Quick Answer: Is It Safe To Live In House With Mold

Table of Contents

In some cases, mold in your home can make you sick, especially if you have allergies or asthma. Whether or not you’re allergic to molds, mold exposure can irritate your eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs. Here’s what you can do to combat mold problems, and take care of yourself and your home.

Is it dangerous to live in a house with mold?

The CDC, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warns about the dangers of living with mold in the home: Respiratory tract symptoms that include coughing, wheezing, and swelling of the throat. Those who have asthma and allergy problems are especially at risk.

How long can you live in a house with mold?

When trying to determine how long a person can safely live in a moldy house, it is first important to determine the individual sensitivities of the individuals involved. In general, a person can live in a mold-infested house for several years although some people may experience severe discomfort.

What does mold smell like in a house?

Mold does not always have a strong smell but when it is present, it’s often described as musty. Others have described mold smelling earthy, meaty or resembling the odor of wet socks or rotten wood. For many homeowners, the smell is unpleasant and pungent.

What if mold is behind drywall?

Your walls’ appearance can change significantly if there’s mold growth behind them. In addition to discoloration and stains, your walls may deteriorate. Paint or wallpaper can crack, peel, or bubble because of moisture and mold growth.

How do I know if my cough is from mold?

Mold allergy causes the same signs and symptoms that occur in other types of upper respiratory allergies. Signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis caused by mold allergy can include: Sneezing. Runny or stuffy nose.Signs and symptoms of asthma include:

Coughing.
Wheezing.
Shortness of breath.
Chest tightness.

How long does it take for mold to affect you?

These microorganisms can quickly fill the air and spread throughout your home, affecting more and more areas and endangering your health with every passing hour. Mold spores that start to colonize on surfaces within 24 hours become visible in about 18 to 21 days of the flooding.

How do you detox your body from mold?

Strategies to detox from mold Depending on the mycotoxins present and your body’s ability to tolerate treatment, I will recommend a combination of binders like clay, charcoal, chlorella, zeolite, cilantro, citrus pectin and cholesteramine or welchol.

How long does it take to detox from mold?

As you kill the mold and there are less organisms in your body, you will start to feel better. It took my husband six months to become free and clear of mold while it took me a year and a half.

How do you know if mold is making you sick?

Symptoms of mold exposure may include headache, sore throat, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes and fatigue. In those with asthma, asthma attacks can occur. In those with impaired immune systems, serious infection can occur.

When should you see a doctor for mold exposure?

If your cold or flu-like symptoms persist, it may be time for a trip to the doctor. Even if you aren’t aware that mold could be causing your issues, a doctor may be able to make the correlations between your symptoms and CIRS.

Will mold in walls die?

Mold spores become inactive temporarily after they have dried out but can remain a threat as long as they are present in the environment. Without constant moisture, mold will become inactive but they never die unless you get rid of them completely.

How do you know if mold is in your walls?

Mold can be black, green, gray, white, or brown. Mold can even appear orange, pink or purple when it grows behind vinyl wallpaper. Another sign of visible mold is discoloration of walls, even if it has been painted over. If the water damage inside the walls persists, mold will show signs on the surface.

How do you know if your house is toxic?

Key Signs Your House May Have Toxic Mold

Dormant allergies or allergic reactions.
Aggravated asthma or other lung problems.
Discolored walls.
Stains.
Black spots.
An increase in negative health symptoms such as a fever or feeling itchy; usually these problems are associated with an increased consumption of medications such antihistamines.

What are the symptoms of long term mold exposure?

Toxic mold exposure is also connected to more serious, long-term effects like insomnia, memory loss, trouble concentrating and confusion. Mold exposure contributes to depression and anxiety. It can even lead to muscle cramps, numbness in extremities, weight gain, light sensitivity and hair loss.

What are the symptoms of living in a house with mold?

If they come into contact with mold, they may experience symptoms, such as:

a runny or blocked nose.
watery, red eyes.
a dry cough.
skin rashes.
a sore throat.
sinusitis.
wheezing.

What does mold poisoning feel like?

Respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, watery eyes, and skin irritation are the predominant symptoms. Mold is also known to cause asthma and life-threatening primary and secondary infections in immune-compromised patients that have been exposed.

What are the symptoms of mold in your lungs?

Exposure to Aspergillus fumigatus mold can cause an infection/reaction called aspergillosis in some people. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest pain and fever.If the disease progresses, symptoms may include:

Coughing, sometimes accompanied by mucus or blood.
Wheezing.
Fever.
Chest pain.
Difficulty breathing.

How do I get tested for mold toxicity?

A blood test, sometimes called the radioallergosorbent test, can measure your immune system’s response to mold by measuring the amount of certain antibodies in your bloodstream known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies.