Black Mold Symptoms – How to Stop Black Mold Allergies

Are you experiencing allergic reactions all year round or does it gets worse when the weather is damp? Then you’re mostly likely allergic to black mold. Unlike people with pollen allergies that only experience seasonal symptoms, people with black mold allergies can have allergic reactions all through out the year. The problem on molds can get worse during the winter season; this is because black molds thrive in damp and moist areas of the house, particularly in the bathroom, basement, carpet and crawl space.
black mold removal
The most common black mold symptoms include stuffy nose, wheezing, watery eyes and coughing. Most people mistake these symptoms are a mild flu or cold. The main difference is that the symptoms of black mold allergies can last for more than a month or two and doesn’t respond to normal cold treatments. Allergic reaction to black molds can trigger an asthma attack and can also cause severe respiratory problems like difficulty in breathing and tightness of the chest. It’s important that you see an allergist so you can be tested for black mold allergy if you think you have one. The only way on how to stop black mold allergies, aside from taking anti-allergic medications, is to eliminate the source of the problem at home.

Almost everyone is exposed to the spores of molds. Black mold is a kind of fungus that decomposes things such as food, dirt, plants and wood. It thrives both indoors and outdoors. The allergic reaction starts when the mold spores enter the body through the mouth, nose or eyes. These black molds also create certain compounds that give away a musty odor that can irritate the nose, throat and eyes. Here are some methods on how to stop black mold allergies in your home.

It’s important that you have your house checked for presence of black molds. A good tool is the moisture meter test and a sampling of the dust for molds. You can contact your local health agency or companies that offer mold testing services. You can reduce the level of moisture inside your home by allowing air to flow in dryers, bathrooms and other moist areas in the home. The use of exhaust fans in these areas can greatly help, or if not, then a simple window will do.
black mold testing
Check for any leaks in the plumbing and other water source in the house and fix it. Black molds thrive in damp places so you need to prevent water from accumulating in the basement or crawl space. Some black molds can also live in places where you can’t see it, so also check your drywall if it has molds inside and replace the damaged part. In the bathroom and kitchen, you can remove black molds on the tiles by scrubbing it with a hard brush and bleach. You can also use hydrogen peroxide or vinegar in cleaning the molds. Be sure that you wear a facemask in cleaning the black molds so it won’t trigger an allergic reaction.