How To Get Rid Of Mold
There are plenty of DIY mold removal options for you on the web some more effective than others. These may suffice if the problem is minor. After DIY treatment, it may be good to have an air quality test taken to measure the effectiveness of your work.
If the problem is more than minor, DIY methods will likely only remove the appearance of mold for a short time. For more serious problems, the best approach is to hire a certified and reputable local mold remediation company.
Most mold remediation companies will recommend demolition of the infected part of your home to literally remove the mold, so keep in mind that you might have additional expenses to restore a portion of your house. On top of that, the process might take several days.
If you are looking into demolition-free mold removal, then consider companies that use a dry fog technique. When properly done, this method not only kills mold without demolition, but it also takes less than a day to complete.
What Is Mold Where Does It Live
From the arctic to equator and all the places in between, mold lives literally everywhere. Molds are fungi, and grow from microscopic spores that are everywhere in the air. Molds are important for recycling organic matter . The recycling process they perform returns nutrients to the soil, and is important for plants to grow. In order to grow, molds need four things to grow: oxygen, moisture, a food source, and the right temperature range .
I Found Mold Growing In My Home How Do I Test The Mold
If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present. You do not need to know the type of mold growing in your home, and CDC does not recommend or perform routine sampling for molds. No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you cannot rely on sampling and culturing to know your health risk.
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Black Mold Something Of A Misnomer
Before we go any further, lets clear up the confusion about black mold. When you read about toxic black mold it is kind of misleading. The thing is dangerous and toxic mold is not just black, it can be many different colors. Toxic molds can appear to be green, yellow, brown, and black.
All molds have the potential to cause irritation and allergy symptoms. However, some molds can also cause much more dangerous health problems. Some molds, but not all, produce mycotoxins. Not all molds are toxic, but many are.Mycotoxins can cause health problems ranging from poisoning to cancer.
How To Know If You Have Black Mold In Your House
Mold isnt always visible. If you can see mold, its only a sign of the real potential health risk the unhealthy levels of harmful types mold in the air of your home or workplace.
Airborne mold is all around us in both the outdoors and indoors. The types and amount of mold determines the potential health risk. Most of us are accustomed to the varieties and amounts of mold present in our outdoor environments.
Healthy indoor environments will have mold conditions similar to or better than those in the surrounding outdoors. Over time, because of moisture , many indoor spaces develop unhealthy types and/or unhealthy levels of airborne mold that can be harmful to you or your pets.
These signs could mean you have unhealthy mold conditions in your house:
- Allergic symptoms
- A damp or musty odor in one or more places
- Frequent headaches
- The air in the home feels different
- Your house has been flooded or currently has leaks
- You previously tried removing mold yourself
Take note of how you feel in and out of the house. If the symptoms disappear or decrease when youre out and about, then you might have a mold problem, yes, even if you cant see mold.
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Quines Tienen El Mayor Riesgo De Presentar Problemas De Salud Asociados A La Exposicin Al Moho
Las personas con alergias pueden ser más sensibles al moho. Las personas inmunodeprimidas o que tengan una enfermedad pulmonar subyacente son más susceptibles a las infecciones por hongos. Las personas con enfermedades respiratorias crónicas podrían tener dificultad para respirar. Las personas inmunodeprimidas tienen un mayor riesgo de presentar infecciones provocadas por el moho. Si usted o los miembros de su familia tienen estas afecciones, deberían consultar a un médico calificado para obtener un diagnóstico y tratamiento.
What To Know About Mold Allergies In Children
Children can develop mold allergies too. If your child is the only one to develop symptoms it is possible that theyre the only one in the family with a sensitivity to mold, explains Healthline. However, they can also be exposed in other areas such as in their school or on the playground.
Children often spend a lot of time playing outdoors which can also expose your child to mold. The source says, Children with asthma may experience more attacks while playing outside for this reason.
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Cmo Afecta El Moho A Las Personas
La exposición a ambientes húmedos y con moho podría causar diferentes efectos en la salud, o ninguno. Algunas personas son sensibles al moho. En el caso de estas personas, la exposición al moho puede provocarles síntomas como congestión nasal, sibilancias, o enrojecimiento o picazón en los ojos o la piel. Algunas personas, como las que tienen asma* o alergias al moho, podrían presentar reacciones más intensas. Las reacciones graves pueden ocurrir entre los trabajadores expuestos a grandes cantidades de moho en sus entornos laborales, como en el caso de los granjeros que trabajan alrededor de heno mohoso. Las reacciones graves podrían incluir fiebre y dificultad para respirar.
En el 2004, el Instituto de Medicina halló que había suficiente evidencia para relacionar la exposición al moho en espacios interiores con síntomas de afecciones en el aparato respiratorio superior, tos y sibilancias en personas que, fuera de eso, eran sanas con síntomas de asma en personas que tenían esta enfermedad, y con la neumonitis por hipersensibilidad en personas con predisposición a esa afección inmunitaria.
No se ha demostrado la relación entre otros efectos adversos en la salud, como la hemorragia pulmonar idiopática aguda en bebés*, la pérdida de memoria o el letargo, y los diferentes tipos de moho, incluido el Stachybotrys chartarum*. Se necesitan más estudios para determinar qué es lo que causa la hemorragia idiopática aguda y otros efectos negativos en la salud.
Can Mold Affect My Asthma
If you have a mold allergy and mold causes you to have asthma symptoms, you may have allergic asthma. With this condition, your immune system overreacts when you breathe in mold spores.
Mold is an irritant as well as an allergen. That means mold spores in the air can cause irritation or inflammation even if you arent allergic to them. This can occur in your eyes, nose, sinuses, and lungs.
To help you manage your asthma and allergies, it is important to reduce your exposure to mold. It may also prevent children in your home from developing asthma and/or allergic rhinitis. Common household molds are also linked to childhood asthma.1
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Diagnosing Digestive Problems From Mold Exposure
If youre having gastrointestinal problems, see your primary care physician. Let your doctor know if youve been exposed to mold or think your symptoms might be caused by mold exposure. Make sure to let your doctor know if youre experiencing any other symptoms of mold exposure, like coughing, sneezing, headaches, sore throats, shortness of breath, rashes or hives.
Because so many things can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, including viruses, parasites, food poisoning, ulcers, food allergies and sensitivities, irritable bowel syndrome and celiac disease, it can take some time for a doctor to figure out whats causing your gastrointestinal problems and whether or not its due to mold exposure. Your doctor may order some tests to help make a diagnosis, such as blood tests, an upper GI x-ray , a CT scan, an abdominal ultrasound, an endoscopy and/or colonoscopy , and laboratory analysis of a stool sample. You may be referred to a gastroenterologist, a doctor specializing in digestive problems, for some of these tests or for treatment of certain gastrointestinal conditions.
What Are The Treatments For Mold Allergy
In some cases, there may be ways to reduce or avoid mold exposure in your environment. This may not always be possible and you may need medicines.
- Avoid contact with mold.
- Take medicine for nasal or other allergic symptoms. Antihistamines and nasal corticosteroid sprays are available without a prescription. If you have allergic asthma, talk with your doctor about which medicines may be best for you. You may also be a candidate for immunotherapy . Immunotherapy may help reduce symptoms and medicines and provide more effective long-term control of your symptoms. Learn more about allergy treatments.
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How Are Mold Allergies And Exposure Diagnosed
There are no proven tests that show when or where you may have been exposed to mold.
But your doctor may check for mold allergies by reviewing your symptoms and performing one of the following tests:
- Blood test. Your doctor takes a blood sample and then sends it to a laboratory to measure the number of certain antibodies, which can indicate your immune systems sensitivity to different mold species.
- Skin prick test. Your doctor takes a small amount of mold and applies it to your skin using a tiny needle. Your skin will break out in bumps, a rash, or hives if youre allergic to that type of mold.
Could Mold Be Affecting Your Mental Health
Posted
Contributed by: Jane Sandwood
What does mold toxicity look like?Mold toxicity can manifest in different ways in people. Its more commonly linked to physical problems, such as difficulty breathing, fatigue, and headaches, but research shows that it can present itself in a psychiatric way, too. This includes brain fog, depression, anxiety, problems concentrating, and insomnia. Some people present just physical or psychiatric symptoms, while others can get a mix of the two. This means that people are seeking and receiving treatment for a mental illness that only exists because of their exposure to mold. Research has also found that a vulnerability to mold toxicity is present in 25% of the population, which is often due to a genetic predisposition. Due to this, a family can be living in the same home and only one person presents symptoms.
Understanding the link between mental health illnesses and mold exposure can help a huge amount of people assess whats causing or exacerbating their symptoms. Eliminating mold exposure can help peoples health to improve all-round, but its important to remember that it can take several weeks for this to be seen, depending on how much mold has built up in the body.
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How Do You Know If Mold Is Making You Sick
Are you sick and suspect it might be from mold?
Determining whether exposure to mold is making you sick isnt always easy.
Each persons body is affected by mold toxicity in different ways. Some experience constant migraines and headaches, shortness of breath, brain fog, fatigue or even depression.
Since symptoms differ from person to person, they may not be quickly associated with mold exposure. Many people suffering from mold illness struggle to get a proper diagnosis and investigation.
Its common to think my house is clean it cant be mold! However, mold comes in many forms. In this article, well share what toxic mold is, the signs and symptoms, and how it can be treated.
How Can I Prevent An Allergic Reaction To Mold
You can reduce your allergy symptoms by avoiding contact with mold spores. These steps can help:
Reduce your exposure to mold spores outside.
- Limit your outdoor activities when mold counts are high. This will lessen the amount of mold spores you inhale and your symptoms.
- Remove leaves and piles of dead plant material or tree clippings as soon as possible.
- Wear an N95 mask, hat, and sunglasses when caring for your lawn or garden.
- Have someone without a mold allergy do yard work, if possible.
- Promote groundwater drainage away from your house.
Reduce your exposure to mold spores inside.
- If you have houseplants or potted herbs, only water them when the soil is dry. Here are some other ways to prevent mold in houseplants:
- Plant them in sterile soil
- Give them more light
- Use a fan to circulate air around the plant
- Trim dead leaves often
To reduce mold in your laundry area:
- Remove clothes from the washing machine right away.
- If you have a front-loading washing machine, clean and dry the rubber seal and inside of the door often. Leave the door cracked open when the machine is not in use.
- Dont leave wet, damp clothes sitting around.
- Make sure your laundry area has good air circulation.
To reduce mold in your bedrooms:
To reduce mold in your basement:
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How To Spot A Mould Problem Before It Affects Your Health
Mould is not always easy to recognise. It often looks like fuzz or appears to be a stain, smudge or discoloration. The most common moulds are black, green or white. However, mould can be many other colours, ranging from grey to orange to brown. Here are some warning signs that you might have a mould issue that could affect your health later on.
Humidity Issues
We insulate our houses to keep the heated or air conditioned air inside the building and forget that we thereby reduce air flow and increase the air humidity. High humidity means excess moisture in the air. This can cause mould to grow as well as encourage dust mites and other allergens to thrive. Timber furniture and building structures can also be affected by this moisture. This can result in dry rot, termite infestation and wet subfloors which also affect our air quality and our personal moods. In Australia, we allow high humidity to enter our homes when windows are left open for cross ventilation, all day or at night.
Stale Odours
Condensation on windows
Commonly in modern building structures, we find tightly sealed windows and doors, plus walls and ceilings sealed by vapour barriers. Here in Australia high humidity days are frequent. Traditional ventilating methods coupled with high humidity will raise moisture content in your walls and furniture. Moisture or condensation on the inside of your single or double glazing has become a sign of an unsound indoor climate.
How To Cure Mold Related Asthma Symptoms
If youve ever experienced the effects of the persistent and hazardous micro-organism called mold, then you already know how unpleasant and debilitating these effects can be.
The very first step in doing away with your symptoms is to find the and the have it removed.
In most cases, mold problems can be traced back to some sort of moisture problem since water is the leading factor contributing to fungal growth. So, begin with detecting the problematic areas in your home. These areas most often include the kitchen sink, leaking toilets, condensation around windows and cracks in the foundation. Also keep an eye on areas that are poorly insulation and more humid.
In some cases, areas that are contaminated with mold are easily identified theyre unsightly, attract dust and release unpleasant odours. Once youve identified them, the next step is fixing them in an efficient manner.
Unless you are lucky enough to possess specialized equipment and knowledge of proper mold remediation procedures, your best option is calling a team of mold removal experts. Not only are they well equipped with all the latest equipment, but they also have years of first-hand experience dealing with all types of mold problems. Theyll be able to pinpoint with certainty the source of the mold contamination and plan for a strategic remediation. Also, theyll ultimately be able to minimize your risk of future mold growth.
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Testing For Mould In Your Home
Where mould is visible, it is generally not considered necessary to test for it in the home. However, not all mould is visible, as contamination may be in cavities or the ceiling. Generally, if you can see or smell mould, you need to clean up and remove the mould immediately, as mould can damage surfaces it grows on.
If you suspect mould contamination but cannot find the source of the problem, or if you have already taken measures to prevent mould from growing and you are still having problems, you could employ an occupational hygienist or environmental health and safety professional. For a fee, these professionals can provide specialist mould testing and consultancy services.
What Causes A Mold Allergy
So, why do some people develop an allergy to mold while others do not? The Mayo Clinic says it all comes down to an overly sensitive immune system response. The source explains, When you inhale tiny, airborne mold spores, your body recognizes them as foreign invaders and develops allergy-causing antibodies to fight them.
The source also says sometimes reactions can develop after youve been exposed to mold while other times the reaction may be delayed. Its also possible to be allergic to one type of mold but not another.
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