Sick Building Syndrome
Sick buildings make sick people
A Cautionary Tale
Angie came to me years ago with severe allergies, fatigue, and insomnia.
Most functional medicine doctors would have run tests, given her supplements, and hoped for the best.
I spent hours with her and discovered that she slept right next to her home’s smart meter and drank well water. Turns out her well was contaminated with bacteria and her smart meter was ruining her immune system and her sleep.
She started sleeping in her guest room on the other side of the house and installed a new filter on her well.
We added supplements and she made a complete recovery.
This is just one case of sick building syndrome. I have seen more than I can count at this point.
Angie’s case is a great example of how sick building syndrome can result in a wide range of symptoms that get labeled as “autoimmunity.”
Autoimmunity often results from a sick building. If you're struggling with autoimmune issues, this post will help you understand what role your home or office might be playing in your illness. Learn more about how we help people recover from autoimmunity here.
What about our buildings is making us sick?
There are four main components:
Mold
Electromagnetic radiation
Disconnection from nature
Indoor air pollutants and positive ions
How to Determine if Your Building is Making You Sick
Ask yourself these key questions:
Did an illness arise shortly after moving somewhere or taking a new job?
Does the illness improve when you remove yourself from the building in question?
Is anyone else sick in the building? In severe cases, entire families or offices may experience various symptoms simultaneously.
My favorite diagnostic test: An old-fashioned camping trip with tents at campgrounds without electricity. (RV trips or camping at electrified sites don't count!)
Diagnosing and Addressing Specific Problems
Mold
If I suspect mold in a house, I recommend:
An ERMI or HERTSMI test
Inspection by someone skilled in detecting mold (quality varies greatly)
Thorough inspection of ductwork and HVAC systems
Going beyond a simple "open and shut" inspection—check every nook and cranny
A Cautionary Tale
Paul came to me with brain fog, fatigue, and chronic diarrhea. After a year of my urging him to look for mold, he finally checked the ductwork above his kitchen and found alarming amounts. They had been running their air conditioning too cold to help with sleep, causing water to condense in the ducts and create an ideal environment for mold growth. The only thing more expensive than mitigating his home was all the health problems he developed due to the mold.
Electromagnetic Frequencies (EMF)
EMFs come from phones, WiFi routers, and household electronics. I explore this topic more deeply in my book, "Dying to Be Free."
Simple EMF-reducing steps:
Keep your phone on airplane mode when not in use
Keep your phone off your body at all times
Use your phone in speaker mode
Hard-wire your computer to your router
Disable wireless internet
Remove all smart or wireless devices (including Bluetooth)
Unplug electrical devices when not in use
Minimize electricity use in general
Stay away from high-energy devices (AC units, refrigerators, washers, dryers)
Keep distance from Smart Meters
Get outside away from technology multiple times daily
Advanced interventions:
Turn off circuit breakers to reduce EMF in your home
Abandon your cell phone altogether
Purchase older vehicles with fewer electronics
Have your home inspected by an EMF mitigation specialist
A Cautionary Tale
Karen came to me with debilitating headaches after "trying everything." Her headaches went from 11/10 to 7/10 with nutritional supplements and lifestyle changes. After discovering extremely high EMF levels in her home and office and addressing them, her pain level dropped further to 4/10—a testament to how severely EMF can affect health.
Here's a quick story from my own life on how my wife and I are tackling this in our current home:
Indoor Air Pollutants and Positive Ions
Positive ions are produced by electrical appliances, even when not in use. Positive ions can reduce your zeta potential, which I wrote about here:
Tips for improving indoor air quality:
Air filtration systems
House plants
Opening doors and windows morning and night
For more comprehensive information, I recommend the book "Fresh Air for Life."
Disconnection from Nature
In nature, we benefit from:
Negative ions
Healing sounds (waves, birds)
Beautiful scenery
Sunlight
And much more
I explore these benefits in my book "Dying to Be Free".
Sick Building Syndrome and Autoimmunity
Many patients today struggle with health issues related to their indoor environments—what we call sick building syndrome. Making your home and office as healthy as possible may be the best investment you ever make for your well-being.
Have you experienced health improvements after addressing issues in your home or workplace environment? Share your story in the comments below! Your experience might help someone else recognize what's affecting their health.
If you're dealing with autoimmunity that may be connected to your environment, check out my Autoimmunity Recovery Framework for a comprehensive approach to healing.
Until next time, be well,
Dr. Stillman
Or simply a lack of air. I worked in a building once where the air was heavily recycled and never fresh. I'd often be yawning, even in the morning - a clear sign of oxygen deprivation. Colleagues used to tell me, 'get more sleep'. I said, 'I do. It's this building." The building was poisonous because the air was toxic.