What’s the Connection Between Mold Illness and MCAS? Chronic mold exposure can lead to ongoing inflammation and a faulty immune response

If you are experiencing symptoms of mold toxicity, it’s critical that you look for signs of mold in your home. Even if you don’t have any symptoms of mold illness, I recommend checking your home regularly for mold, and water-damaged areas to prevent future health issues.

• General musty smell in your home
• Rotten or musty odor coming from the floor or the walls
• Black, grey, pink spots in your bathroom between the tiles, in the toilet or shower or on the wall
• Spots, spores, fuzz, or other signs on your furniture, under your rugs or carpeting, or on your clothes
• Bubbling paint
• Discoloration on ceiling
• Peeling or warped wallpaper
• Spotted walls
• Black spots on your AC
• Musty smell coming from your AC
• Past or present water leakage issues or water damage (e.g., flooded sink or toilet, leaky water tank, moisture in your water heater closet, or flooding in the basement)

You can buy some home testing kits online to test for mold, but you might want to consider working with a mold remediation specialist to check your home for mold.

While living in a mold-free home would be ideal, it is very difficult to rid your environment completely of all mold and mycotoxins. Mold issues can pop up from leakage, water damage issues, and other moisture problems. I recommend working with a professional mold remediation specialist to help find, identify, and professionally remove mold from your home. What’s even more important is to reduce the risk of mold exposure and mold-related issues.

Addressing any underlying issues that may drive mold can seriously reduce mold growth and mold exposure.

• Check for mold issues regularly and use cleaning products designed for mold.
• Remove old carpeting, rugs, wallpaper, or paint that has had water damage
• Clean or dispose of any moldy items, including shower curtains or clothing.
• Fix moisture leaks and water damage issues.
• Make sure to wipe down the tiles after showering or taking a bath.
• Keep indoor humidity ideally between 30 and 50 percent.
• Use a high-quality indoor air filtration system.
• Make sure your home is well-ventilated.
• Try to hang your wet clothes outside instead of indoors or use your drier.
• Keep the detergent compartment of your washing machine open.
• Keep mold off your indoor plants, check them regularly for mold issues.
• Check your food for mold and avoid eating moldy food.
• Clean and repair the roof gutters of your home.
• Direct any rain or melted snow or ice away from your house.
• Check for signs of mold growth regularly and address any mold immediately.
• If uncertain, use a mold home test kit or call a specialist for a mold check.

Unfortunately, mold exposure at work is common, but it’s the most difficult to control. You can be unknowingly exposed to mold at work. You should be on the lookout for mold and consider finding solutions to deal with it.

If possible, use a small high-quality air filtration system at your office or workspace. If there are ongoing mold issues or you are experiencing increased mold-related symptoms at work, you may need to consider looking for a new job or a new office to work out of.

If you have been exposed to mold or are experiencing symptoms of mold toxicity or MCAS, it is important to get tested for mold illness. I recommend working with an integrative medicine practitioner who is well-versed in both mold and mast cell activation syndrome.

Detoxify your body from mold and other toxins. Support hydration and detoxification through sweating and urine by drinking enough water throughout the day, at least 10 glasses. For those that can tolerate it, even a low level of exercise can help support the detoxification process, but if you have symptoms of post-exertional malaise, it is best to consult your medical provider about what is right for you. Some patients find infrared sauna helpful in encouraging detoxification through sweating but for those who are heat intolerant, it can be a trigger for MCAS, so I would recommend avoiding it.

There are some supplements that we use to support mold detox, including glutathione, which also supports your mitochondrial health and recovery from mold exposure. The use of toxin binders can support the elimination of toxins. Other supplements can support the liver for detoxification and help you deal with fungal and yeast overgrowth.

I recommend following the “Dempsey Diet.” This is an anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense food plan. Remove inflammatory foods, including refined sugar, refined oils, additives, artificial ingredients, and highly processed foods. When possible, follow a nutrient-dense diet focusing on good quality, grass-fed or pastured meat and poultry, and low-carbohydrate vegetables and greens. Choose organic options whenever available.

In general, avoiding sugar and limiting fruit and starchy carbohydrates is helpful for MCAS and other chronic conditions I treat. Some patients find that lowering the intake of histamine in the diet is helpful. However, it doesn’t work for everyone and, in some cases, can make things worse. To further support your gut and microbiome health, I would consider taking a high-quality probiotic supplement.

These are general dietary recommendations. Depending on your personal health issues, allergies, sensitivities, and preferences, you may need some modifications. My best recommendation is to an integrative medicine practitioner for personalized recommendations.

Mold is not the only trigger of mast cell activation. Other common triggers include allergens, toxins, chemicals, heavy metals, viruses, bacteria, parasites, and stress. Moreover, when we talk about mold as a potential mast cell trigger, we are not only talking about mold in our environment but also internal mold and fungal infections, such as Candida overgrowth. These internal fungi can also cause mycotoxin release and mycotoxin illness. Treating the underlying infection or fungal overgrowth can reduce your exposure to these mast cell triggers and may help to reduce your chronic symptoms.

Avoid chemicals, heavy metals, and other environmental toxins. Instead of using chemical-filled conventional cleaning, hygiene, body, and beauty products, choose organic, natural, and homemade alternatives. Reduce the use of plastics, especially BPA. There are great alternatives for plastic made from glass, wood, bamboo, organic cotton, and other natural materials based on your needs.

Use a high-quality indoor air-filtration system for better indoor air quality. Drink purified, filtered water to avoid toxins from city tap water or well water. Choose organic food whenever possible. Reduce stress.