Although there has been much information in the news lately about ‘toxic mold,’ this severe mold presence is less of a typical health threat than common indoor and outdoor molds. With a large number of varieties, molds are one of the most widespread organisms. From spring through fall in northern states or year-round in warm weather states, you may come into contact with outdoor molds that cause seasonal allergies. When mowing the lawn, raking leaves, playing sports or taking part in other outdoor activities, you may experience typical allergy symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, water eyes and more. When it comes to indoor molds, you may be surprised to learn that common molds are normally found in all homes. In this edition of the Allergy Control Products series on “The Secret to Living with Allergies,” allergy tips for controlling mold in your home and reducing mold allergies will be outlined.
Step 1: Toxic Mold vs. Common Molds. Which is the Typical Cause of Mold Allergy Symptoms?
“Toxic black mold’ has made headlines, with photos of uninhabitable houses and discussion of severe health repercussions. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains, the molds themselves are not toxic or poisonous. These molds should be considered as the same allergy-causing mold as common molds found in your house, and any mold-contamination inside a building or home should be addressed. In an article, “Mold Allergy a Bigger Health Concern than Toxic Mold,” from the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), Dr. Jay Portnoy, M.D. of the Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, is quoted as saying that “Although toxic mold has received much media attention lately, toxic reactions caused by fungal exposure have not been found to be a significant health problem.” Toxic mold may have been in the limelight, however, toxic mold occurrences are rare. It is common molds that are the typical cause of mold allergy symptoms. Molds can be found in most environments, and unlike pollens, molds do not have a limited season. Many molds multiply by releasing spores into the air, which settle elsewhere and create new moldy areas. An even greater number of mold spores than pollen grains can be in the air, and when you inhale these spores, you can experience allergy symptoms.
Indoor molds spread in areas of your home that are warm, dark and humid or are poorly ventilated such as showers or basements. Moisture and warmth cause molds to spread more quickly. Controlling humidity and taking steps around the home to control molds can help to avoid triggering allergy symptoms.
Step 2: When Heat and Humidity are on the Rise, Keep Humidity Levels Down to Control Mold Growth
Humidity and warmth encourage mold growth, and humid seasons are the most problematic for mold allergy sufferers. With warm weather, humidity levels can raise and cause mold growth. In addition to mold growth, high humidity (above 50%) can lead to increased dust mite growth and associated increases in dust mite allergens. Dust mites also enjoy a warm, damp environment and to keep levels low of these two indoor allergens, humidity levels should be kept below 50% and ideally no higher than 35% - 40%. Make sure to monitor levels with a humidity gauge in order to understand how much humidity is in your home. Monitoring humidity is important in the warm weather months, but can be equally important during the winter if you are introducing moisture into the air by using humidifiers. Make sure to keep track of the moisture output from your humidifier in order to make sure that humidity levels year-round are in a targeted range.
Step 3: The Route to Mold Allergy Relief is Found with Steps to Tackle Common Household Molds
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology’s (AAAAI) tips for indoor allergens, it is relatively easy to eliminate indoor mold and mildew once these allergy-causing sources are found and treated. And, as Dr. Portnoy indicates in the Mold Allergy article produced by the ACAAI, “The best known management of indoor fungal contamination is prevention.” To prevent mold growth, watch for damp areas where molds can spread. Control mold growth by increasing ventilation in damp areas and using exhaust fans to air out the dampness. In dry months, open the windows to release moisture, but in warm months, try to avoid opening windows to air out your house as this step can lead to molds or pollens entering through the open windows.
When you find mold, use a solution containing bleach or a mildew-removing cleaner in order to kill the mold and prevent its regrowth. These mold controlling and mildew removing products should be used to clean the bathroom, mold on walls or ceiling, in the basement, around the kitchen or anywhere else in the home where mold has been found. With simple measures for cleaning your home and by keeping moisture areas to a minimum, you’ll make great strides toward preventing indoor mold.
Additional steps can be equally helpful, including using a dehumidifier in the basement or elsewhere in the home to reduce moisture in the air. Running your air conditioner lowers humidity and avoids having open windows through which molds can enter. Keep mold spores from circulating in the air in your home by using air filters in your central furnace system, running HEPA air cleaners to filter out mold allergens and destroying mold spores with air sanitizers or special convection heat units. Make sure to remove moldy items and avoid carpets in areas such as the bathroom or basement. When working outside or indoors in musty areas, remember to wear a face mask to avoid inhaling mold spores and aggravating your allergies.
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