When it comes to root causes underpinning many chronic conditions, mold is often one that is missed.

Mold in the home is sometimes known as the silent killer of health due to its insidious nature and inability to be seen by the naked eye.

Symptoms can be debilitating, although can improve once one is away from the toxic environment.

Learning more about it is the first step in understanding whether it is worth considering in your journey back to health.

What is it?

Mold is a ubiquitous type of fungus that is present in most houses to varying degrees. It can produce mycotoxins, and this can become problematic when their presence exceeds normal levels.

Who it affects?

Mold can affect a sizeable cross section of the community in various ways. Genetic predispositions can make people more prone to experiencing its negative effects.

It is estimated that approximately 25% of the population are unable to mount a necessary response to mold and clear it when encountering it in their environment. This eventually can lead to it accumulating in the body and causing systemic inflammation and ultimately immune dysregulation.

What it can cause

Mycotoxins can impact people in acute ways, leading to allergies, toxicity and occasionally colonisation. Chronic fatigue, brain fog, weakened immunity, chronic pain, weight changes and respiratory infections are common symptoms associated with mold exposure.

Chronic sinus infections including fungal sinusitis and MARCoNS (Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Coagulase Negative Staphylococci) can take hold and cause a whole host of symptoms which usually are undiagnosed.’

What you can do

Recovering from chronic illness contributed to by mold exposure is extremely difficult if one is constantly exposed to the toxin.

As mold cannot always be seen or smelt, consider having your home professionally assessed by a building biologist to see if your environment is contributing to your symptoms.

Otherwise, take a few weeks away from your home and see if your symptoms improve.

Investing in a good quality air purifier is another mitigation strategy, albeit not a true fix.

You can find other ME/CFS related blogs here.