Showing posts with label Mold Allergy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mold Allergy. Show all posts

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Prevention Of Mold Allergy

You can take steps to reduce the growth of mold in the house. Consider these suggestions:

Eliminate sources of moisture in the basement, such as pipe leaks or groundwater seepage.

Use a dehumidifier in any area of ​​your house smells like mold or mildew. Keep the humidity below 50 percent. Remember to clean the bucket collection and condensation coils regularly.

Use air conditioning, and installing central air conditioning, a high efficiency particulate (HEPA) filter attachment. The HEPA filter can trap mold spores from outdoor air before being recycled in your home.

Change furnace and air conditioning filters on a regular basis. Forced air heating ducts inspected and cleaned if necessary.

Make sure all bathrooms are properly ventilated, and run the fan during a shower or bath and immediately after the dry air. If you do not have a window fan or open the door when you shower or bath.

Clean the bathroom floor and wall surfaces regularly with a bleach solution.

Promote infiltration of groundwater away from your home by removing leaves and vegetation around the foundation and from cleaning the gutters regularly.

Keep containers clean and dry organic plants, such as those made of straw, wicker or hemp.

Treatment Of Mold Allergy

The best treatment for allergies is to take measures to avoid exposure to triggers. However, the molds are common and can not be avoided completely. Although there is no sure way to cure an allergy to mold, a series of medications that can relieve their symptoms. These include:

Nasal corticosteroids. These nasal sprays help prevent and treat the inflammation caused by allergies to molds of the upper airways. For many people the drug is more effective against allergies, and are often prescribed first drug. Examples include ciclesonide (Omnaris), fluticasone (Flonase for Veramyst), mometasone (Nasonex) and beclomethasone (Beconase). Nosebleeding is the most common side effect of these drugs. These drugs are generally safe for long-term use.

Antihistamines. These drugs can relieve itching, sneezing and runny nose. They work by blocking histamine, a chemical released by the inflammatory immune system during an allergic reaction. Over-the-counter (OTC) Antihistamines include loratadine (Claritin, Alavert) and cetirizine (Zyrtec). Older antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and clemastine (Tavist) work so well, but may cause dizziness. Fexofenadine (Allegra) and nasal spray azelastine (Astelin) is available by prescription.

Decongestants. These medicines are available over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription liquids, tablets and nasal sprays. OTC oral decongestants include Sudafed, Actifed and Drixoral. Nasal Spray include phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine) and oxymetazoline (Afrin). Because oral decongestants can raise blood pressure, avoid them if you have high blood pressure (hypertension). Do not use a nasal decongestant spray for more than two or three days at a time because it can cause rebound congestion if used for longer periods.

Cromolyn (NasalCrom). This medication is available over-the-counter nasal spray. Helps relieve allergy symptoms mold, preventing the release of histamine. Cromolyn is most effective when started before signs and symptoms.

Montelukast. Montelukast (Singulair) is a prescription pill to block the action of leukotrienes - immune system chemicals that cause allergic symptoms such as excess mucus. It has proven effective in the treatment of allergic asthma, and it is also effective in the treatment of mold allergies. Like antihistamines, these drugs are not as effective as inhaled corticosteroids. It is often used as nasal sprays can not be tolerated, or when mild asthma are present.

Other treatments for mold allergy are:

Immunotherapy. This treatment - a series of allergy shots - to eliminate some allergies such as hay fever. Unfortunately, allergy shots are only moderately effective against mold allergy.

Nasal lavage. To help you annoying nasal symptoms, your doctor may recommend that you rinse your nose with saline. Use an over-the-counter saline nasal spray or prepare your own saltwater solution. To do this, mix three tablespoons of salt contains no iodine with a teaspoon of baking powder in a container you can seal. Take 1 teaspoon of this mixture and mix with 8 ounces of water to make your saline solution. If you experience burning or stinging, use less salt and baking powder mixture next time.

Your doctor may recommend further treatment if you also have asthma induced by mold, fungus allergic sinusitis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Symptoms Of Mold Allergy

Mold allergies cause the same symptoms that occur in respiratory allergies. Mold allergy symptoms can include:

Sneezing

Runny or stuffy nose

Coughing and postnasal drip

Itchy eyes, nose and throat

Watery eyes

Mold allergy symptoms vary from person to person and vary from mild to severe. You can be all year round symptoms or signs that light up only at certain times of the year. You may notice the symptoms when the weather is wet, or you're indoors or outdoors, which have high concentrations of mold.

If you have a mold allergy and asthma, asthma symptoms can be launching exposure to mold spores. In some people, exposure to certain molds can cause severe asthma attack. Signs and symptoms of asthma are:

Cough

Whistle

Difficulty breathing

Chest tightness

When to see a doctor

If you have a stuffy nose sneezing, watery eyes and other distressing symptoms that seem to disappear, consult your doctor.

Causes Of Mold Allergy

Several factors may make you more likely to develop allergies to molds or aggravate an existing mold allergy symptoms, such as:

With a family history of allergy. If the allergy and asthma in your family, you are more likely to develop allergies to mold.

Working in a profession that exposes you to the form. Business, where mold exposure can be high include dairy work, logging, baking, carpentry, carpentry, greenhouse work, winemaking and repair of furniture.

Living in a house with high humidity. If the humidity is above 60 percent, you may have a greater exposure to mold in your home. Mold can grow almost anywhere if the conditions - in cellars, behind the walls of the structure, the coating of soap paste and other wetlands in the carpet pad and the carpet itself. Exposure to high levels of mold home can trigger symptoms of mold allergy.

Work or live in a building that has been exposed to excessive moisture. Leaking pipes, water infiltration during heavy rain, floods: At some point, almost every building has some sort of excessive moisture. The humidity can allow mold to thrive.

Living in a poor house ventilation. Windows and doors tight seal can trap moisture and prevent internal ventilation, creates the ideal conditions for mold growth. Moist environments such as bathrooms, kitchens and basements, are vulnerable.

Mold Allergy Overview

MOLD ALLERGY
If you have a mold allergy, the immune system overreacts to breathing in mold spores. This reaction triggers a cascade of reactions that lead to allergy symptoms. As with other allergies, mold allergies can make you cough, makes your eyes itch and cause other symptoms that make you miserable. Some people with mold allergies and asthma resulting from exposure restricted breathing and other respiratory symptoms.

If you have a mold allergy, the best defense is to reduce your exposure to the types of mold that causes your reaction. Although not always possible to avoid mold allergy triggers, medications can help keep mold allergic reactions under control.