Our home environment is ideally our most powerful shield of protection against contaminants, pollutants, and toxins prevalent in the atmosphere. While we cannot eliminate pollutants and health hazards from the atmosphere, we can maintain a clean and healthy home environment. However, health conditions are bound to worsen when the indoor environment is compromised with harmful toxins, particularly mold.
We all spend a significant chunk of our day at home, especially now, as the pandemic has merged workspaces into living spaces. Mold is a commonly occurring household problem that’s easier to prevent than fix. It’s a type of fungus that takes root in a property’s moist, damp, and inadequately ventilated areas.
When inhaled, mold spores and fragments give rise to overwhelming respiratory concerns, including asthma and bronchitis. Keep reading to examine the health implications of household mold in more detail.
Inhaling Mold & Prolonged Exposure
Living in a room or house with rampant mold growth can lead to multiple health complications impacting the respiratory system. Inhaling mold leads to throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, nasal congestion, and inflammation in the airways. Prolonged exposure to high levels of mold growth can severely damage the lungs.
Household mold is a common issue in Florida, given the damp and humid climate. Families dealing with respiratory concerns should consider undertaking a mold inspection without delay. You can find the best professionals in your neighborhood with a quick online search. Suppose you need to schedule a mold inspection in College Park, Florida, by a team of experts. In that case, Google can connect with popular service providers with detailed customer reviews of their services.
If you suspect mold growth in the property, take measures immediately, especially if respiratory issues run in the family. Research reveals that household mold is a primary culprit behind rising asthma cases in children. People with a history of asthma or vulnerable respiratory health suffer the most. Prolonged exposure can worsen the symptoms of asthma, allergies, and breathing conditions.
Depression & Mental Health Challenges
This health concern may come as a surprise to most, as we don’t ponder the mental health implications of mold exposure. There’s a growing body of research establishing links between depression and household mold. Clinicians and public health experts are increasingly examining the rising risk of depression in people living in mold-ridden, damp homes.
Interestingly, researchers point out that the rising risk of depression further aggravates asthma and respiratory concerns. That’s not all. Mold exposure also leads to anxiety, insomnia, mental fog, memory loss, and concentration issues. People in mold-ridden houses often complain of perpetual fatigue, memory loss, and troubling sleeping at night. These symptoms combine to set the stage for depression, anxiety, and a general loss of control over one’s wellbeing.
Respiratory Concerns
Mold exposure can give rise to severe respiratory concerns by damaging multiple organs in the upper and low respiratory tracts. Mold can create blockages in the airways, cause nasal congestion and riddle the respiratory system with mycotoxins, irritants, and allergens. However, the worst impact is on the lungs, and some overly toxic mold strains can lead to lung bleeding and scarring.
For instance, the black mold, scientifically termed as the Stachybotrys chartarum, is linked with idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis. This condition involves severe bleeding from the lungs, which can prove fatalistic if untreated. Black mold is one of the most toxic strains of mold spores associated with severe respiratory illnesses.
Inhaling mold fragments and cells exposes the body to toxic allergens and mycotoxins. While a healthy individual may not suffer much affliction, these compounds can prove lethal for people with sensitivities. Mold particles cause irritation and inflammation in the throat, lungs, and nose. People with chronic lung illnesses, asthma, or breathing issues are incredibly vulnerable.
Sensitivities & Allergies
Inhaling mold particles and spores can prove debilitating for people with allergies or sensitivities. Prolonged exposure can lead to symptoms similar to seasonal allergies and hay fever. These symptoms include itchiness in the nose and throat, uncontrollable sneezing, flu, fever, and runny nose. Some people also complain of nasal congestion and watery eyes.
People suffering from asthma and mold allergies are highly likely to experience aggravated asthma attacks. If your home environment is riddled with mold, these attacks can get more frequent and intensely severe. At times, mold spores mix up with dust mites to intensify the allergic reaction in people with sensitivities.
Aspergillosis
Aspergillus, a common type of household mold, is directly linked with a condition known as aspergillosis. This condition involves breathing issues, lung damage, and implications in the upper and lower respiratory tract.
There are several types of aspergillosis inflicting the lungs, nose, and throat. Some conditions cause lung damage, breathing issues, and nose congestion, while others trigger coughing bouts and migraine-like headaches. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis is the most severe form, resulting in weight loss and breathing constraints.
Inflammatory Conditions
Public health researchers reveal that mold exposure encourages the development of harmful bacteria and microbes within the body. These microbes and bacteria, in turn, trigger a vast host of issues and inflammatory responses across multiple organs. Mold-induced microbial agents lead to several fungal infections and bronchial complaints.
Mold exposure can also contribute to bronchitis, pneumonitis, sinuses, and complications in the lower respiratory tract. People with these conditions commonly experience mucous irritation, headaches, nausea, exhaustion, and wheezing.
Final Thoughts
It’s pertinent to understand that inhaling mold spores doesn’t always lead to sickness or allergies. If you have a weak immune system or an existing respiratory condition, the reaction is severely damaging. Healthy people can inhale the spores without experiencing any symptoms whatsoever. However, it’s crucial to eliminate mold regardless of whether you have any existing sensitivities or respiratory complaints.