As effective as the response may have been, it may not have been sufficient to remove every trace of mold and bacteria. If you have also noticed some suspicious looking stains on your walls or floors, you may have located the source of your illness. What you are suffering from may well be black mold allergy symptoms.
What Are Mold and Bacteria?
Mold and bacteria are microscopic organisms that have existed for hundreds of millions of years. Because they are so adaptable to their environment, they are almost impossible to trace until they are in full bloom. And because they are so tiny, they can penetrate into your body with ease. Once inside you, they can cause all manner of irritation and even serious physical harm.
Where Can You Find Mold and Bacteria?
Mold and bacteria can be found everywhere. You can encounter them outside on fallen leaves or on the side of your home. You can accidentally bring them inside via your clothing or shoes. And you can find plenty of mold inside your home as well. This is particularly true after a heavy rain that may have resulted in flooding.
If you are suffering from mold allergy symptoms, chances are good that you already know the cause. Now it’s time for you to take prompt and effective action. The first thing you need to do is identify the precise causes of the mold allergy symptoms you are experiencing.
What Are the Symptoms of Mold Allergy?
As an answer to the question of what are the symptoms of mold allergy, it may help to have a look at the following list. These are some, but by no means all, of the most common toxic mold allergy symptoms:
- Serious nasal congestion
- Nonstop runny nose
- Chronic sneezing
- Red or inflamed eyes
- Itchy throat
- Coughing
- Sudden bouts of snoring
- Wheezing
- Difficulty breathing
What Are the Most Common Risk Factors Associated with Mold?
You should also be aware that there are many risk factors that are associated with mold and bacteria. There are over 1,000 different species of bacteria and mold, including some that cause seriously harmful effects.
For example, some of the most common black mold allergy symptoms include severe nausea, fainting, dizzy spells, and other neurological symptoms. If accidentally ingested, mold and bacteria can cause serious breathing problems.
But these toxic mold allergy symptoms are not only the causes of internal problems. Mold can also penetrate into the skin. Once it does so it can cause serious epidermal issues, such as bleeding, flaking, swelling, and severe rashes. If you can’t stop scratching no matter how much lotion you put on your skin, you need to see a mold allergy specialist immediately.
How Can You Be Sure You Are Suffering from a Mold Allergy?
If you believe you are suffering from mold allergy symptoms, you will need to get treatment right away. Your best bet is to consult an allergist who can give you a mold allergy test. The purpose of this mold allergy test is to identify which species of mold or bacteria is causing the problem. Once you have named the culprit, you can proceed to eradicate it.
An allergist is a medical professional who has been specially trained to identify the symptoms of bacteria and mold allergies. They can give you a battery of special skin and blood tests that can identify the problem, after which they can prescribe a course of effective eradication.
You can start by retracing your steps to where you have been over the past few weeks. Most mold and bacteria allergies can be traced back to the home or to your place of work. If you have been to visit a place that has been recently affected by flooding or is chronically damp all year round, this may well have been the place where you first began to notice the symptoms of a mold allergy.
What is the Treatment for Mold Allergy Symptoms?
- Make sure to quickly mop up any spills or leaks in your home.
- Remove all areas of standing water, no matter how small they may be.
- Clean your garbage cans regularly. Never let water pool in them.
- Give the drip pan in your refrigerator a regular cleaning.
- Clean out your gutters on a regular basis. Make sure that they drain in a direction that leads well away from your home.
- Keep moisture out of your bathroom as well as the other rooms in your home. Use dehumidifiers or exhaust fans for the best results. Keep your windows open to let the room dry naturally if you have no recourse to these items.
- If you have already detected mold or bacteria in your home, call in a professional mold remediation service immediately.
What is the Safest Course of Mold Allergy Prevention?
The safest course of mold allergy prevention is to follow the advice of your physician. They will normally prescribe a course of antihistamines and decongestants in order to help relieve your symptoms.
If you know that you are soon going to be in a high risk area for mold and bacteria, it’s a good idea to plan evasive action in advance. For example, while doing yard work, you can wear a dust mask. It’s also wise to take the allergy medications that your doctor has prescribed an hour or so in advance of getting started on your work.
After you have finished the job and left the area, you can further safeguard yourself against mold and bacteria by taking a quick shower. This will help to remove any spores that may be lingering on your body. You can also take the extra step of rinsing your nose out with a saline solution.
