Hidden effects of Mold

Got fatigue? Got Spring and Fall allergies? Got night sweats? Mold could be the source of your problem.

Two patients came to me this week, both with fatigue, both who had already made great lifestyle changes--special diets, more sleep, eliminated caffeine, taking beneficial supplements. Their fatigue would not go away, in fact, it was getting worse. They thought maybe it was hormones or low iron. However, testing for food and environmental sensitivities revealed that mold was their biggest problem.

 Mold is a big problem in the northwest. We think of mold as only being in old homes or damp enclosed spaces such as a basement. However out here one can see mold growing right on tree trunks along nature paths. Window sills are tough to keep mold free--even vinyl double-paned windows accumulate black mold during the winter months. Bathrooms and laundry rooms can easily breed mold in hidden places due to the high humidity when in use. Proper surface choices, including the right kinds of paint, wallpaper, grout, etc. as well as getting a renovation job done to code can make a big difference in whether or not these rooms have a problem later. Buying a house that has been renovated by the previous owner rather than a certified contractor may be a high risk.

 If you've bought a foreclosed house, mold could be an issue no matter how old the house was or what the estimated value of the home is. Moisture evaporates from homes with the aid of heating, air conditioning, and doors and windows opening on a regular basis. None of these things happen in foreclosed homes, sometimes for years.

Mold can cause longterm or short term problems. Some people will get hayfever such as sneezing and burning eyes from mold. Others will get skin conditions. Children often get asthma and adults may contract other types of long term respiratory problems from entering a house with a high mold count. This very thing has happened to countless people who have tried to rescue their homes in Louisiana post Katrina. Many people I've met have unexplainable fatigue, nausea, and headaches.

Taking allergy medicine or even getting allergies treated will not solve the problem if your house is infested with mold. In addition to creating an allergic response, molds can give off mycotoxins and microbial volatile organic compounds. Effects of mold in the northwest are often seen in the Spring and Fall when it is both wet enough to spread mold and warm enough for the mold to release spores. If your allergies or other health problems get worse in Spring, consider a mold problem.

Everyone should take these precautions in their homes:
1. Check window sills monthly for mold and clean them with a bleach solution
2. Make sure exhaust vents for clothes dryers are hooked up and free of lint plugs.
3. check under sinks for dripping pipes
4. Check shower and tub stalls for soft walls or cracked or missing caulking.
5. Occasionally check walls behind furniture such as bookcases or chests of drawers.
6. When trouble areas are found, remove all layers of damaged material to check subfloors and drywall for mold.
7. Check houseplants for mold on the soil.
8. find out if your refrigerator has a drain tray. This should be checked and emptied.
9. Check the air in the house with mold check kits (available at Home Depot). Do this before and after repairs and renovations.
10. Get the crawl space below your house checked for pools of water during the wet season.
11. make sure the outside of your house is in good condition including the roof, siding, rain gutters, and any roof additions such as skylights. Make sure the land next to your house slopes away from the foundation and that there are no sprinklers hitting the house directly and no plants prefering wet soil up against the house. 12. Do repairs correctly. This may require hiring a professional.