Thursday, March 21, 2024

Can Mold Affect Your Throat

First Though What Exactly Are Lymph Nodes

How Mold Can Make You Sick

Lymph nodes are part of your immune system. They break down pathogens and filter toxins for removal from your body. They contain lots of white blood cells and lymphocytes that help fight infection.

There are more than 700 lymph nodes in your body. They are round or oval in shape and range in size from half a centimeter to two centimeters in diameter, though they can swell to several times that size. Lymph nodes are clustered in your armpits, groin, neck and abdomen. Some are close to the surface of the skin and can be easily felt, while others are much deeper.

Causes Of Damp And Mould

Mould and damp are caused by excess moisture. Moisture in buildings can be caused by leaking pipes, rising damp in basements or ground floors, or rain seeping in because of damage to the roof or around window frames.

A newly built home may be damp if the water used when building it is still drying out for example, in the plaster on the walls. Excess moisture indoors can also be caused by condensation.

If you have mould or damp it’s important to find out why you have excess moisture in your home. When you know what’s causing the damp, you can make sure your home is repaired or take steps to limit the moisture in the air. You may need to get a professional to remove mould for you, but if it’s only a small amount you may be able to remove it yourself.

Page last reviewed: 8 August 2018 Next review due: 8 August 2021

How Can Mold Affect My Health

Many molds can cause health effects. Molds produce allergens, irritants and,sometimes, toxins that may cause adverse reactions in humans. A reaction tomold depends on how much a person is exposed to, the age of the person and thepersons sensitivities or allergies. The same amount of mold may causehealth effects in one person, but not in another.

Exposure to mold can cause a variety of symptoms. Sensitive people who havetouched or inhaled mold or mold spores may have allergic reactions such as arunny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, watery eyes, skin rash and itching. Molds can trigger asthma attacks in people who are allergic tomolds, causing wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. A diseaselike pneumonia may also develop after exposure to mold, but this is uncommon.

Infectious diseases from molds can occur in people with weakened immunesystems, such as those who are immune-compromised or immune-suppressed fromdrug treatment. Some types of mold are known to cause infections inimmune-compromised people. Such infections can affect the skin, eyes, lungs orother organs. These are considered opportunistic infections that usually do notaffect healthy people.

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What Should I Do If I Suspect Mold In My House

Youll need to address the cause of the mold such as water damage, excessive condensation, poor ventilation, and so on. The best way to make sure you get rid of mold in your house is to hire a professional mold inspector. They will conduct a thorough examination of your home, and assess the molds that are present.

Indoor Mold: A Threat To Our Health

Exposure To Mold May Affect Your Physical Health

According to the World Health Organization, up to half of the buildings in North America are water damaged and, thus, prime real estate for indoor molds. Molds such as Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus thrive in damp environments rich in porous materials, such as particleboard, wood, and drywall. In the presence of these materials, a small water leak from a poorly sealed window or a hole in a basement foundation is all it takes to trigger a bloom of mold growth, with potentially drastic repercussions for residents health.

Once mold has established itself in a water-damaged indoor environment, it begins to release secondary metabolites called mycotoxins. Examples of mycotoxins include trichothecenes, produced by the Fusarium fungus, and gliotoxin and ochratoxin A, produced by Aspergillus fungi.

Mycotoxins pose a serious threat to human health, particularly when they are inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed via dermal contact in moldy buildings. The adverse health effects of mycotoxins are compounded by the presence of other biotoxins in damp buildings, including bacterial endotoxin, fungal and bacterial cell wall fragments, and microbial volatile organic compounds .

The constellation of symptoms caused by mold and biotoxin exposure is referred to as mold illness, biotoxin illness, or chronic inflammatory response syndrome . While mold and mycotoxins impact diverse body systems, the cognitive effects are among the most disconcerting.

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Quick Read With Spring Comes Mold

  • Your bathroom, kitchen or basement are probably crawling in it right about now.
  • Mold is not only gross to look atit can cause infections and allergy symptoms in people who are allergic to mold or have a compromised immune system.
  • The best way to avoid mold issues to prevent it from thriving in your home.

At the tail end of a long rainy season, the Pacific Northwest is rewarded with cherry blossoms, camellias and magnolias in bloom. Its not all beautiful flowers, bright green grass and magical-looking moss, though. Rainy season also creates the perfect environment for moldsometimes lots of itto invade our homes.

Mold thrives in moist environments, such as bathrooms, kitchens and basements. And its more likely to come out during Seattles fall, winter and early spring months when its wet out and there is a more dramatic temperature difference between the indoors and outdoors, explains Brandon Kemperman, an occupational health and safety specialist for Environmental Health & Safety at the University of Washington. When its chilly and damp outside and toasty inside, condensation can form on surfaces in your homeespecially if there isnt adequate ventilationthat are ideal breeding grounds for mold.

Not only is mold less appealing to the eye than spring blooms, it also can destroy your belongings and may contribute to nagging allergy symptoms in some people.

Who Is At Risk For Mold Toxicity

While anyone can become ill from exposure to mold and its mycotoxins, some are more susceptible than others.

People who already have allergies or asthma can be more severely affected by mold toxicity than those who do not have allergies.

Also, people who are already ill, have immune suppression, or who have respiratory illnesses are more likely to have noticeable and intense symptoms resulting from mold exposure.

Symptoms of mold toxicity are relatively persistent and should not be ignored.

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Can Mold Cause A Sore Throat Yes But You Can Stop It

Dr. Michael Kaplan and the specialists at Kaplan Sinus Relief are frequently asked questions like Can mold cause a sore throat? and Does sinus surgery help allergies? We are here to provide our patients with personalized care for your allergies.

Ready to experience relief? Let our team help find a treatment that works for you. Visit Kaplan Sinus Relief online to request an appointment or give us a call at 713-766-1818 today.

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Does This Sound Familiar

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While allergic reactions to substances like peanuts and bee stings are unmistakable, a mold allergy certainly sounds a lot like just being sick. Mold allergies are not just uncomfortable but deceptive as well. Diagnosing a mold allergy can be challenging because its so easy to mistake it for a cold, the flu, or another upper respiratory infection. What sets a mold allergy apart?

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Can Mold Cause Strep Throat

In light of the simple fact that most people are allergic to mold, the simple answer to this question is it depends. While mold is not known to cause strep throat infection, it is known to cause an allergic reaction in individuals including coughing and wheezing.

Specifically, strep throat is actually caused by a group of bacteria called streptococcus bacteria. Strep is spread by touching a surface colonized with this highly contagious bacteria and transferring it to the eyes, nose, or mouth.

For those individuals with previously compromised immune systems, including the elderly and children, exposure to mold can cause serious respiratory problems. If mold throat infection is left untreated, it can potentially spread to other parts of the body, causing kidney inflammation, scarlet, and rheumatic fever. Yikes!

Can Mold Cause Throat Infection

Exposure to mold can have numerous negative outcomes. One consequence can include a sore throat from the mold. Allergies from mold exposure are nothing new, but many people are not aware that mold throat infection is just as common. Itchy eyes, runny nose, sinus pressure, and chronic cough are the well-known symptoms of exposure to a mold source, but a sore throat from the mold is more common since mold can often be airborne.

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What Are Common Mold Allergy Symptoms

Like other environmental allergens, mold allergy symptoms include:

  • Sneezing
  • Congestion
  • Dry skin

Since mold allegories occur when you breathe in mold spores, many also experience asthma. When the spores reach the lungs, a chemical reaction takes place. This reaction can happen immediately or be delayed, leading to nasal congestion or worsening asthma over time.

Your symptoms can get worse when spending time in a damp basement or other room with mold.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a more severe allergic reaction to mold that some patients experience. This occurs when you have both an allergic and an inflammatory response to mold spores and can cause severe wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.

What Does Mold Look Like On Carpet

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Mold is a fungus that colonizes dry biofilm, typically on wet cellulose surfaces. It typically appears as light patches on the carpet. The more humid the carpet, the more likely the mold will grow.

Mold can be identified by observing its spores or fruiting bodies, or it may be detected using chemical tests which are either by their color reactions or by the substances they liberate. Mold has a distinctive musty odor which is evident in most cases of obvious contamination.

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Reactions To Mold Can Vary

Before we delve deeper into mold allergy causes and treatments, its important to note that not all individuals will experience a sore throat in reaction to a mold allergy. Similar to other upper respiratory allergies, a reaction to mold can make itself known via a variety of symptoms, including:

  • Sneezing
  • Inflammation and swelling of the lungs and/or throat

Mold allergies may also be linked to a family history of allergies or asthma.

What Are The Symptoms Of Long Term Mold Exposure

Mold is also known to cause asthma and life-threatening primary and secondary infections in immune-compromised patients that have been exposed. Toxic mold exposure has also been linked to more serious, long-term effects like memory loss, insomnia, anxiety, depression, trouble concentrating, and confusion.

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When To Seek Medical Help If You Breathed In Mold

If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, especially if they persist and dont respond to typical medications, it is best to visit your doctor.

Although mold exposure and the symptoms of mold exposure are not typically emergencies, they can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.

There are some cases where symptoms warrant an emergency.

If you experience the following, immediately go to the nearest emergency room:

  • Significant difficulty breathing

Side Effects Of Breathing Mold And Mildew

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The quality of the air you breathe is vital for your well-being. There are thousands of microbial contaminants in the air that may pose health hazards. Fungi, which are ubiquitous in distribution are one such grave threat to your health in indoor environments. Molds are the most common forms of fungi found on earth. And mildew refers to certain kinds of mold or fungus. They reproduce through the formation of spores, which are tiny microscopic cells that float through the air. These mild spores are not always dangerous. We are exposed to them daily, both indoors and outdoors.

Outdoors, molds take part in the decomposition of organic matter such as dead trees, compost, and leaves. But, when they land on a moist surface indoors, they may grow, posing dangers. Molds survive and grow in warm, humid, and damp conditions.1 So, usually they are found in places such as basements or showers where there is high humidity. They also grow on cardboard, wood products, wallpaper, ceiling tiles, paint, and paper products.

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What Are The Treatments For Mold Allergy

In some cases, there may be ways to reduce or remove mold exposure. This may not always be possible and you may need medications.

  • Avoid contact with mold.
  • Take medications for nasal or other allergic symptoms. Antihistamines and nasal steroids are available over the counter without a prescription. If you have allergic asthma, talk to your doctor about which medicines may be best for you. You might also be a candidate for allergy shots. Allergy shots may help reduce symptoms and medications. Learn more about allergy treatments.

Look for this mark to find products proven more suitable for people with asthma and allergies. Find CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® products on our Certification program website.

Do You Suffer From Mold Exposure Symptoms

If you realize that you suffer from several or all of these symptoms on a regular basis, it is advisable that you inspect your home for mold. It is also wise to track how your symptoms occur. If you leave your home each day to work and notice that you feel better during the day, this can be a clear indicator that something in your home is causing your distress. The same can be said if you travel and find yourself in better health then. Your home shouldnt make you sick and finding and treating the mold problem will ensure that doesnt happen. 24 Restore in Minneapolis specializes in mold removal and help answer any questions you might have. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and wonder if mold might be to blame call 24 Restoretoday.

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Very Professional!

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Everyone was on top of everything and got back to me in a reasonable time. Clean up was done absolutely perfect at the end of each job.

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How To Prevent Mold Exposure In Your Home

Mold exposure may adversely affect your health, even if you do not have asthma or a mold allergy. By keeping your home clean and free of visible mold, you can help reduce your daily exposure to the airborne allergen. Mold can start to grow when mold spores land on any wet surface in your home, and signs of mold growth include water stains and an earthy, musty odor.

You can help prevent mold growth in your home by:

While the ideal situation is to prevent mold growth in the first place, you cannot always avoid stumbling upon a surprise patch of mold in your home. If this happens to you, try to eliminate the source of excess moisture and clean up the mold as quickly as possible using detergent and water, according to the EPA. You may have to throw away any porous or absorbent materials that have been become moldy. When you are finished, you should make sure that the entire area, including all furniture and other objects that have come into contact with the mold, is completely dry.

Black Mold Is Toxigenic

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Certain molds prove toxigenic, which means that they produce mycotoxins that cause ill health effects. A little mold is everywhere, but not all mold is poisonous. That doesnt mean you should ignore mold.

Most are familiar with black mold, which is toxigenic and produces mold spores. These form colonies and grow with other spores. High concentrations of these mycotoxins can cause mold poisoning in healthy people, too.

Mold poisoning is also known as mycotoxicosis. This condition affects the upper respiratory system with harmful cold or flu-like symptoms. Additional symptoms due to mycotoxins can prove fatal. Thats especially true for those with severe allergies, asthma or other conditions.

Green-black mold is also harmful. Its found on paper, dust, lint, fiberboard and other low-nitrogen content materials. It can develop and spread after water leaks, floods and condensation.

Until you know more, treat all molds the same due to the potential long-term side effects and health risks. Take mold growth seriously. You will usually see the mold colony and smell the signature musty smell.

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How Do Molds Affect People

Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens and irritants. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash.

Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing.

The above does not describe all potential health effects related to mold exposure. For more detailed information consult a health professional, your state or local health department, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mold website.

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