Household mold can quickly ruin your health

Household mold can quickly ruin your health

Published 09.04.2024 | By Йосиф

Household mold can quickly ruin your health

Mold is one of the oldest organisms on earth (more than 1.5 billion years old) and at the same time one of the most widespread and resilient. It belongs to the earliest stage of fungal evolution and is able to survive in the most extreme conditions. Different types of mold live on human skin, on food, in soil, in water, on plants, in the ground, and even parasitize other types of fungi. Some types of mold are relatively harmless to humans, while others are potentially dangerous. But there are species that can ruin your health. This is “household” mold that has firmly settled in our homes. Black mold is especially dangerous for humans. It is not for nothing that in ancient times, houses where black mold had settled were burned to the ground. Mold accumulates in damp, poorly ventilated rooms. It is clearly visible – black or gray spots on the surface of the walls of damp rooms and where there are “cold bridges” and condensation collects. Along with the plaque, an unpleasant mushroom smell may appear.

REFERENCE. Research has shown that 15% of homes in cold climates show signs of dampness and 5% are affected by mold. In warm climates – 20 and 25%, respectively. This problem is mainly common in rooms where ventilation is not installed, there is no thermal and waterproofing, and there is no proper heating.

Mold is not just an aesthetic defect in a room. Skin contact with mold and inhalation or ingestion of mold spores can have serious health consequences. Here’s a list of some of the problems you may have to deal with if you have mold in your home.

ASTHMA. High humidity and mold can lead to chronic respiratory problems and asthma. It has been proven that dampness aggravates existing respiratory diseases. When children are exposed to mold, the risk of asthma increases by 80%.

RHINITIS. Household mold increases the risk of frequent rhinitis. People who already have nasopharyngeal infections have more severe symptoms when exposed to mold.

Again, for children, contact with mold has more detrimental consequences: there is a strong connection between high concentrations of mold in the home and the development of allergic rhinitis in children in the first five years of life. Dampness and exposure to mold are determinants of rhinitis, allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis. Moreover, the symptoms are most pronounced when there is a strong smell of mold.

HEADACHE. Headaches and migraines are also consequences of mold toxicity. It can cause headaches as a result of an allergic reaction to mold spores in the inhaled air.

Along with headaches, a person may often suffer from fatigue and fatigue, and experience pain in the muscles and joints.

WEAK IMMUNITY. The toxins that mold produces can negatively affect a person’s immune system, weakening it. This is especially dangerous for young children whose immunity is not yet fully developed. When their body is exposed to mold or antigens, their immune system may not always protect the baby or may not respond correctly.

Mold toxins can cause acute vomiting, diarrhea, asthma attacks, and, in severe cases, pulmonary hemorrhage in children.

But not only children, but also the adult body is not always able to withstand the negative effects of black mold for a long time.

EYE PROBLEMS. Mold-infested homes can literally blind their owners. Mycotoxins present in the air can cause eye inflammation, watery eyes, eye congestion and blurred vision.

SKIN RASHES. People with sensitive skin should stay away from homes where mold has taken up residence. Symptoms may include skin inflammation, pink or brown skin rashes, blisters and itching. Yellowing of the skin may occur from time to time. Mold rashes can be itchy, and trying to scratch the sore area increases the risk of skin damage and infection.

PROBLEMS WITH BLOOD CIRCULATION. Mycotoxins can cause heart damage, leading to blood clotting and internal or external hemorrhage. Symptoms of poor circulation due to the toxic form include irregular heartbeat and low blood pressure. In severe cases, it can lead to bone marrow failure, bloody vomiting, and bleeding in the brain and other organs.

NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS. Mycotoxins can affect the central nervous system, which in turn can lead to cognitive and behavioral changes, ataxia (lack of muscle coordination) and convulsions. Symptoms associated with neurological problems due to mold toxicity include confusion, brain fog, shortened attention span, difficulty concentrating, memory loss and problems, impaired learning ability, hallucinations and so on.

DEPRESSION. People living in damp, moldy homes are at higher risk of depression.

INSOMNIA. People who have underlying breathing problems while sleeping, such as obstructive sleep apnea, may be very sensitive to mold. This occurs due to the inhalation of mold spores and mycotoxins, which leads to further nasal congestion, sneezing, watery eyes and runny nose and promotes poor sleep.

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