12 Conditions That You Can Have Due To Household Mold

Here are 12 conditions caused by mold exposure.  There are actually more but for today we will talk about some common reactions and some more serious reactions. Do you have any of these conditions?

1. Allergies:  Some folks realize that allergies can be triggered and made worse by mold exposure. This includes mold allergies.  Zyrtec acknowledges that mold triggers allergies.  Allergies can be a nuisance.  Allergies will tell you how to minimize allergens like dirt mites in your home.  They tell you to run allergy air purifiers in your bedroom.  However, you really need to run them in your whole house.  Cover the square footage and clean all the triggers of mold, pollen and more.
2. Breathing Problems:  Emphysema can be caused by mold.  Doctors give medicine to those that have emphysema but the do not go into the environmental factors of what causes the condition.  Airway restrictive disease can be caused by mold and exposure to cigarette smoke.  Multiple chemical sensitivity is a condition where you cannot breathe due to strong odors and can be caused by mold exposure.
3. Asthma :  While asthma is a breathing condition, it deserves special attention.  75% of all U.S. households have at least one asthmatic in their homes.  That is a scary statistic.  What environmental factors are at the root.  While allergies and asthma seem to go together, mold makes both conditions worse.  Mold is known to cause asthma.  There are children with very serious life threatening asthma conditions.  These children need clean air.  Clean the air by placing allergy air purifiers throughout the house.  A basement dehumidifier must be running in the basement.  Mold grow in basements.
4. Cognitive Impairment:  This category actually covers a multitude of impairment.  Memory problems; hard times finishing sentences, concentration problems, studying problems, and just a hard time thinking in general.  Since Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker believes that 25% of the population have a biotoxic reaction to mold, how many children have trouble in school?  This may lead to an improper diagnosis of Attention deficit syndrome with the root cause being ignored.  Moldy schools can make it worse.  If your child is feeling bad at school, go to a mold doctor so that can be ruled out as a cause.
5. Chronic Fatigue:  You feel lousy every morning.  After sleeping, there is no rejuvenating affect that you slept.  Tired all the time.  This is a common symptom of a biotoxic reaction to mold.  Some folks rely on caffeine to get going but it really does not help.  Nothing seems to help.
6. Fibromyalgia:  Your whole body is full of pain. Your arms, shoulders, neck, legs, and just about everywhere hurts and you do not get a day off.  Sounds lousy because it is.  Seeing a rheumatologist will bring this diagnosis; yet no meds help.
7. Headaches:  The headaches can be constant especially if your house has mold.  Some folks have migraine like symptoms and will be treated by a neurologist to try to stop the headaches.  These headaches can be very severe.
8. Sensitivity to Light:  This can occur especially outside requiring Polaroid lenses.
9. Abdominal Pain:  This is often labeled as Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Usually has diarrhea and can be secretory:  leaks out.  How embarrassing.
10. Excessive Thirst:  Usually accompanied by frequent trips to the bathroom.
11. Vertigo:  There are known cases where it gets quite excessive.  How Black Mold Destroyed This Family’s Health & Home
12. Death:  Excessive black mold caused this man’s death.  The irony is where the man worked.  Nevada Heath Inspector Dies of Mold Exposure: His Story

Mold allergies get worse when surrounded by constant mold in the home.  Most of the conditions above are associated with a biotoxic reaction to mold. This is where there is no immune response to mold toxins.  Dr. Shoemaker refers to the mold toxins as biotoxins; however, for simplicity it will be referred to as mold toxins.  According to Dr Shoemaker in his book “Mold Warriors”:  “The genes responsible for the steps involved in antibody formation known collectively as HLA DR are found on chromosome 6 and are associated with failure to clear the illness following exposure”.  Essentially this condition means no antibodies are formed to kill the mold toxins and they spread through the body affect every system in the body.  These toxins can even clear the blood brain barrier.  It is my belief that the susceptibility to disease is affected as there is tremendous stress on the body because of the toxins.  Hence if there is a genetic possibility of developing diabetes, the person will due to the affects and constant attack of these mold toxins.  It is also my personal story.  The endocrinologist treating my 3 diabetic pregnancies emphasized that if a stress-or occurred, I would become a diabetic and did.  In closing, mold exposure is something to be taken seriously.  It affects everyone in the family, and it is certainly not healthy to have mold and other biological contaminants in the air. Advice;  Use allergy air purifiers to clean the air and the follow the step outlined here: 4 Steps To Kill Mold

Live Healthy…Be Happy.

10 Reasons Why indoor Air Pollution Can Destroy your Health

1. The air inside our homes is anywhere from 2 to 5 times more polluted that outdoors.  (the exception being in large cities).  Considering we spend over 90% of our time indoors, this is a major health threat. This is also an argument for why folks need to go outside.  Sitting out for a bit seems to be something we do not do anymore.  This article will cover many of the sources and causes of indoor air pollution.

2.  Newer construction especially during the time of the energy crisis and on has created air tight homes.  Older houses “breathe” because they are certainly not airtight.  The air leaking in helps to bring cleaner air from the outside. Opening windows and using fans promote the flow of clean air.  Opening windows in the bathroom lets moisture escape.  In more consisitntly humid area, air conditioning is necessary to cool off and lower humidity.

3.  Radon gas escaping through the basement is a major health threat.  Keeping up with the modern house is rather challenging as kids are busy today.  Yet a radon test and remediation is necessary.

4.  Consider the delicate development of children’s and infant’s lungs.  It is very difficult to handle second hand smoke let alone indoor air pollution.  Second hand smoke can lead to and exacerbate conditions like asthma in children.  Mold is also known as a cause and trigger to allergic responses in children.  Children’s Asthma

5.  How many chemicals are in your house?  There are more than your realized.  Here are some sources:  household cleaners, carpeting, furniture, cabinetry, beauty products, new construction, paints, sealants, hobby supplies, and… you get the picture.  Other sources of indoor air pollution include:  combustion pollutants which is anything that burns in your house and leaves off gas.  For instance a gas stove, coal stove, propane heater.  Gases are releases in proportion to proper maintenance and installation of devices used.  Throw in smoking which contains 4,000 chemicals, there can be many pollutants from these type of sources.  Having carbon monoxide detectors ensure that invisible gases emitted from combustible pollutants are monitored to be safe.  Opening the windows even in the winter invites the fresh air in.Fresh Air In You Home

6.  Chemical off-gassing can occur at variable times.  For example, when carpeting is installed a great deal of chemicals are released into the air following installation.  it is recommended to open windows and use fans to vent out.  Notice the overwhelming odors of new construction?  Another time when many chemicals are immediately released into the air.  Asthmatics have a very difficult time with these chemicals.  Chemical off gassing occurs when humidity rises.  Practically everything you own emits gases into the air.  This includes the formaldehyde in your cabinetry, the 69 identified carcinogens chemicals in carpeting, and all the cleaning products, construction materials stored in your home.  You get the picture.

7.  Most Americans are unaware of the threat of indoor air pollution on health. If it is something you do not know about, why would you take action? Most do nothing to clean the air and take precautionary steps to limit indoor air pollution.  Public awareness of this issue needs to occur.

8.  Biological contaminants ( germs, viruses, bacteria, fungi(mold)) are present in water damaged homes.  The NIOSH estimates that 50% of all homes have water damage.  Since mold loves water, expect it to be there along with the other contaminants.

9.  The rate of folks that have developed asthma has skyrocketed.  From 1980 on there has been a 75% increase.  That is a scary figure worth researching causes.  Professional are concerned.  What role does indoor air pollution play in this increase?  Consider the fact that we own more and more and more.  How much of what we own do we actually need.  Household cleaners come with no warnings as to possible side effects.  Maybe it is time to consider safer alternative such as green products or make you own.

10.  According to the EPA, indoor air pollution is linked to: asthma, breathing problems and more.  Below is a brief summary of their findings.

a.  asthma:  linked to mold, dirt mites, second hand cigarette smoke.

b.  Radon:  2nd leading cause of lung cancer.

c.  Mold:  leads to allergic reactions, asthma, exacerbation of other respiratory conditions, and I will add a biotoxic reaction to mold.  Biotoxic Reaction To Mold

d.  VOCs:  Volatile Organic Compounds  They sound nasty because they greatly affect your health.  Cause:  eye, nose, throat irritation, headaches, nausea, and can cause:  liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage.

e.  Combustion pollutants:  CO:  (carbon monoxide) a clear, odorless gas.   Cause:  headaches, dizziness, nausea, even death.

NO2 (nitrous dioxide)  irritates eyes, throat, nose; increased risk of respiratory infection.

Indoor air pollution is something to be addressed.  Use the least amount of chemicals in your house.

1 .Consider no carpeting or using area rugs.  Open the windows on nice days.

2.  Lower humidity in your house; start with using a basement dehumidifier to prevent mold and other biological contaminants.

3.  Clean the air with air purifiers.   Air Purifiers

4.  Move construction materials to the garage.  Make sure that gas oven, dryers, wood stoves, propane heaters are properly installed.

5. Give away or donate items you do not need like an old couch or furniture, etc.  Throw away chemicals that you are not using.  Consider using cleaners that do not affect your health.

6.  If installing carpeting, ask the manufacture to open carpeting and let it air out for a few weeks.  This is the period of the most intense chemical off-gassing.  It really is not a good idea to have babies and young children playing on the rug.

7.  Consider the rapid rise in asthma and all the cases of cancer.  Take aaction to have a healthy home.  Visit http://www.stopmoldcold.com/behealthy  for more information.  Stopping mold can take care of many indoor air pollution issues.  To adsorb chemicals from the air it is important to have activated charcoal as a component of air purifier. also include hepa filtration which clean the air of 99.97% of contaminants.

Live Healthy…Be Happy!

Check Out This Video: A great explanation of Indoor Air Pollution in the home: