Mold Allergies – Effective Solutions for the Hypersensitive Condition

Mold or fungus causes allergies in many people, especially for those who are hypersensitive. Though the allergies cannot be completely cured, their effects can be lessened with proper care and medication.

Mold Allergies – Causes of Allergy

Fungal or mold allergies are a common condition afflicting many people, especially when the weather is hazy, humid, damp or windy. While pollen allergies affect people only seasonally, allergies caused by mold can crop up any time of the year. Molds can be present everywhere, especially in damp areas of your house, like basements, cellars, damp carpets, bathrooms, etc. At times you might not even be aware of an allergic reaction until the fungus causes severe symptoms like sneezing, stuffy nose and even eye irritation. Molds are present everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. When their spores are dispersed through their air, they disintegrate organic material like old paper, leaves, wood, dirt and food particles, causing mild to severe allergic reactions in people. People with pre-existing conditions like asthma are much more prone to perennial mold allergies. In colder regions, mold often goes dormant outside, but is equally active indoors, like it is in warmer countries. Molds and fungi are also problematic and cause allergies if your house has been closed for a long time, or you enter closed, musty spaces.

Mold Allergy Symptoms – The Diagnosis

Though they keep varying from person to person, most mold allergy symptoms range from common cough to severe breathing trouble. These allergy causing particles are known as allergen. When they try to enter your body, inflammatory chemicals are released that cause your nasal tract to jam up and block them from entering. This causes a stuffy nose, one common allergy symptom. The same chemicals also try to expel the present allergen from your body, causing sneezes and making your eyes water. Continuous and severe exposure to damp conditions and musty environments can cause serious respiratory disorders, especially for asthma patients or old people, or even someone suffering from lung problems. Some other mold allergy symptoms include irritated throat, continuous coughing and sneezing and shortness of breath, runny nose, stuffy nose, itchy skin, headaches and even sinusitis. If the symptoms persist for a long duration, it’s best to consult a doctor.

Mold Treatment – Prevention is Better

The best mold treatment is to get over-the-counter drugs such as antihistamines and anti-allergy ointments. For asthma patients, it is advisable to consult your doctor before you take any steps yourself. You can avoid and prevent mold from entering or growing indoors by using simple tips. Add air conditioners and dehumidifiers inside your home and seal the windows especially during mold season. Ventilation and exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens are good options. Avoid keeping carpets around bathrooms, or other damp regions. Keep checking your home regularly for mold appearances, and fix any leaky water sources. Wash hard surfaces that have mold with soapy water and a stiff scrub brush. Don’t stock your home with old newspapers and files. Dust is a major source of allergy attacks. Most mold removal and treatment information can be found online. You can even look up inside your local yellow pages for help.