Did you know, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) all types of mold have the potential to cause ill health?

Most of us recognize mold in an old shower or around an old window bay, but many don’t realize mold loves to hide and even become dormant for decades, only to awaken once a welcoming environment exists. In this case, you will likely get sick. The severity of your sickness, though, depends on your level of health, your age, and current allergies.

How many other toxic exposures are around you? Do you have amalgam fillings in your mouth? The greater toxicity to which a person has been exposed may intensify the havoc mold can wreak on the body.

Visual mold can be removed. However, it grows into vents and air ducts where it can cause serious damage to children and pets. Even if an air test comes back clean with a dust sample, it is important to find someone who will answer your questions, find the area of origin, and identify where this enemy is coming from. Unbeknownst to most people, where there are a humidity issue and lack of proper insulation inside the home, mold can be pumped through your home on a daily basis.

Mold doesn’t just come from water leaks. It is a fungus that can be found inside and outside of the home. In humid climates, there is moisture in the air that can cause mold. Even with the air conditioner fully functioning, the humidity evaporates into the air. Eventually, moisture comes off the windows and moves into the drywall. Be sure to soak up and remove the moisture.

Live in a dry climate? It might surprise you to know that you are not in the clear. The desert is a host of stubborn mold.

How do you know if there is mold in your home?

If you pay attention to the way you feel when you are home and you feel better away from your home, chances are you’re being exposed to mold and the problem mold creates in your life goes deeper than just living in a stinky environment.

Some mold exposure symptoms include (keep in mind they don’t stay the same from day to day):

• Muscle and joint pain
• Headaches, anxiety, depression, memory loss, and visual disturbances
• Immune system disturbances and fatigue
• GI problems
• Weight gain
• Morning stiffness
• Shortness of breath

Be sure to hire someone who will test each room for air quality. Fact of the matter is: just because it’s clean doesn’t mean there isn’t mold. Home kit air quality tests are not always accurate.

Make sure it’s a licensed remediator. Many general contractors have the ability to inspect the home themselves, but they typically lack the skill set to find the cause. Look out for these certifications:

• IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification)
• ACAC (American Council for Accredited Certification)—a certifying body that is a third party accredited.
• The IAQA (Indoor Air Quality Association)—a membership organization with no certification program (the ACAC handles this by agreement)
• RIA (Restoration Industry Association)
• NORMI (National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors)

Don’t make the mistake of hiring someone who will only make matters worse by becoming chemically sensitive to the chemicals they use to remove the mold.

Use anti-microbial!! Don’t use bleach. It causes more health issues!

It’s no wonder why people don’t feel well after being exposed to mold. Mold will put you in a weight loss resistance mode if you don’t get rid of it properly.

You must get rid of it! There is no shortage of toxins we consume or breathe every day. Don’t allow mold to be the tipping point of your health. Your liver will thank you in the future. Remember, you cannot heal the damage that has been caused simply by removing yourself from the exposure. Exposure to mold can become an immune system response.

Just like removing mold properly in your home, you will need to remove it properly from your body. Please don’t think running the air conditioner or fan will resolve the problem. There is no air purifying system that is powerful enough to get the job done. Find the Cause. Remove the cause.

Please find a local specialist on survivingmold.com for a practitioner near you.

Not all mold is created equal, and as the EPA has stated, it can kill you. It can be the reason why you suffer from a misdiagnosed chronic sinus infection that requires medications to hide the actual cause.

Find the cause! Avoid the downward spiraling health crisis that affects thousands of people.

If you would like more information about how to recognize a mold reaction and how to read your own body’s “silent alarm system,” Dr. Rapp is a mold expert and author of several books, including Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call.

Ritchie Shoemaker, M. D., is a recognized leader in patient care, research, and education pioneer in the field of biotoxin-related illness. You can find more info on: Survivingmold.com.