Mold Allergies - Could this Invisible Enemy be Causing your Hay Fever?

Do you suffer from allergic rhinitis in the height of summer? Do you start sneezing in your damp basement? Do you get hay fever when you attack your compost heap? If this is sounding like you, chances are, you have mold allergies.

Mold Allergy Symptoms:

The symptoms of mold allergies are very much alike other allergic reactions. Sufferers encounter various problems from a runny or blocked nose, skin rashes, itching, sneezing, and wheezing. Reaction times can fluctuate dramatically from immediate to delayed. The mold spores can produce hay fever symptoms by landing on the nasal linings. If the mildew should travel further and reach the lungs, asthma type reactions can be provoked.

The person who is allergic to the outdoor molds will find their symptoms tend to worsen through the peak of summer. This is due to thawing molds flourishing on the plant life that has been killed off with the snow and frosts of winter. Snow does not kill molds, but does significantly lower the counts of the outdoor molds. If you live in a milder part of the United States, you may find that your problems are with you year round, as there is no cold winter to repress the molds.

The indoor mold sufferer will encounter their problems all through the year, as the outdoor weather does not impact on the indoor molds. Some mold allergy sufferers find their symptoms worsen when they consume certain foods. These bothersome foods tend to be dried fruits, mushrooms, cheeses containing fungi, vinegar, soy sauce, and foods with yeast as an ingredient.

Where do Molds Live?

All molds need oxygen, moisture and various other nutrition to thrive. Indoor molds love bathrooms, air conditioners, damp basements, old foam pillows, indoor plants, closets, upholstered furniture, humidifiers, and mattresses. Outdoor molds thrive in shady, damp places, favoring compost piles, rotting vegetation, weeds, and grasses. Their peak growing time is in the fall months. Greenhouses, breweries, bakeries, dairies and barns are all preferred places to grow.

All mildew and molds are fungi. The seeds, or spores, are carried by air currents indoors, and by the wind outdoors. Some spores require fog or humidity to be released and other spores will only be spread when the wind is dry.

Who is at Risk of Mold Allergies?

People who are allergic to dust mites are more at risk of being allergic to molds, as are those who are allergic to animal danders or pollens. Family histories of these allergies also increase a person’s risk.

Mold allergies are significantly increased in people who are employed as wine makers, bakers, furniture repairers, loggers, greenhouse workers, dairy farmers, carpenters, and mill workers. The most accurate way to determine which particular mold you are allergic to is to have skin testing performed. There are thousands of molds, mildews, and yeasts, but generally, there are approximately 10 molds that are the most significant allergically.

Mold Allergy Treatment:

There are simple measures you can perform to reduce your exposure to mold spores. These include:

	Increasing the thermostat in the basement.
	Remove any carpet from your bathroom and install a bathroom fan. Clean your bathroom regularly to keep the mildew levels down.
	Reduce the humidity in your house and ensure your air conditioner has a HEPA filter.
	Increase the drainage in your garden.
	When mold counts are high keep indoors. To avoid unnecessary exposure to spores wear a face mask when gardening or mowing the lawns in summer.
	Antihistamines, nasal sprays and allergy shots can all help alleviate those nasty symptoms.

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