • The Bio-Balance Home Maintenance Mister is an inexpensive way to spot fog rooms, furniture, carpets, cars, of closets. This fogger weighs less than 5 lb. so you can ably reach all areas including cabinets and above furnishings to fog your home.
  • The Bio-Max Commercial Maintenance Mister can be used for entire homes or regular maintenance fogging.   This fogger weighs less than 10 lb. and comes with a shoulder harness to carry the weight with a delivery hose to allow for agile fogging throughout the home like the smaller fogger.  

Bio-Balance Home Fogging Solutions

Haven Fog                                                        Haven Mist                               Immunolytics Test Kits
Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses
Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses
© 2020, Cesar Collado, All Rights Reserved

 

 
 

 

What Exactly is Brain Fog?

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Mold Patients and Doctors Use This Term with Limited Understanding of Specifics

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses

By Cesar Collado

“Brain Fog” remains a commonly used term by patients and doctors.  To find an official definition for the term, I searched through countless medical dictionaries and publications. I was searching for a consensus and understanding but found little success and more questions than answers. Today, I am going try to help readers understand what “Brain Fog” actually means by using with patient-reported specifics and examples of their experiences.

In my search, I did find one vague definition for “brain fog” in Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary describing it as “a usually temporary state of mental capacity marked by inability to concentrate or to think or reason clearly.”It was funny to find the only marked definition there as many medical dictionaries provided no answers, nor did they provide clear descriptions of the condition. In addition, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) used by psychiatrists does not have “Brain Fog” listed as a recognized medical condition. As it turns out, Wikipedia (albeit not a standard source for official definitions or facts) provided the clearest explanation I could find that sounded anything like the “brain fog” that mold patients describe experiencing the condition and the doctors that treat them are referring to: “A condition that affects all ages and which is characterized by confusion, decreased clarity of thought, and forgetfulness.  It is not regarded as a real condition.”

Symptoms and Fear

Physicians who treat environmental illness and mold patients that have experienced “Brain Fog” describe their symptoms as feelings of confusion, forgetfulness, the inability to focus and comprehend, and lack of mental clarity. These seemingly small disruptions in thinking can divert any action or conversation significantly, especially when in a professional capacity.

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses

It is important to note that neurological and cognitive symptoms suffered by mold patients are often reported as the “scariest,” regardless of the magnitude of the impact of their daily function. The fear is rooted in “genuine concern that the symptoms are those of onset of dementia, or neurodegenerative disease.”  In older patients above 50, the beginnings of Dementia or Alzheimer’s is a significant fear.

Here are some patient-reported descriptions of “brain fog”:

  • “Foggy,” describing feeling unfocused,” I just can’t think!” or inability to function normally. One patient who home schooled her children described her inability to teach her kids and the guilt of falling behind in their curriculums.
  • “Momentarily forgetting basic facts about myself, my life, or the world around me.” This includes forgetting names, favorite memories (movies, actors names, etc.) that you normally would never forget.
  • “Forgetting what you’re doing while you are doing it.” Here a patient described driving somewhere they normally go and not remembering how to get back.
  • “Placing items in different places than normal and not being able to find them.’’
  • “Forgetting how to operate an appliance you use every day.”
  • “Forgetting easy words.” A physician described to me that he forgot the word shoe when talking to a patient while suffering from brain fog.
  • “Using words in the wrong order.”
  • “Forgetting how to spell familiar words to the degree that I have to look them up and still cannot spell them.”

Brain fog can also be accompanied by the following physical symptoms:

  • Low energy or fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Headaches/Migraines
  • Low motivation
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Difficulty exercising, dancing, or playing

Medical Causes

While I have previously described the unexplained mold illness symptoms of neurological or cognitive disfunction in my recent article: “What Happens When Toxins Get To Your Brain?, brain fog also is described in a variety of chronic medical conditions, some are well defined and others are not. Well understood causes include chemotherapy-induced (Chemo Brain), Brain injuries, Heavy Metal Toxicity, Multiple Sclerosis, Neurodegenerative Disorders, side effects from medications, and others.  There are also recognized disease diagnoses that have limited or unknown causes such as Fibromyalgia, Silent Celiac Disease, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses

Yet another symptom of mold illness, Chronic Fungal Sinusitis in and of itself, can cause brain fog in a variety of ways. Some examples are:

  • When the nose is congested, breathing through the mouth results in a lower oxygen intake, and can result in fuzzy thinking.
  • Medications used to treat Sinusitis often make patients groggy and thinking disjointed.
  • Poor sleep or insomnia leads to the inability to concentrate or to learn and make simple cognitive connections.
  • Inflammation creates irritability, low concentration and an inflamed brain.

Further, it turns out the inflammation (caused by the inflammatory response to mold) often causes brain fog as a symptom.  There are numerous diagnosable inflammatory diseases (Rheumatiod Arthritis, Crohn’s Disease, MS, etc.) where brain fog is listed as a symptom. For mold sufferers, what is most relevant is that a variety of inflammatory, toxic, and allergic responses to the mold create imbalances with hormones, neurotransmitters, and nutrition.

Environmental Causes

Paying attention to environmental factors that we may have some control of throughout our day can help us be more proactive about modifying our lifestyles and behaviors to improve our wellness and eliminate brain fog.

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses

 What can be done?

Brain Fog is a symptom taken seriously by patients because it can mimic symptoms of dementia or neurological diseases.  Unfortunately, seeing a neurologist first may take a patient down the road of expensive imaging diagnostics and a variety of medications focused on the symptoms.

A less-travelled path that may be highly productive is to see a physician, integrative or functional medicine, or Naturopathic Doctor that treats environmental illness.  These healthcare professionals take more time with patients (often 45 min-1 hour) to listen closely to their symptoms and ask questions about their medical history and environment that can lead to finding the cause of the brain fog and mitigating factors that cause it, without medication that can mask some symptoms or create new symptoms to deal with.  Avoiding the debilitating path of seeing a series of doctors and taking a long list of ineffective medications until the cause is addressed can prevent years of needless suffering.

In addition, if your environment is the cause, medication will unlikely be totally effective, because you are returning to the cause or behavior that is causing the symptoms in the first place.

 

Tips for alleviating “brain fog” for Mold and Chronic Sinusitis Sufferers:

  • Agrumax Dietary Supplement added to daily nasal washes and/or ingested by mixing into in a glass of water can provide the body relief from the continuous inhalation of fungi and can address candida or fungal growth in the gut.
  • Practicing good mold hygiene in your home by using the Haven Mister or cleaning with Citrisafe Remedy Mold Solution Concentrate can bring your fungal air counts down dramatically allowing you to rest and sleep in an environment without continuous inhalation of mold.
  • Washing clothes and especially linens with Remedy Laundry Liquid will remove mold on the things that touch your body and your face and can help reduce mold tracked into your home. This will make your environment and especially your bed less inflammatory, so you can sleep better and longer.
  • The addition of a HEPA Air Purifier or Remedy Air Maintenance Candles. The less mold you are bringing into your body, the less toxins your body collects and the less it has to fight the invader (mold) to be and stay well.

Perhaps, these descriptions can help provide a clearer understanding of your symptoms and ways it can be addressed without hopelessness or panic.

 

 

 

© 2020, Cesar Collado, All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

 

” I Am Severely Ill!”

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Mold Illness, Debilitating Symptoms, and Explaining Why Doctors Aren’t Listening

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses

By Cesar Collado

I have spoke to, in the past, with two normally healthy individuals seeking guidance about where to get help for illness brought on by mold exposure. Both have seen multiple physicians, spent significant amounts of money, and are at their “wits’ end.”  Both have been trying to find solutions to their declining health for some time. Both are in their thirties and describe themselves as active and healthy prior to instances of mold exposure.

The first person was a former athlete in excellent physical shape who described his symptoms as “pulverizing”. He discussed multiple instances where he was exposed to moldy environments that instantly crippled him. Severe neurological and motor function symptoms were experienced; he felt like he had “dementia”. He currently lives separately from his wife and children. He has done extensive internet research on his symptoms and has read about several syndromes that may be the cause. He has not had luck with physicians. His core issue is finding a physician who will listen and explain his condition so that he can get the proper help with treatment. That led him to my newsletters and to reaching out to me. We discussed his situation at length. His objective is to feel healthy again and be able to return to living with his family.

The second person is an active professional who also exercises and eats healthy. She described a constant “brain fog” and the feeling of pain like “there are rubber bands around her sinuses” and headaches. She recalls that her sinus issues began when some water damage was repaired in her relatively new home.  She has seen an ENT and had a CT scan that showed that her sinuses were clear. The ENT’s conclusion was that her issues were not in her sinuses, and she was sent along. She has since seen a “functional medicine” doctor who took numerous diagnostics at a significant  expense.   She is very concerned with the potential financial stress and wants to know how to get well.

Since I am not a physician, I can only provide insight and explanations focused on helping them find a path to the right medical professionals who will listen to and treat them. Both people also need advice on exploring what they can do in their home environments to mitigate further mold exposure.

I try to not lead people toward a path of expensive speculative solutions, endless doctor visits, and other professional interventions. This usually overwhelms individuals and can leave them “turned off”. If I do so, they feel like my advice is more of the same and another dead end.

Bedside Manner Counts

There are several reasons why integrative approaches are more successful with mold patients. First and most obvious, these physicians spend significantly more time with the patients and ask about their environment. They look at the entire body with all of its systems as a whole. A detailed medical history, including the history of mold exposure and water-damaged buildings exposure is explored in detail. Valid diagnostics by certified labs exist to identify evidence of mold allergy, mycotoxin exposure, and other causes of illness, such as heavy metals.

The desire and ability to provide medical attention and listen to the patient is essential for forming a relationship of shared responsibility. When a doctor and patient work together, there is better adherence to a treatment plan, and patients are more likely to adopt the behavior changes required to get well. There must also be trust and guidance from the physician towards having a  patient’s home environment examined and made clean and safe; this is critical to getting better. Without a safe environment, the body will not heal with any medical interventions, because breathing in mold and toxins will perpetuate the inflammatory response.

Recent Recognition of Other Factors

While mold sickness has been around for ages, there are also other elements to healthy living that have changed over recent times. The impact of diet has immense importance. The introduction of processed foods as predominant components of the modern diet is finally becoming concerning, because obesity, metabolic diseases, and diabetes are skyrocketing. Read more about diet and gut health HERE.

In addition, the importance of indoor air quality for the masses is relatively recent. The continuous efforts to develop more energy-efficient and less costly homes have changed the building materials used for most homes. Homes have become tighter, but this has created moisture issues. In addition, standard drywall and particle boards used today absorb moisture, increase water damage, and contain organic matter that is conducive to mycotoxin-producing molds.

My Advice to the Readers Mentioned Above

I recognize that it is a ‘brain overload’ to learn about environmental illness. I do my best to inform people to take one step at a time. Acting on every possible solution without evidence can waste significant energy andfinancial resources. It is important to learn what they can about their illness prior to visiting professionals for treatment or service. These are the suggestions I made to these people. I try to focus my advice on inexpensive steps to provide direction to the patient initially.

Begin gathering information prior to visiting a physician.

  1. Get out of the home and find a safe place to stay for several days to see if they feel better, think better, or sleep better. This is a critical hypothesis to test and provides valuable information to both the patient and doctor.
  2. Do some research about mold illness and mycotoxins. I often refer to past articles I have written because the approach and audience targeted are normal people just like them. There are obviously numerous blogs, websites, and articles that offer significant expertise and experiences beyond my understanding. However, I am sensitive to their condition and try to keep it short and simple.
  3. Test their homes with mold test plates. These are relatively inexpensive and easy to perform and will help to determine if the home tests positive or negative for mold.
  4. Document every exposure to mold, water-damaged buildings, and symptoms you have experienced that you believe are due to mold exposure. Be prepared to share this with your physician as they may be accustomed to asking very few questions and spending little time with patients, especially in regards to their history or environment.

Do some research to find physicians who treat mold and mycotoxin illness.

  1. There are several online databases that will direct patients to physicians who treat mold illness in their area. You can get a list from Jennifer Nitrio at MoldHelpForYou.com
  2. Call the doctors’ offices and explain your symptoms to see if the physicians you are selecting specifically treat your illness. Do this prior to spending time and money on an office visit. In the event the visual mold test plates reveal potential problems, consider additional lab testing or hiring an accredited environmental inspector or Bau Biologist (HERE is my article on Bau Biology—I thought that might be a good place for an additional link) to validate your results.
  3. You can purchase a Mold Diagnostic Test Kit. The mold plates will be directly sent to you by Immunolytics with directions and materials to send the plates back to the lab. Access to the lab results is included and will be emailed to you with valuable supporting information in approximately 7-10 days.
  4. A more conclusive environmental test for mold and mycotoxins called the EMMA Test can be done through Real time Labs. There are some medical diagnostics that can be done at the doctor or on your own by ordering the tests on the internet. I caution this approach only because reading the diagnostic results can be confusing and overwhelming.

Going through a doctor or a lab who can help you go over your results in detail is always the best approach.

  1. An IgG test for mold antigens will determine if your body has antibodies for specific molds. This can indicate an allergy to mold.
  2. A Mycotoxin urine test is done by Real Time Labs or Great Plains Laboratory. While not foolproof or definitive, if you are actively secreting mycotoxins in your urine, it is a good indication of current or past mold exposure.

The Most Significant Challenge We All Face: Getting the Right Doctor to Treat for Mold

Proximity of Sinus Mucosa to the Brain

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick HousesSince the majority of mold is inhaled, the largest concentration of mycotoxins exists in the sinus mucosal tissue. Currently, there are no diagnostics to test for mycotoxins in the sinuses. Because the sinuses reside adjacent to the cerebral spinal fluid around the brain, direct exposure to the brain can cause significant neurological symptoms without being detected in a urine test for mycotoxins. I know of few cases where ENTs have removed damaged tissue from the sinuses during surgery and have tested that tissue for mycotoxins after the procedure (similar to a cancer biopsy). This is NOT the norm for most ENTs I have encountered, though. In fact, I only know of one who has embraced this practice. Most ENTs refer patients with neurological symptoms to a neurologist.

 

Fungal Ball removed from Sinuses

 

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick HousesIt is a significant challenge to even find ENTs who treat fungal sinusitis other than surgical removal of “fungal balls.” I receive numerous accounts of patients seeing ENTs for mold without success or frustrated with the outcome. It is also rare for an ENT or any specific specialist to treat the body in an integrative manner. This is no fault of theirs as the specialty that they are licensed to practice is very focused. The burden to find such doctors falls on the patients.

I would be grateful to anyone who would share their experience of being treated for mold by their ENT. I know there are ENTs out there that treat sinuses for mold and mycotoxins. I would love to be able to direct suffering patients to see them. It is frustrating to attempt to find a local ENT that treats both fungal infections and mycotoxins in the sinuses. Knowledge of these ENTs successfully treating sinuses for mold and mycotoxins could be life-changing for people to know of their existence. Please feel free to comment on your experiences.

© 2020 Cesar Collado All Rights Reserved

 

 

About the Author: Cesar Collado

Cesar Collado is a former pharmaceutical R&D executive, venture capitalist, and seasoned strategy consultant in biotechnology and technology industries in general. He currently works as an advisor to multiple technology start-ups and advises several companies that provide healthcare and other services for environmental illness.

The Body’s Toxic Load

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Understanding the “Body Burden” is Important When Choosing a Home

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses

 

By Cesar Collado

The Toxic Load (sometimes called the “Body Burden”) is the accumulated amount of toxins affecting your bodily systems at any given time. Toxins are significant stressors to all bodily systems, the immune system, and even your mental state.  Every day we are bombarded with thousands of toxins.  We inhale them, eat them, and can absorb them through the skin.  

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses

Toxins come from many sources in our industrialized world.  There are 80,000 chemicals known to the EPA and just a fraction of them have been studied to know their toxic effects.  Regardless, known or unknown toxins are utilized in the production processes for building materials, paints and finishes, flame retardants, household cleaners, personal products, air fresheners, candles, air pollutants, and even medicines and food products. Pesticides, preservatives and pollutants can contaminate the foods we eat and the water we drink, cook and bathe with. But, our bodies are equipped to metabolize only a fixed amount of toxins in our lives.  Then, when a person is overexposed to mold, their body can reach its toxic tipping point, and an immediate, catastrophic health reaction occurs. What happens then?  

Our Bodies and Toxins

Our body has natural abilities to metabolize and excrete toxins.  Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick HousesWhen exposed to toxins, our livers and kidneys are somewhat effective in metabolizing them and removing them via the digestive and perspiration systems. However, if the amount of toxins exceeds the body’s ability to rid itself from them, they can be stored in fat and tissues. This is particularly important for those of us that carry little or significant excess fat.  When we lose weight, these toxins are released into our bodies where they will continue to be circulated, absorbed, metabolized and excreted. In the event toxins reach organs or even the brain by penetrating the blood brain barrier, devastating disorders, including neurological and cognitive problems can result.

The “Body Burden”

Consider a bucket being filled with water.  Once it is full, water spills over the side and can go anywhere.  The body’s ability to metabolize toxins operates in a similar fashion. When a person is exposed to toxins from a variety of sources over time, their bucket fills until it cannot remove additional toxins.  Whatever is in your “bucket” is your Body Burden or Toxic Load. Since our bodies can only metabolize a fixed amount of toxins over our lifetimes, our toxic load can be reached slowly over time or rapidly and all at once by a significant exposure to any toxin. Depending on a person’s life choices, circumstances, medical and family history, and body composition, it is possible for a person to reach their lifetime limit in just an instant.

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses

Not everyone is exposed to hazardous toxins in their lives.  Those who are exposed at work are trained to take necessary safety precautions, and workplace environments are regulated to manage the risk.  On rare occasions, when a worker may be exposed to a specific hazard, medical treatment and protocols are followed. 

However, many of the environments we live in contain toxic chemicals and pollutants that we will likely absorb in some manner over time.   The air we breathe outdoors can be polluted.  Chlorine and fluoride are present in our drinking waters. Some heavy metals are essential nutrients (typically iron, cobalt, and zinc).  Others, such as cadmium, mercury, and lead, are highly poisonous.

Pesticides are used in landscaping and farming. New construction is built with materials that are treated with flame retardants, adhesives, and other processes that involve toxic chemicals. Paints can have Volatile Organic Compounds (“VOCs”). Home furnishings, paints, and carpets often off-gas chemicals for a period of time.

The critical message here is that once you reach your toxic burden, your body becomes ultra-sensitive to many environmental elements.  Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (“MCS”) can make almost any environment toxic to someone who has reached their Body Burden or Toxic Load.  After your bucket is full, regular household and personal products become extremely toxic, even in miniscule amounts.

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses

Why is Mold Exposure Critical to the “Toxic Load Discussion”?

Mold, albeit an antigen or pathogen, also triggers an immune response which is different than the histamine response produced by most allergens.  In an allergic response, antihistamines and steroids may be prescribed and effective.  The mold inflammatory response exacerbates debilitating conditions. To make matters worse, many common species of mold release potent mycotoxins (poisonous chemicals) that can impact the body slowly over time or severely, if they reach the many organs in the body, including the brain. 

Mold and their mycotoxins make up a very small portion of the possible toxic elements to our bodies.  However, when humidity or moisture, due to a common roof or plumbing leak, humid weather, or poor water management meet any organic material (including dust, fabric, wallpaper, wood, and carpet), mold can begin to grow.  Mold reproduces at alarming rates and can proliferate throughout our homes to reach dangerous levels very quickly.  Any disruption of the mold can release billions of microscopic mold spores into the air we breathe.  (Mold most often is inhaled and then can reproduce rapidly in our bodies.)  Mold mycotoxins can be inhaled into our sinuses where they are microns away from our brains. Therefore, mold is likely the greatest threat to any normal person in a normal environment to push them to reach their toxic load immediately. The fallout is a debilitating ultra-sensitivity that can handicap their ability to enjoy life.

Exposure Possibilities

Any mold infestation where you can see it or smell it is likely a very dangerous situation for even healthy inhabitants.  If it is a minor infestation, any DIY person can take safety precautions like a N95 face mask and gloves and follow clear directions to remediate it themselves.  Larger infestations that penetrate walls or severely water damaged homes are health hazards. These should be remediated by a professional.  Also, musty, damp basements or crawlspaces can have an overwhelming amount of mold.  Without professional containment, and removal you risk disrupting the mold and releasing spores and toxins into the air. If this occurs, the mold can then be distributed throughout the home through the HVAC system.  Simply living in such environments can lead someone to reach their toxic load immediately, and have to deal with a lifetime of debilitating sensitivities when exposed to minimal amounts of mold or chemicals thereafter.  

When you are living in a home with mold, regardless of whether it is during a repair or while you have little control of the situation, there are things you can do to limit the toxic burden on your body:

  • Treat the how’s with Haven Fog, a denser. smoke like fog, that rises and filled the entire space volume of HVAC to to flood the  ductwork and hair handler.  Read more about hot fogging HERE.
  • Cold fogging with the Haven Mister and Haven Mold  Solution will easily keep the mold counts down while you await repairs or find another mold-safe home. You can also use Remedy Mold Solution Concentrate to do the job.
  • Using Haven Spray on virtually any surface will also keep mold levels down. It is less efficient and time consuming than cold fogging; however, it works.
  • Burning Remedy Air Purification Candles will quickly impact  your immediate environment will significantly reduce mold and mycotoxin counts from the air in the areas you relax or work in.

Other Factors to Consider

Modern Medicine Limitations

When we go to the physician when we are sick, we are diagnosed based on our symptoms and treated with medicines.  The medicines themselves could also be toxic.  Where we are particularly vulnerable is that many symptoms of toxic burden are similar to those of many chronic illnesses. These symptoms can steer us to many medical specialists who will have us cycling through many medicines. Most general practice physicians and practitioners see numerous patients each hour; and there is little time to investigate every patient’s individual exposure to toxins in their environments.  Unfortunately, most of the burden to recognize toxins in our environments and food falls on us, the patients.  The only way to address this is to educate ourselves and seek physicians or other health care professionals that diagnose and treat environmental illness.

The Modern Diet

Over the past several decades, the industrialization of the food industry has introduced toxins in exceedingly high amounts to our diets. You can read more about gut health in an earlier published article HERE. 

Ways to Ease Your Toxic Burden

  • Eat Organic.  Non-organic foods expose you to pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, fertilizers, antibiotics, hormones, artificial flavors and sweeteners.
  • Avoid consuming fish that are high in mercury.
  • Decrease your intake of sugars and other carbohydrates. These foods feed fungus and lead to fungal overgrowth in the body.
  • Switch to green or all-natural cleaning products.  Avoid bleach and ammonia.
  • Hydrate well with filtered water. Water helps to dilute and flush out toxins.
  • Improve the quality of your air by cleaning for mold regularly and investing in an air purifier.
  • Try to use glass instead of plastic containers with BPA.
  • Choose natural, organic personal products.
  • Use natural fibers, like wool or cotton when decorating your home. Also, limit use of carpet in favor or natural fiber rugs, hardwood floors or ceramic tiles.
  • Service your HVAC regularly replacing HEPA filters every few months.
  • Consider seeing a physician that treats environmental illness when suffering from a mysterious illness your general practitioner has trouble diagnosing.
© 2020, Cesar Collado, All Rights Reserved

Chemicals and Headaches

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity 

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses, chemical sensitivity

By Cesar Collado

Many people experience debilitating headaches when exposed to everyday chemicals in their environments.

A common question asked to me regards Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.  In fact, I received the following  request from an individual who read one of my articles:

“Thank you, Cesar, for being our advocate. Your article is once again, incredibly timely as my in-laws just told me three days ago that everything my husband and I are going through (pertaining to my mold-related illness) is MY FAULT. They proceeded to tell me that my husband needs a ‘normal wife’ and a ‘normal life’  It was incredibly painful to hear. Reading your article was validating for me and much appreciated. I noticed however, that you didn’tt write anything about chemical sensitivity and how/why  it is associated with mold.”

Thanks,   D.  🙂

What is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (“MCS”)

Our bodies are designed to process moderate amounts of foreign antigens and toxins from our environment. Normally, chemical toxin exposure occurs slowly with low levels over  a long period of time. Chemicals can reach the blood system via inhalation, ingestion, or through the skin. Most encounters are subtle or quick like entering a freshly painted room and exiting or eating an unwashed fruit or vegetable.  Our metabolism can address these levels.  However, when exposure is long or extreme, we cannot metabolize the chemicals fast enough and they are stored in fat and tissues in a queue to be metabolized.

More often, we hear about chemical exposure when we read about pesticides, plastics, pollution, gases, or some type of “spill” resulting in an environmental concern.  Symptoms from chemical exposure can be severe or mild.

These include:

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses, chemical sensitivity

Toxic Load

Direct exposure to toxic chemicals can result in any combination of these symptoms as well. When serious exposure occurs, a person can reach their toxic load. It is when this occurs that the person becomes ultrasensitive to chemical exposure. However, when chemical exposure occurs slowly over time, the same result occurs. The body reaches its toxic load and they too can become ultra-sensitive to chemicals in the environment.

Mold Exposure and Toxic Load

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses, chemical sensitivity

While molds itself is not a chemical, they actually produces secondary metabolites that are chemicals. Many of these “chemicals” can accumulate in various tissues in the body, including sinus tissues. Some mold species produce Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) that are potent mycotoxins that can cause severe illness and acute toxicity. When a person receives an extreme exposure to mold, they can reach their toxic load immediately. As a result, mold sufferers can experience the symptoms of MCS from then on. The impact of even the smallest of exposures can be dramatic. People can get headaches, feel sick, or have a sense of panic. I don’t think I am capable of describing the discomfort and misery described to me by mold patients with chemical sensitivity. Because chemicals are everywhere, there is a feeling of hopelessness in addition to panic and misery.

Sensitivity can diminish when the person properly detoxes under a physician’s supervision with nutrition, diet, and treatment. However, sensitivity can remain throughout their lives. In addition, many common indoor molds produce mycotoxins. Mycotoxins can be chemicals substances or gases. They can become airborne or become cast aways by attaching dust that often becomes airborne. Ironically, when home contents are very dusty, dusting can the cause for the dust particles becoming airborne, making the probability of exposure much more likely. Regular dusting is important to maintaining a mold freeenvironment. Wear a mask while dusting if significant dust accumulates. Using duster that attracts dust or a HEPA vacuum in these instances.

Mold and mycotoxins do not die and simply go away when not cleaned or removed. Mold can become dormant and mycotoxins can dry over time and break. These fragments of the toxins can be just as harmful as the entire molecule. Mycotoxin poisoning is much more severe than simple mold exposure. A common misbelief is that mold sufferers might not be exposed to mycotoxins. However, this is unlikely because common indoor molds include mycotoxin producing molds such as aspergillus, penicillium, and stachybotrys. These molds seem to flourish in water damaged homes, because the gypsum/paper drywall that is used absorbs water and mycotoxins are consistently found in these situations when tested.

Chemicals Everywhere!

There are over 80,000 chemicals that are cataloged as known by the EPA. 

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses, chemical sensitivity

Hundred are considered dangerous.. We are exposed to any number chemicals in our indoor environments every day. The EPA reviews only a small fraction of the compounds currently used in production. It would take centuries for the EPA to review all chemicals at the current rate of 20 per year.1. To date, the EPA has been successful in banning only 5  substances, and only with specific applications.

The 5 Banned Chemicals are:

Asbestos, Chlorofluorocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls (“PCBs”), dioxin, and hexavent chromium.  

In the US EPA, Chemicals are “innocent until proven guilty.” Under the law, the EPA cannot request testing of chemicals without having evidence a risk is likely.

 However, any household furnishings are treated with flame retardants. This includes curtains, rugs, furniture, ect. They off gas these chemicals over time. Building materials made of manufactured wood are made using formaldehyde, a cancer-causing agent. Personal care products can contain chemicals. For example, there are over 1,000 chemicals banned in Europe that are used in cosmetics in the US. Pesticides are used in agricultural products we eat. Household cleaning agents contain harmful chemicals. Fragrances in air fresheners, fabric softeners, and household cleaners contain chemicals. These are just a few examples.

Industrial chemicals and solvents are used in many manufacturing processes of many goods and services we use. It is important to note that the industries that use and sell products that use chemicals that may not be safe have extensive lobbying efforts and promote the safety of these chemicals.

 

For example, The AmericanChemical Society  FAQ section of their formaldehyde fact sheet states: “People actually produce and exhale formaldehyde themselves. If a person is exposed to external sources of formaldehyde, the body breaks it down rapidly. Formaldehyde is one of the most-well studied substances and we know a lot about how to use it safely. The general effects of formaldehyde on the human body are well-known. According to the large body of research available, the levels of formaldehyde to which the public is exposed are not high enough to cause adverse health effects.”  

 

Here is an absurd promotional piece from chemical companies lobbying efforts.

Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses, chemical sensitivity

 

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity with Traditional Medicine

MCS, also referred to as idiopathic environmental intolerances (IEI),is a valid diagnosis. Its classification as a standalone disease makes the diagnosis elusive. Its validity has been met with some controversy. It is referred to as more of a “syndrome” because the symptoms are chronic and vague with no known cause. There is little literature that addresses possible causes. However, the Gulf War, 9-11, and the BP Oil Spill provided huge amounts of data from victims collocated in areas providing evidence that a toxic exposure to chemicals can result in MCS.

When there is a water damaged home, mycotoxins from aspergillus and Penicillium are commonly present in the home. These secondary metabolites are chemical toxins that can have severe impact on several of the body’s organ systems and the brain. “What Happens When Toxins Get to Your Brain” provides detailed information on the topic.

Common practice for many medical physician specialties is to punt the issue to psychiatry. This is because of the symptoms  overlap with depression and anxiety disorders. When treated as the central diagnosis, it is often met with a multi-disciplinary approach involving multiple physician specialties to explore all of the potential causes. Because of the inability to conclusively diagnose the disease, it often leads to exploration of psychiatric illness or  psychosomatic symptoms..  Environmental physicians have theories that MCS is a result of abnormalities in the NMDA pathways. Nmethyl-D-aspartate-receptors (NMDARs) are ionotropic glutamate receptors that function in synaptic transmission, plasticity andcognition. Malfunction of NMDARs has been implicated in a variety of nervous system disorders. Hypersensitive to monosodium glutamate and glutamate. This may explain why such a diverse number of chemicals can elicit the same biological responses. Because NMDA is important in synaptic plasticity (increases and decreases in activity) and memory. These theories sometimes lead to trying to use psychiatric or neurological pharmaceutical solutions.

Treatment for MCS should still center on reducing the toxic Environmental Hazards, Mold in Homes, Sick Houses, chemical sensitivity burden on the body vs. symptomatic relief through a trial and error effort with antidepressants and anti-convulsive medicines. The body has to metabolize and excrete chemicals itself.  Because MCS is often triggered by the olfactory nerve, patients can suffer a form of PTSD.  A whiff of something can trigger a full involuntary physical response.  This is a complicated issue that is often treaded by addressing the limbic system of the brain can be successfully utilized to reduce symptoms. It has proven efficacious for many patients to rewire the way their  brains process the sensory information to alleviate the symptoms and physical reactions.  More research is definitely needed, but limbic system retraining is a promising treatment thus far.

Mold Sickness and MCS as a Symptom

 

Mold and mycotoxins can impact or even shut down detoxification pathways. As a result, mold sufferers can become chemically sensitive. Chemical Sensitivity is a very real symptom of mold sickness. I have heard from countless patients about the impact chemical exposure has on their wellbeing. Just a whiff of perfume, chemical fragrances, fresh paint, or new carpet off-gassing can debilitate a mold sufferer very quickly.  Leaving the area is usually the only solution. Chemical off-gassing does occur over time and the chemicals in the air diminish as ventilation will slowly remove air contaminants.

Other medical issues can make matters worse. Heavy Metal poisoning, Lyme disease, and other coinfections can be exacerbated by mold. MCS can become paralyzing with these patients.

What  Can You Do?

 

When a person in the household is suffering from mold exposure, there are certain steps that should be taken as a precaution for all symptoms, including MCS. First and foremost, address the mold issue ASAP. Mold reproduces quickly and aerosolized spores are very common air pollutants. Getting the person out of the moldy environment, even temporarily can provide significant relief.

Making every effort to make and keep your home safe from chemicals is essential. Many chemicals arestored and used in our homes. Eliminating the utilization of products containing chemical pollutants and monitoring the storage of essential items can make a large difference. It is also important to note that service provider’s products should be monitored to ensure your home is not saturated with chemicals.

Common Cleaning Products That Cause Problems for MCS Sufferers:

  • Many laundry detergents containing cationic, anionic, or non- ionic solutions;
  • Fabric softeners have chemical fragrances and cellulose that also serves as “mold food.”  Then, contaminated clothing stays with you throughout the day;  
  • Household cleaners containing ammonia, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), ethylene glycol, monobutyl acetate;
  • Toilet bowl cleaners containing sodium bisulfate, 5-dimethyldantoin, hydrochloric acid, & phenol;
  • Mold and mildew cleaners containing chlorine and alkyl ammonium chlorides;
  • Drain cleaners containing lye and sulfuric acid;
  • Dishwashing detergents containing cationic, anionic, or non- ionic solutions plus phosphates;
  • Antibacterial cleaners containing ammonia, bleach, cresol, phenol, lye, triclosan, and pine oil; Window and glass cleaners containing ammonia or isopropanol;

Specialty Cleaning Products:

  • Rug, carpet, and upholstery cleaners containing perchloroethylene, & naphthalene;
  • Furniture polish containing ammonia, naphtha, nitrobenzene, petroleum distillates, and phenol;
  • Oven cleaners containing Lye;
  • Car air fresheners and fragrances.
  • Air Fresheners and fragrances:
  • Air fresheners containing formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, p-dichlorobenzene, aerosol propellants;
  • Freshener sprays that are used to mask bacterial or mold musty smells.
  • Chemicals Commonly Stored but that should be monitored for tight containment:
  • Paints and solvents;
  • Antifreeze;
  • Motor oil;
  • Batteries;
  • Windshield washer fluid;
  • Lubricants;
  • Glues/adhesives;
  • Pesticides (Chemical pesticides should never be used indoors);
  • Fertilizers.

Foods purchased:

  • Produce treated with Pesticides should be washed or organic should be consumed. Organic produce must also be washed and treated as well. They are often sources of contamination from bacteria like ecoli from the soil and natural fertilizers.
  • Personal hygiene products and cosmetics.  As the body detoxifies and the toxic burden is lowered, because the mold is no longer causing chronic inflammation and toxicity, tolerance of these chemicals can improve over time. The body’s metabolism will  begin to free up and expel the toxic build-up and will process minor exposures more efficiently. Avoiding direct exposure as many chemicals as possible will go a long way to avoiding unnecessary reactions or symptoms.

There are a variety of home cleaning solutions that can be readily made using natural products

  • https://hybridrastamama.com/recipes/?fwp_recipes=non-toxic-cleaning or
  • https://wellnessmama.com/6244/natural-cleaning/are good places to start.

Prevent Mold from Becoming a Problem in the First Place:

  • Keep humidity between 40-50% to avoid moisture levels conducive to mold growth;
  • Use a HEPA Air Purifier to maintain low levels of harmful pollutants in the air;
  • Regular fogging or spraying BioBalance Haven Mist will help keep the fungal count in the air lower;
  • Remedy Air Mainenance Candles can eliminate mold and mycotoxins in the immediate air where you spend your time. You can use Agrumax Dietary Supplement beyond nasal rinsing.
  • Maintain mold free bed linens, clothing, and towels with Remedy Laundry Liquid.
  • Clean Carpets or upholstery with Haven Clean.

 

  1. Scialla , Mark. It could take centuries for EPA to test all the unregulated chemicals under a new landmark bill. PBS Newshour/Science. June 22, 2016

 

© 2020, Cesar Collado, All Rights Reserved