Mold and Your Health

Toxic Mold can Destroy Both Your Home and Your Health!

"We were able to find sufficient evidence that certain respiratory problems, including symptoms in asthmatics who are sensitive to mold, are associated with exposure to mold and damp conditions. Excessive dampness influences whether mold, as well as bacteria, dust mites and other such agents, are present and thrive indoors, the committee noted. In addition, the wetness may cause chemicals and particles to be released from building materials. A rare ailment known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis also was associated with indoor mold exposure in susceptible people," as reported in the almost 300 page report by the Institute of Medicine [division of U.S. Government's National Academy of Sciences, Tuesday, May 25, 2004. The study was financed by the U.S. Government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Top Health Symptoms of Mold Affecting Your Health

The top health symptoms that you or a family member may be suffering from allergy to mold, animal dander, or dust -- or having asthma triggered by mold exposure (listed in alphabetical order: note that you may suffer one or several of these symptoms):

• memory loss or memory difficulties/Alzheimer-like symptoms
• learning difficulties or mental functioning problems
• feeling lost or "disconnected" from what's happening around you
• headaches
• seizures
• runny nose (rhinitis)
• clear, thin, watery mucus from your nose may appear suddenly
• sinus congestion and sinus problems
• thick, green slime coming out of nose (from sinus cavities)
• coughing and resulting sore lungs/chest from excessive coughing
• coughing up blood
• bleeding lungs
• difficulty breathing
• hives
• itching of the nose, mouth, eyes, throat, skin, or any area
• redness of the sclera (white of your eyes)
• skin rashes
• skin redness
• open skin sores and lacerations
• sneezing
• sneezing fits (more than three sneezes in a row, happening often)
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• chronic, excessive, or continued fatigue

Is It A Cold Or Allergies?

Some tips to help you tell the difference, courtesy of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (U.S.A. Today, "All About Allergies and Asthma," March 16,2001)

Allergies

• Eyes, ears, nose and/or throat (especially the palate or roof of the mouth) are itchy.

• Eyes may also be red and watery.

• Sneezing is often repetitive.

• Nasal discharge is usually clear and thin.

• Fever and achiness are typically absent.

• Symptoms tend to be seasonal and are often at their worst during pollen season (from spring to the first frost in the fall).

• Symptoms may last for weeks or months, or may be chronic, depending upon exposure to offending allergen(s)

Colds

• Nasal discharge is usually clear initially, but may become thick and yellow after several days.

• Sneezing is usually sporadic and non-repetitive.

• Fever and aches may be present.

• Eyes, ears, nose and/or throat have no or minimal itching.

• Symptoms typically end within 3 to 10 days.