Are your allergies due to mold?

The only consolation to seasonal allergies, presumably, is that we only have to deal with them during certain times of the year or on days with high pollen counts. But have you ever had allergy symptoms on days with a low pollen count? If so, you’ve probably lamented, “Why is this happening now?” In some cases, your runny nose or itchy eyes may actually be a reaction to mold.

As it turns out, one in twenty Americans have an allergy to mold. If you're one of these, you may find yourself having symptoms even when you don’t expect them. Because mold can be present indoors and out year-round, there is no “season” to a mold allergy. The following are symptoms that may indicate you have this allergy: sneezing, runny nose, congestion, and dry, scaly skin. Additionally, mold can act as a trigger for asthma sufferers, causing symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath.

The best way to prevent symptoms from popping up is to identify where mold may be lurking in your daily life—and remove or avoid it. In your home, be on the lookout for dark, damp places. Common places are bathrooms, the kitchen, basements, and any compost piles you may have outside. If you find any small patches of mold, you can clean it with various DIY solutions made from household chemicals. However, for large areas of mold it’s best to contact a professional for removal, especially if you have an allergy.

You can also deploy some of the following tactics to prevent mold from growing in the first place. Always shower with the exhaust fan on or a window open to prevent moisture buildup in the bathroom. Check the drip pans and vents for water in appliances like your refridgerator, air conditioner, and humidifier and clean them out frequently. Give your storage space an update by moving your belongings to containers that are both air-tight and waterproof—to help keep mold out of your home. If you see any leaks in your home, be sure to fix them right away so the mold doesn’t have a place to grow. This also applies to making sure rainwater doesn’t pool close to the base of your home and leak into the foundation. And finally, you can use an air purifier with a HEPA filter to keep your air clear of mold and other particles that could be affecting your allergies. Airmega’s HEPA filter can remove up to 99.97% of the particles in your home.