Mold exposure, particularly black mold, can cause a variety of health problems. A mold allergy causes the same symptoms that occur in other upper respiratory allergies, so mold exposure is often overlooked as the cause.
Exposure to mold has the following signs and symptoms:
- Skin rash:
Your skin doesn’t even have to come in direct contact with mold for you to develop a rash. You can develop redness in your skin simply from inhaling the fumes from the mold. - Eye irritation:
Mold can cause both redness and watering of the eyes. - Headaches:
Breathing in mold can cause headaches in some people. This is especially true of people who suffer with migraines, as they are very sensitive to certain stimulants and mold can be one of them.
Feeling tired: Feeling tired for several days in a row, even when you are getting adequate sleep can be a symptom of mold exposure. - Sore throat:
Experiencing a raw feeling when swallowing, or hoarseness when speaking, are both indicative of mold exposure. Spores can become lodged in the throat and irritate the sensitive membranes. - Shortness of breath:
Breathing in mold spores can cause respiratory difficulties in some people., especially those with allergies. They may even develop asthma or have asthma attacks triggered by the mold in their homes. - Runny nose or sinuses:
A constantly runny nose can also be a strong symptom of mold exposure. This can be triggered either by an allergy to the mold spores or the membranes of the nose becoming irritated by the spores. - Bloody nose:
Although this symptom is rare, it does occur. Some people are more sensitive to certain allergens and those offending irritants cause severe reactions. One of these reactions can be damage to the membranes of the nose resulting in regular bleeding. If this is happening to you, it can be caused by mold within your home.
With any of the above symptoms, it’s common to get misdiagnosed with something like seasonal allergies. If treatment for other upper respiratory infections doesn’t seem to be alleviating your symptoms, you might want to consider mold exposure. Bona Fide Home and Mold Inspections offers exceptional home inspections throughout Rhode Island as well as mold inspections and testing in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. With over 30 years in the business and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, we are recognized as one of the premier home and mold inspection companies in New England.
