Thursday, March 21, 2024

Does Mold Cause Sore Throat

Avoiding Future Exposure To Mold

Antibiotic Awareness: Sore Throat or Pharyngitis

Its important to thoroughly remove all molds from your home and then take steps to prevent mold from returning. You need to do this in order to prevent future mold-related illness. You will need to figure out what caused mold to start growing in your home to begin with, and then to correct the problem in order to prevent mold from returning. That means:

  • Identifying and stopping the source of any moisture
  • Removing any contaminated materials, and
  • Cleaning all the areas in the home that have been affected by mold

What Are Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds

Another source of irritation from mold exposure comes from substances knownas microbial volatile organic compounds . These compounds are producedthrough fungal metabolism and are released directly into the air, often givingoff strong or unpleasant odors. Exposure to mVOCs from molds can irritate theeyes and respiratory system and has been linked to symptoms such as headaches,dizziness, fatigue, nasal irritation and nausea. The effects of mVOCs are notcompletely understood and research is still in the early stages.

Exposure To Mold Has Several Symptoms Including:

A skin rash: Although you may think that the skin can only become inflamed by direct contact with the mold this isnt always the case. You can develop redness in your skin simply from inhaling the fumes from the mold.

Eye irritation: Mold can cause both redness and watering of the eyes. During the spring months, many people associate this with seasonal allergies when in actuality the cause is the mold within their home or office.

Headaches: Breathing in mold can cause headaches in some people. This is especially true of people who suffer with migraines. They are very sensitive to certain stimulants and mold can be one of them.

Feeling tired: Feeling tired for several days in a row, even when you are getting adequate sleep can be a symptom of mold exposure.

Sore throat: Experiencing a raw feeling when swallowing, or hoarseness when speaking, are both indicative of mold exposure. Spores can become lodged in the throat and irritate the sensitive membranes.

Shortness of breath: Breathing in mold spores can cause respiratory difficulties in some people. This is especially prevalent in those with allergies. They may even develop asthma or may have asthma and not realize that their asthma attacks are being trigged by the mold in their homes.

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Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today

Are you noticing any of the signs of mold exposure, like watery eyes, a sore throat, or a wet cough? If so, there may be mold in your home or office. To eliminate your symptoms, you need to find the source of the mold and have it removed. For treatment in the meantime, contact us today at Medical Transformation Center in Louisville, KY to schedule an initial consultation.

What Is Black Mold

Can Mold Make You Cough?

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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How Do You Know If Mold Is Making You Sick

Mold allergies can be tricky to understand. For one, only certain strains of mold alternaria, aspergillus, cladosporium, and penicillium cause allergies, and if youre allergic to one type of mold, that doesnt necessarily mean youll react to others.

The second sticking point is identifying what exactly about mold causes allergies. Many people think that the culprit behind their mold allergies is mold spores. In a way, thats true, but to get to the true culprit, you have to peel back one more layer of the onion. Mold spores release chemicals called mycotoxins. Mycotoxins trigger an immune system response in those with mold allergies, which can lead to inflamed sinuses and a sore throat. Thats why when the mold spore count is high in your area, you should be on the alert for potential allergy symptoms: youre more likely to come into contact with mycotoxins at that time.

Now that you can answer the questions, Can mold cause a sore throat and What causes mold allergies? you probably want to make sure that its actually mold thats making you sick. The best way to check your allergens is to take an allergy test, but the next best thing is eradicating mold in your environment and seeing if your symptoms decrease.

What Causes Mold Allergies

The root cause of mold allergies is similar to that of other types of allergies: the hypersensitivity of the bodys immune system to certain invading or foreign elements, in this case, fungal spores. This overreaction results in antibody production, leading to repeat episodes in future contact with the allergen.

Molds occur in almost every human setting. They are also associated with certain foods and medications. Not all molds cause allergies but several common forms do, including aspergillus, cladosporium, alternaria, and penicillium. Several factors may increase your risk of developing a mold allergy:

  • A family history of allergies or asthma
  • An occupation with significant mold exposures
  • A house or apartment with poor ventilation
  • A house or apartment with high humidity, water seepage, or flood damage

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How To Prevent Allergic Reactions To Mold

The key to controlling mold allergies is reducing your exposure to mold, whether indoors or out. Here are some steps you can take at home to lessen the likelihood of mold growth:

  • Eliminate sources of water or dampness in your basement
  • Change your furnace filters every three months
  • Use a dehumidifier in spots where moisture accumulates
  • Use air conditioners with high-efficiency particulate air filters
  • Adequately ventilate bathrooms, washrooms, and kitchens
  • Remove carpets from bathrooms and washrooms
  • Promote groundwater drainage on your property
  • Throw away old books, magazines, and newspapers
  • Clean out drains and other water-collection points
  • Remove garbage from the premises
  • Wear a mask when gardening or working outdoors

How Do I Know If I Have A Mold Allergy

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Allergy or allergy-like symptoms, especially those of the upper respiratory system, are common, and may result from a number of medical conditions. You will need to see your physician for a proper evaluation. He or she may take the following steps to diagnose your case:

  • Conduct a physical examination
  • Document your symptoms and family medical history
  • Administer a radioallergosorbent, or RAST, test to identify your allergen or allergens
  • Conduct a skin-prick test
  • Administer an IgE antibody test

The skin-prick test involves injecting tiny amounts of potential irritants under your skin, to look for evidence of an allergic response . The IgE antibody test indicates past contact with an allergen.

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Black Mold Exposure Can Damage Your Circulatory System

Black mold spores can be inhaled, consumed, or absorbed through a persons skin or eyes. When mycotoxins find their way into the bloodstream, mycotoxins have the potential to cause serious damage.

Symptoms of circulatory system damage from black mold include:

  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Bleeding in the brain

How Do I Prevent Getting Strep Throat

There are a number of ways you can do to avoid getting infected.

Because the ailment is caused by a certain type of bacteria, you can avoid suffering from such a severe reaction to it by boosting your immune system just do the things your doctor would typically as of you, like:

  • Drinking plenty of water
  • Regularly exercising

If someone you know is infected, stay far from that person!

As we said before, strep throat is highly contagious, and most people only develop strep throat from the infected people around them.

As bad as this sounds dont share personal items.

Thats right, even letting your best friend sip from your soda drink should be avoided, if you want to avoid infection.

The same should and can be said for other items that you may use regularly your eating and cooking utensils, if used by someone already suffering from a sore throat, should be put out of commission for a while.

Homeowners especially parents also typically ask if theres an environmental factor that could be causing their throat pains.

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What Can I Drink To Detox My Lungs

Here are a few detox drinks that can help improve your lungs and overall health during the winter season: Honey and hot water. This powerful drink can help detoxify the body and fight off the effects of pollutants. Green tea. Cinnamon water. Ginger and turmeric drink. Mulethi tea. Apple, beetroot, carrot smoothie.

How Saunas Help With The Common Cold

Is it Strep Throat? How to Tell and When to be Seen

Since the common cold is a virus, antibiotics wont help. While saunas are not a cure-all for common colds, they can certainly help reduce symptoms and perhaps lead to a faster recovery. Saunas can reduce inflammation , open up nasal passages, and help clear up congestion.

While alleviating these cold symptoms, the increased heat can also help kill the virus in your body. Routine use of a sauna has numerous immune-boosting effects, which can help prevent you from catching a cold in the future.

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What Should I Do If I Have Any Of These Symptoms Of Mold Exposure

Your first port of call is your doctor. He or she can rule out other health problems that might be causing your symptoms. Know that a physician cant diagnose mold exposure using just blood or urine tests. Youll need to have your home or workplace inspected by professionals. You might think that you can simply check with your family or colleagues to see if they exhibit similar symptoms. But unfortunately, some people are more sensitive to mold than others. So you might develop symptoms and the guy in the next cubicle is none the wiser.

Your doctor will prescribe a program of treatment. But there are things that you can do to help:
  • Don a protective mask and gloves to clean any visible mold in your home.
  • Report the mold to the building manager if its in your workplace.
  • Keep on top of mold growth to stop it from releasing as many spores.
  • Run a dehumidifier in the bathroom or kitchen to make them less attractive spaces for mold to grow.
  • Once youve removed the visible mold, have your air ducts cleaned regularly.

If youve recently had mold removed from your home call Fresh Aire Duct Cleaning at 275-5556 or contact us online to schedule a duct cleaning service in Los Angeles! You need to make sure youre not simply transmitting mold spores around your home.

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How Mold Affects Your Throat

Many people are allergic to mold. When youre allergic to something, your immune system perceives it as potentially harmful, even when its not harmful, or at least not harmful in small amounts. Your immune system begins to mount a defense against the perceived threat, including an inflammatory response. That response can cause inflammation or swelling in the throat, airways, and lungs. The inflammation in the throat can cause throat pain or discomfort.

In addition, tiny mold spores are easily inhaled, and they can cause irritation to the nose, throat, airways, and lungs. This can also lead to a sore throat.

Finally, the inflammatory response and irritation in the nasal cavity and sinuses often leads to a runny nose. That can cause post-nasal drip, a condition in which excess mucous drips down the back of the throat. This further irritates the throat, causing additional pain.

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How Can Mold Cause Sore Throat

These bacteria can also be described as mycotoxins chemicals released from mold spores that cause allergic reactions. When the body perceives these chemicals to be even the slightest bit harmful, it will present a defense against the perceived threat in the form of an inflammatory response, causing further inflammation and swelling in the lungs, throat, and other airways.

This will further exacerbate pain and discomfort from the reaction. This mixture of inhaled spores and irritated nose and throat is the perfect cocktail for a sore throat.

Can Black Mold Cause Respiratory Problems

Sore Throat from Cold or Allergies: How to Know the Difference

In a residential setting, people are generally exposed to black mold through breathing in mold spores and mycotoxins. When ingested, mold spores have the potential to cause irritation and a burning sensation in air passages, such as the nasal cavity, mouth, and throat.

Some common symptoms for respiratory issues from black mold exposure include:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Nose bleeds
  • Runny, itchy, or stuffy nose
  • Bleeding gums
  • Burning sensation of the mouth
  • Wheezing
  • Bleeding or swelling in the lungs

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How To Minimize Your Risk

To know how to protect yourself, start by knowing where mold spores thrive. Besides growing best in warm, damp, humid spots. Outside, youll find mold in shady, damp areas or where leaves or other vegetation break down. Inside, mold grows in high-humidity locations, such as basements and showers, she says.

If you are prone to breathing problems, such as asthma, you should consider limiting exposure to damp, humid areas such as basements and saunas, she says.

Here are other things you can do to minimize your mold exposure risk:

  • Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier to keep humidity levels below 50% at all times.
  • Check the humidity level in your home at least once a day because humidity changes with temperature shifts.
  • Be sure your home is adequately ventilated. If you have exhaust fans, use them especially when you shower.
  • Use paints fortified with mold inhibitors.
  • Use mold-killing bathroom cleaning products, such as bleach.
  • Dont carpet bedrooms or bathrooms. If you own your home and can afford to, remove carpeting from your home and replace with another surface, such as laminate tile, thats easy to clean.
  • Remove or replace carpets and upholstery that have gotten wet or soaked through in the past as these are breeding grounds for mold spores.

When Should I Be Concerned About Sore Throat

In most cases, your sore throat will improve with at-home treatment. However, it’s time to see your doctor if a severe sore throat and a fever over 101 degrees lasts longer than one to two days you have difficulty sleeping because your throat is blocked by swollen tonsils or adenoids or a red rash appears.

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Are Saunas And Steam Rooms Sanitary

Whether a sauna or steam room is sanitary or not depends highly on the owner and the frequency of their cleanings. Most saunas in gyms and health clubs are kept clean as we argued in our guide all about their cleanliness.

Some of them even post outside the door the last time the room has been cleaned, while others are questionable at best. If you walk into a sauna and it looks icky or you can see mold and mildew, leave and never come back. In fact, maybe even call the health department.

Can Sauna Use Cause A Sore Throat

What Does Black Mold Look Like

Saunas may cause sore throats a bit more than any other public area. It can be easier to catch something because the warmth of the sauna is a perfect environment for the replication of germs and bacteria. However, the dryness is not. Pathogens replicate better with proper heat however, they dont spread easily in dry conditions.While saunas are dry, i.e., they generally have low humidity, there are moisture-producing things in saunas. Those moisture producers are people with their sweat. So, if another sauna guest is sick and sweaty, they can spread their pathogens to you and leave you with a sore throat.

The ability to spread nasty bugs is compounded by the tight quarters of most saunas. If youre in a sauna with many other people, theres a very high chance youll breathe in vapor they exhaled and catch sore-throat causing viruses or bacteria in your esophagus.

While saunas can create a perfect breeding ground for germs, especially if they havent been cleaned properly , viruses, and bacteria alike, saunas also have immune system boosting effects that can help your body prevent and better fight off colds if used regularly.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Mold Exposure

Exposure to mold can be dangerous. If you are only exposed for a short amount of time, you may be fine. However, if there is mold in your house, you could suffer from serious consequences. Today, our medical experts at Medical Transformation Center in Louisville, KY are discussing the symptoms of mold exposure, how to mitigate the risk of future exposure, and more.

How Do You Know If Your House Is Making You Sick

Is Your House Making You Sick?

  • Respiratory Symptoms congestion, aggravated asthma or allergies, sinus infections.
  • Cognitive Issues foggy thinking, sleep disturbance, frequent headaches.
  • Emotional Changes feeling agitated or depressed.
  • Physical Symptoms stomach discomfort, muscle aches, fatigue, rashes, sore throat.
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    Watery Or Irritated Eyes

    When allergens are present, the body releases histamines as part of its immune response. This histamine release is what causes the eyes to water excessively when exposed to toxins from mold.

    This reaction from histamine may be the bodys way of flushing out allergens and toxins. It can serve as a warning to you that your environment may contain dangerous black mold.

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