Sneezing? Itching? Dry Skin? Nasal discharge? Stuffy Nose? If you have any of these symptoms (among others), you may have an allergy to mold. A mold allergy is less common than you might think, given the thousands of types of mold in the environment. Out of those thousands, however, only a few dozen can cause an allergic reaction.
Mold and mildew are fungi. They differ from plants or animals in how they reproduce and grow. The "seeds," called spores, are spread by the wind outdoors and by air indoors. Some spores are released in dry, windy weather. Others are released with the fog or dew when humidity is high. This affect can bring upon mold allergy symptoms to people.
Inhaling the spores causes allergic reactions in some people. Mold allergy symptoms from fungus spores are most common from mid to late summer. But with fungi growing in so many places, allergic reactions can occur year round in any part of the world.
A few years back, newspaper, magazine and television news headlines were full of frightening reports about a toxic black mold, which supposedly caused serious lung disease and caused countless homes unfit to occupy. "Black mold" is a non-medical term that usually refers to the greenish-black mold that is a result from heavy water damage. A type of mold that has not been conclusively linked to severe mold reactions. Scientists and researchers are still trying to determine the health effects of mold exposure, and if there are any more mold allergy symptoms from Black mold, but many experts believe that reactions to them have not been widespread or common enough to be a significant health problem.
People often have mold allergy symptoms if they have other members of their family who are allergic to a variety of items like pollen or animal dander; however, that is not always the case. People can become allergic to only mold or fungi and may also have allergies to dust mites and pollens, without having a family history of mold allergy symptoms.Farmers, dairymen, loggers, bakers, mill workers, winemakers and furniture repairers all work in environments where exposure to mold is a greater risk. These workers are more likely to develop and suffer mold allergy symptoms. Other occupations that have more exposure to mold are carpenters and greenhouse employees.
Some people with mold allergy may experience allergy-related asthma, which can be serious in the event of an asthma attack. Mold Allergy symptoms of asthma include: coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. These symptoms can be controlled by medication under a physicians care. If you have asthma caused by a mold allergy, it is the best to avoid the source of the mold spores. Mold Spores are airborne seeds you can easily inhale. Totally avoiding substances as common as mold can be difficult. Fortunately, asthma and allergy medications can relieve the symptoms of mold allergy.
In order for a physician to diagnose this allergy, you must first discuss with your doctor all of your mold allergy symptoms. Your doctor will take a complete medical history and if a mold allergy is suspected, the doctor will often do a skin test and if an allergy is determined, medication will be prescribed from that point on.
