Is it allergies or mould exposure?
After all the rain we had last month, I noticed that musty smell creeping into our bedroom. Many houses have old plumbing issues that have been repaired, but you can still have mould in the walls, under your carpets, even inside your latex pillow. (Don’t ever go to bed with wet hair!). Mould exposure is far more common than you may think
Many people often mistake mould symptoms to be common colds or seasonal allergies. Here are the top 5 symptoms of mould exposure to look out for:
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Coughing and Sneezing
.Even though coughs and sneezes may result from exposure to cold or dust, they can originate from the moulds as well. For example, if mould infests a particular area of your house, you will mainly experience coughing and sneezing whenever you approach that area (like my bedroom at the front of the house).
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Digestive Disorders
Most people living in a house invaded by moulds experience stomach upset now and then. These digestive issues can range from stomach pains, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting or loss of appetite. In extreme cases, the mould spores can cause systemic inflammation, which may cause bloating.
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Frequent Headaches
If you are experiencing frequent headaches when inside your house, there is a high chance you have mould in your home. To be sure, carry out a test for a few days. Note when your headache starts, where they occur, and when they stop. If you go away for a few days, do your symptoms improve?
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Breathing issues
Breathing issues and respiratory diseases are common health problems facing persons living in houses exposed to mould. For those living with asthma, exposure to mould leads to increased irritation in the nasal passage, lungs, and throat. If you are experiencing wheezing, coughing, sneezing, sore throat, and nasal congestion, take note. These signs display a weakened immune system resulting from mould exposure.
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Skin Rashes
Skin is usually the first organ that communicates if you have any issues inside your body. And that’s why, when you get sick from mould exposure, your skin becomes dry, and sometimes, it may flake and get itchy. Some other symptoms are chest tightness, fatigue, shaking, muscle pains, numbness, twitching, and many more.
Thankfully, you can eliminate mould in your home..
Use ventilation fans to reduce humidity levels (not the useless ones that just blow the damp air into the roof cavity)
- Inspect your building for any water damage, leaking roof or pipes
- Let the sun shine on your house! Trim trees if needed
- Open your windows when it’s warm and sunny, close them when it’s cold or damp outside
- You can buy humidity meters in Bunnings for around $30
- Dehumidifiers are a great investment and are very cheap to run. We move ours from room to room. Once the humidity meter reaches 50% the dehumidifier goes on
- You may have an air conditioner with a “dry” setting, these don’t actually extract much water from the air, but can help.
If you suspect that you have mould exposure, contact me and I can put you in touch with an expert.