Monthly Archives: July 2016

Biotoxin Illness and Mold Interaction

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Are You Experiencing Symptoms Caused By Mold Toxicity?

Are You Experiencing Symptoms Caused By Mold Toxicity?

The generic term “mold illness” has been used to cover a variety of different ailments caused by exposure to fungi. While some reactions are due to allergies, doctors have identified a specific condition known as biotoxin illness that goes much deeper than just sneezing and coughing.

How Your Body Fights Toxic Mold

Your body’s immune system is charged with protecting you from bacteria, viruses and other foreign cells, including mycotoxins found in mold and mold spores. For many people, their immune systems will identify these toxins and produce antibodies to target and neutralize them.

Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, a pioneer in the study and treatment of biotoxin illness, found that up to 25 percent of the population have immune systems that are genetically unable to produce this response. This condition has been named Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS).

Immune Systems “Gone Haywire”

People with CIRS have genetic markers that let their immune systems run unchecked. When invading cells (known as antigens) enter their system, antibodies are unable to clear them. As a result, their immune system continues to assault the antigens, causing a chronic state of inflammation.

If you have CIRS, mold exposure can cause multiple symptoms, ranging from fatigue, weakness and joint pain, to mood swings, vertigo and “brain fog.” There is no easy way to determine beforehand if you suffer from CIRS, so effective mold remediation is crucial for any occurrence.

Do You Suspect Mold in Your NYC or Northern NJ Home?

Don’t take chances with your family’s health. Contact Stern Mold today to schedule your free inspection and get more information about our proprietary MoldExterm mold remediation process.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Treatment, MoldExterm, News

Toxic Mold May Trigger Psychiatric Symptoms

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Depression Linked to Mold

Depression Linked to Mold

Experts regularly warn about toxic mold as a risk to your physical health, particularly the upper respiratory system. A noted mental health professional recently spoke about the lesser-known link between toxic mold and psychiatric symptoms.

Mold and Biotoxin Illness

Dr. Mary Ackerley of Tucson is an integrative psychiatrist who uses alternative treatments with patients who don’t respond to traditional methods. She is also certified in the Shoemaker Protocol for treating biotoxin illness and chronic inflammatory response.

While Dr. Ackerley was originally unaware of the dangers of mold, she had her first experience with a patient who presented with depression and brain fog along with stomach pains and chronic sinus infections. It turned out that remodeling of the woman’s home had uncovered extensive mold.

The Mold-Brain Connection

Cytokines are proteins that regulate the body’s immune response to foreign organisms. When cytokines are at elevated levels, such as during prolonged exposure to mycotoxins in mold, they can result in neuroinflammation, triggering these psychiatric symptoms.

Dr. Ackerley cited another case of a woman who began suffering from extreme depression and anxiety when her husband performed DIY mold remediation at their home. The doctor pointed out the irony of these patients being told depression is “all in their head” only to discover that there are clear physical causes.

Stern Mold: Effective Mold Remediation for NYC and Northern NJ

As in the cases of these patients, traditional mold remediation can actually aggravate toxic mold symptoms rather than relieve them. Contact us to learn more about our non-toxic, non-invasive MoldExterm process and schedule your free mold inspection by our experienced professional technicians.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Remediation, Mold Tips, Mold Treatment, MoldExterm, News

My House is Making Me Sick – The MoldExterm Makeover

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Have You Been Experiencing Upper Respiratory Symptoms?

Have You Been Experiencing Upper Respiratory Symptoms?

Have you or your family been experiencing unexplained sneezing, coughing or other symptoms of upper respiratory illness? Maybe your doctor has suggested mold as the underlying cause.

If you suspect that your house is making you sick, don’t wait to investigate. Prompt and effective mold remediation may be the answer to your chronic health problems.

Does My House Have Mold?

The short answer is: yes, it does. Mold and mold spores exist nearly everywhere. Problems arise when mold levels rise beyond your body’s ability to tolerate them.

Begin by scheduling a professional inspection. Mold is notorious for growing in hidden places, so you need someone with an experienced eye who knows where to look.

The MoldExterm Makeover

Once the presence of mold has been confirmed, the next step is mold remediation. Unfortunately, the traditional process of removing affected materials is expensive, messy and inconvenient.

Our revolutionary MoldExterm process solves the disadvantages of regular mold remediation. The system is cost-effective, requires no replacement of building materials and generally takes only one day to complete.

• Affected areas are first treated with an EPA-registered, multi-purpose antimicrobial solution that cleans, disinfects and deodorizes.

• Next, our proprietary polymer sealer is applied to all surfaces for an effective barrier against the reappearance of mold, even when covered by a coat of paint.

• Finally, we install a professional-grade dehumidifier to reduce moisture levels, which discourages mold growth.

Get the MoldExterm Makeover for your NYC or Northern NJ Home

Our friendly, experienced technicians at Stern Mold provide state-of-the-art mold remediation with a minimum of disruption to your household. Contact us today to schedule your free inspection.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Remediation, MoldExterm, News

Realtor.com – Mold’s Top Hiding Places

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You Can Be Meticulous About Housekeeping and Still Have Mold Thriving Inside Your Home.

You Can Be Meticulous About Housekeeping and Still Have Mold Thriving Inside Your Home.

Mold is one of the scariest words for any homeowner. You can be meticulous about housekeeping and still have mold thriving inside your home. Mold needs only three things to grow: Moisture, an organic food source like wood or paper, and the right temperature.

Mold can grow in temperatures as low as 32 degrees (Fahrenheit) and as high as 120 degrees. Temperatures below 32 degrees do not kill mold. It simply goes dormant until things warm up again. The optimal temperature for mold growth is between 70 degrees and 90 degrees.

Top hiding places for mold

As a reporter for NBC’s “Today” show found out when he asked a mold remediation expert to inspect his home, mold can lurk in an otherwise clean-looking kitchen or bathroom. Places that you don’t normally go looking are ideal for mold colonies. Behind your refrigerator, dishwasher or washing machine, a small leak can feed mold growth.

The same is true for leaky pipes under your sinks or in the crawl spaces. Long before you notice any water stains on your ceiling, a small roof leak can contribute to mold growth in your attic. Even if you don’t see the mold, its spores can cause respiratory problems for occupants with certain conditions. Also, there are studies that suggest mold contributes to asthma in some children.

Don’t jeopardize the health of your family. Contact the mold experts at Stern Mold. Our highly trained and professional technicians will carefully assess your mold problem and recommend the best mold remediation process to kill and prevent it from growing back again. The MoldExterm process is quick, inexpensive and eco-friendly.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Remediation, Mold Treatment, MoldExterm, News

Consumer Advocate, Erin Brockovich, Fights Mold Contamination Issues

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Loosing Your Dream Home to Mold

Loosing Your Dream Home to Mold

The name “Erin Brockovich” has come to symbolize the consumer fight against illnesses caused by careless actions of big-bucks corporations. She then took on a battle that was literally closer to home, as she and her family dealt with the effects of black mold.

Black Mold and “Sick” Homes

After the landmark victory over Pacific Gas and Electric depicted in the movie that bears her name, Brockovich received a major promotion. She added motivational speaking and consumer activism to her busy workload and bought a million-dollar house near Los Angeles.

Her dream home began to lose its luster when Brockovich, along with her husband and 11-year-old daughter, started experiencing what she described as chronic flu-like symptoms. When she hired a contractor to fix leaks in the home, it was discovered that the house was infested with a mold called Stachybotrys, also known as black mold.

The Long Road to Recovery

Not surprisingly, she refused to let the presence of the mold drive her from her home. Mold remediation was performed one room at a time, for a total cost of $600,000.

The contractor referred Brockovich to an attorney named Alex Robertson, who specializes in toxic mold cases. They filed suit against the builder, subcontractor and former owner of her home, claiming that the mold was a result of water leaks caused by faulty construction.

Stern Mold Serves Home and Business Owners in NYC and Northern NJ

If you discover mold of any type in your home or business, don’t take chances with your health. Avoid expensive mold remediation with our eco-friendly, cost-effective MoldExterm process. Contact us today to learn more and schedule your free inspection.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Identification, Mold Treatment, News
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