You may not have heard of chemical intolerance (CI), but it’s a condition that many Americans live with.
A recent study sheds light on how everyday exposures like mold, fossil fuels, and even antibiotics could lead to this condition, making you more sensitive to your environment.
Let’s break down what this research reveals and what it could mean for you.
What is Chemical Intolerance?
Chemical intolerance refers to an increased sensitivity to various chemicals and environmental triggers, leading to a range of symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and digestive issues.
The study helps us understand how CI starts through a process called TILT (toxicant-induced loss of tolerance).
Interestingly, up to 30% of Americans may be dealing with CI, according to Claudia Miller, MD, MS, the senior author of the study from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
What Causes Chemical Intolerance?
Mold and Weather Changes
The study found that 17.5% of people who became chemically intolerant believed that exposure to mold was the main cause.
This is concerning because climate change is leading to more extreme weather events like floods and hurricanes.
These disasters leave behind moisture that leads to mold growth. Mold is not just a building issue; it’s a health hazard, especially for people with chemical intolerance.
Antibiotics and Medical Procedures
The use of antibiotics also appears to increase the risk of CI. Participants in the study who had undergone prolonged antibiotic treatments showed higher rates of chemical intolerance.
Medical procedures and surgical interventions were also cited as contributing factors.
Chemicals and Fossil Fuels
Other triggers included exposure to pesticides, plastics, and combustion products like car fumes.
As we become more industrialized and dependent on chemicals in everyday life, the risk of developing CI increases for the general population.
What Can We Do About It?
Miller suggests that doctors and healthcare practitioners consider the possibility of CI when patients complain of symptoms that don’t seem to have an obvious cause.
This is crucial because misdiagnosis often leads patients to psychiatric evaluations, when the problem may actually be environmental triggers.
The focus should be on reducing exposure to known triggers like mold, pesticides, and hazardous chemicals. For instance, if you’re renovating your home, be aware of the materials you’re using.
Are they free from harmful chemicals? After natural disasters, efforts should be made to quickly eliminate moisture and prevent mold growth.
Concluding Thoughts
The study emphasizes the need for more awareness and education, not just among the general public but also within the medical and academic communities.
As Miller points out, modern teaching hasn’t kept pace with the introduction of new chemicals into our environment, leaving a knowledge gap that can have serious health implications.
So, the next time you’re experiencing unexplained symptoms, or if you find yourself more sensitive to smells or certain foods, it might not just be in your head.
It could be your body’s way of telling you that you’re experiencing chemical intolerance, and it’s time to look at your environment.
If you care about health please read studies that vitamin D can help reduce inflammation, and vitamin K could lower your heart disease risk by a third.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about new way to halt excessive inflammation, and results showing foods that could cause inflammation.
The study was published in Environmental Sciences Europe.
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