Mold can be frustrating for homeowners or tenants. When left to its own devices, mold can be quite destructive to a home if left untreated. Most people are aware of the structural damage that mold can do to a home. However, it is not as widely known that mold can also have severe health effects.
Mold can cause a variety of symptoms that affect the respiratory system. However, mold is also capable of causing headaches. You may know the most common signs of mold growth in your home, but headaches that seem to come out of nowhere can also be a sign.
How Can Mold Cause Headaches?
Inhaling mold spores or mycotoxins can trigger inflammatory responses and allergic reactions in the body that cause headaches. Mold grows in damp and poorly ventilated areas, and releases microscopic spores and mycotoxins into the air. These particles can be inhaled and, in certain individuals, trigger an immune response. This immune response, in turn, can cause various health issues, including headaches.
Immune Response
When you are exposed to mold your body can have an immune response. This response is triggered by the mold spores you have inhaled that were emitted into the air.
Part of this immune response is inflammation of the body along with headaches. Other symptoms that can follow mold exposure are fatigue and especially coughing.
Common Symptoms of Mold Exposure
In addition to headaches, a person can experience symptoms from mold exposure, such as coughing, wheezing, chest pain, congestion, sneezing, and a cruel and painful sore throat.
These symptoms can be worsened and even last longer if you have a compromised immune system.
Preventing Mold-Related Illness in Your Home
Preventing the Mold From Growing
If you do not want to develop mold-related illnesses, the best offense would be a good defense. To prevent mold-related illness, you must first prevent mold growth.
The best way to prevent mold growth is to rob mold of the two factors it needs to develop: moisture and nutrients.
Preventing Moisture for Mold Growth
To prevent the accumulated moisture needed for mold to thrive, Ensure proper ventilation in your home. When there is good clean air circulating throughout your home it prevents mold from being able to grow.
This means that you should regularly, per the directions, replace your home's air filter to promote good air circulation.
If your home is particularly humid, then there is a chance for moisture to accumulate, especially on the surfaces of walls. You should pair good ventilation with a dehumidifier to remove your home's humidity.
A dehumidifier can help get your home's humidity levels between 30% and 50%.
It also must be said that any leaky plumbing in your home can cause mold growth. Make a point of inspecting your pipes every couple of months to ensure no leaks.
Most Common Areas for Mold Growth
You need to understand that the most common areas for mold growth in your home are the ones with a higher chance of moisture accumulation. This means that areas like your laundry room, bathroom, or kitchen can be considered potential hot spots for mold growth. You need to pay particular attention to these areas for mold growth.
How to Treat Mold-Related Headaches
Confirming the Mold Relation
Mold exposure can cause persistent headaches without apparent cause when you are home. The first step in treating mold-related headaches is to confirm that the headaches are caused by mold.
The best way to do that is to schedule an appointment with your doctor so that they may run a test to validate.
By confirming that you have been exposed to mold, they can prescribe the proper treatment to deal with it, rather than merely treating the symptoms.
A mold exposure test will confirm that you have a mold-related illness and a surefire confirmation that there is mold in your home.
Treating the Headaches
You must follow your doctor's prescriptions to the letter after he or she confirms that mold has caused your headaches. Mold-related illnesses may be treated with antifungal medications that treat the causes, not just the symptoms.
You can still take over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen for headaches. Consult your doctor first to ensure this will not conflict with your medication.
When the Condition is Chronic
It is an unfortunate fact that mold exposure can lead to long-term symptoms. Sometimes, symptoms become chronic. You should speak to your doctor about long-term care plans if your symptoms have become established.
Can Long-Term Mold Exposure Be Reversed?
The good news is that long-term mold exposure can be reversed. Mold exposure symptoms will disappear when you remove the mold from your house and take the prescribed medication.
Conclusion
If you are experiencing symptoms of mold exposure, such as headaches, you should have your home tested for mold. Do-it-yourself mold removal is not recommended if you suffer from mold exposure. Proactive moisture management prevents mold and mildew issues in homes and businesses.
