Mold & Mildew - A Guide For Allergy Sufferers

Mold: The Pervasive Fungus Among Us
As a relative of mushrooms and yeast, mold serves nature well by decomposing dead organic matter like leaves and wood. However, when mold grows in your home, its powerful enzymes eat through wallpaper, wood, and other materials. Scientists have identified over 200,000 species of mold, and they continue to find more.

Mold reproduces with mold spores, which are like microscopic seeds. At about three microns in size, mold spores are invisible to the human eye. For comparison, the period at the end of this sentence is roughly 300 microns in size - that's 100 times larger than the typical mold spore! Not only are they invisible, but mold spores are virtually indestructible, and many species release chemical toxins (mycotoxins) into the air as a self-defense mechanism. The more you learn about mold spores, the more they sound like extraterrestrial invaders in a sci-fi flick.

Mold & Your Health
In 2006, a University of Cincinnati study found that infants who were exposed to airborne mold spores were more likely to develop allergies to mold, pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and certain foods as they grew older. Tina Reponen, author of the study, says, "It turns out that the health effects of airborne fungal spores are more complicated than we thought."

Over 80% of allergy sufferers are sensitive to mold spores, and a 1999 Mayo Clinic study discovered allergenic fungal sinusitis among 93% of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Like other allergens, mold can cause sneezing, chronic cough, runny nose, congestion, itchy and watery eyes, skin rashes, sinus headaches, and respiratory problems.

But you don't have to be an allergic individual for mold to adversely affect your health. mold can also act as an infectious agent, like bacteria and viruses. Additionally, some species of mold produce chemical toxins called mycotoxins. Stachybotys (pronounced "stack-ee-BOT-ris"), also known as black mold, is the most common and dangerous species of toxic mold. Symptoms of toxic mold exposure may include memory loss and other cognitive disorders, nose bleeds, dizziness, nausea, anemia, difficulty breathing, and death.

How to Prevent Mold Growth
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that half of all U.S. buildings contain areas damp enough for mold growth.

Your Home + Moisture = Mold Growth

It's as simple as 1 + 1. If there's not enough moisture in the air, then mold cannot grow. Therefore, if you suffer from mold allergies (or if you don't want mold to decompose your home), you must monitor your relative humidity with a humidity gauge and use a dehumidifier to to remove excess moisture. Keep your relative humidity below 50 percent to prevent mold growth.

Mold flourishes on your bedding, feeding off moisture from your body. Sleep on allergy relief bedding that prevents the growth of mold and other microorganisms to avoid breathing in allergens while you're sleeping.

Specialized cleaning products can both clean and also prevent mold growth on surfaces like tile, shower doors, furniture, mattresses, wallpaper, ceilings, walls, and many more. Finally, if your home experiences water damage from a leak or flood, be sure to dry out all damp materials within 24 - 48 hours.

Modern houses and apartments are sealed up tightly for energy efficiency; however, those tight seals trap allergens and pollutants inside your home. Air out your home as much as possible and use air purifiers to remove mold spores and other allergens from the air. Hidden mold often grows inside HVAC systems. An allergy relief vent filter will trap mold spores before they have a chance to enter your lungs.

For allergy sufferers, frequent cleaning can transform misery into relief. While dead human skin makes up the majority of household dust, mold spores are present in dust as well. Vacuum thoroughly and regularly with a HEPA vacuum cleaner to remove mold spores from your carpet.

According to the EPA, if you find a mold colony that's 10 square feet or smaller, you should be able to handle the cleanup job yourself. Scrub the mold off hard surfaces with water and a specialized cleaning product. But be careful! Cleaning mold releases spores into the air, so if you are sensitive to mold, you'll need to wear goggles, gloves, and an allergy mask for protection. Make sure the area is well ventilated, and wash all supplies and clothing after cleaning.

If you suspect that the mold may be releasing toxic chemicals or if the mold colony is larger than 10 square feet, you should consider hiring a mold remediation professional.

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.

Mold Allergy - Symptoms of Mold Infection

It is easier to get affected by molds than avoiding them! As they are omnipresent, they can come to attack you any time. Top of that, they are so tiny that you cannot see them with unaided eyes. They won't give you any chance to prepare.

There are hundreds of thousands of mold types. Luckily, not all of them are allergens. Only a small percentage of total number of mold species creates allergic reactions in human beings. Still, it is difficult to avoid exposure to molds.

The main problem with mold allergy is that its symptoms are quite similar with flu. People often fail to identify the reason of the allergy and the condition goes worse. To get rid of mold allergy, one needs to kill molds apart from right medication.

How human beings can get exposed to mold?

Molds are everywhere in the environment starting from natural to built up places. Hyphal parts and mold spores get aerosolized when mold colonies are disturbed somehow. These airborne particles spread around with air current. Sometimes these tiny particles get stuck with physical matters and travel from one place to another.

Hence, it is not at all difficult for them to cross the doors of your home and nest inside. When molds attack homes, the extent of mold exposure goes higher worsening the condition of the allergic persons. Mold and mildew remover comes helpful when it comes to kill black molds.

Mold infestation in school, workplace and other places frequented by people can also lead to mold allergy. If you notice that your children are getting sick when they are back in home from school, chances are they are coming in contact with molds and mildews in school. When molds settle in offices, you might get sick while in office and get better as soon as you leave the place.

Such symptoms should never be neglected. Consult a physician whenever you notice allergic responses in you or any of the family members.

Immunocompromised people or those under immune-suppressing medication might suffer more than others. Children and aged persons are more susceptible to mold infection and allergy. Therefore then need more care and attention.

However, you need to diagnose the disease first, otherwise how can you start the right medication? Do not go with self-medication even when the symptoms appear to be less serious. Consult a doctor and let them recognize the disease.

Here is a list of common symptoms of mold allergy:

• Difficult breathing
• Asthma
• Wheezing or coughing
• Chest congestion
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Red, itchy or watery eyes
• Skin rashes
• Headache
• Sickness
• Fever

Along with medication, you need to think of some plans on how to remove molds from your surroundings. You can use kill mold spray to have a hassle free clean up.

Mold allergy might become life threatening if not addressed timely. Breathing trouble can lead to serious respiratory tract disease. Asthma patients and those under immune-suppressing drugs should take all preventive measures to avoid mold exposure.

Chemical based mold cleaning products sometimes exert adverse effects. It is suggested to use natural cleaning products. Green cleaning products are harsh on molds, but friendly for human beings and environment.

Mold Allergy - Symptoms and Prevention

Mold allergy is less common than other allergies. Out of the thousands of types of mold in the environment, only a few dozen can cause allergic reactions that pose a threat to human health. Mold grows in all kinds of climates and thrives both indoors and outdoors; consequently, mold allergy does not have a defined season like pollen allergy does. When microscopic mold spores are inhaled, they often cause allergic rhinitis (hay fever symptoms) by irritating the lining of the nose. They sometimes reach the lungs and cause asthma.

Symptoms of mold allergy include:

• Sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion
• Chronic cough
• Itchy, watery and red eyes
• Skin rashes and hives
• Sinus headaches
• Reduced lung capacity and difficulty breathing

Certain foods that are processed with mushrooms and dried fruits can aggravate the symptoms of mold allergy. Foods that contain ingredients such as yeast, soy sauce, or vinegar can also upset the body's system and worsen the symptoms.

Who is at greater risk?

People can develop a mold allergy if they or other family members have allergic reactions to substances such as pollen, dust mites or animal dander. However, similar to other allergies, suffering from one type of mold does not necessarily lead to being allergic to all molds since mold spores vary.

People whose occupations regularly expose them to mold are at a greater risk of developing allergies. Farmers, dairymen, loggers, bakers, mill workers, carpenters, greenhouse employees, winemakers and furniture repair persons are often subject to allergic reactions.

Prevention

The chances of getting a mold allergy can be significantly reduced by following these tips:

• Wear a dust mask when cutting grass, digging around plants, picking up leaves and disturbing plant materials
• Reduce the humidity indoors to prevent fungi from growing
• Cluck for mold in your home

Testing

The allergy skin test is the most accurate way of discovering if one is allergic to mold. An alternative is the allergy blood test, which produces the same results as a skin test. The allergy blood test is better suited for people with very sensitive skin, or for people who take medication that may cause inaccurate skin test results.

Treatments

• Medication Medication for mold related allergy is the same as that of pollens and other inhalant allergies, which consists of bronchodilators, antihistamines,
• Immunotherapy A series of injections given in gradually increasing dosages can be administered to help treat mold allergy. The injections include extracts of various allergens to help the body develop a tolerance to that allergen.

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

In reality, having a mold allergy isn't as prevalent as people imagine. That is astonishing considering the amount of mold there is out there in the world. The majority of medical experts agree that of the many different types of molds, only a few dozen are actually potent enough to attack and elicit an allergic reaction. Since molds and fungi can grow in all kinds of weather conditions, those who have mold allergies can have a problem at any time of the year.

There are a lot of asthmatics who are allergic to mold, which aggravates a relatively uncomplicated problem. The ideal strategy for asthmatics allergic to mold is to completely stay away from the source of their allergy. This approach is the single most effective strategy for averting asthma problems triggered by mold. The breathing in of mold seeds that are airborne can be prevented by avoiding substances with mold spores in them.

It might be difficult or impossible to avoid substances with mold spores. If you have asthma, it is particularly a challenge to live with an allergy to mold. It is great that medication for asthma will affect a cure for the symptoms from mold spores and seeds. It is essential to keep asthma medicine handy at all times for people with asthma; especially since mold spores can easily bring on an attack.

Quite simply, when those who have mold allergies encounter mold spores, their bodies behave as if they are being attacked. This is a particular problem for those who have an asthma allergy to mold because it makes the respiratory system fill with mucus. The symptoms created by an asthma allergy can be very serious or even deadly because what brings on a mold allergy is very common.

Although there are not enough allergens present in most kinds of mold to cause serious allergy attacks, they can still be problematic for asthma victims. The best way to prevent both of these problems is to maintain a clean environment for the sufferer and for the victim to always keep medication for asthma and mold allergy symptoms handy.

Attack Back - Mold Allergies

Mold allergies can be a constant source of discomfort. Unlike seasonal allergies that get seasonal time off; or food and pet allergies, which can be physically avoided, mold allergies bother sufferers 24/7. This is because mold is around us all the time, every day, indoors and out, rain or shine.

People with mold allergies tend to have their most severe symptoms in the summertime. But mold spores, the allergen in question, are released into the air in warm or cold weather; in humid or dry conditions. In addition, mold can settle and grow almost anywhere, making nowhere safe for the mold allergy sufferer.

On the bright side - there are thousands of types of molds and only a small few will cause allergies. These generally are the types that live in moisture, such as outdoor mold on damp leaves and grass cuttings or in rotting vegetation and trees. Indoor moisture molds of allergenic nature can grow in the laundry room, bathroom, kitchen, basement, or attic; anywhere moisture gathers.

Symptoms of mold allergies are similar to those of all other allergies - skin irritations, chronic sneezing, nasal congestion and itchy, watery eyes. A doctor can give you a simple skin test to determine if you are allergic to mold. Once diagnosed, a plan for treating the current symptoms and preventing further occurrences can be developed.

Symptoms can be treated by over-the-counter medicines like antihistamines, nasal sprays and decongestants. For a severe reaction, see your doctor. He can get you some prescription strength medications that will do the trick.

The next thing you need to do is remove or minimize all possible sources of the mold allergens from your home. Here are some recommended actions:

1. Assure the house is properly ventilated and have working exhaust fans in each bathroom.

2. Use central air conditioning, if possible. Install a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in the central air conditioning unit. This prevents mold spores from being circulated throughout the home.

3. If you have carpeting in any room that could become damp, like the kitchen, bathroom or basement, remove it. Carpeting plays host to mold and you're better off without it if it could easily get wet.

4. Because mold can accumulate very quickly, bathrooms and kitchens need to be scrubbed frequently.

5. Use a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity levels in your home. If you don't have a dehumidifier, raising the temperature also reduces humidity.

6. Any water draining from the roof should be channeled away from the building's foundation to eliminate the mold growth process closest to you.

7. Any leaks in the home should be repaired as soon as possible to stop any mold growth within the structure that will be harder to detect and get rid of later. This could happen anywhere, but is especially prevalent in roofs, foundations and areas of wall near windows or doors.

8. Steps should be taken to help assure that any place in the yard that becomes damp, especially in close proximity to the house and open windows, should be able to dry. Remove excess foliage, or cut trees, to allow air and sun to get at these areas and dry them out regularly.

Don't let mold allergies get the better of you. Fight back!