Mold can lead to serious health issues, especially if you suffer from allergies, have a respiratory condition, or have a weak immune system. If you have a mold allergy, your system overreacts whenever you breathe in mold spores in ways such as sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes. Mold exposure is associated with restricted breathing, asthma, and other respiratory problems for people with mold allergies.

Symptoms of mold allergy

Mold allergy manifests in the same way as many other types of respiratory allergies. Signs and symptoms of mold allergy include:

• A stuffy or runny nose.
• Itchy throat, nose, and eyes.
• Watery eyes.
• Postnasal drip and cough.
• Dry or scaly skin.

Mold allergy can be mild or severe, and the symptoms range from one person to another. These symptoms are triggered mainly by exposure to mold spores. The symptoms may flare up during some seasons, especially in the cold winter months, when the weather is damp or when you are indoor or outdoor environments with high mold concentrations.

If you are allergic to molds, the best prevention is to avoid mold exposure in your house and other environments. Also, there are some medications that help keep mold allergies under control. If you suspect mold growth in your home, it is helpful to engage a mold removal specialist to remove it and identify its root cause.

Health risks of mold

Other health issues that can result from mold exposure include:

Breathing problems

When mold grows, the likelihood of other unstable organic fragments, cells, and spores entering the air is higher. They can produce allergens, mycotoxins, and other irritants that cause breathing problems, especially for allergic people. Dampness and moisture trigger the breakdown of materials, leading to more particles and dust in the air. They irritate the nose, throat, and lungs and lead to breathing problems, especially for people with existing respiratory issues like asthma or chronic lung conditions.

Aspergillosis

A common type of mold known as aspergillus can lead to a severe health condition known as aspergillosis in some individuals. Although many people breathe in these mold spores without experiencing any problems, people with a weak immune system or an existing respiratory condition can react. There are different types of aspergillosis:

• Allergic Aspergillus sinusitis affects the nose and can also involve headaches.
• Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis affects the lungs and can lead to breathing difficulties.
• Aspergilloma occurs in the form of breathing problems and a bloody cough.
• Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis can lead to breathing problems, coughs, and weight loss.

Allergy

People who experience mold allergy are highly susceptible to other respiratory conditions such as asthma following extended exposure to molds.

Other health conditions

According to WHO, mold exposure can lead to bacteria and microbes, which cause an inflammatory response in some individuals. They also increase the risks of fungal and bronchial infections such as:

• Allergic fungal sinusitis.
• Chronic rhinosinusitis.
• Allergic alveolitis.
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
• Lower respiratory tract problems in children.

According to WHO and CDC, some people experience wheezing, skin & eye irritations, fever, nausea, fatigue, headache, mucous membrane irritation, and sick building syndrome when exposed to moldy environments.

the final words

The amount of mold present and an individual’s respiratory health or immunity system impacts the likelihood of experiencing mold health problems.