Mold and mildew are commonly found in the environment and have been around for a long time. There's nothing new about mold and mildew but what is becoming a concern is the increased rates at which molds and mildews are found in homes and other building and the health impacts of this.

 

Molds and mildews can cause a host of medical problems for unsuspecting people who generally are exposed to its sometimes hazardous effects from inhalation. Less commonly but still occurring is ingestion of molds and mildews.

 

 

Once the particles are inhaled they can hurt the respiratory system and cause allergic reactions that range from severe to mild. Eyes become itchy and red; the ears, nose and throat also become irritated. Many people develop asthma and asthma like symptoms such as shortness of breath. 

 

A wide variety of symptoms to mold and mildew exposure exists. Fever, fatigue, flu symptoms, headaches, dizziness and even depression have been attributed to mold and mildew exposure.

 

A person's recovery time is just as varied. Some people feel better almost immediately after leaving the environment where the mold and/or mildew are. Others have lingering problems and feel sick for longer periods of time. Either way, inhaling molds and mildews is unhealthy and something to avoid.

 

Some molds and mildews are more harmful to inhale (or ingest) than others. You've probably heard of the dreaded "black" mold that has had entire houses and other buildings destroyed because of its detrimental impact on health. 

 

Penicillium, mucor and cladosporium are a few common household molds. Molds and mildew can grow anywhere that contains moisture and a food source. A food source can be wood, paper, drywall or virtually any kind of fabric. This means is you have a leak in the house you potentially have a mold or mildew issue. Molds will not grow without moisture but thrive and are difficult to control where moisture is a constant source.

 

If you're experiencing health problems that have lingered and you can't determine the cause consider your home and moisture levels and the possibility of mold growing somewhere in your home. 

 

There are a number of tests for the consumer to purchase for a small cost to determine what kinds of molds may be growing in your home. Once you know this, you'll know how to proceed to create a healthy home environment free of molds and mildew.

 

It's especially important to know about mold if you or someone in your household suffers from a respiratory disease, is pregnant or has a compromised immune system. These people are more at risk for negative health problems from exposure to molds and mildew.