How do I know if I have mold exposure?

Mold-related illness can mimic many conditions. Common signs are stuffy nose, cough, sinus pressure, itchy eyes, rashes, fatigue, and brain fog that ease when you leave a damp, musty place. To check, fix leaks, reduce moisture, and use functional testing, such as urine mycotoxin tests for you and dust or air tests at home.

Common body clues to notice

Mold can affect people in different ways. Your immune system, stress burden, and gut health all play a role. Look for simple patterns like these:

  • Nose and lungs, congestion, runny nose, cough, wheeze, post-nasal drip.
  • Head and skin, headaches, itchy eyes, rashes, hives, flushing.
  • Whole-body, fatigue, brain fog, light sensitivity, poor sleep, joint pain, feeling worse in damp rooms.
  • Location effect, symptoms calm down when you travel or sleep away from a musty space.

As a functional medicine practitioner, I see these symptoms in clusters in most patients with mold toxicity. For example, fatigue plus sinus pressure and brain fog that improve on vacation. That points us to your home or workplace as a key suspect.

Check your spaces first

If your body is sending signals, scan your environment. At Dr. Kenny’s clinic we use a simple detective checklist:

  • Odor, earthy or musty smells in bathrooms, closets, basements, or near HVAC.
  • Water history, roof or pipe leaks, flooding, window condensation, stains, bubbling paint.
  • Humidity, keep indoor humidity under 60 percent, a cheap hygrometer helps.
  • Airflow and dust, dirty vents, clogged filters, wet crawlspace or attic.

Quick wins: fix leaks, dry wet areas within 24 to 48 hours, run a dehumidifier, improve airflow, and change HVAC filters on schedule. If problems persist, consider a qualified indoor professional who understands moisture and building science that can help identify and correct common construction pitfalls.

Smart testing for you and for your home

Test, do not guess. We follow an order of operations so you get clear answers without wasted time or money.

For you

  • Urine mycotoxin testing, can show exposure to a variety of mold toxins. Results need context from your story and environment. They aren’t perfect, but they can be a great place to start. 
  • Allergy testing, blood IgE to common molds and total IgE can reveal allergic patterns.
  • Basic labs, CBC, CRP, liver and kidney panels help guide safe care, though these are generally non-specific to mold.
  • Targeted, integrative follow-ups when needed, for example an ENT visit for chronic sinus issues, or gut and nutrient testing if digestion is involved.

For your home

  • Dust-based tests, settled dust can be analyzed for mold species and toxins.
  • Air or surface sampling, useful when guided by a pro after clear moisture findings.
  • Moisture mapping, using a moisture meter and thermal imaging to find hidden leaks.

Remember, reducing exposure beats over-testing. Cleaning up the building often improves symptoms faster than any pill.

When to seek help for sooner for mold exposure or toxicity

If you have asthma, immune concerns, shortness of breath, chest tightness, fever, or visible mold with worsening symptoms, contact your clinician right away and address the building immediately. This can be one of the most challenging health situations because temporary or permanent relocation can be a potential intervention.

Keep Learning

Think you might have mold exposure or toxicity concerns?

Book your FREE Health Clarity Call.

Answered by Dr. Kenny Mittelstadt, DACM, DC, IFMCP
Certified functional medicine practitioner specializing in advanced lab testing and personalized healing protocols to uncover root causes of health roadblocks.

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