What Are The Signs Of Mold In Your House
Musty smells are a tell-tale sign of mold. Another common indicator is visible signs of water damage.
As mentioned earlier, mold grows fast. Within 24 hours of a water leak, or a flood, mold will begin to take hold. This mold can grow on anything thats humid walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, and even wet laundry.
When there is a chance of mold, its important to have a professional in to test. Professionals qualified to do environmental investigations can:
- Check the surfaces of your house for mold
- Test the air for spores
- Help you to identify sources of moisture
- Identify where the mold is growing and help you decontaminate your house
- Use natural enzymes to kill mold spores
If you dont get rid of all sources of mold, you risk getting sick from it.
Keeping Our Lungs Healthy
Staying healthy takes work. It involves constant maintenance and providing it with the things it needs to operate successfully. But above all, its maintaining a healthy awareness about what can negatively affect our bodies and especially our life-giving organs like the lungs. Understanding Aspergillosis effect on the lungs, how this disease can occur, and the importance of maintaining a home free from mold growth is just one piece of the puzzle. Its a powerful piece, though.
Indoor air quality as a whole is a larger piece of the healthy body puzzle. Our lungs power through almost 20,000 breaths a day to help keep us alive and well. To help them out, we should all actively start working towards creating better air quality. That way, our lungs can go about their merry life-sustaining way.
Asthma And Mold Exposure
There are a few reasons why people with asthma may be more susceptible to mold. First, asthma is a condition that affects the lungs and airways, making it difficult to breathe. This can make it hard for the body to clear out mucus and other respiratory secretions, which can provide a breeding ground for mold spores. Additionally, people with asthma often have inflamed airways, which can make them more susceptible to irritation from mold spores. Finally, people with asthma may be more likely to have allergies, which can also make them more sensitive to mold. In general, it is important for people with asthma to avoid exposure to mold and other airborne irritants. If you have asthma and are exposed to mold, it is important to seek medical attention right away.
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How Can Aspergillosis Be Prevented
Due to the prevalence of aspergillus mold in the environment, it is very difficult to avoid exposure. It is best to avoid locations with excessive amounts of dust or mold, such as construction sites or compost piles. People with weakened immune systems or mold allergies should avoid activities such as gardening or lawn mowing. If exposure to airborne dust or mold is likely, considering wearing a face mask or N95 mask. In some cases, your doctor might recommend the use of an antifungal medicine to prevent infection.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 10/09/2019.
References
How Long Do Mold Symptoms Last
The tricky thing about mold exposure is that its different for each person. The amount of time mold exposure symptoms persist depends on:
- What type of mold they are exposed to,
- How long the exposure has been,
- How well their bodies eliminate toxins
Those who process toxins well can see their symptoms disappear as quickly as a few days.
Others who eliminate toxins slowly can experience symptoms for much longer. They could be ill for months or even years after the source of mold is eliminated.
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What Happens If You Get Mushroom Spores In Your Lungs
Long-term exposure to mushrooms spores can lead to lung inflammation and acute lung disease. Over time, the acute condition turns into chronic lung disease. Symptoms of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis may include a cough, breathlessness, loss of appetite and unplanned weight loss.Nov 22, 2019
What About Toxic Mold
Some molds do make toxins, but scientists donât actually call them âtoxicâ molds. That name came more from the news than science. Two of the more well-known types are Stachybotrys and Aspergillus.
Stachybotrys. Better known as black mold, this one gets a lot of press. But thereâs no research that shows a definite link between its toxins and serious illness.
That doesnât mean itâs not a concern, but itâs often blamed without real proof. Researchers are still trying to understand if and how it affects people.
Black mold isnât rare, but itâs also not very common. And it needs a lot of moisture to grow. So even if you have black-colored mold in your bathroom, itâs not likely this one.
Aspergillus. Some types of this mold make aflatoxins, which can make you very sick, even causing liver cancer. Typically, thatâs from eating it, not breathing it in.
It grows on food, like corn, peanuts, and even coffee beans. Thereâs never been an outbreak of sickness from aflatoxins in the U.S. Thatâs because the U.S. and many other countries test their foods for it. And food makers treat for it before it reaches you. At low levels, itâs just not an issue.
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What Happens When Your Lungs Are Exposed To Mold
Exposure to mold both in and out of the home may worsen breathlessness and other symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , new research suggests. COPD particularly affects Blacks who smoke.
More than 16 million Americans have COPD, according to the American Lung Association. COPD is an umbrella term for chronic lung diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema, which literally take your breath away. COPD flares can be triggered by exposure to pollution, dust, cigarette smoke, mold and other airway irritants.
What Is The Treatment
Its almost impossible to avoid all contact with fungal spores, so treatment for mold in your lungs often consists of taking medications.
Corticosteroids often help open your airways to make coughing easier. You may need to take them when daily or only when your symptoms flare.
You may also be given an antifungal medication such as itraconazole, but its effectiveness is still debated.
In a , researchers found that 97.1 percent of patients with ABPA received a prescription for oral corticosteroids. About 41 percent of patients received a prescription for oral corticosteroids combined with inhaled corticosteroids and antifungal drugs.
Surgery may be needed if mold reaches your heart or other organs.
The people at the highest risk for developing health complications from breathing in mold are:
- people with respiratory issues such as
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Can You Breathe Mushroom Spores
Breathing in mushroom spores is not a good thing. Prolonged exposure to the spores can cause anything from asthma, rhinitis, allergic bronchopulmonary mycoses, allergic fungal sinusitis to hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Long-term exposure to mushrooms spores can lead to lung inflammation and acute lung disease.
If You Do Not Own The Building
Living, working or studying in a building that is affecting your health can be frustrating – especially if you are not directly responsible for maintenance.
You should speak to your landlord, housing association or building manager, employer or the school administration about the issue so that they can take appropriate steps to solve the problem. In each case, these people have a duty of care to you.
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When To See The Doctor
It is possible to mistake your symptoms for a cold, flu, asthma or pneumonia. It is important to help your doctor make the right diagnosis by disclosing any information of whether you were exposed to mold. As soon as you notice any of the above symptoms, it is imperative that you seek immediate medical help as it can lower the chances of serious infection. Mold in the lungs can cause other serious health problems in the future, if it is not addressed in time. During your visit, your doctor may perform several tests to confirm or disprove a diagnosis. Blood tests are used to measure your immune systems response to mold and a skin prick test is used to check reactions to common allergens.
It is important to take precautionary measures to prevent exposure to mold. Stay away from places that you are likely to be exposed to mold. Lung infections can develop into life-threatening conditions if no proper treatment is provided. If you experience any symptoms related to mold-illness, it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention to prevent your symptoms from worsening.
How Mold Affects Copd
We are constantly breathing in mold spores, even when we are outside. These spores can lead to allergic reactions or infections, especially in people with respiratory disease or compromised immune systems.
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Patients with COPD had significantly more flares of their disease requiring visits to their doctor and/or antibiotics if they reported activities that put them at risk of exposure to mold, including vacuuming their homes frequently, says study author Dr. Chris Kosmidis. He is a senior lecturer in infectious diseases at the University of Manchester in England.
In the study, 140 people with COPD answered questions about possible exposure to mold, visits to their doctor for COPD flares, and how many times they needed antibiotics to treat such flares during the past year.
Folks who vacuumed their home more than once a week were four times more likely to visit a doctor for COPD symptoms at least four times in the previous year. When you vacuum up mold, the spores may pass through the filter and be released into the air, according to researchers.
Also, those who didnt ask visitors to their home to take their shoes off were more than three times as likely to see a doctor for COPD symptoms at least four times during the previous year.
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The Dangers Of Constant Exposure To Mold
There are many dangers associated with constant exposure to mold.
For one, prolonged mold exposure can cause respiratory problems, including asthma and other respiratory infections.
Additionally, constant mold exposure is likely to increase mold sensitivity and allergic reactions.
Lastly, if the mold exposure comes from toxic molds, more serious illnesses may result.
More recent studies are showing that children who have prolonged mold exposure are more likely to develop asthma, especially if they are already genetically susceptible to it.
So What Exactly Is Aspergillosis
Aspergillosis is developed by inhaling spores from a common mold called Aspergillus. Pretty easy to see where they got the name from! This disease isnt just a one-size-fits-all, though. Researchers have categorized different types of diseases associated with Aspergillosis and use the word as a blanket term to represent them all.¹¹¹¹²¹³ Each causes a range of bodily responses and develops differently.
These forms include:
Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis
ABPA is a lung disease that occurs when the body experiences an allergic reaction to Aspergillus, leading to inflammation in the lungs. Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, cough with brownish flecks or blood, fatigue, and chest tightness.
Allergic Aspergillus Sinusitis
This disease is caused by a reaction to Aspergillus that leads to inflammation in the paranasal sinuses. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, headache, stuffiness, congestion, facial pain, and intermittent nasal discharge.
Azole-Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus
This occurs when a species of Aspergillus, Aspergillus fumigatus, becomes resistant to azole antifungal medications. Without medication to stop it, the fungus will continue growing inside the body. Which is a bit gross when you think about it Those suffering from this disease will continue to experience symptoms even after treatment so things like coughing and shortness of breath will persist.
Aspergilloma
Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis
Invasive Aspergillosis
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Some Symptoms Of Aspergillosis
Wondering if you or a loved one may be affected by aspergillosis? While a diagnosis from a doctor is essential for getting needed treatment, its possible to identify aspergillosis by recognizing common early symptoms including:
- Difficulty exercising
Obviously, people with prior lung issues like asthma, COPD, and lung cancer may already experience all of these symptoms and more. However, with aspergillosis, these symptoms may get worse. In any case, its best to get an accurate diagnosis from an experienced physician. This way, you can understand what you can expect as far as treatment. And, get the medical attention you need to get better.
Treating A Cough Caused By Mold Exposure
Your doctor will recommend treatment based on the cause of your cough. Treatment may include antibiotics for an infection, antihistamines to dry up excessive mucous and a cough suppressant if coughing is keeping you awake at night, although in some instances doctors feel its preferable for you to continue to cough up mucous or other secretions that are in your lungs or airways. You can use cough drops to help soothe your throat and relieve your cough.
In order for any treatment for mold exposure to be effective, you will also need to eliminate any continued exposure to mold. This may mean a temporary, or even permanent, relocation from your home if that is where the exposure is taking place. If you continue to be exposed to mold, you will undoubtedly continue to suffer symptoms and your condition may even worsen.
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What About Black Mold
At this point, many individuals may ask: what about black mold effects on lungs?
The short answer for these questions is simple: despite what many think, black mold is not lethal.
A large number of molds, including black mold, produce toxins however, they are not likely to be lethal.
As with other molds, individuals who were already at risk may experience symptoms, such as the following:
- Lung problems
Is There A Test To Determine If I Have Been Exposed To Mold
Some physicians have recommended testing for mold-specific antibodies. Thepresence of antibodies only indicates that you have been exposed to a substanceat some time. It does not tell you when you were exposed, where the exposuretook place, or how much of the mold you were exposed to. Having a positive testfor mold-specific antibodies alone is generally considered insufficient toprove that health effects reported by individuals in moisture-damaged buildingsare caused by exposure to mold.
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Toxic Mold And How It Destroys Lives
Toxic mold can impact your health in many ways. Were so used to seeing toxic mold in our shower stalls and basements that its easy to view this organic matter as nothing more than an unsightly nuisance. However, research has revealed that while some forms of mold are fairly benign , others can be highly toxic. While exposure to mold will not usually cause sudden death, its cumulative effects can be dangerous, debilitating, and in some cases, even fatal. Heres what you need to know about toxic mold:
How Mold Can Grow On The Lungs
Ill cut right to the chase:
Mold generally wont grow on everyones lungs.
Not that it cant, but you can breathe easily because there is a good chance that you do not have mold growing on your lungs.
BUT
If you do, it can be quite devastating and you will have some recovery ahead for you.
The American Thoracic Society says this about mold growing on the lungs:
Once in the lungs alveoli, the fungus is engulfed by macrophages and other cells involved inthe primary immune response. Macrophages are usually able to neutralize anddestroy the pathogens that they attack, but many fungi have developed a way todisable the macrophages weapons, and some fungi have actually developedthe ability to grow and multiply inside macrophages.
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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
Coronavirus And Your Lungs
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is part of the coronavirus family.
When the virus gets in your body, it comes into contact with the mucous membranes that line your nose, mouth, and eyes. The virus enters a healthy cell and uses the cell to make new virus parts. It multiplies, and the new viruses infect nearby cells.
Think of your respiratory tract as an upside-down tree. The trunk is your trachea, or windpipe. It splits into smaller and smaller branches in your lungs. At the end of each branch are tiny air sacs called alveoli. This is where oxygen goes into your blood and carbon dioxide comes out.
The new coronavirus can infect the upper or lower part of your respiratory tract. It travels down your airways. The lining can become irritated and inflamed. In some cases, the infection can reach all the way down into your alveoli.
COVID-19 is a new condition, and scientists are learning more every day about what it can do to your lungs. They believe that the effects on your body are similar to those of two other coronavirus diseases, severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome .
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What Do Mycotoxins Do To Humans
Mycotoxins are poisonous substances that are produced by certain types of fungi. These toxins can cause a range of health problems in humans, including skin rashes, digestive problems, and respiratory problems. Some mycotoxins can even cause cancer. Exposure to mycotoxins can occur through contaminated food or water, or through inhalation of dust particles that contain the toxins. In some cases, mycotoxins can also be found in building materials, such as insulation or wallpaper. Treatment for mycotoxin exposure typically involves removal from the exposure source and supportive care. In some cases, specific medications may be used to treat the health effects of mycotoxins.
There are many different types of mold, and not all of them will produce mycotoxins and cause symptoms of mold poisoning. Some of the most common mold types that have been linked to mycotoxin production include Stachybotrys chartarum , Aspergillus, and Penicillium.
