Lyme and mold manifest the same way symptomatically, and at least 50% of people who have been diagnosed with lyme have mold, and in some studies, it’s actually higher.
Studies show that more than 50% of homes and more than 85% of commercial buildings in the US have water damage and mold.
“When the body is exposed to mold mycotoxins during a Lyme infection, the system can weaken and suffer significantly. Until recently, the Lyme medical community has not recognized the connection between mold toxicity and Lyme disease.
There are often multiple toxicities linked with Lyme disease. Even mercury can interact with Lyme recovery. However, one of the most common co-conditions for Lyme sufferers is mold toxicity. Here, we’ll look at what mold toxicity is, what the symptoms are, and what you can do to overcome your condition. The quicker you recovery from mold toxicity, the faster you can start to heal from Lyme.” Dr. Jay Davidson
While the symptoms of Lyme and mold are often the same, the blood labs are the same, and the type of inflammation are the same, there are differences.
While the brain is damaged from the inflammation of both mold and Lyme, the injury pattern was different between the two.
Common Genetic Defects in Patients with Mold Illness
These defects are seen within the methylation detox pathways (MTHFR), and the Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLAs).
The MTHR is a gene that instructs the human body on how to convert folic acid from the foods we eat to a usable form of Vitamin B called methyl-folate. Methyl-folate is involved in the proper function of almost every system in the human body including: cell repair, making neurotransmitters (that control sleep, moods, memory), metabolizing fats, activating the immune system and clearing the body of toxins and heavy metals.
Patients who have methylation defects will have more difficulty healing from infections and clearing toxins like mold and heavy metal.
The HLAs (Human Leukocyte Antigens) are antigens that are found on the surface of nearly every human cell in the body. These antigens help the immune system identify foreign invaders. If there is a defect on the HLA gene a person will have difficulty clearing toxins and infections.
Approximately 24% of the normal population carry an HLA defect, making them more susceptible to mold illness.
Mold is the number one cause of uncontrolled inflammation involving the innate immune system. Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) happens when repeated exposure to toxins causes the immune system to go haywire. CIRS can be triggered by the combination of mycotoxins, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other inflammatory toxins found in water-damaged environments.
On top of that, about 25% of Americans also carry a gene called HLA-DR that makes it more difficult for them to excrete mycotoxins, toxic metabolites produced by a variety of different molds.
Mycotoxins can be absorbed by the skin, airways, and intestinal lining, and once inside the body they trigger inflammation and oxidative stress. This can lead to respiratory conditions, infections, and in some cases of prolonged exposure, upper and lower respiratory disease, chronic fatigue, and even cancer.
Mold Inflammation Causes Damage in the Following:
- Disrupted melatonin (sleep disturbances)
- Gut inflammation (food sensitivities, irritable bowel, immune deregulation)
- Compromised Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis (severe fatigue)
- Disrupted Vitamin D metabolism (increased viral activity)
- Low testosterone (fatigue, low libido)
- Caudate atrophy (diminished motivation)
- Swelling and enlargement of the forebrain and cortical gray matter
- Predisposing factors for mold illness
- Genetic predisposition
- History of exposure to mold or water-damaged buildings
- A weakened immune system due to viral, parasitic and/or bacterial co-infections
- Autoimmune illness
Learn more about Mold and Lyme Treatments by watching part one of the webinar below!