How Can You Prevent Or Remove Mold Inside Of Your Home
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To prevent mold in your home, you need to prevent moisture. Mold grows on damp surfaces, often where there is inadequate light.7Thats why basements, attics, and unventilated bathrooms are prime locations for mold to flourish. If you have any type of plumbing leak or a leak in your roof, then you might also be experiencing mold in the ceilings, in the walls, or in other hidden areas of the home. Be aware of any leaks or moisture buildup and get these issues taken care of promptly.
If you have an area that tends to be humid, an air purifier can help keep the air free from mold spores.8Note that if there is already mold growth, that needs to be removed first. A dehumidifier is another good choice if you are looking for a machine to help reduce the mold in your home.
Once you have found mold, particularly if you or someone in your home is experiencing headaches, respiratory issues, or any other symptoms of mold exposure, its best to consult with a mitigation specialist. There are ways to remove some types of mold yourself, but unless you know that your mold is non-toxic, its best not to try, as doing it incorrectly can spread the spores throughout the home. A mold remediation specialist will know how to not only remove the mold but also prevent it from spreading to other rooms while its being removed.
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Even More Ways Mold Can Affect Your Headaches
Mold illness and CIRS both put the body into a state of chronic inflammation. This state of elevated inflammation is thought to be a potential trigger for headaches. Thats right, the age-old cause of headaches and migraines a malformation of the blood vessels in and around your brain is being challenged. Perhaps inflammation is what causes these malformations in your blood vessels to occur in the first place.
Another potential trigger for headaches is asthma. Asthma increases your risk for headaches and migraines by 45%! Mold has been linked to respiratory conditions like asthma for some time. It is thought that mold is responsible for more than 30% of all asthma cases. Even conventional medicine recognizes that mold can be a potential cause of asthma and respiratory conditions!
If youre dealing with chronic fatigue syndrome, its quite likely youre dealing with inflammation of one form or another. Your chronic fatigue could also be caused by allergies. Those with CFS are far more likely to have allergic reactions. 90933-5/pdf” rel=”nofollow”> 25) And those with asthma are 60% more likely to have allergies. Thus both asthma and inflammation could be other potential headache triggers.
Now, I want to hear from you!
What triggers your headaches?
How Do I Know If My Cough Is From Mold
Coughing. Another one of the most immediate symptoms of a mold allergy is a dry and scratchy throat, prompting a nagging cough. In some cases, mold can cause heavier coughs as well. Mucus and histamine production can lead to persistent coughing as your body tries to clear the throat of mucus buildup.
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When To See A Doctor
Its a good idea to see a doctor if youre not sure if your rash is caused by mold or something else. The doctor can order an allergy test that can either confirm your allergy or help you find the cause of your rash.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the following situations warrant a visit to a dermatologist or primary care doctor:
- the rash covers your entire body
- you have a fever
What Are The Symptoms Of Mold Sickness
If your Total Body Burden is high, or you are genetically predisposed to recycling toxins, regular exposure to mold can cause allergy symptoms, such as:
- Wheezing/shortness of breath
- Long standing or frequent sinusitis
And, serious pain and neurological symptoms, such as:
- Headaches and migraines
- Muscle cramping, aches and pains
- Persistent nerve pain
- Fatigue and weakness
- Poor memory, brain fog, difficulty with focus
In some cases, the spores from mold take root and grow in specific parts of the body, such as the lungs and sinuses. This can cause serious respiratory illnesses and infections.
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Does Mold Cause Headaches 5 Sure Signs Of Mold In Your Home
One of the last things you want to discover in your home is mold. Unlike other common home issues, mold is more difficult to fully get rid of and can go unnoticed for quite some time if you dont know what to look for.
If you dont catch mold early on, then itll continue to grow over the years. Living in a home with mold is especially dangerous for young children, older adults, and those with any kind of immunity disorder. One of the most common questions asked is does mold cause headaches and are headaches a sign of mold in the house?
Were here to answer these questions for you by listing a few sure signs that theres mold in the house and the possible cause of your headaches. Continue reading below for everything you need to know about keeping your home, yourself, and your family safe from mold1
What Is Black Mold
Stachybotrys chartarum is a common black mold. It can also be a greenish color. It grows on cotton, wood, and paper products. It sometimes produces toxic chemicals that are found in its airborne spores and fungus fragments.
These are called mycotoxins and are dangerous if they’re eaten. There’s no link to inhaled Stachybotrys chartarum mycotoxins and deadly diseases. But there are risks for people with allergies, asthma, and other hypersensitivities.
There is no evidence that black mold causes symptoms such as fatigue, memory loss, an inability to focus, or a headache. These symptoms have been referred to as “toxic mold syndrome” but are largely due to media hype. Yet some people are allergic to mold. It should always be removed from your home.
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Your Attic Insulation Is Lumpy
Wave off the spider webs and take a closer look at the insulation in your attic. Attic insulation that is very lumpy and uneven-looking may mean a bigger problem, says John Bodrozic, Co-Founder of HomeZada. The insulation could be in bad shape due to unforeseen roof leaks, which could also mean potential mold issues. If your attic has poor circulation or improper ventilation, it could create ideal conditions for mold growth.
Migraines Can Be Caused By Mold In Your Environment
Migraines are a symptom and to treat them, we need to know the cause of this symptom. Without a causative factor, the individual can not be cured of their malady. Without knowing the cause, the symptomatic migraine is only temporarily treated as the causative factor/factors still remain. Treating a migraine does not remove the root of the problem and the issue will always be festering. It is best with any illness to find the causative factor/factors and deal with it/them head-on. Migraines are multi-causal and mold is one of the causes of migraines. It is time practitioners realized migraines can be caused by mold.
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Mold Exposure And Respiratory Conditions
Mold exposure can worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. It can also cause allergic reactions, including sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. People with a mold allergy are more likely to have symptoms when they are exposed to high levels of mold spores, such as during spring and fall when mold levels are highest. If you have a mold allergy, you may want to avoid places where mold is present, such as damp basements or old buildings. You can also take steps to reduce your risk of toxic mold symptoms by using an air purifier with a HEPA filter and keeping the humidity in your home below 50%. If you have a respiratory condition that is made worse by mold exposure, you should see your doctor and discuss treatment options.
How Does Mold Cause Headaches
Although scientists agree that there is a correlation between mold and headaches, there is still some controversy regarding the exact mechanism by which that correlation works. To understand how mold achieves its negative health effects, it is important to know exactly what it is.
As you may know, mold is a species of fungus that can be found everywhere around us. It thrives in moist and warm environments, so youll often notice it in your bathroom, kitchen, or basement.
Mold usually grows on open surfaces, including walls, wood, and wallpaper. When it gets in direct contact with water, it spreads and reproduces by creating the so-called mold spores. These spores are sometimes released into the air, making them very easy to inhale. While they are fairly harmless in small amounts, exposure to large amounts of mold spores can trigger a strong allergic reaction.
The symptoms resemble those of other allergies, including coughing, sneezing, mucus, runny nose, itching, and dry skin. Because they affect your respiratory tract including the sinuses most allergies can also cause headaches that can last for days on end. For this reason, most scientists believe that mold-related headaches are a symptom of mold allergies.
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How Common Is Mold In Buildings
Mold is very common in homes and buildings.
One 2017 study found mold in every public building studied, with an average of about 14 instances of mold per building.
Another involving 31 European countries found mold in 1 in 6 homes. The author noted that the prevalence of mold may vary greatly depending on the regional climate.
Who Can I Contact About Black Mold In My Apartment
If there is mold in your apartment, you need to notify your landlord immediately. You might also consider asking your landlord to bring in a professional mold inspector. Mold usually grows in difficult to see places, like behind walls or appliances, and the professionals will have equipment to detect it.
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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.
Your Head + Mold = Pain
Let me be crystal clear, the connection between mold and headaches isnt clearly established. If youre a patient, be prepared to get a lot of pushback from your family physician. Mold illness still isnt recognized as a disease, let alone a cause of headaches or migraines.
If youre a practitioner, youll likely get a lot of pushback from your colleagues and respective colleges. In the context of headaches, we cannot conclusively say mold is the cause. But thats no reason for you to give up on further investigating toxic mold illness and CIRS in your patient populations.
There have been studies published that do strongly show the connection between sick building syndrome and headaches/migraines. What these studies dont show is whether or not its mold thats causing the headaches. It could be. But these studies did not isolate mold as the sole cause of headaches.
There are studies that show molds profoundly negative effect on the central nervous system . Headaches are, of course, one symptom strongly associated with central nervous system abnormalities. Mold has been found to enter the CNS through inhalation, IV drug use, surgery, and even via contaminated medical supplies.
Another study found that those with irritation/inflammation of the mucous membranes inside their nose had a significantly higher prevalence of headaches and migraines. Those with rhinitis have often had mold exposures.
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A Qualified Environmental Lab Took Samples Of The Mold In My Home And Gave Me The Results Can Cdc Interpret These Results
Standards for judging what is an acceptable, tolerable or normal quantity of mold have not been established. Sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable quantity of mold have not been set. The best practice is to remove the mold and work to prevent future growth. If you do decide to pay for environmental sampling for molds, before the work starts, you should ask the consultants who will do the work to establish criteria for interpreting the test results. They should tell you in advance what they will do or what recommendations they will make based on the sampling results. The results of samples taken in your unique situation cannot be interpreted without physical inspection of the contaminated area or without considering the buildings characteristics and the factors that led to the present condition.
Your Planter Of Begonias Is Leaking
Exterior landscaping that is close to the home, as well as planters placed against exterior walls, can also lead to mold issues, especially for stucco homes, says Gregg Cantor, President and CEO of Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel. Moisture finds its way inside the walls and can cause mold growth in the drywall and insulation. This type of mold growth can be particularly dangerous because its rarely caught until the mold shows up on the interior of the wall, at which point the growth can be extensive and a danger to your health, says Cantor.
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Is A Sore Throat The Worst Reaction You Can Have To Mold
To some people, a sore throat isnt so bad. Its a minor irritation, but theyll get on with their day.
However, a sore throat is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the damage mold can cause to the human body. The allergic reactions spurred by mold can lead to infections, hypersensitivity disorders, difficulty breathing, organ damage, mental impairment, and in extremely rare cases, death.
Your Asthma Is Acting Up
Mold spores can find their way into the lungs and trigger asthma symptoms. One study found that dampness or mold in houses could account for one in five cases of asthma in the United States. If your asthma seems to be getting worse, you may have undetected mold in your house, according to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America. The group warns that mold can also cause a rare but more serious condition called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: This is a dramatic allergic and inflammatory reaction that leads to severe sneezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.
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What Is Mold Fogging
Fogging refers to the method of using an antimicrobial pesticide in an aerosolized form in order to kill mold present in a property. The top issues with using the chemicals in this manner are the delivery of the antimicrobial, efficiency, and the potential toxicity of the compounds being utilized.
What Are The Symptoms Of Mold Poisoning
Mold poisoning occurs when a person is exposed to harmful mold spores. These spores can cause a variety of health problems, including respiratory problems, skin irritation, and allergic reactions. Some people may also experience more serious health complications, such as fever, difficulty breathing, and gastrointestinal issues. Mold poisoning is particularly dangerous for young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. If you think you may have been exposed to mold, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible.
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Youre Coughing But Dont Have A Cold
The mycotoxin spores can find their way into your lungs and lead to a chronic, lingering cough. Your next step should be a call to an allergist. Testing by a board-certified allergist is most helpful, advises Dr. Parikh. There is a lot of mold testing out there that is not evidence-based. If you get a positive test for mold, the next step is to hire a mold eradication expert and address the problem.
How Do Molds Get In The Indoor Environment And How Do They Grow
Mold is found both indoors and outdoors. Mold can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, and pets can and be carried indoors. When mold spores drop on places where there is excessive moisture, such as where leakage may have occurred in roofs, pipes, walls, plant pots, or where there has been flooding, they will grow. Many building materials provide suitable nutrients that encourage mold to grow. Wet cellulose materials, including paper and paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood, and wood products, are particularly conducive for the growth of some molds. Other materials such as dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation materials, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery, commonly support mold growth.
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