Mold Allergies - How to Effectively Combat Mold Related Allergies

People who have allergies are also prone to discomfort time and time again. These allergy symptoms, including those of mold allergies, can be present year round. This gets even worse during damp weather conditions.

People who have pollen allergies have a tendency to experience seasonal symptoms. As for mold allergies, these can go on for an entire year if mold issues are not fixed right away.

During the winter months, indoor mold can become a great problem especially since mold can grow inside the house as long as there is enough moisture (in crawl spaces, basement walls or behind bathroom tiles and more). Though mold cannot be detected easily, if you are sensitive to it or you have mold allergies, your body will react and showcase wheezing, coughing, irritated eyes and stuffy nose.
Studies show that everyone can be affected by mold spores. Mold is a type of fungus that can break down animal or plant matter such as wood, leaves, food and dirt. It can be present both inside and outside the house.

However, people with mold allergies have problems with include the triggering of asthma or allergic rhinitis. It can also generate volatile organic compounds or VOCs which can be irritating to the throat, nose and eyes.

As for black mold, it is a type of slow growing mold that can grow only on cotton, paper and wood. For this reason, it is called "toxic black mold". Then again, amidst its name, it is not that poisonous.
Black mold has also been associated for some serious lung problems. Then again, for people who don't have mold allergies, there is also a tendency to develop it. The ones most likely to develop it include small children, infants and the elderly.

Though it can be hard to diagnose mold allergies, it is even harder if the individual has these symptoms and they still don't realize that they have a mold as well as moisture problem at home. It is only when you get rid of the "allergens" such as the mold that you can get better.

Experiencing mold allergies can be a very difficult time. There are even rare cases where mold exposure can result to serious respiratory problems. The symptoms for these include a difficulty in breathing and chest tightness. Some signs of mold allergy include wheezing, runny nose, coughing, irritated throat or eyes and more. When these are being experienced, you can get an allergist to do some skin or blood testing.

Living With Mold Allergies

Mold allergies are a major health problem that affects many different people. These individuals come from all types of age and race groups. Mold does not differentiate between age or race but some individuals are stronger and able to tolerate mold better. During the last 15 years, we have clients from all age groups and races. We find that the elderly seem to suffer more than someone younger. I would suspect lack of education concerning mold and not the age factor. Once individuals become educated, the understanding of the environment is more important than before. It could also be a monetary factor also, due to a fixed income.

Mold grows in all regions of the world. There are molds that can thrive in cold and dry regions. There are more than a dozen species of mold that thrives under snow. They live in the dark, humid conditions found under a layer of snow when it is melting. This is the type that attacks grasses in golf courses and is why it is more prevalent in colder climates. Mold is common all over the world not just in hot and humid climates.

Snow mold is caused by the following and steps must be taken to prevent this.

1. Rake up all the leaves in the fall prior to the first snow.
2. Be careful with using fertilizer prior the first snow.
3. Keep the grass short to prevent matting and rake it up.
4. Mold needs dead materials and wet conditions from melting snow.
5. Try to spread out the snow to encourage rapid melting to dry quickly.

Individuals living in these areas are more susceptible after the snow is finally melted and winds start to blow the materials on the ground or when someone is raking it. This is a good time to have a HEPA rated filter like the Austin Air in your home. It is also important to keep your home as clean as possible to prevent mold in dust from accumulating. That is why they used to call it "Spring Cleaning".

I have read many different articles concerning mold where a well meaning individual writes that there are only certain molds that are toxic and to be concerned about. I read one the other day where this person says there are only 12 molds to be concerned with. Be aware that some individuals are not properly educated like a Microbiologist and only express their opinion especially on Internet Blogs. If they were properly educated, they would not express things like this.

There are molds that are more toxic like Stachybotys, Chaetomium, Fusarium and Aspergillis due to the toxins that are released in the air when there are wet conditions. But always remember that the dose is the poison. Example: If you eat a teaspoon of sugar, it does not affect you unless you are diabetic. If you eat a cup of sugar, you will get sick from overload. Mold is the same way and it does not matter what species it is.

I have several clients who are "Universal Reactors" to mold. I will tell you the story about one of them: She left South Florida on the advise of her Doctor and went to Arizona. She was fine for about a year, then she started reacting to mold again. Remember, mold is universal.

If you want to educate yourself, go to an Allergists office who specializes in mold allergies. You will be shocked at what you will learn and how serious the problem really is. My personal opinion, I believe it has something to do with the food we eat. Try to eat as much organic food as possible.

In conclusion, mold is everywhere in the world. Education is important when dealing with it. Always consult with your Doctor prior to taking any kind of advice. Having a HEPA Rated Vacuum and a HEPA Rated Air Cleaner like the Austin Air is important. These items are essential when you live in a closed box like an Air Conditioned House. Some individuals have to when they are allergic to pollens or grasses but not all of us. Fresh Air is good when it is not polluted with chemicals or ozone. Try the beach sometime, you'll like it.

Mold Allergy- Prevention Tips

A mold is a group of microscopic fungi found on vegetation or animals. The mold spores can be transmitted through air or water. Like pollen, the fragments of the spores created by the molds proliferate through the air causing nasty side effects such as wheezing, eye watering, coughing and asthma. In some instances the effect of mold spores can be life threatening, with toxic mold being on the top of the list.

So what can we do to prevent mold allergies? There are many ways to prevent mold allergies. Here are some helpful tips that could help save you and your family from household and workplace molds.

Humidity is the friend of mold. Without it, molds would not be able to propagate and produce spores. If you're in a damp environment such as the basement or garage, you might find yourself exposed to the allergic residue of molds. Most doctors would recommend that a low humidity, under 40%, would help lessen the effects. In fact dehumidifiers offer a good solution to combat the mold count. In bathrooms, turn on the exhaust fan or open the window. This will help dehumidify the bathroom. If there are water leaks, get them fixed. Doing so will prevent water seepage, which may help cultivate molds. For a damp basement, consider raising the heat and using a dehumidifier.

Another effective way to combat mold is to inhibit the airborne spores. HEPA filters can help lessen the spores in the air. In fact, there are dozens of products that aim to inhibit mold particles. For the rest of the house or building, there are electrostatic filters that reduce and remove airborne contaminants. Some are even 90% effective. A home air filter should have a HEPA label or some indicator that it filters allergens.

Another way to reduce the mold count is to go to the source - the mold. You can easily do so with cleaners that aim to eradicate it. There are plenty of chemical products that seek can destroy molds or even a simple cleaning product can erase the fungi mold that is commonly found in bathrooms. Since mold is easily detectable by the naked eye, you can sweep the area of mold. Sometimes it will smell like mildew. If you can detect the smell, you'll easily locate the source.

There are unconventional methods to treat molds today. Some have argued that massive ultraviolet is an effective means to remove spores. Others have argued that ozone generators are another method to eliminate spores. There may be compelling evidence that these products will work, but it remains to be seen if they will be safe and easy to use for the long run.

Mold allergies can be prevented by a number of weapons available to the common household member or building facilitator. Because of the dangers and allergic side effects of mold, more and more solutions are being created to stem the tide of mold. By knowing what can best prevent, destroy, and inhibit airborne spores, one can improve the quality of life by creating an allergen free environment.

Asthma and Allergies - Coping With Mold Allergies

Let's start out with the basics. Mold is an organism that is everywhere. There is no place there is no mold unless it is a "Clean Room." According to Wikipedia: the definition of a Clean Room is an environment, typically used in manufacturing or scientific research, that has a low level of environmental pollutants such as dust, airborne microbes, aerosol particles and chemical vapors. More accurately, a clean room has a controlled level of contamination that is specified by the number of particles per cubic meter at a specified particle size.

Mold is a type of fungus that has a job to break down dead material and return the nutrients to the environment. Microbes grow by digesting plant, organic or animal matter such as wood, leaves, paper, and food. It moves around the environment by releasing tiny, microscopic spores that travel through the air. Mold grows quickly in moist dark areas, such as basements, wet drywall and piles of rotting leaves. I have seen it under a Microscope and it is really small and interesting to see how it spreads across a surface like a weed.

We are all exposed to some mold every day with no bad effects. We can breathe in mold spores that are present in the air. Some of us eat foods in which mold has begun to grow such as cheese. People with mold allergies, will have a reaction when exposed to too much of the fungus. I have several clients who will end up in bed as a result of these reactions especially during the summer months when the humidity is high.

Symptoms of mold allergies can be itchy, watery eyes and wheezing like an Asthma Attack or rashes that look like the hives. Some individuals have neurological symptoms such as spaciness or lightheadedness with a tendency to forget things. These are only a few of the symptoms, I have some clients that end up in the Emergency Room or have to go to bed due to fatigue on exposure to high levels of mold spores.

It is not easy to cope with Mold Allergies. Several of my clients take shots to deal with it, while others are so allergic, they live in a "Clean Room" which they created to cope with the Mold allergies. Air Cleaners such as the Austin Air Cleaner is good for removing microbial spores and chemicals from the air or you can use Whole House Air Cleaners installed in your Central Air Conditioning System. Talking to your Doctor is important in dealing with microbial allergies so they can help you design a coping mechanism for your problem.

In conclusion, mold is everywhere except in Clean Rooms. Clean Rooms have a controlled environment used for specific purposes such as an operating room in a hospital. We are exposed daily and need to consult with a Doctor for a course of treatment. Air Cleaners can help you cope with your allergies in your home.

The Main Purpose of Understanding the Term Mold Allergies

Molds are fungi that cause spoilt food and some diseases as well. Not all of them are hazardous; some even lend a hand in humiliating food and other innate wastes. Other types of mold are also influential in making beverages, food and tablets. These fungi can be seen everywhere in the world and can virtually survive at some of the more extremes temperatures.

Working of Mold Allergies:

Some types of mold produce allergens which in turn can affect humans if the allergens are inhaled. These allergens may cause allergic reactions like a runny nose and watery eyes, along with sneezing. Mold Allergies may also cause an asthma attack or a skin rash on certain highly sensitive individuals. Mold allergies can also produce a potentially deadly toxin called mycotoxins. This mold product can kill if ingested and it can also affect livestock and poultry through the feeds they consume and still reach humans in a completely different level because the mycotoxins do not easily degrade or decompose.

In total exchange of a lethal role in humans, mold is used to generate penicillin, the antibiotic, to help in some human diseases and sickness. Alexander Fleming was the genius who discovered this medicine that helped save many human lives.

Reckoning of Mold Allergies:

Mold Allergies can in fact causes a number of different things. This is because the mycotoxins that are produced by toxic mold create various environmentally toxic airs that covers the body's myelin, and this results in depleting this important substance that covers the nerves. Because of this the nerves are then exposed without any protection and this will cause them to begin functioning improperly.

Mold Allergy can cause memory loss, which may tend to be less conspicuous at first but which will get much worse as time goes on. Another problem caused by Mold Allergy is anxiety, while others include personality disorders, nosebleeds, and shortness of breath, abdominal pain, hair loss, skin rashes, fatigue, and numbness in extremities, cough, sore throat, rectal bleeding, and even fibromyalgia.

Mold Allergies can include a bad cough, sneezing, jamming, eye watering and a runny nose. Sinus headaches, nose bleeds, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and a bad skin rash can also be symptoms of mold. It can occur in homes where foam board has been used as wall insulation. This is because there is no space to let the walls breathe and as a result, ideal conditions are created for mold to grow.

There are also methods of prevention that you can take in order to try to stop mold allergies from happening in the first place, namely taking proper care of your home and making sure that if there are every any humidity or dampness problems that you take care of them as soon as possible.

Mold, Allergies and Asthma - Is Your House Making You Sick?

Mold in the home can be a trigger for those with allergies and asthma. Find out why those with mold allergies should avoid spaces with the hot-air heat, central air conditioning and wall-to-wall carpeting that can be carriers for mold.

Question:

Ever since we moved into our new house, our son has been constantly coughing. Now his doctor tells me he's asthmatic. He was fine before. Could the house be a problem?

Answer:

You don't mention whether you have a family history of allergies and asthma, and we're not physicians, so continue to discuss this situation with your doctor.

That said, indoor air quality expert, Jeff May, doesn't recommend that people with mold allergies or sensitivities live in houses with hot-air heat, central air conditioning, and wall-to-wall carpeting. If you do have this type of HVAC system, the least you should do is install a good quality electronic air cleaner to keep the air as clean as possible.

The presence of mold in your house could greatly impact your son's allergies or asthma. If your son's symptoms improve when he is out of the house for an extended period of time, such as a family vacation, we'd recommend that you have an air quality professional do some air and dust sampling for you, to see if mold is present.

If mold is found, removing the mold alone will not solve this problem. You could spend thousands on remediation and unless the source of moisture is eliminated, the problem will reoccur. Mold testing could help narrow down the cause of the mold. Hiring someone who understands buildings before you do a mold test, such as a home inspector who is trained in mold and a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), can help you find the problem and change the conditions, so the mold won't return.