Is your home making you sick?

Part 1: Your home

1. Is there a musty or earthy smell anywhere, even faintly or only sometimes?Odor is often the first clue to hidden mold growth.
2. Has the home ever had a leak, flood, roof problem or plumbing issue?Water damage, even years ago, can leave mold behind walls, under floors or in cabinets.
3. Do you see stains, discoloration, peeling paint or warped materials on walls or ceilings?These can signal moisture that has been there a while.
4. Is there condensation on windows, or high humidity in bathrooms or the basement?Persistent moisture lets mold grow.
5. Do you use an evaporative (swamp) cooler, or has the HVAC system not been inspected in years?Cooling systems and ductwork can harbor and spread mold.
6. Is the home older, with original paint, plumbing or fixtures?Older homes can contain lead in paint, dust or pipes.
7. Do you drink untested well water?Well water can contain arsenic, lead or other contaminants.
8. Is there a sewage smell like rotten eggs or dirty diapers, or rarely used sinks, tubs, showers or floor drains?A sewer gas leak can smell like rotten eggs or dirty diapers: that’s hydrogen sulfide and other gases from the sewer system. Drain traps (P-traps) that dry out in rarely used drains can let these gases in, and bacteria growing in them can release endotoxins.

Part 2: How you feel

Do any of these sound familiar?

• Fatigue, brain fog or headaches that are worse at home or at work
• Symptoms that ease when you travel and return when you come back
• Sinus congestion, cough or shortness of breath without a clear cause
• New sensitivities to foods, smells, chemicals or light
• Other people or pets in the home are also unwell
• Labs that keep coming back “normal” even though you don’t feel well

What your answers may mean

If you checked several boxes in both parts, an environmental exposure may be worth looking into. Most of these signs have other possible causes too, so treat this as a starting point, not a diagnosis.

Next steps

1. Don’t disturb visible mold yourself. Large areas should be assessed and removed by qualified professionals.
2. Consider an inspection by a qualified indoor environmental professional, and testing of well water if you use it.
3. Lower everyday exposures with water filters, air purifiers and safer products: see cleaner living resources.
4. Read your state’s home health guide for local exposures: Arizona, Montana or Washington.
5. Notice a sewer smell? Get a smoke test. Learn the sewer gas exposure symptoms to watch for. A well-trained plumber can do a smoke test to find leaks in drain and vent lines that are hard to spot otherwise. In the meantime, run water in rarely used drains regularly so their traps stay filled.
6. Talk with a clinician experienced in environmental medicine about your symptoms and history. Learn about mold exposure symptoms and treatment →

Safety: a strong gas or rotten-egg smell with dizziness or trouble breathing can be an emergency. Leave the building and call 911 or your utility.

Does checking these boxes mean I have mold illness?

No. This checklist is a starting point for awareness, not a diagnosis. Many of these signs and symptoms have other causes, so an individual assessment is important.

This checklist is general education, not medical advice, and does not create a doctor–patient relationship.

apollohealthclinic.com · Dr. Sam Madeira, NMD · Free discovery call: calendly.com/doctormadeira/discoverycall