Mold is a type of fungus that has been found on the surface of the earth for millions of years. They can get inside your home through open doors, windows, and air conditioning systems. Inhaling mold spores or coming into contact with mold can have severe adverse effects on your health. Beyond physical symptoms like headache and allergic symptoms, it can have a significant impact on the brain and nervous system. Symptoms may vary, from mild headaches to more severe issues like memory loss or difficulty walking. While it can affect anybody, certain groups like children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to these effects.

How can mold impact your neurological health?

Mold, such as Cladophialophora bantiana, can cause infections in the brain and spinal cord, leading to serious conditions like central nervous system (CNS) infections. While such infections are rare, they can be life-threatening.

Mycotoxins are toxic chemicals produced by certain mold types. These toxins can be released into the air when mold grows indoors, and breathing them in can have direct harmful effects on brain function. Studies indicate that mycotoxins may interfere with the nervous system’s communication pathways, leading to cognitive issues such as memory problems and mood swings.

In fact, long exposure to mold can lead to a variety of neurological symptoms, which can differ depending on an individual’s health and the severity of the mold exposure. Some of them are:

Headaches are one of the most frequent symptoms of mold exposure. While most of the time, these headaches are described as dull, constant, or pressure-like, they can sometimes mimic migraines, accompanied by nausea or sensitivity to light and sound.

Exposure to molds can also trigger seizures. Mold produces toxic substances like mycotoxins that may disrupt the brain’s electrical activity, leading to seizure episodes.

Mold exposure can cause brain fog, which results in concentration, memory, and mental clarity. Studies suggest that mycotoxins can disrupt normal brain function, making it challenging to process information and think clearly.

Exposure to this fungus can also lead to emotional problems. People with this kind of exposure have complained of anxiety, depression, irritability, and sudden mood swings. This could be due to mold toxins interfering with brain chemicals responsible for regulating emotions.

Mold exposure may trigger inflammation, leading to muscle and joint pain. In case of prolonged exposure, it could lead to the development or worsening of fibromyalgia or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

In some cases, mold exposure may lead to tremors, difficulty walking, or problems with muscle coordination. These issues may be linked to mycotoxins affecting the brain or nervous system.

Mold exposure can impact the brain areas responsible for movement and balance, making it harder to stand, walk, or perform fine motor tasks. Individuals may feel unsteady or experience difficulty using devices like phones or computers.

Delirium is a condition wherein a person experiences confusion or disorientation. An abnormal immune response to mold could contribute to this condition. Delirium can make it difficult for individuals to think clearly or understand their surroundings.

Blockbuster GLP-1 drugs, with semaglutide as the key ingredient, have shown promise in treating conditions ranging from diabetes and obesity to certain cancers.

Now, US researchers are set to test whether semaglutide can also help treat alcohol use disorder (AUD), particularly among veterans. AUD affects an estimated 400 million people worldwide, or about 7% of people aged 15 years and older.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a new clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of semaglutide in treating AUD and is aimed directly at benefiting Veterans.

"By exploring emerging treatment options like the use of a GLP-1 for AUD, we aim to expand the tools available to help Veterans take control of their health and recovery," said VA Secretary Doug Collins.

Currently, more than 400,000 US veterans have been diagnosed with AUD, while an estimated 11% of US adults are affected by the condition.

What Does the Trial Aim to Find?

Also read: GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs Show Promise for 17 Million With Binge Eating Disorder, Suggests Study

The study, called the Cessation or Reduction of Alcohol Consumption in Veterans (CRACV) trial, will enroll more than 600 veterans across 18 VA medical centers in the US.

Participants aged 18 to 80 with moderate or severe AUD will receive weekly injections of either semaglutide or a placebo for 24 weeks, followed by a safety follow-up period.

Researchers will assess changes in alcohol consumption, overall health, and quality of life to determine whether semaglutide could become a new treatment option for alcohol use disorder.

Oral Semaglutide May Help Reduce Heavy Drinking

Evidence is also emerging that GLP-1 medications may influence alcohol consumption. A Phase 2 clinical trial published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in July suggests that oral semaglutide may help reduce heavy and harmful drinking, even among people who are not trying to quit alcohol completely.

The trial included 50 adults with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder who wanted to reduce or stop drinking. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either daily oral semaglutide or a placebo for eight weeks.

The semaglutide dose increased from 3 mg per day during the first four weeks to 7 mg per day during the remaining four weeks.

Read More: GLP-1 Microdosing: People Are Experimenting With Weight Loss Drugs & What Do Experts Have To Say About It?

While semaglutide did not significantly reduce laboratory-assessed craving or the average number of drinks per day compared with placebo, it significantly reduced heavy drinking days.

Compared with participants receiving placebo, those taking semaglutide had fewer heavy drinking days during the final four weeks of treatment. They also consumed fewer drinks on drinking days and reported greater reductions in everyday alcohol cravings and alcohol-related negative consequences.

"It could represent a new treatment option for alcohol use disorder, particularly for those who have not benefited from existing medications, and may reduce alcohol-related health and social harms. Importantly, even reducing heavy drinking can lead to meaningful improvements for patients and families," said Joseph Schacht, PhD, professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine.

As many as 23 cases of young women aged below 35 suffering from heart-related problems in only a month (reported by the Indian Medical Association) have left cardiologists concerned. What were earlier considered symptoms of stress, anxiety, and hormonal imbalances such as chest pain, breathing difficulty, palpitations, unexplained fatigue, and giddiness are now not being taken lightly when they occur for a prolonged time or recur. They are being increasingly identified as cardiac-related problems even in young adults.

Lack of physical activity, improper diet, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, and continuous stress have been labeled responsible for these problems. Some women's conditions like PCOD and autoimmune diseases can also put them at a higher cardiovascular risk. Regular check-ups, monitoring of blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and timely check-ups for the heart whenever these conditions occur can help in detecting the problems at the earliest, thus initiating treatment and recovery effectively.

In today's times, management of complicated heart diseases in India has dramatically improved and achieved outcomes at par with global standards. Today, the management of very severe heart valve disease offers much in terms of percutaneous catheter-based solutions, which, alongside conventional surgery (performed according to a person's age, general health, and clinical profile), give improved outcomes. Early detection and management of heart diseases prevent major complications and restore an individual's quality of life.

Increased knowledge about heart health, early identification of symptoms, and immediate medical attention are very important to achieve successful results. The observance of preventive measures such as engaging in regular exercise, a healthy diet, sleep, managing stress, and conducting regular medical checkups helps in the prevention of heart problems. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment form the key factors for achieving the best heart health.

By Dr. Nagendra Singh Chouhan, Interventional Cardiologist at Medanta Hospitals, Gurugram

Feeling breathless after climbing several flights of stairs or a session of strenuous exercise is usually considered normal.

But breathlessness that appears suddenly, happens frequently, or occurs during routine activities should never be dismissed as tiredness or lack of fitness.

When Is Breathlessness Concerning?

Breathlessness, clinically known as dyspnoea, can occur due to many reasons. Asthma, allergies, respiratory infections, chronic lung disease, and heart problems are some of the common possibilities. Anxiety, anaemia and obesity could also be driving factors.

In some cases, persistent or unexplained breathing difficulty may also be linked to more serious conditions, including lung cancer. The important thing is to understand when breathlessness needs medical attention.

HealthandMe spoke to lung disease experts - Dr. Sachin Kumar, Director of Pulmonology & Critical Care Medicine, Sakra World Hospital, Bengaluru, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, Director & Unit Head of GI & HPB Surgical Oncology & Clinical Administrator, Surgical Oncology, Max Super Specialty Hospital, Dwarka, Dr. Ruchi Singh, HOD & Senior Consultant, Radiation Oncology, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, and Dr. Ashwin Mallya, Uro-Oncologist and Robotic Surgeon, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Dr. Sanjeev Kumar explains that breathlessness that gets worse during routine activities are major red flags. He also says that other symptoms like chronic cough, coughing up blood, tiredness, and others should not be neglected.

He says, "Pay attention if breathlessness is accompanied by chest pain or pressure, dizziness, fainting, unusual sweating, bluish lips or fingertips, or a feeling that you cannot get enough air. A persistent cough, wheezing, recurring chest infections, coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss or prolonged fatigue along with breathlessness also deserves medical assessment. A cough that does not go away or changes in a long-standing smoker’s cough should not be overlooked. Although these symptoms can have several causes, they can occasionally be associated with lung cancer and need appropriate evaluation."

He also said that changes in usual breathing capacity is also a red flag. He said that if you previously walked comfortably for 20–30 minutes but now have to stop frequently because you are breathless, this change should not simply be attributed to age.

Also read: Lung Nodule on CT Scan? Doctors Explain When You Should Worry

Risks Of Delayed Evaluation & Treatment

Dr. Ruchi Singh points to a worrying trend. She said that the initial symptoms of lung cancer are usually dismissed as routine, which leads to delayed evaluation and treatment.

She says, "One of the most concerning things we are tracking is how late many patients present. Because symptoms like persistent cough or breathlessness are so easily mistaken for pollution-related irritation or a lingering infection, people delay getting scanned."

She explains that earlier detection through low-dose CT screening in high-risk groups remains the best tool for improving survival, and awareness needs to catch up with how the patient's profile itself is changing.

Also read: Can Fitness Hide Lung Cancer? Why Even Active People Shouldn't Ignore Symptoms

Importance Of A Multidisciplinary Approach

Talking about how lung cancer could metastasize, Dr Ashwin Mallya explains that along with early evaluation, it is essential to adopt a treatment strategy

Dr Mallya said, "Although primarily a thoracic malignancy, lung cancer frequently extends beyond the chest. Adrenal metastases are among its most common distant manifestations, while renal metastases, though less frequent, are well recognised."

He added, "These patterns underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, often bringing urologists into the care of patients with advanced disease."

Also read: 'I Wish Every Patient Knew This Before Their Lung Cancer Diagnosis'- Lessons From An Oncologist

Lung Cancer Is No Longer A Smoker's Disease

Giving a real-life example of how lung cancer is no longer a smoker's disease, Dr Sachin Kumar said, "A 50-year-old lady went to the clinic seeking a second opinion after being treated for "asthma" for several weeks. She complained of occasional breathlessness and a persistent cough. Despite inhalers, her symptoms continued. A simple chest X-ray revealed something entirely different: a massive pleural effusion (fluid around the lung). Further evaluation confirmed the underlying cause: *lung cancer that had spread to the pleura (the lining surrounding the lungs).

He added, "This case is a reminder that not every cough or episode of breathlessness is asthma. When symptoms persist or do not respond as expected, they deserve a fresh look. Sadly, lung cancer is no longer a disease seen only in older male smokers. In our own practice, we now diagnose around 2–3 new cases of primary lung cancer every three months, and nearly 40% of these patients are either women or people who have never smoked."