Have you and your family been living in a home with mold, but only you seem to be sick? Have you visited doctor after doctor, only to be told they can’t explain your symptoms of fatigue, brain fog and memory issues, respiratory issues, muscle aches, intestinal issues, and so much more? The issue may be the fact that you have a specific antigen, the HLA-DR gene, in your body that is keeping you from eliminating the mycotoxins from the mold, and increasing your risk of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, or mold toxicity. The good news is, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, or HBOT, can help eliminate those toxins in your body and help you regain quality of life!!
The Gene That Increases Your Mold Toxicity Risk
When people are exposed to mold in their environment, they may experience allergic reactions and respiratory symptoms. When mycotoxins, the toxins certain mold species release, are absorbed through the skin, inhaled, or swallowed, they trigger inflammation and oxidative stress that can cause symptoms. A normal immune system recognizes the mycotoxins as a foreign invader and produces antibodies that fight to excrete them, with symptoms typically subsiding after a short time period. Unfortunately, not all people are able to do that, and, in a sense, their body works against them.
It is believed that around 25 percent of Americans carry the HLA-DR, human leukocyte antigen, gene. When this gene is present, the body is unable to recognize the toxin as an invader and does not produce the antibodies necessary to fight and eliminate them. The mycotoxins thrive and continue to cause symptoms, leading to a systemic inflammatory response by the body and the diagnosis of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), also often referred to as mold sickness or toxicity.
Unfortunately, many people never receive this diagnosis because the symptoms associated with CIRS can mimic other conditions, such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, post-treatment Lyme syndrome, and even multiple sclerosis. They go through treatments that don’t work and then left to wonder what is wrong. In many of these cases, the answer is MOLD!
The good news is HBOT can help with mold toxicity and CIRS. It works where your body doesn’t, aiding in the fight against the mycotoxins invading your body. If you would like more information, contact our office today to set up an initial consultation with Dr. Spiegel and learn how HBOT can help treat the symptoms that other treatments don’t seem to help!! For more information about mold and HBOT, visit HERE.
Testing is Available for the HLA-DR Gene
A genetic test can determine if you have the HLA-DR gene and have a higher risk of mold toxicity. Many physicians specializing in mold toxicity recommend testing if you experience any of the possible symptoms, even if you have been diagnosed with another chronic medical condition. The root cause of your condition could really be MOLD!
So How Does HBOT Help?
In many cases, eliminating mold from the body can be a challenge, especially with people carrying the HLA-DR gene. However, in 2014 Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine Robert Cramer, Ph.D. discovered that saturating the body with high levels of oxygen through hyperbaric therapy stopped the mold from growing and spreading.
In addition, the high levels of oxygen in the body promotes a strong immune system response. This helps the body metabolize and fight off the mold infection, eventually ridding the body of the mycotoxins. In addition, HBOT reduces inflammation common with CIRS by increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokines and accelerating fibroblast activation. This reduces the inflammation causing the symptoms and allows the body to heal. In cases where the infection is in the brain, patients see a return of normal cognitive function and improved sleeping patterns. After HBOT treatments, patients see a return to normal energy levels. In addition, respiratory symptoms disappear and unexplained nerve or muscle pain resolves. HBOT puts a halt to the thriving mycotoxins that have wreaked havoc in your body. You can get your life back!
Dr. Spiegel and his team at the National Hyperbaric Treatment Center have had great success treating mold toxicity and CIRS. For more information on how you can rid your body of these dangerous mycotoxins, give our office a call. We can help your body get back in control and help you get your life back! You can also click HERE to request more information.