How Mold Allergies Work.
A Mold Allergy is triggered by an immune system response. Read below to learn more about this and the symptoms.
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More about Mold Allergies
Mold allergy, like all allergies, is best dealt with by avoiding the source. Mold can grow almost anywhere at almost anytime although it does have conditions in which it thrives. The first step to identifying a potential mold allergy is recognizing the mold symptoms.
Like other allergies, there are many possible symptoms associated with mold allergy. These can include sneezing, coughing, runny nose, itchy eyes, watery eyes, sinusitis, and a skin rash. This response can combine with an asthma attack that is caused by the allergic reactions to mold. In this case, the symptoms may include coughing wheezing and shortness of breath. This can be a very serious reaction and should be dealt with appropriately.
So what happens when someone with a mold allergy comes into contact with this allergen? The allergen is seen as an invading party by your body, and your body responds appropriately. It sends antibodies to fight off the invaders, and these antibodies stick around for any future encounters with the allergen. Histamines are released because of this interaction between the allergen and the antibodies, and this causes the typical mold allergies symptoms.
A genetic predisposition and consistent exposure to mold put an individual at greater risk for mold allergy. These are just situations which foster the development of mold allergy. Other risk factors include living in any situation that consists of high humidity. This condition fosters the growth of mold.
Recognizing a mold allergy symptom allows you to pinpoint the cause of your discomfort. When you know what is wrong then you can take steps to rectify the symptoms of mold allergy. Then, you can breathe easier.
Mold Allergy Prevention and Control
Mold is an organism that is present in most places, indoors and outdoors. It is a type of fungus that returns nutrients to the environment by working to break down dead material. Digesting plant or animal matter, such as wood, paper, dirt, leaves and food allows mold to grow and it spreads by releasing tiny lightweight mold spores that travel through the air which can then cause mold spore allergy. Moist dark places such as piles of rotting leaves and vegetation, basements and garbage cans are where mold grows most quickly. Mold is often visible on the surface of foods, such as the fuzzy green spots you see on bread. Molds also have branches and roots and as it grows these roots can penetrate deep inside the food where they cannot be seen. Everyday we are all exposed to some type of mold spores with no bad effects, however quite a lot of people develop an allergy to mold sometime in their lives. We may eat foods in which mold has begun to grow or breath in mold spores that are in the air. People who suffer from mold allergies may have a mold allergy rash if they are exposed to too much fungus. If you think you may be allergic to house mold or have allergies to mold, you must visit your doctor who will prescribe the appropriate mold allergy treatment.
What are the Symptoms? Symptoms of mold allergies are those typical of many other allergies. They include:
- Wheezing
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Rash or hives
- runny or stuffy nose
Avoiding all exposure to mold may not be possible if you are allergic to mold. If you choose your foods carefully, you can reduce your risk of a mold allergy reaction. Check for signs of mold on all foods before you eat them and avoid smelling foods to see if they are spoiled because you could be inhaling mold spores which can then set off an allergic reaction. Certain foods which are more likely to contain mold or other fungi, such as mushrooms and yeast should be avoided.
Some Common Sources of Mold include:
- Cheese
- Vinegar and foods that contain vinegar, such as catsup and pickles and salad dressings.
- Sour cream, sour milk and buttermilk
- Breads and other food made with yeast
- Sauerkraut
- Mushrooms
- Meat or fish more than 24 hours old
- Dried fruits such as prunes, figs, dates and raisins
- Pickled and smoked fish and meats
- Hot dogs, sausages
- Soy sauce
- Canned juices
Mold and mildew growth is obvious when it grows in bathrooms along the tile grout in your shower stall, however, mold can also grow in:
- Closets and storerooms
- Refrigerator door seals
- Self defrosting refrigerator water pans
- Foam pillows
- Refrigerator cooling coils
- Room air conditioning units
- Dryer vents
- Washing machines
- Under sink cabinets
- Basements
- Carpets
- Sheetrock and wallboard
- Garbage cans
Controlling Mold Allergies:
- Reduce your exposure to mold and mold spores
- Reduce the humidity levels in bathrooms by the use of exhaust fans
- Add a mold inhibitor to standard paint for use in baths or use a paint with a mold inhibitor already in it.
- Replace bathroom carpets with linoluem or tiles
- Use mold killing solutions for mold removal in bathrooms and shower stalls, on shower curtains, around the bathtub and toilet tank and on bathroom tiles.
- Place a chemical moisture remover in closets
- Never put away wet clothing or shoes
- Before using wood for your wood burning stove or fireplace check the bark for mold.
- Repair all water leaks promptly
- Keep the relative humidity below 40% to deter mold growth by using a dehumidifier
- Remove cooking steam and food vapors in the kitchen with an exhaust fan
- Install a high performance electrostatic filter in your central air conditioning and heating system to trap mold spores and inhibit mold.
- Never put damp clothing in drawers or closets
Schedule allergy testing by a physician if your mold allergy becomes severe.Mold allergy testing increases your knowledge about specific allergens and pinpoints the allergens you should avoid.
Avoid cumulative mold allergen exposure.
With each successive allergen exposure mold allergy symptoms may grow more severe. It is like stacking blocks, one too many blocks can cause the whole stack to topple triggering an allergy flare up. The reduction of your exposure to airborne allergens, food allergens and animal allergens is very important. In children, allergies can lead to asthma causing permanent lung damage. We are very fortunate to have the information about allergies and allergy control products which can help people have mold allergy relief and live normal lives.
Additional Resources for Mold Allergy
Mold Allergies
Molds are an important cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis. ... What is Mold Allergy? ... number of people, symptoms of mold allergy may be brought on or ...
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Mold allergy ... allergy testing by a physician if your mold allergy becomes ... Mold allergy symptoms may grow more severe with each successive ...
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Understanding how mold allergies occur and how to live with them. ... People with mold allergies, however, may have a reaction if exposed to too much of the fungus. ...
What are the bloggers saying about Mold Allergy?
If you have Mold Allergy then you suffer from Allergies Type 1, also called Contact Allergies. Mold spores are in your environment year round. Fresh air contains more mold spores than pollen. The higher the humidity the higher the mold ... source..
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In a small number of people, symptoms of mold allergy may be brought on or worsened by eating certain foods such as cheeses processed with fungi. Occasionally, mushrooms, dried fruits, and foods containing yeast, soy sauce, ... source..
This is unnecessary since measures can be taken to keep your allergies under control. There are different types of allergies, determined by what causes the allergy. The most well known allergies are dust mite allergy, mold allergy, ... source..
News about Mold Allergy
About once a month, Desiree DeFlorimonte had to change a ceiling panel in one corner of her office at work, encrusted as it was with black mold. This pattern continued for seven years, over the course of which DeFlorimonte, 60, suffered from a ... source..
How Mayor Villaraigosa Spends His 16-Hour Days (74) The old trailer where she forced her daughter to sleep in the bad days takes up most of the driveway. Her home sits at the end of the cul-de-sac of upper-middle-class homes in San Diego's North ... source..
Acetaminophen, often given to treat fevers in the first year of life, also upped the risk of eczema and having a runny nose and itchy eyes. The finding, from an international study of 205,487 children in 31 countries, does not prove acetaminophen ... source..
Acetaminophen, often given to treat fevers in the first year of life, also upped the risk of eczema and having a runny nose and itchy eyes. The finding, from an international study of 205,487 children in 31 countries, does not prove acetaminophen ... source..
Acetaminophen, often given to treat fevers in the first year of life, also upped the risk of eczema and having a runny nose and itchy eyes. The finding, from an international study of 205,487 children in 31 countries, does not prove acetaminophen ... source..
Acetaminophen, often given to treat fevers in the first year of life, also upped the risk of eczema and having a runny nose and itchy eyes. The finding, from an international study of 205,487 children in 31 countries, does not prove acetaminophen ... source..
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