The Impact of Mycotoxins on POTS: Understanding Mold Exposure
- Kayla Jane
- Jan 13, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 5, 2024
The Ultimate Guide to the Effects of Mold that Every POTS Patient Needs to Know
This post is designed explain mycotoxins, which can be a contributor to common POTS symptoms. Knowledge of mycotoxins can help to understand how exposure to mold can be a contributor to neurological symptoms that many POTS patients experience. Addressing mold issues can help some patients get to the root of POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) symptoms.
Mycotoxin symptoms
Mycotoxins are common in everyday life. Mold usually goes unnoticed until the development of a wide array of symptoms are experienced. It can get complicated in receiving a diagnosis because mold tests are not standard in the medical community. Accumulation of mold in the body can be toxic and can cause a variety of symptoms. Finding the root of the problem can be challenging once you develop a list of diagnoses.
Mold can have a huge effect on our lives that no one warns us about, and it is important to be aware of potential mycotoxin exposure when our health goes haywire.
The Effects Mold Plays in Disrupting Overall Health
Mold disrupts our immune system and the status of our overall health. Mold can play a role in the development of POTS, and prolonged exposure to it can cause the symptoms to multiply and even increase in severity. Here we will explore how mold exposure can cause havoc in our body, developing histamine intolerance and interfering with gut health.
Mold: What are Mycotoxins?
Exposure to mycotoxins can disrupt immune system, causing a variety of symptoms that can easily be mistaken for common allergies, depending on the severity. A mycotoxin is a toxin produced by a fungus. Mycotoxins are present despite visibility. They can be found in common foods, commercial buildings, and even in the air. Mycotoxins are very common in basements. The simple implementation of reducing exposure can ease the immune system, allowing the body to begin repair.
Mycotoxins are relatively new to the medical community, so if it is a concern that you feel needs to be addressed, it is important to do your homework in finding a doctor that is literate in mycotoxins. Some doctors can downplay the impact of exposure but a simple break down of the word, speaks volumes on the potential severity. Understanding the root of the problems, let's break down its root words: Myco: fungus
Toxin: naturally produced poison
"'Blame it all on my roots.'" Sincerely, Chronic Illness
In all seriousness though, if mold is underlying issue, you will spend years and thousands of dollars trying to heal with little improvement. To adjust to life after POTS diagnosis, my first recommendation is to get tested for mold. RealTime Laboratories offers a mycotoxin urine test that can be ordered by mainly functional medicine doctors and allergists.
Mold should be addressed first and foremost, and this guide will touch on scientific explanations as to how the body is affected by it.
How Can Mold be Related to Histamine Intolerance?
Histamine intolerance can be a body's reaction to mold exposure. Once exposed to mold, the body responds with inflammation. Inflammation is the body's means by which it tries to protect itself from the mycotoxins. The body releases mast cells to protect itself from the mycotoxins released by the mold. The mast cells can over produce histamines. Excess histamine responses can cause the body to develop new allergic reactions and food sensitivities.
Overtime, your body becomes histamine intolerant. If the body struggles to get rid of excess histamine, it can build up. Another factor to take into consideration is if the body does not have enough DAO enzyme to break down the histamines [3]. Histamine intolerance can evolve into Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, which is chronic repeated severe allergy symptoms.
If patient is not informed early on, the body's response can turn into a vicious cycle.
Mold Exposure → Mycotoxins → Chronic Inflammation → Histamine Intolerance → MCAS
To combat excess histamine in the body (potentially from mold exposure), it is suggested to eat foods with low histamine.
How Does Mold Affect Gut Health?
Mold has an overall negative effect on our gut health. Our gut health has an impact on our nervous system, and vice versa. Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth (SIBO) is related to chronic health issues, autoimmune disorders, and fibromyalgia. SIBO is present in 69% of POTS patients [1]. If that isn't alarming enough, gut issues can fuel histamine intolerance. Chronic immune system stressors can cause increase of norepinephrine from the sympathetic nervous system [2]. Remaining in the fight-or-flight mode for prolonged periods of time can stress your nervous system, leading to an imbalance in gut bacteria.
The correlation between these diagnoses is far more than coincidence. As a POTS patient myself, I began by treating the symptoms. Instead of getting to the root of the problem, I ended up on several prescription meds with side effects that mirrored the symptoms that brought me to the doctor in the first place.
Speaking in hindsight, please take my word for it. If you have been experiencing these problems test your home for mold. Remove yourself from mold exposure because it is impossible to make improvement while being exposed.
Then find a doctor willing to test for mycotoxins. If results test positive, start on the process of detoxing while putting focus on your gut health. Focus on an anti-inflammatory diet, test for food allergies, focus on low-histamine foods that correlate with the Paleo diet.
To sum it all up, mycotoxins emitted from mold is the underlying reason behind several medical diagnoses affiliated with POTS. Please feel free to comment below if there are any questions, or you want to share your experience on the topic to benefit others struggling with POTS.
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