Pro-Active Health: Is Mold Causing Inflammation?

Aspergillus (mold) for Microbiology in Lab

Chronic inflammation is linked to a myriad of health problems, including fatigue, joint pain, Alzheimer's Disease, and cancer. Prolonged inflammation is something anyone should avoid at all costs if they want to live a long, vibrant, and healthy life.

Florida is a great place to live well: the outdoor lifestyle, Vitamin D, and overall quality make this a sought-after destination for many people. However, with the coastal moisture comes a significant downfall: mold.

Mold is prevalent in Florida and causes inflammation. Keep reading for a deeper understanding of whether or not mold is causing inflammation.

What is Inflammation?

Inflammation is a natural response to fighting infections. When bacteria, viruses, or toxins enter the body, your immune system fires off inflammatory cells. They trap the invading pathogen and start a healing process. During this process, you might feel pain or see redness or swelling. Inflammation is a functional agent of immunity and healing. When it takes place for a short period of times, it’s called acute inflammation.

Unfortunately, there are cases where inflammatory cells continue to be sent through the body when there are no invading agents that need elimination. This response is known as chronic inflammation.

Symptoms of chronic inflammation include:

Fatigue
Weight gain or loss
Problems with your digestive system
Mental health issues
Infections

Prolonged inflammation wreaks havoc on an otherwise healthy body, leading to these possible symptoms and the development of other health issues.

How Does Mold Cause Inflammation?

Inflammatory molecules, called Cytokines, are highly reactive to a chemical found in mold spores. Once an individual has inhaled mold spores, there is a higher likelihood of increased Cytokine production.

The degree to which mold exposure will increase an individual’s Cytokine production depends heavily on the individual. Genetics, overall health, and previous toxin exposure all contribute to how severely someone is affected by mold exposure. If mold Mycotoxins trigger Cytokine production, a condition called Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) often develops, leading to a myriad of health issues.

How to Avoid Mold Exposure

Florida’s climate is an ideal breeding ground for toxic mold in houses, workplaces, schools, and even cars. Mold exposure is inevitable, but there are ways to keep your immediate surroundings free of toxic mold.

Keep your home’s temperature at 70 degrees or lower.
Install a dehumidifier.
Use exhaust fans in your bathroom.
Regularly wipe down drains.
Circulate the air in your home.
Dry wet surfaces after use (i.e. shower or sink)

If you believe you’re suffering from mold-induced inflammation, it’s essential to schedule a home inspection to see whether or not you have mold in your home. You can treat mold-induced inflammation with Functional Medicine, but your environment is vital in maintaining the benefits gained from proper treatment.

Traditional Treatments For Inflammation

While pharmaceuticals have their place in treating inflammation, the conventional medical system isn’t equipped to examine the root cause of the problem. Without holistically understanding the patient, medicines can affect the body in ways that are worse than inflammation.

Medications treat the symptom, not the cause. They leave the patient in a cycle of eternal inflammatory discomfort and are dependent on prescriptions. Not surprisingly, visiting a traditional medical office to treat inflammation will likely result in a visit to the pharmacy afterward.

Common medicines prescribed for inflammation include:

NSAIDs, such as Aspirin or Ibuprofen are available without a prescription
Steroids such as Prednisone or Cortizone
Antimalarial drugs such as Hydroxychloroquine
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs such as sulfasalazine, azathioprine, and leflunomide

Depending on the severity of the inflammation, surgery might be necessary. Treating inflammation at the root cause with the help of Functional Medicine can help decrease the chances of needing surgery.

Functional Medicine: A Different Approach To Inflammation

Working with a Functional Medicine practitioner means receiving health care tailored to your unique physiology. Functional Medicine aims to treat the cause of any illness, including inflammation caused by mold. That means that you’re more likely to eliminate the illness instead of staying trapped in a cycle of medications and their side effects.

It also means you’re more likely to experience vitality and energy; when Functional Medicine is practiced properly, you’ll notice an overall balance that has likely been missing for a while.

Treating Inflammation With Functional Medicine

Here’s what to expect when working with a Functional Medicine practitioner to treat inflammation:

In-depth, cutting-edge medical testing so that you and your doctor can create a sound strategy to eliminate inflammation.
Higher cognitive functioning as you detox and reset your body.
Feeling empowered to know what foods to eat and eliminate to help flush harmful inflammation-related toxins from your body.
An overall experience of balance from advanced hormone therapies.
A heightened sense of wellness and ability knowing what steps and tools you have at your disposal to address inflammation-related illnesses.

It’s true that your Functional Medicine doctor might recommend medications, but they go beyond prescriptions to ensure your vitality is restored and inflammation is no longer holding you back.

Functional Medicine Doctors In Boca Raton

Here at Doctors Studio, we stay true to the founding values of Functional Medicine while utilizing cutting-edge technology to help our patients become their healthiest selves.

When you work with Doctors Studio, you’ll start with a phone consultation so we build an understanding about you and your health situation. From there, we’ll fully evaluate your state of health: mind,and body. It’s a deep dive and a much different experience than anything at a traditional health facility.

From there, your first steps will be determined and you’ll be on your way to treating inflammation caused by mold exposure (or by anything else). We believe you deserve to be healthy and vital, and we will work closely with you to ensure you achieve your health goals.

If you’re ready to say goodbye to mold-related inflammation or any illness for good, schedule a call today.