Allergy Doctors In Oak Brook
Mold allergies can really put a damper on daily life. If you believe you may be suffering from mold allergies or any other type of allergy, be sure to visit an experienced physician who can help you get your allergies under control. Our skilled doctors at Oak Brook Allergists provide excellent and thorough care to our patients in Chicagoland, from diagnosis to treatment to management of your allergies.
Call us today at 574-0460 or fill out our online appointment request form to schedule an appointment. We look forward to serving you and helping you feel healthy and enjoy breathing deeply every season.
Can Mold Grow In Your Lungs
Mold can grow in damaged lungs or in people with a problem with their immune system. It is rare for it to grow in healthy lungs in people with an intact immune system. Aspergillosis is an example of this.
These are some of the more common manifestations of exposure to mold but there are others. If you think that you may be affected by mold you should consult a health professional.
Mildew is another type of fungus that grows when there is water available. As a general rule Mildew tends not to damage the surfaces on which it is growing like mold does. Also it is easier to remove and has fewer health implications.
How Do Doctors Diagnose Mold Allergy
To diagnose an allergy to mold or fungi, the doctor will take a complete medical history. If they suspect a mold allergy, the doctor often will do skin tests or allergen specific IgE blood tests. Extracts of different types of fungi may be used to scratch or prick the skin. If there is no reaction, then you probably dont have an allergy. The doctor uses the patient’s medical history, the skin testing results and the physical exam to diagnose a mold allergy.
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Question 4 Of : How Do You Get Rid Of Mold In Your Lungs
How Can You Remove Mold
Mold is often difficult to remove in the home. It can even lurk inside walls. Its best if someone other than the person with the mold allergy works to remove the mold.
First, identify the source of the moisture that is allowing the mole to grow and fix the source if you can. Remove any carpet or drywall that has had mold growing on it. If the mold is extensive, you may need to hire a mold remediation contractor.
If materials cannot be removed, you can remove visible mold and mildew with a household bleach solution or non-toxic mix of 1 tablespoon baking soda, 2 tablespoons white vinegar and 1 quart water.
Following cleaning, a dehumidifier is often useful in not allowing mold to regrow.
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What Steps Can One Take For Mold Allergy Prevention
There is no mold allergy cure. The best way to stay allergy free is by avoiding mold spores. Although it is difficult to outrun mold, you can stick to the following home remedies to prevent your exposure to them
- Eliminate sources of dampness around you, especially in the basement
- Use a dehumidifier. Mold thrives in humidity, so it is best to keep the humidity levels below 50% at home
- Use an air conditioner, preferably one with a high efficiency particulate air filter attachment
- Change filters on your furnace and air conditioner regularly
- Ensure proper ventilation in all the bathrooms
- Dont carpet bathrooms and basements
- Keep organic plant containers clean and dry
- Toss or recycle old newspapers and books
When you are venturing outside, ensure your follow the following steps to avoid mold
- Avoid going through places that can have high mold counts, such as a pile of dead leaves, damp areas, greenhouses and uncut fields among others
- Wear a dust mask when youre out on a trek or going backpacking in the jungle
- Keep your backyard and surroundings clean and dry as they are breeding grounds for mold
- Avoid going out at night, especially during rainy season
How To Help Reduce Mold
You can lessen your allergies with medication, cleaning up moldX mold Parasitic, microscopic fungi that float in the air like pollen. Mold spores are a common trigger for allergies and can be found in damp areas, such as the basement or bathroom, as well as outdoors in grass, leaf piles, hay, mulch or under mushrooms. and preventing it at the source.
Take allergyX allergy An exaggerated response of the immune system to a substance that is ordinarily harmless. medication.
- Keep medicine on hand. AntihistamineX Antihistamine Medication that relieves symptoms of sneezing, itching and runny nose by blocking histamine receptors. products like Claritin® and antihistamineX antihistamine Medication that relieves symptoms of sneezing, itching and runny nose by blocking histamine receptors. plus decongestantX decongestant Medication that shrinks swollen nasal tissues to relieve symptoms of nasal swelling, congestion and mucus secretion. products like Claritin-D® can be used for both, indoor and outdoor, allergies. Claritin® provides relief of symptoms triggered by over 200 indoor and outdoor allergens like those from pollenX pollen A fine, powdery substance, typically yellow, consisting of microscopic grains discharged from the male part of a flower called stamens or from the male cone of a tree., animals, mold and dust. Claritin is an antihistamine, so it hinders the cascade triggered by allergens
Maintain low moisture.
Air it out.
Keep your space clean and decluttered.
REFERENCES
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How Air Purifiers Help Kill Mold Spores
If you live in a humid climate or have ever had water damage in your home, you have probably been introduced to the fight against mold. It only takes a little moisture and a few hours for mold spores to begin to form. You may first notice a musty odor, and then begin to see the colonies that collect and grow. Spores invisible to the human eye can fly from the colonies and settle in other dark, moist areas where they flourish and fill your indoor air with particles that could become hazardous to your health.
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Mold: How Does It Cause Allergies
Mold is a fungus that grows in places that are moist. During its growth phase, mold is unlikely to cause many allergy symptoms unless youre actively touching or removing it, says Christian Nageotte, MD, staff allergist at Henry Ford Hospital in Novi, Michigan. But on dry and windy days outside, mold goes into the protective part of its life cycle, he says. Thats when mold releases seeds, or spores, that blow in the wind and can be inhaled.
About three dozen types of mold can cause respiratory allergies. Mold allergy symptoms may include a runny nose, sneezing, congestion, mucus buildup, postnasal drip, and an itchy nose and eyes. When mold spores enter the lungs, they could trigger asthma.
If you have experienced allergic symptoms but are unsure of the cause, a skin or blood test done by an allergist can tell you if mold is the culprit.
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How Do You Treat A Mold Allergy
Mold allergy treatments include over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants. These common allergy medications can relieve symptoms of runny nose, itchy and watery eyes and congestion.
It may be best to take these medications in advance when you know you may be around mold spores. Before starting any medication, speak with your doctor or allergist.
You may want to wear a mask when you know youre going to be around mold. This will help prevent you from breathing in mold spores. If you are exposed to mold, you can remove them by rinsing your nose with a saline spray or taking a shower.
Immunotherapy, designed to make your body less reactive to an allergen over time, is available for certain types of mold, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology . Talk with an allergist for more information.
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Best Allergy Medicine For Mold
While there is no cure for mold allergies, medications can reduce symptoms. Allergy shots are effective for only certain types of mold allergy.
Treatment for mold allergies is similar to treatment for allergic rhinitis and other inhaled allergies. The first line of treatment is to avoid mold, of course, while the second line of treatment is through allergy medications that can include antifungals, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory drugs.
The best mold allergy medicine depends largely on the symptoms the individual experiences. Antihistamines can stop the sneezing, runny nose, and itchiness associated with mold allergies, for example, while decongestant nasal sprays and oral decongestants provide short-term relief from nasal congestion. Nasal corticosteroids reduce inflammation. Expectorants helps loosen mucus to make it easier to cough up excess phlegm. Lidocaine numbs pain and itching.
Mold allergy treatments are available in nasal sprays, sinus drops, eardrops, throat sprays, oral solutions/suspensions, irrigations or mouth rinses. Nebulizers turn liquid medications into a vine mist that delivers the active ingredients directly into the lungs. Many of the higher-quality mold allergy treatments contain excipients, which are inactive substances that stabilize the remediation chemicals and serve as a medium for delivering the active ingredients.
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Are You Suffering From Cold
At JSE Labs, our team of expert consultants offers professional mold inspections and testing services. We use visual inspection, moisture meters, particle counters, and sample collection to help you identify the problem and determine the best solution. Let us help keep you and your family safe!
Contact us today or give us a call at to get started.
Do Air Purifiers Help With Pet Allergies
Pet dander includes more than just fur its also animal skin and saliva. These particles are small and lightweight measuring just 2.5 microns, meaning they can remain in the air for some time. Because its so light, pet dander can also easily move around the home should it fall on clothing, furniture or floors.
Its possible to remove the particles that trigger allergies caused by pets using an air purifier fitted with a HEPA filter. According to the Environmental Protection Agency , HEPA filters can theoretically remove up to 99.97% of dust, pollen and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns, so they should safely take care of pet dander floating in the air.
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Symptoms Of Mold Allergies
While tree, grass, and weed pollen seasons coincide with the season in which these plants are blooming, mold spores can exist all year round both outside and inside. Mold spores can trigger allergies and asthma symptoms. Those who are allergic to mold, experience typical respiratory allergy symptoms including:
- Nasal congestion
- Wheezing
- Itchy throat
Fall is a common time for mold growth outside due to the damp and cold weather. Those who are allergic to mold spores should minimize their exposure and work to control mold where they live.
What Are The Symptoms Of Mold Allergies
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, July to Early Fall are the most common months to see symptoms caused by mold mycotoxins or mold spores. But mold can grow in many undisturbed, damp places indoors, so symptoms can pop up any time of year with the right conditions. Symptoms of mold allergies appear much like most other common upper respiratory infections, which include:
- Coughing
- Itchy Nose or Throat
- Dry and/or Scaly Skin
These symptoms will vary in severity from person to person. You may be affected year-round, in specific environments, or even just a specific time of year. If you are affected by allergy symptoms year-round, it is just as important to test your home for mold spores as it is to go see a doctor for an allergens test.
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Mold Today Mold Allergies In 2020
Mold allergen levels vary, and while a few generalities will work in your favor, you should always check multiple sources for updated mold and pollen counts.
Each year the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America classifies the worst cities for pollen sufferers. They base the list off of criteria, including high pollen counts, high allergy medicine usage and lower access to specialized care.
If you know that mold is a problem in your residential or commercial space, feel free to contact Mold Solutions
Do Air Purifiers Help With Indoor Mold
Are you concerned about mold in your home? Mold can invade and rapidly spread without you realizing it, leading to a range of short and long-term health effects. Find out everything you need to know and see our recommendation on the best air purifiers for mold.
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Mold can invade your home and rapidly spread without you realizing it, ultimately putting your loved ones at risk. Mold issues may start in a lesser-used area with high temperatures and humidity such as a garage or attic, but the microscopic spores can spread throughout the air and begin reproducing in the walls of your home leading to a range of short and long-term health effects.
A lot of people have questions about what mold is, how to identify mold, the different types of household mold, and if air purifiers help with mold so weve detailed everything you need to know in this comprehensive guide.
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How Do You Treat Mold Allergies
Youve figured it out by tracking your symptoms or even getting a testyoure allergic to mold. Now what?
Mold is way more prevalent than you might think. In fact, out of the 21.8 million people who have asthma in the United States, experts estimate that about 4.6 million cases are because of mold exposure in the home.
Dont admit defeat quite yet. There are a few things you can try to keep your mold allergy symptoms at bay.
How To Use Dehumidifiers For Allergies
A dehumidifier can help by further lowering the level of humidity in your home. Humidity levels should ideally fall below 50 percent for optimum living conditions without allergic reactions.
You have to make sure that youre using your home dehumidifier properly to make full use of these features. Here are some tips on how and when to do this:
To get the most out of your homes moisture control, set your machine to start working the moment humidity reaches a high level inside your home. This is something you can do by setting the timer and humidity control settings on your machine to begin working as soon as it reaches 100 percent relative humidity.
You also need to make sure that you clean your dehumidifier at least once every two weeks. By doing this, you will not only prevent the growth of mold but can also extend your machines life span.
You should keep these machines off the ground and in a well-ventilated area. Placing them on the floor may cause moisture to condense and damage the unit. If you must, place it as high up as possible from where the air comes inside your house.
When using a dehumidifier, remember to keep the door of your machine closed at all times. If you dont, air can easily escape and this will make it difficult for your unit to work properly.
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Reduce Mold To Breathe Better
Because mold needs moisture to grow, it’s often found in piles of leaves, in grasses, and on logs. Inside, it can grow wherever theres moisture and poor ventilation. Heres how to protect yourself, indoors and out:
Use a dehumidifier. Lowering the humidity inside your home to under 45 percent or even under 35 percent will help you fight mold growth, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. If you live in a larger house, consider placing the dehumidifier in your basement, which is a cooler, moister area in the home where mold grows easily. Cohn recommends setting one up so that it drains automatically without your having to empty the reservoir, which is easy to forget to do, and can actually create more mold growth. To do so, attach a hose to the unit and allow it to empty into a water-collecting sump pump drain.
Focus on air flow. Use a clean exhaust fan in your bathroom when you shower and in your kitchen when you cook or wash dishes. Keep the inner doors of your house open to help air flow and to stem mold growth.
Fix leaks. Anywhere there’s leaking water, mold may be present. Check for leaks in your basement, bathtubs, and laundry room, by all faucets, and on your roof.
Position drains away from the house. Moving rainwater away from your house will help keep the structure dry and mold-free.
Whether youre in your home or outdoors, taking these steps can help to dramatically reduce your exposure to mold and prevent allergic reactions.
