Mold as a Root Cause

Mold is often called the “Great Mimicker” because the symptoms it causes can look nearly identical to those of other chronic conditions—such as fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, chronic fatigue, IBS, or anxiety. This overlap leads to frequent misdiagnoses and delayed treatment. Mold toxicity often goes unnoticed because it hides in places like walls, floors, HVAC systems, and everyday items—silently driving inflammation, damaging the immune system, and disrupting the body’s ability to detoxify. As a functional medicine practitioner, mold-related illness is one of the most overlooked root causes behind persistent, unexplained symptoms—especially in individuals who have lived in water-damaged buildings or “sick homes.”

How common is mold exposure?

    • Over 70% of homes contain some level of mold.

    • 46% of homes have active water damage—the perfect environment for mold growth.

    • A 2017 study of public buildings found 100% contained mold.

    • There are over 100,000 species of mold, and at least 80 produce toxic mycotoxins.
    • Mold exposure is linked to over $3.7 billion in annual medical costs.
Symptoms of Mold Toxicity:

Mold symptoms can look like anything. This is why it’s often misdiagnosed. It can mimic autoimmune diseases, psychiatric disorders, gut conditions, and more. Common mold-related symptoms include:

    • Urinary urgency, chronic UTIs

    • Chronic fatigue and weakness

    • Brain fog, memory issues, word-finding difficulty

    • Headaches and light sensitivity

    • Morning stiffness, joint pain, skin rashes

    • Shortness of breath, chronic cough, “air hunger”

    • Post-nasal drip, sinus issues, vertigo, dizziness

    • IBS symptoms

    • Histamine intolerance, MCAS

    • Mood swings, anxiety, depression

    • Autoimmune alopecia

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