Allergy – Allergy Health Issues News & Articles by HealthTree

Photo Credit: Karen Horton

Do you know why I write about allergies? Because I’m allergic to just about everything. I swear, sometimes I think that I’m going to fall asleep and wake up allergic to my bed. Oh wait, that happened once already…bad example.

As you might expect from the title, I’m allergic to mold as well. Did you know mold is everywhere? Heck, it is even useful. Your favorite cheese? You can thank a mold. Ever had a bad case of strep throat and been given a shot to get better fast? You can thank a mold. Notice I say you because I can’t. I’m allergic to molds…all kinds, even the fun ones. Luckily for you, well most of you, a typical mold allergy is just triggered by the kind around the house, office, or yard that are inhaled.

The symptoms for a mold allergy are like the symptoms for most other allergies that are triggered by inhalation; sneezing, watery eyes, itchy throat, stuffy nose, runny nose, and coughing. Actually the coughing is a bit more common with a mold allergy than some of the others.

The really bad thing about mold? It’s almost impossible to avoid. Duct systems for business, stores, and even your home have a tendency to harbor mold, especially in humid climates.
I live in Florida. We are called the sunshine state, but we natives call it the liquid sunshine state. It’s usually wet down here, which naturally results in high humidity and lots of mold.
Even if you don’t live in the liquid sunshine state, you may still be exposed to mold if you are in a high risk situation such as:

• High humidity in the house – this usually happens in bathrooms, basements, and sometimes laundry rooms.
• Excessive moisture at workplace – rain through a window, flooding of the carpets, a pipe that has burst. All of these things can create a damp environment in the walls, ventilation system, insulation, or even floorboards allowing mold to flourish.

Sometimes people aren’t even aware they have a mold allergy until they are exposed to high levels of mold spores. I found out I was allergic to mold after getting sick every time I was in a certain area of an old school for too long. That was a horrible year, until my classes were switched.

How did you find out you were allergic to mold?