Black Mold

Rich Fuller asked:




Humans and mold have lived together since the very beginning, but mold has become a big health issue only recently. So many cases of toxic mold poisoning have come to light recently that people can’t help but be concerned.

Because this concern is so new, we have only just begun studying the effects of black mold and pregnancy. There isn’t much real evidence, but doctors are very concerned about how exposure to black mold during pregnancy can affect babies.

Black Mold and Birth Defects

There are countless stories of women being exposed to mold during pregnancy and suffering miscarriage or birth defects. However, there is not yet any solid hard scientific evidence that exposure to mold directly causes birth defects. Studies with animals have shown that there is a definite link between black mold and pregnancy, but animals are different than humans, so the results are somewhat inconclusive.

Still, most doctors assume that there is some connection, and that pregnant women should be careful about exposure.

Asthma and Pregnancy

Modern scientific studies say that the causes of lifelong chronic allergies are both genetic and environmental.

A lot of evidence states that the development of allergies and asthma actually begins in the womb. This is especially the case with asthma. Researchers are finding out that asthma may not be genetic at all. It is caused by triggers in the environment. Studies show that asthma sufferers develop the condition at some point in their lives due to exposure to toxins, such as mold. It may begin in the uterus.

SIDS And Mold

Some studies have suggested that there may be a link between Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and exposure to black mold in the womb. There are also a variety of chronic fatigue illnesses that children who have been exposed to mold may suffer. Still, the studies have not been done to show whether this is fully the case or not.

What You Can Do

If you have just found that you are pregnant, or if you are just starting to worry about mold, you should get your home or workplace tested for mold. You can get a home testing kit from the hardware store. It is probably a good idea to start off your pregnancy in a mold-free environment. Nobody knows the exact relation between mold and birth defects, allergies and asthma, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

For your baby’s health, it is also important to keep your house mold-free after birth. There are no studies showing that mold has an effect on breast feeding, but mold is definitely unhealthy for your baby’s general health.

One more thing to think about is your workplace. Many women work in the early or middle stages of pregnancy and it is often more difficult to find mold in a building where you work than in your home. Ask your boss about mold inspections, especially if you work in an old building. If you can see or smell mold in your workplace, you are definitely in danger.

If your boss or supervisor will not do anything about the mold problem, you can seek a legal solution. There are laws to protect you and your unborn baby’s health.

Black Mold

Wade Robins asked:


Mold is a serious health problem, but the health risks of exposure to black mold have only recently come to light. Before, doctors thought that these were symptoms of other illnesses. The role that black mold exposure plays in these symptoms is just beginning to be fully studied.

Here are some common symptoms of black mold exposure that are often mistaken.

Chronic Sinus Trouble

More than 35 million Americans suffer from chronic sinus trouble. This means that you have congestion, runny nose, sinus headaches and other symptoms. You don’t have a cold or hay fever; you just have “bad sinuses.” It’s something genetic that’s been passed down, or a seasonal allergy. Most people leave it at that.

Recent studies have shown that sinus trouble is almost always caused by environmental factors. And, the number one environmental factor is exposure to black mold.

Mold releases spores which become airborne. Everyone is allergic to these spores in varying degrees. When you come into contact with airborne spores, they irritate your sinuses and produce these symptoms.

Asthma

It has traditionally been accepted that asthma was genetic. It seemed that it was passed down from one generation to the next, and if it was in your family tree, you would be more likely to develop it.

However, in the last few years studies have shown that asthma is due more to environmental factors than it was previously believed. There is a link between exposure to black mold in early life and the development of asthma later on.

It is difficult to carry out a study on the effect of mold on the development of asthma, but the anecdotal evidence out there is overwhelming. Hopefully in the next few years, a definite link will be established.

Flu Symptoms

Some varieties of toxic mold can produce flu-like symptoms. This includes nausea, fever and headaches. It is difficult to diagnose as black mold poisoning, however, because it could be so many other things.

Toxic mold spores can cause problems for any part of the body, including the digestive tract. We usually think of mold having an effect on breathing, but spores enter the body through the respiratory system. From there, the microtoxins can go anywhere.

Mental Illness

It is hard to believe that something as seemingly harmless as mold could have an effect on our brains, but it does. Exposure to toxic mold can have neurological effects, as spores enter the body and release toxins into the bloodstream.

Common symptoms include chronic fatigue, hearing and memory loss, and mild symptoms of dementia. These are symptoms of the very advanced stages of toxic mold poisoning. If someone you know is suffering neurological damage due to toxic black mold exposure, you should seek medical help immediately. For more info see http://www.toxicblackmoldhelp.org/symptoms/symptom_Of_Toxic_Mold.html on symptom of toxic.

These symptoms are elusive, and that is why you should make sure your house is mold free. Have your house tested, either by a professional or do it yourself with a mold testing kit from your hardware store. Keeping the mold out of your house will greatly reduce the risk of developing these symptoms of black mold exposure.