August 14, 2025
4 min
If you’ve been struggling with high blood pressure and can’t pinpoint why, you might be looking in the wrong place.
We’re told to focus on diet, exercise, and stress - and those matter - but there’s another hidden trigger that’s often overlooked: mold exposure.
Yes, mold can affect far more than your sinuses or skin. It can impact your nervous system, hormones, and even your cardiovascular health. And for some people, that means changes in blood pressure.
Let’s break down how mold and high blood pressure might be connected, what signs to look for, and what you can do about it.
The Short Answer
Can mold cause high blood pressure?
Yes - for some people, mold exposure can contribute to elevated blood pressure and in some cases, low blood pressure as in POTS. This happens through inflammation, stress hormone imbalances, and strain on your cardiovascular system.
Can black mold cause high blood pressure?
Potentially. Black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum) and other toxic molds produce mycotoxins, which can trigger strong immune responses and inflammation in the body - both of which can raise blood pressure over time.
Does mold cause high blood pressure in everyone?
No. Not everyone exposed to mold will develop hypertension. But if you already have cardiovascular risk factors or a sensitive immune system, mold exposure can tip the scales.
How Mold Can Affect Your Heart and Blood Pressure
When you breathe in mold spores or mycotoxins, they don’t just stay in your lungs. They can enter your bloodstream and trigger a cascade of reactions in your body.
Here’s what that can look like:
Inflammation overload
Mold toxins can cause chronic inflammation, which makes blood vessels less flexible and raises blood pressure.
Stress hormone disruption
Mold exposure can over-activate your adrenal glands, flooding your body with cortisol and adrenaline - both of which can push your blood pressure higher.
Immune system overdrive
A constant immune response to mold can make your body feel like it’s under attack 24/7. This “fight-or-flight” state can keep your blood pressure elevated.
Reduced oxygen delivery
Mold-related sinus congestion and lung irritation can reduce oxygen levels, making your heart work harder to circulate blood.
Signs Mold Might Be Behind Your High Blood Pressure
If you’re dealing with hypertension and can’t find a clear cause, mold may be worth investigating - especially if you also notice:
Headaches or migraines
Brain fog or poor memory
Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
Sinus congestion or frequent infections
Dizziness or feeling “off balance”
Tingling hands or feet
Shortness of breath
These symptoms don’t prove mold is the cause, but in combination, they can be a red flag - especially if you’ve been in a water-damaged building or musty-smelling environment.
Why Doctors Often Miss the Connection
Mold exposure isn’t the first thing most doctors think about when treating high blood pressure.
Why? Because mold illness isn’t always obvious. It doesn’t show up on a standard blood panel, and symptoms can mimic more common health problems.
Many patients end up being told their hypertension is “essential” - meaning no known cause - when in reality, a hidden environmental trigger may be at play.
If your blood pressure meds aren’t making much difference, or if your readings improve after time away from a certain building, that’s a clue worth exploring.
Why Some People Are More Vulnerable
Not everyone exposed to mold will develop high blood pressure. Some people can be in a moldy space for years and never notice a change in their readings.
You may be more at risk if you have:
A family history of hypertension or heart disease
An existing inflammatory condition
Genetic variations affecting detox pathways (like certain HLA-DR types)
Chronic stress or adrenal fatigue
Poor indoor air quality at home or work
For these individuals, mold can be the extra load that tips the body out of balance.
When to See Your Practitioner
If your blood pressure is consistently above 130/80, don’t wait - get it checked.
Mention any possible mold exposure, especially if your symptoms began or worsened after moving into a certain home or workplace.
A good practitioner will:
Monitor your cardiovascular health closely
Consider lab tests that check for inflammation and toxins
Help you manage blood pressure while addressing environmental triggers
Refer you to an environmental medicine specialist if needed
The Bigger Picture
Mold is rarely the only factor in high blood pressure, but for some people, it’s the missing link.
If you’re doing “all the right things” - eating well, exercising, managing stress - and still struggling, your home or workspace might be quietly working against you.
The good news? Once you identify and remove mold exposure, many people notice improvements not just in blood pressure, but in energy, mood, and overall resilience.
The connection between mold and high blood pressure might not be the most obvious one, but for those of us who’ve been through mold illness, we know: when you remove the source and give your body a chance to reset, healing can happen.
Your heart works hard for you every day.
Make sure the air you breathe is helping, not hurting.
