Mycotoxins are the natural toxins that are produced by a number of strains of molds and fungi. These include black mold and other types of mold that can be found growing around the home. In fact, mycotoxins can even be an issue in your food and drinks, and this can lead to a number of potential health issues. Mycotoxins have been regularly isolated from building materials and air samples in homes and commercial properties. They can cause a huge host of different health issues including headaches, fatigue, irritation of the eyes, joint pain, tiredness, coughing, and more. Too many of us experience poor sleep, or wake in the morning only to find that we still feel lethargic. Maybe you have a constant headache, brain fog, or a dry throat. While you might suspect the cause is your fitness or your diet, it could in fact be the very air you’re breathing: it might be that mycotoxins are causing a host of health issues and preventing you from feeling or functioning your very best.

What to Do

If you suspect your health might be affected by mycotoxins in your home, the next step is to confirm this suspicion. This begins with identifying the sources of mold. If your home smells damp, and if you find mold spreads quickly to other areas, there may well be additional mold accumulating where you can’t see it: such as in your floorboards. Calling a mold inspection company can help to identify not only the existence of mold, but also the exact strain and the best strategy for removing it.

Prevention

Meanwhile, there are steps you can take to minimize mold and prevent mycotoxins from becoming an issue in your home. The first thing to realize is that the more you use your heating the less likely you are to get mold. If you use it well and use it smartly, it will actually save you money in the long run. For instance, to get the most of your heating it is important to start using it as early as possible in the year – before you necessarily start to really feel the cold. While this might mean using more heating to begin with, it also will save you money later on as it means your walls never become cold. Once your walls become cold they start to attract moisture which further saps heat and you will find it's very hard to heat them up again. What this then means is that your walls are actually stealing heat from your property and meaning you need to use more energy throughout winter. If you use your heating early then you can avoid the heating ever getting to this point and that will help you to avoid getting cold walls, which lead to wet walls, which lead to mold. This same principle applies to the hard stone floor underneath your carpets, and in your floorboards where mold can live. Other tips to help keep your home mold-free are to make sure that you let air circulate around your home – so open the windows in the morning and limit air pockets such as spaces behind wardrobes. Fresh air does wonders for health, whether or not you experience mycotoxins. Meanwhile avoid having standing water – particularly hot. Things like running the cold first when you have a bath can make a big difference over time. Take these steps, use mold remediation, and see if this improves your health and energy levels.