Mold Allergies

It’s not uncommon for people to suffer allergies from the various kinds of mold. However, there are treatments available that can help mold allergy sufferers to deal with the symptoms. Keep in mind that mold can be found in one form or another in the United States nationwide, inside buildings as well as outside in the forests.  

Mold has a purpose that gets fulfilled when the spores breakdown dead matter and return nutrients to the air. Mold spores can be found growing in many places including plants and animals. Mold will also grow on various materials including paper, dirt, wood, etc. These materials are seen in homes and businesses.

Areas that have significant moisture exposure including the bathroom, garbage cans, basements and more are susceptible to mold and mold spores. These are generally the places a person who suffer from the mold allergy will get a reaction. It’s also not uncommon to find mold spores (of black and green film color) around windowsills. However, this is more prevalent in older homes. Bleach can get rid of the discoloration the mold has created but it will come back, as the mold spores are still in the air and tend to reappear in several weeks.

Mold is not only found in homes and businesses but on the food you eat as well. It’s generally seen on products that contain dairy or yeast products such as bread and milk. It’s visible by the sponge-like spores in colors of either green or white. If you suffer from mold allergies, it’s possible to suffer the reaction symptoms even when you don’t see mold spores.

Mold in its mild or moderate form can still cause allergy symptoms. That’s why you should check all the dates on the food. This is especially necessary for bread, dairy, fish and meat. You should also check the dates on dried fruits, as they are also susceptible to mold spores. Eat these foods only when they are fresh or have an in date.

It’s not easy to avoid mold so people who suffer from the allergy will have symptoms similar to a cold such as sneezing, rash, runny nose, wheezing and water eyes. When you need relief, you can turn to your family physician for a prescription or head to your local pharmacy to find allergy relief products such as Zyrtec and Claritin. Remember that these products will not cure your mold allergies; just make them more tolerable.

 The worst time for mold allergies sufferers is the fall and winter months. Leaves during the autumn season tend to fall and hold in moisture that creates mold spores. To reduce the chances of mold spores, bag them up immediately. During winter, there is an increase of fresh and cold air and snow that allows mold spores to grow. You can reduce the amount of mold spores that grow by redoing your windows.

Reduce mold spores coming into your home by placing plastic on them. Be sure to clean your heater’s filters since mold spores can be re-circulated into the air. Be sure to run a home air filtration system to clean the air and keep mold spores down. You should also check the basement to keep it free of mold; minimize the dampness in the basement’s air. Any severe reactions should be treated immediately and children who have mold allergies should have the information documented by their pediatrician.