Mold: How does Mold Exposure affect you?

We have divided mold exposure into three primary categories: Allergies, Underlying Medical Issue and Mold Overexposure. The subject of mold exposure is an area of much scientific debate and there is a lot of scary misinformation out there regarding this issue, so be careful and do your homework.

Mold Allergies: In many ways molds are similar to any other allergen such as pollen, dander and dust mites. About 10% of the general population is allergic to one or more types of mold at normal environmental concentrations. For people with mild mold allergies exposure can cause irritation to the respiratory tract, eyes and skin. In addition individuals with severe mold allergies may experience intermittent fevers, wheezing, shortness of breath, fatigue, and may develop seemingly random infections, typically in the lungs. Everyone’s body will react to mold allergens differently, some will have little to no effect, while others will suffer greatly. It is analogous to someone who can live with 3 cats without issue and someone who walks in their house and starts a sneezing fit.

Underlying medical issue: Asthmatics, infants and the elderly are at high risk of developing complication from mold exposure due to their weak immune systems. Immune compromised individuals, such as uncontrolled diabetics, autoimmune disease sufferers, AIDS patients and chemotherapy patients are at the greatest risk of developing a variety of complication during their weakened immune states. The types of symptoms can be widely varied based on the underlying conditions, but luckily these individuals are typically under the care of medical professionals who should be able to diagnose the problems.

Mold Overexposure: In extreme situations where significant mold growth is occurring in your home without your knowledge overexposure can occur. Indications of extreme over exposure to mold could include headaches, nose bleeds, swollen glands, ear infections, sinus infections, chronic fatigue, bronchitis and rashes. If you suspect over exposure to mold you should first health care provider who will likely refer you to an allergist. Other medical practitioner that may be appropriate include: infectious disease specialists, pulmonary physicians or environmental toxicologists.