Mold Allergy - Hidden Cause of Many Symptoms.

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.

Having unexplained allergy symptoms can be extremely frustrating. You don't know what is wrong, but you know that you are getting sick. Hidden mold within the home has been brought to the public's attention since Hurricane Katrina flooded homes in the southern states. The growth of mold in the damaged homes has caused many people to develop mold allergies.

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.

There is a specific mold that grows in homes that can cause allergies in people. Black mold can grow in dry wall, carpet, wallpaper, fiber-board, ceiling tiles and insulation. This mold usually begins with the materials in your home getting wet. While flooding is a major culprit, a small leak can be just as hazardous if you have a mold allergy.

There are thousands of different types of mold, but only a few of them cause allergic reactions in people.

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.

Mold is everywhere in our environment and it and usually found in the soil and it also floats harmlessly through the air. When the mold spores begin to multiply in a confined area, they can cause an allergic reaction in people who already have a mold allergy.

Mold allergy symptoms include sneezing, runny nose or eyes, nasal congestion, persistent coughing, headaches, and asthma attacks.

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.

For anyone who has a mold allergy, it is important to them to locate and eliminate the source of the mold. The process of finding and eliminating the mold can help reduce or alleviate the symptoms the mold allergy sufferer is enduring.

The mold within your home will grow steadily because of the warm moist environment and it will cause the person with the mold allergy to have worsening symptoms.

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.

As the mold continues to grow, it sends spoors out into the air that are circulated through the home heating system. The spoors spread and attach themselves to everything in the home. In extremely severe cases, people have had to leave their homes and all of their possessions because everything is contaminated with the mold.

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

To move the items within the house would spread the mold spoors to their new home.

A person with a mold allergy may find that taking over-the-counter antihistamines helps to reduce or eliminate their symptoms.

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.

In more severe instances, the treatment for individuals with mold allergies may include allergen immunotherapy. The patient is given injections of a special formula of medication which contains the allergens that directly bother them. The allergy shots desensitize the patient’s response when they come into contact with the item in the future.

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.

Using injections as an allergy treatment may take several weeks, if not months, to help the patient build up a sufficient resistance to the allergen.

It is important to find out if your mold allergy is being caused by the everyday mold that is in the air or if it is a more serious problem in your home.

Because mold can accumulate very quickly, bathrooms and kitchens need to be scrubbed frequently... [read more]

Remember that having a mold allergy can be detrimental to your long-term health and finding and treating your mold allergy is important.