Allergy News Wire is reporting that Mold allergies are now rampant. Mold allergy typically increase during late summer and fall months.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) the, “Number of ambulatory care visits (to physician offices, hospital outpatient departments, and emergency departments) with a primary diagnosis of allergic rhinitis: 13.1 million.” With numbers this high, it’s important to take note if you are a mold allergy sufferer.
The problem is mold spores allergy – mold is a trigger for allergic rhinitis and asthma, and as mentioned above, mold’s peak season is late summer and fall.
In 2004, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found sufficient evidence to make a connection between indoor mold exposure to “upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition.”
For those sensitive to mold, or those who already have a mold allergy, the reactions may be more severe. And, for those with immune-compromised illnesses, and chronic lung illnesses, mold exposure may cause serious infections in their lungs.
The IOM study also found suggestive evidence linking healthy people, specifically children, to respiratory illnesses from indoor exposure to mold. While further studies are need to determine the exact cause of mold and adverse health effects, there are some guidelines for limiting your exposure to mold and reducing mold spores allergy symptoms.
- Keep the humidity level in your home between 40% and 60%.
- Be sure your home has enough ventilation.
- Fix any leaks in your home’s roof, walls, or plumbing.
- Clean up and dry out your home thoroughly and quickly (within 24–48 hours) after flooding.
- Use an air purifier for asthma, and be sure to use an allergy HEPA filter.
- Add mold inhibitors to paints before painting.
- Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products.
- Remove carpets and upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried promptly. Consider removing carpets from areas such as bathrooms and basements.
- To learn more about preventing mold in your home, visit http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html or see this Mold Control Guide