Houston Seems To Have A Lot of Mold Sensitized Individuals
In Houston, we’re no strangers to humidity and storm damage. And we all know Texas’s lack of contractor licensing leads to shoddy workmanship. If you watch contractor videos from the East and West coasts, you’ll often see a big difference in quality of work and materials. Waterproofing and moisture control require expertise that’s often lacking, which can compound the effects of a “small” leak. (i.e. showers built with drywall?!)
Indoor mold issues are often undiscovered, improperly remediated, or even deliberately hidden. When these issues aren’t fixed promptly, they get much worse over time.
But for a number of individuals, the impact of indoor mold goes far beyond property damage, insurance issues, or a bad smell. For them, it can be a significant and often mysterious health issue. While some molds have well-documented health effects, many do not. However, some people may be “sensitized” to mold, and they may experience issues that others living in the same house do not.
Is Mold More Than an Allergen?
For many people, mold acts as an allergen, causing symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny nose. Some types of mold are more toxic than others, and some individuals appear to be far more sensitive. Some say that ongoing exposure to a water-damaged building can lead to a cascade of debilitating symptoms that don’t seem to add up.
This is a major theme in John C. Banta’s “Mold Controlled,” which primarily focuses on understanding, finding, fixing, and preventing problems associated with water damage (that’s part of the book name after all.) While I think it’s an excellent book for everyday people and mold professionals alike, it is also geared towards folks who are more sensitive to mold exposure. The author provides information on a condition that has gained attention among certain medical communities: Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS).
Introducing a Controversial but Important Concept: Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS)
Dr. Richie Shoemaker is often seen as the foremost expert on CIRS, but it’s explored further by many doctors such as Neil Nathan, MD, and Eric Dorninger, ND, LAc. CIRS is described as a multi-symptom, multi-system illness that can be triggered by exposure to biotoxins, including those produced by certain types of indoor mold.
According to this school of thought, certain individuals have a genetic predisposition that prevents their bodies from effectively eliminating these biotoxins. This can lead to a state of chronic inflammation, resulting in a wide array of symptoms, such as:
- Fatigue and weakness
- Brain fog, memory issues, and difficulty concentrating
- Aches, pains, and persistent nerve pain
- Headaches
- Sensitivity to light
- Digestive problems
- And many more.
It is crucial to understand that CIRS is a topic of ongoing discussion in the medical world. While it is taken very seriously by a dedicated group of physicians specializing in environmental and functional medicine, it is not yet widely recognized by the mainstream medical community. The internet is full of debates on the topic, but you should read these debates with caution. There are lots of folks claiming that “mold isn’t a problem” or “if you have any mold in your home, throw away everything and gut your house.” The truth is somewhere in between, and it depends on your specific situation.
Our Role: We Fix Homes, Not People (The Important Disclaimer)
At Citadel Restoration, we help return homes to normal again after water and mold damage. We are not doctors, and we cannot offer medical advice or diagnose any health condition. I’ve personally met people who have only been able to attribute their complex and often serious symptoms to the mold in their homes, which is why I wanted to bring awareness to CIRS. That said, I’ve heard many doctors say that we don’t have enough evidence to blame mold for these symptoms. I think we need more awareness of these issues and also more research.
Our mission is to educate homeowners on the right way to fix a water-damaged building to restore it to a normal, healthy condition. If you are experiencing health issues you believe are linked to mold in your environment, you should consider consulting with a qualified medical professional.
Given the complexity of the topic, you may need to seek out a physician who specializes in environmental or functional medicine and has experience with mold-related illnesses. At my last routine doctor’s visit, I asked my doctor about the risks of mold exposure. I asked my previous doctor the same question. Their answers were wildly different.
A Resource for Your Journey: Empowering Yourself with Knowledge
This is where a resource like the book “Mold Controlled” can be invaluable. It serves as a comprehensive guide for homeowners, helping you understand:
- The science behind mold growth and why it happens.
- The potential health connections being explored by experts.
- Practical steps for finding and preventing mold problems.
- Crucially, how to determine if a mold issue is something you can handle yourself or if you need to hire a qualified professional.
Understanding the process of proper remediation is key. It’s not about spraying bleach on a surface. True remediation involves identifying the moisture source, containing the work area to prevent cross-contamination, proper dust control, removing and/or remediating the affected materials, drying, etc. This book helps you understand what “doing it right” really looks like.
The Bottom Line: Don’t Ignore a Mold Problem
Regardless of where you stand on the medical debates, one thing is clear: significant indoor mold growth is a problem, and you should fix it correctly.
Whether or not mold is likely to cause complex, long term issues from indoor air exposure in homes, the solution starts at the source.
If you see or smell mold, have experienced a recent water leak, or are simply concerned about the long-term effects of Houston’s humidity on your home, don’t wait. Water damage gets worse with time, and it’s often impossible to see until it becomes a much larger issue.