Could Mold Be Making You Sick? Symptoms & Hidden Mold
Could Mold Be Making You Sick? Signs Your Home May Be Affecting Your Health
You eat pretty well. You try to get enough sleep. Maybe you've even had blood work done.
But you still don't feel right. You're tired. Your head feels foggy. Your sinuses are always bothering you. Or you just don't feel like yourself. When this happens, we usually start looking inside the body for answers. Sometimes we also need to look at the environment around us. One place worth considering is your home.
Can Mold Really Affect Your Health?
Yes—but it's important not to blame every unexplained symptom on mold.
We know that spending time in damp or moldy buildings can cause health problems in some people. Others may have little or no reaction at all.
The CDC reports that damp buildings have been associated with respiratory symptoms, worsening or development of asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, respiratory infections and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Mold can also irritate the eyes, nose, throat, skin and lungs.
The EPA also notes that molds can produce allergens and irritants, and some molds can produce potentially toxic substances called mycotoxins. At the same time, research into some of the broader health effects attributed to mold exposure is still ongoing.
That's an important distinction.
Mold shouldn't become the automatic explanation for every case of fatigue, brain fog or poor health. But if symptoms don't make sense—and especially if there is reason to suspect a damp or water-damaged building—the environment may be another piece of the puzzle worth investigating.
The Mold You Can't See
When people hear "mold problem," they often picture black mold growing across a bathroom wall. Sometimes it's obvious. Often, it isn't. Mold needs moisture to grow. That moisture can come from a roof leak, plumbing problem, flooding, high humidity or water getting somewhere it shouldn't. And the problem can be hidden.
The CDC notes that moisture and mold can exist in places like walls, ceilings and insulation where you may not immediately see the source. That's why simply walking around your house looking for mold isn't always enough. You have to ask a more important question:
Where is the moisture coming from?
Finding Mold Is Only Half the Problem
This is something we discussed recently on the Health Hacks podcast with mold-inspection specialist Jason Richards of PureHealth Mold Inspections. There's a health side of the conversation—and there's a building side. From a health perspective, we can ask whether someone's environment could be contributing to what they're experiencing.
But if the building has a moisture or mold problem, the source of that problem also has to be addressed.That's one of the most important points homeowners need to understand.
The EPA puts it very simply: The key to mold control is moisture control.
If you clean up visible mold but never fix the leak or moisture problem that allowed it to grow, you haven't really solved the problem.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Mold?
Don't panic—and don't assume that every symptom means you have a serious mold problem.
Start by looking for clues.
Has your home had a roof leak?
Has a pipe leaked?
Has the basement flooded?
Do you have areas that regularly feel damp?
Have you noticed musty smells?
Has there been previous water damage?
Do your symptoms seem different when you've been away from your home for an extended period?
Those clues don't prove mold is causing a health problem. But they can tell you that the building itself deserves a closer look. If there is significant or hidden water damage, this may be the point where a qualified professional can help determine what's actually happening in the building.
What About Mold Testing?
This is another area where it's easy to get confused.
Testing alone doesn't necessarily tell the whole story.
In fact, the CDC does not recommend routine mold testing to determine whether a building is "safe." There are no universally accepted standards defining an acceptable amount of every type of mold in a home. NIOSH similarly emphasizes that finding and correcting sources of dampness can be more useful than simply taking air samples and counting microbes. That's why a good investigation shouldn't just ask:
"Is there mold in this air sample?" It should also be trying to answer:
"Why is this building damp, where is the problem coming from, and what needs to be corrected?" That's an important difference.
You Have to Look at Both Sides
This is where functional health and environmental investigation can complement one another.
A healthcare provider's job is to evaluate the person.
A qualified mold or indoor-environment professional evaluates the building.
Those are two different jobs.
If someone's environment truly is contributing to a health problem, focusing only on supplements, diet or other health interventions without addressing the environment may leave an important factor untouched.
Likewise, finding mold in a house doesn't automatically prove that mold is responsible for every symptom someone is experiencing.
Both sides need to be evaluated appropriately.
Our Take
If you've been dealing with health problems that don't seem to make sense, don't automatically assume the answer is another supplement or another diet.
Sometimes you need to widen the lens.
Ask:
Could something in my environment be contributing to how I feel?
Your home is where you spend thousands of hours every year.
It's reasonable to make the health of that environment part of the conversation.
Want to Learn More About Mold in Your Home?
I recently sat down with Jason Richards of PureHealth Mold Inspections on the Health Hacks podcast. We talked about both sides of the mold problem: what mold exposure may do in the body and how professionals investigate moisture and mold problems in a building.
PureHealth Mold Inspections offers health-focused mold inspection services nationwide.
Learn more about PureHealth Mold Inspections
And listen to the full Health Hacks episode:Could Mold Be Making You Sick? How to Find It, Fix It & Recover
Frequently Asked Questions About Mold and Health
Can mold in your home make you sick?
Yes, mold and damp indoor environments can affect health. Research has linked damp buildings with respiratory symptoms, allergies, asthma and other respiratory problems. Mold can also irritate the eyes, nose, throat, skin and lungs. However, people respond differently to mold exposure, and mold should not automatically be blamed for every unexplained symptom.
What are common symptoms associated with mold exposure?
Mold exposure can be associated with symptoms such as a stuffy or runny nose, coughing, wheezing, irritated eyes and skin irritation. People with asthma or mold allergies may experience stronger reactions. Some other symptoms commonly attributed to mold online have less-established scientific evidence, so persistent or unexplained symptoms should be properly evaluated rather than assumed to be caused by mold.
Can you have mold in your home without seeing it?
Yes. Moisture problems and mold can occur in hidden areas, including behind walls, above ceilings, around plumbing and within building materials. A musty odor, past water damage, leaks or persistent moisture may be clues that further investigation is warranted even when you can't see obvious mold.
Should I test my home for mold?
Not necessarily. The CDC does not recommend routine mold testing, and there are no health-based standards defining an acceptable amount of every type of mold in indoor air. Finding and correcting moisture problems is often more useful than simply determining which molds are present. If you suspect a hidden moisture or mold problem, a thorough building inspection may provide more useful information than relying on a simple air test alone.
What should I do if mold is found in my home?
The most important step is to address the source of moisture that allowed the mold to grow. The EPA emphasizes that moisture control is the key to mold control. Depending on the size and cause of the problem, professional evaluation or remediation may be appropriate. If you're also experiencing health concerns, discuss those separately with an appropriate healthcare provider.
If you would like to speak with our Functional Health Team at Thrive Chiropractic and Functional Health, please click below to schedule a free consultation
This is not meant to give medical advise, diagnose or treat any conditions. Please consult your healthcare provider for questions about your own health.
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