At first, Lauren Byington just felt tired, something she attributed to having a new baby. After a while, though, other symptoms appeared-yellowing skin, thinning hair, and pain in her liver, which made her think something was amiss. What that something was took Lauren, a 34-year-old entrepreneur in Bandera, TX, two years to discover. One doctor thought she might have Lyme disease; another worried that it could be cancer. Finally, allergy tests revealed that Lauren's symptoms were due to excessive exposure to mold.
Lauren had no idea where she'd been exposed to high levels of mold, so she combed her house for possible sources. She didn't find anything-no leaks under the sink, no cracks letting rain enter the walls, nothing dripping from the roof or the air conditioner.
Then she remembered how her health worsened when she got into her touring van, a vehicle she used almost every month to drive her family nine hours to visit relatives; she and her kids would sleep in the van's two king-size beds. When Lauren stuck cotton swabs into the air vents and around the air conditioning unit in the roof of her van, they emerged black as night. Even though the van had been brand-new when her symptoms had first appeared, driving it from one climate to another on a regular basis had apparently led condensation to build up in the AC, allowing mold to grow. "I felt shocked, but there was also a sense of relief to finally know the source of my problems," Lauren says.
MOLD ON THE MARCH
These fuzzy microorganisms are everywhere-outside in the shade and where leaves and grass decompose, inside in the damp parts of our homes or offices, and even on some of the crops grown for our food. Mold spreads easily because the spores on the top of it readily float through the air.
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Prevention US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Prevention US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
What's Up With...Smelly Gas - You can blame it on the dog, but it happens to everyone.
The average person toots around 14 times a day-it's how your body releases the extra gas that accumulates when you swallow air and digest food, says Shilpa Ravella, M.D., author of A Silent Fire: The Story of Inflammation, Diet, and Disease. If you chew gum or smoke, you'll have even more gas buildup, she adds.
WHAT'S UP WITH ...EARWORMS
When a song gets stuck in your head, here's how to shake it off.
5 MYTHS ABOUT ARTHRITIS
Creaky joints are a pain, but some facts” about them are pretty twisted.
A Solo Trip at 55 Boosted My Confidence
When I retired, a big, beautiful world opened up to me.
NUTRITION for Healthy Breasts
YOU KNOW THAT EATING MORE CALORIES THAN YOU BURN can cause your body to accumulate fat.
Mammogram CONFUSION, Solved!
IT'S THE RARE WOMAN WHO DOESN'T VIVIDLY REMEMBER CERTAIN FIRSTS
Make Your BREAST GUESS
No.two breasts not even your own!) are identical in shape, size, or feel. But it’s important to pay attention to what makes each one of yours unique so you can spot peculiarities early and start conversations with your health care providers if need be. Consider this your friendly guide to what changes to expect through the years and. what to do if something feels or looks unusual so you can take steps toward better breast health.
come as you are
We all deserve quality health care, but people in bigger bodies are often shut out. That's why some providers have worked out a new approach that aims to treat the person actually sitting in their exam room rather than the one they would be if only they lost weight.
Ease Your Allergies
These holistic remedies may provide relief from seasonal symptoms.
WALK AWAY PAIN
One of the best things you can do to ease joint and back pain and ward off future ouches is so very simple: JUST TAKE IT STEP BY STEP.
