We have all seen the stories on the news and read the articles in the newspaper about "sick buildings" and houses that have become uninhabitable and left the owners with a house they cannot sell. What makes these buildings dangerous to humans? Mold and the spores they generate into the air as they reproduce.
Breathing in mold spores (often referred to as mold dust) can heighten allergies, trigger asthma attacks, cause eye and skin irritations for even non-allergic people and lead to infections for those whose immune system is weak. This article will investigate the symptoms people exhibit if their house contains an unhealthy amount of mold.
As mold grows, it sends out spores which float through the air and look to land on a moist area. Once they find a moist area, they begin to digest whatever organic material they have landed on (ie. wallpaper, cardboard, books, wood) and emit gases as they digest their food. These gases can be toxic.
A very common reaction to inhaling mold spores and their gaseous compounds is heightened allergic reactions such as congestion, difficulty breathing and red eyes. These symptoms can begin almost immediately after exposure.
Folks who suffer from asthma that breathe in the spores can experience an asthma attack, especially if they are spending a lot of time in the room that has the mold growing. However, because the spores can spread quickly throughout the house, they may be affected in other rooms as well where the mold is not yet established.
People who normally do not suffer from allergies may start to exhibit allergy symptoms as their body react to the mold in the air. Hay fever like symptoms such as nose and throat irritation, runny nose and sneezing may begin. For these people to be suffering from allergy symptoms is a good sign that your house's indoor air is being affected by mold growth.
Those folks that have compromised immune systems due to other ailments are more vulnerable to infections caused my molds. Even those with otherwise healthy immune systems may be affected with common skin diseases such as athletes foot or yeast infections as a result of the compromised air.
If your family starts exhibiting any of these symptoms, especially members who otherwise do not suffer from allergies, you should immediately suspect mold problems. Begin to investigate your house for evidence of mold growth, and most importantly begin the process of figuring out why your house's moisture is high enough to support mold growth.
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