In some cases, mold in your home can make you sick, especially if you have allergies or asthma . Whether or not you’re allergic to molds, mold exposure can irritate your eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs. Here’s what you can do to combat mold problems, and take care of yourself and your home.
How do you tell if mold is making you sick?
Symptoms of mold exposure may include headache, sore throat, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes and fatigue . In those with asthma, asthma attacks can occur. In those with impaired immune systems, serious infection can occur.
What are the dangers of mold in an apartment?
Why is mold dangerous? Left untreated, mold can really make you sick. Even if you don’t see mold in your apartment, spores can infiltrate your indoor air, causing breathing problems that mimic allergic reactions or bad colds — think itchy, burning eyes, a stuffy nose, and wheezing.
Can mold downstairs affect you upstairs?
Can Mold in Basement Affect the Upstairs? Everything You Need to Know. If you find water in your basement, you might wonder, “Can mold in the basement affect upstairs?” For most property owners, the answer is usually yes . Mold can turn into a serious issue if you don’t deal with it correctly—and quickly.
Can mold travel through walls?
Yes, mold spores can travel through drywall boards . Drywall is organic and high in cellulose and therefore provides a good food supply for mold spores. Additionally, the soft nature of drywall makes it easier for moisture to spread in all directions, leading to rapid growth of mold damage.
How long does it take to get sick from mold exposure?
These symptoms usually first appear 2 to 9 hours after exposure and last for 1 to 3 days. Other affected persons have progressive shortness of breath and cough, as well as weight loss. Work-relatedness may only become apparent over long holidays if symptoms resolve and then recur on return to work.
How quickly can mold make you sick?
If you have a mold allergy, your immune system thinks certain mold spores are invaders, or allergens. So, when you inhale spores, your body reacts by triggering sneezing or nasal congestion. This can happen immediately or after exposure, depending on your body .
What are the symptoms of long term mold exposure?
Toxic mold exposure is also connected to more serious, long-term effects like insomnia, memory loss, trouble concentrating and confusion . Mold exposure contributes to depression and anxiety. It can even lead to muscle cramps, numbness in extremities, weight gain, light sensitivity and hair loss.
How can I test myself for mold exposure?
Urine testing for mold is one of the most popular ways to test for mold exposure, as elevated levels of uric acid and other organic acids may indicate exposure to mycotoxins. These tests should be performed in a sterile lab testing facility and the results analyzed by a trusted medical lab.
What does mold poisoning feel like?
Each person’s body is affected by mold toxicity in different ways. Some experience constant migraines and headaches, shortness of breath, brain fog, fatigue or even depression . Since symptoms differ from person to person, they may not be quickly associated with mold exposure.
Can mold grow in your lungs?
It’s also possible for mold to form a ball in your lungs . This condition is called aspergilloma when caused by an Aspergillus mold. The ball most often stays in your lungs but can lead to tissue damage. Symptoms commonly include shortness of breath, cough, or coughing up blood.
How do I treat mold in my apartment?
If you are dealing with a small bit of mold, you can use white vinegar to get rid of it . White vinegar can kill about 80 percent of mold species. Spray it full-strength on the mold and let it sit for a least an hour so it can penetrate the surface and reach the mold “roots.” Skip the bleach.
How long can you live in a house with mold?
So, how long you can really stay inside a room with mold? 2 days . Also even worse, if you don’t take any action the mold will certainly continue growing until actions are taken to get rid of the problem. Drying out extensively may assist avoid prompt and long-term health problems.
Can you stay in a house with black mold?
Because of the risks that come with mold exposure, it can be unsafe to sleep in a house with mold , particularly in the affected areas because you put yourself at risk of mold allergies. This becomes especially concerning if you are sensitive to the mold.
Can mold spread from basement affect upstairs?
Does Basement Mold Affect Upstairs? Yes, mold spores growing in the basement can affect the health of people living upstairs . Once mold starts growing it can quickly spread to nearby areas and eventually start to grow in the basement ceiling and into the rest of the home.
How quickly does mold grow in a crawl space?
Once it has located the few requirements it needs to thrive – water, food source, and warm temperatures, mold can begin to grow remarkably fast, sometimes within 24-48 hours . The open or unfinished crawlspace is probably one of the most convenient areas for mold to flourish.
What does harmful black mold look like?
Pay attention to the color and consistency: We already talked about black mold above, though it’s more accurate to say that Stachybotrys chartarum has a greenish-black hue. Toxic mold can also have a grayish, soot-like texture, or a slimy, wet surface . In some cases, you may even notice furry orange or brown spots.
How do you know if mold is behind drywall?
- Odor – you smell something but just can’t see anything.
- You don’t feel good when your home and you feel better when your away.
- Constantly itchy nose, red eyes and sneezing.
- Staining on interior wall and base molding.
- Wall appears to be wet and damp.
Can mold behind drywall affect you?
Although mold spores are not corrosive, they can cause extensive damage to your drywall . They can cause stains and rot which may have to be replaced if you want to completely get rid of the mold. Mold spores can also become airborne and spread to other areas of your home such as carpets, and furniture.
What if mold is behind drywall?
Surface Changes and Deterioration – Your walls’ appearance can change significantly if there’s mold growth behind them . In addition to discoloration and stains, your walls may deteriorate. Paint or wallpaper can crack, peel, or bubble because of moisture and mold growth.
Can an air purifier help with mold?
An air purifier can also help in common places for mold in the home like a basement . Though an air purifier can help long term for mold spores in the air, only physically cleaning up the mold and removing the moisture that allowed it to grow will solve a visible mold growth problem.
How do you detox from mold exposure?
Sweating. Some people recommend sweating, or using a sauna , to support the process of mold detoxification. No research confirms that sweating can specifically help address the effects of mold. But a 2020 review suggests sweating does play an important role in your body’s natural detoxification process.
How can mold affect your health?
Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions) and irritants . Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash.
Is my house making me sick?
Can your home make you sick? If you are regularly experiencing cold or flu symptoms, seemingly only when you’re at home, it could be from sick building syndrome . Sick building syndrome is when mold, water damage, poor indoor air quality or other issues in your home are constantly making you sick.
