Family Encyclopedia >> Health

allergies? Tips to Minimize Exposure to Mold

Reducing exposure to allergens is the best way to prevent allergy symptoms. Avoidance is the best medicine! The most common symptom is a stuffy or runny nose due to allergic rhinitis. The main categories of allergens that cause it are pollen (from trees, grass and weeds), dust mites and cockroaches, pet dander and mold (the allergy trigger that can be the most difficult to identify).

Control of allergies Whether you develop a rash, itchy eyes, wheezing airways or a runny nose, an allergic reaction is no fun and sometimes dangerous. In managing your allergies, you will learn to identify your allergy symptoms, identify your triggers, differentiate between intolerance and allergy, and choose the best treatment for your specific type of allergy.

Fungi
The spores of molds are ubiquitous and, like pollen, are very light and travel through the air. Able to survive in arid, adverse conditions, fungal spores can be long-lived. However, they mainly thrive in a humid, warm environment, indoors or out.

Many people are allergic to mold and in some people it can trigger asthma. Doctors have long recognized the link between respiratory diseases caused by inhaling fungal spores and an allergic reaction.

Outdoor fungi include Alternaria, whose spore count peaks in late summer or early fall, and Cladosporium, whose spore count peaks during the summer months. People who are allergic to mold should minimize exposure to airborne mold by avoiding forest areas or activities such as raking damp leaves. Also avoid outdoor activities on windy and rainy days, as mold spores increase in hot, humid weather and immediately after summer rains.

Indoor molds are also common. Indoor mold exposure can be linked not only to symptoms of rhinitis, but also to coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Tips to prevent mold
The best way to prevent mold allergens is to prevent mold from developing. Fungi like moist places, so try to find and solve moisture sources.

Outdoors, sensitive individuals should avoid areas likely to have mold, such as compost piles, grass clippings, and wooded areas. Remove damaged wood, as fungi live on dead plant material such as wet, rotten wood.

Try these additional tips to minimize indoor mold:

  • Keep the humidity as low as possible throughout the day – no higher than 50%. Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier during humid months.
  • Make sure the house has adequate ventilation, including exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens. Install a bathroom exhaust fan that vents directly to the outside.
  • Clean mold-covered surfaces with bleach and water (1:10 ratio). Do not mix bleach with ammonia.
  • Remove mold-impregnated carpets and upholstery and dispose of all moldy items (including clothing, books and papers).
  • Do not put carpeting in bathrooms and basements.
  • Add mold inhibitors to paint when refurbishing.
  • If you have houseplants, do not overwater; it stimulates fungus in the soil.