Is the HLA Gene making you sick?

Why am I the only one that is sick all the time?  No matter what I do I just seem to be getting more and more sick.

I hear this a lot and I too experienced this, but it's not always the case.

1 in 4 people are more genetically susceptible to mold illness then others, because they carry one (or more) of the HLA genes.

Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLAs), are found on the surface of nearly every cell in the human body. They help the immune system tell the difference between body tissue and foreign substances.

We know the frequency of mold illness-susceptible patients approximates for 24% of the population. This means that 1 in 4 people are more susceptible to the effects of toxic mold because their body is unable to remove the toxins on its own from their body. This leads to a huge toxin load within the body and with an increase in toxin load comes a whole lot of inflammation.

Guess what inflammation causes?
A lot of symptoms and a lot of diagnosis that may not actually be real. There are many studies that connect chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson's, Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, Lyme, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity to Mold and Biotoxin (CIRS) illness.

Mold illness can even be the cause of some cases of Dementia, Alzheimers, SIDS, MS, and Raynauds.

There are over 60 possible symptoms of Mold illness with only FIVE of them being respiratory. Mold illness is not only a respiratory illness. Some forms of toxic mold(s) can cause respiratory symptoms, but it can also cause a whole lot of other symptoms.  

How many of these do you have? 

Severe fatigue, exhaustion,CFS, poor stamina, pain (varying types,) fibromyalgia, stiffness, achiness, weakness, severe headaches (varying types), migraines, congestion, sinusitis, stuffy, feeling clogged, chronic sore throats, laryngitis, difficulty swallowing, choking, severe gastrointestinal issues, IBS, interstitial cystitis (IC), Crohn's, brain fog, vision disturbances, blurred vision, sleep disturbances, hypersensitivity, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), tachycardia, palpitations, rashes, eczema, maylar, skin lesions, tiny blood blisters, bruising, jaundice, burning sensations, PTSD, stress, tension, anxiety, secondary depression, wheezing, asthma, bronchitis, chest pain, coughing up mucous, blood, malaise, nausea, loss of appetite, alcohol and food intolerance, memory, recall, word finding, difficulty speaking, swollen lymph nodes, hormonal, thyroid, adrenal issues, gynecological and/or reproductive issues, dysmenorrhea, twitching, numbness, tingling, various bleeding, clotting issues, dizziness, fainting, balance problems, weight loss, weight gain, boils on neck, anaphylaxis, allergies, seizures, cancer/development of tumors (fibroids, cysts, nodules), hair loss, inflammation, chronic inflammatory response, tinnitus, drumming, hearing loss, nose sores, coated tongue, metallic taste, low body temperature, low grade fevers often, chills, fevers, flushing, night sweats, edema, poor circulation, nails: ridging, white spots, yellowing, fungal growth, low or high blood pressure, drooling, jaw pain/TMJ, shortness of breath, watery or teary eyes, dryness (eyes, skin, mouth), static shock, Raynaud's, diabetes correlation.  

The above are all possible symptoms of Mold Illness (Mycotoxicosis).  The same symptoms are also symptoms to a whole lot of other conditions.  Conditions you may or may not have; or are being made worse from mold exposure.  Do you want to know if mold is contributing to your health?

I know I would want to know.  Here are my top two tests for finding out:

1. Testing for HLA is a simple blood test that your doctor can order.  Many doctors don't understand mold illness and the effects it can have on their patients.  If they are unwilling to order the test for you, you can order it with out a doctor and expect to pay out of pocket.  Thank you to the HLA calculator for providing an easy to read chart, but links to the tests to help with this! 

Tests can be ordered by any practitioner and in many cases are covered by insurance. Direct to consumer options exist in the United States that do not require a prescription. If no options exist, request testing at any capable laboratory and ensure at minimum typing is performed for the genes HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1. Typing for the genes HLA-DRB3, HLA-DRB4 and HLA-DRB5 should always be performed as well if possible.

2. I would highly suggest testing your home also.  It is possible to have mold illness and not carry the HLA gene.  The gene just tells us if we are more susceptible or not, it doesn't tell us with chronic exposure and inflammation if you can still struggle with the toxin load.  

I recommend the ERMI Test #1 from Envirobiomics. Test #7 is even better but often out of the budget.  (If you have any questions, they are fantastic to speak with and can help you figure out what test is best for you.) These tests, test the dust in your home which tells you if you have any of the toxic mold(s) present, NOT where its located. That is the job of a professional.  The last thing anyone should be doing, especially those who are sick, is disrupting the mold.  I know it's tempting but its not just the mold that is the problem, it is the toxins that it gives off. 

These spores and their mycotoxins wreck havoc on our bodies, our homes, and our belongings. Disrupting the mold without proper containment will make it significantly worse.  

Mold is a survivor and if you are affected and it is left untreated, I can guarantee it will win and you will get more sick, gain new symptoms, worsening of symptoms, and potentially additional diagnosis's that won't respond to any form of treatment or support.

If you are looking for additional support and information I would love for you to Join my support group and learn how to take control and feel better:

If you have any questions at all, please contact me.  

It's a journey to Be Well, but in the end it's all worth it,