Everyone knows to not eat bread if it’s moldy because it might make you sick, but thousands of people live with mold in their homes or businesses and do nothing about it. Areas where water leaks or are damp such as basements are prime spots for mold to grow.
Mold is a fungus and there are many types. Most of them cause minor irritation and breathing problems, but some can kill you. If you see mold in your home or business, don’t ignore it because it’s not in a public-facing area.
What health problems does mold cause? You might be surprised. We’ll examine some of the common health issues and some of the rarer more serious ones too.
What Causes Mold in a House?
How do you know if you have mold in your home or business? Mold is common in many businesses and homes because all it requires to grow is dampness, darkness, and warmth. The key to understanding mold growth in common areas of dampness such as basements, leaks in your roof, leaks in windows, or where there was flooding is humidity.
Many people think mold only grows on their walls, but they’re wrong. Mold grows on walls, drywall, cardboard, upholstery, cardboard, and wallpaper. Anywhere that has contacted or absorbed water is prime for mold growth. If you’ve had any flooding or water leakage, then there is likely mold somewhere even if you can’t see it.
What Health Problems Does Mold Cause – Minor
There are many types of molds that grow in your home, but the most common are Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. Cladosporium is brown, black, or green. Penicillium is blue, yellow, or green and can be found under carpets and inside insulation. Aspergillus is green, gray, or white and is on walls, in attics, and basements.
Mold has spores that travel through the air and duct system. When you’re near the mold or if it gets sucked into your ventilation, you inhale the spores and it creates symptoms reminiscent of allergies.
- Irritation of your lungs – You may find it harder to breathe or have pain in your lungs.
- Red and itchy eyes – It’s not just your lungs impacted, but your eyes as well.
- Sneezing and coughing – These are common symptoms of allergies and illness as well.
- Congestion and runny nose – These are often mistaken as signs of an allergy as well.
People with breathing problems such as allergies, asthma, COPD, and other illnesses are more susceptible to mold. The young and old as well as people with weakened immune symptoms are also more likely to develop mold exposure symptoms. Depending on the severity of the existing illness, it can lead to hospitalization or death if gone untreated.
What Serious Health Problems Does Mold Cause?
While most mold problems are minor and only exacerbated by pre-existing medical conditions or age, there are rare, but serious medical problems as well. In the early 1990s, it was suspected, small children experienced bleeding lung syndrome from exposure to a specific type of mold.
The homes had standing water and the Center for Disease Control connected it to the mold, but later updated their findings as inconclusive. Since then, “black mold” has become a nightmare word for homeowners.
All mold causes illness, but some can cause other problems such as infection, inflammation, toxicity, and other medical issues.
Toxic mold exposure creates symptoms such as:
- Brain fog
- Swelling
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Digestion Issues
- Cognitive Impairment
- Anxiety
- Vision Changes
You won’t be able to tell if the mold in your home is specifically toxic with visual inspection as many types of black mold don’t cause serious medical problems. Toxic mold exposure is rare, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you expect mold exposure or suffer any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.
Don’t Try and Clean Mold Yourself
Mold is persistent. Many people want to save the cost of mold remediation and clean the mold using standard cleaners or cleaners designed for mold. You may remove the mold visually, but there is no way of knowing if you’ve gotten it all.
Mold can grow in many places hidden from your view. Mold removal isn’t easy. If any of the mold remains, then it can continue to grow. You may remove the bulk of it, but it can grow and be just as bad within a few months.
Also, if you don’t eliminate the cause of the mold, then cleaning won’t help. The key to controlling mold is eliminating the cause of the moisture. Cracks in your foundation lead to seepage into your basement. Leaks in your pipes or roof lead to moisture in your insulation or on walls.
These must be fixed, or the mold will continue to grow. You can remove all the mold, but if the conditions remain ideal for growth, then it will come back.
Our Professional Mold Remediation Process
The experts at Compleat Restoration are certified in mold remediation and have the tools to completely remove the mold and eliminate moisture. We start by creating an area of containment for isolation to protect your home and family or employees.
Removal involves HEPA vacuum and the removal of all contaminated items such as carpets, cardboard, etc. Once the mold is dead, we use antimicrobial agents to kill any toxins still there from the mold.
Water damage and mold removal may include repairs to fix the moisture issues or replace areas such as drywall contaminated by the mold. We work with you from start to finish and make sure you’re informed throughout the process.
Get Mold Remediation Today
Don’t risk the health of your family, customers, or employees because of mold growth. If you’ve had water damage or see mold, then contact Compleat Restorations today. We’ll come and remove the mold and make your home safe and livable again.
Mold causes everything from minor medical problems to death if gone untreated, so don’t wait if you suspect mold in your home. If you want to learn more about flood damage restoration or mold removal, then contact our experts.