Mold exposure is more than just an unsightly nuisance; it poses significant health risks that can impact your well-being. When mold spores infiltrate your living or working spaces, they can trigger a range of symptoms, from mild irritations to severe health conditions. Whether you’re dealing with a hidden infestation or visible growth, understanding the symptoms and potential side effects of mold exposure is crucial for safeguarding your health. In this guide, we explore the various ways mold can affect your body and offer insights on how to protect yourself and your loved ones from its harmful effects.
Mold Exposure: Symptoms and Health Side Effects
Mold growth doesn’t always have an obvious smell to it, and you may not always notice the musty odor associated with some growing or sporing mold types. However, that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.
Mold exposure is dangerous because it can go unnoticed and untreated for a long time. Sometimes mold exposure might only show signs or symptoms years after the initial exposure, and people might only get sick once they’ve left the environment already.
What are the symptoms and side effects of mold exposure, and how can you spot the danger signs?
Here’s what you should know about exposure to mold, and what to do if you suspect it.
More About Mold Exposure
Mold exposure is a blanket term that refers to being exposed to any dangerous or harmful mold, mushroom, or spore. Exposure to spores can trigger an immunity response, however, repeated or long-term mold exposure can also lead to mold toxicity – a serious condition that can require hospitalization and immediate treatment.
Someone might not notice or know that they’re being exposed to mold. There isn’t always an obvious musty or moldy smell, and many times the mold isn’t out in the open – but going through the air where its effects can’t be seen.
How Mold Grows and How to Spot Mold
Mold is present in many buildings, usually where moisture or water collects and the spores are given free rein to keep growing. This often happens unseen, with mold spores using the airflow (or lack thereof) to spread itself from one place to the next.
Some types of mold will leave a musty odor, while others are harder to spot unless you’re right in front of it. Unfortunately, mold exposure can affect your sense of smell, which is how people have been exposed to mold for years without realizing it.
Professional mold analysis uses technology to spot mold, giving you a sure answer of whether you’ve been exposed to mold or not.
Black Mold: The Sometimes Fatal Spore
All types of mold can cause potential health effects, negative immune system reactions, or side effects and symptoms. However, some types of mold can be more dangerous than others – and black mold is the potentially fatal spore causing the most issues.
Black mold exposure can be disastrous for your health, and it might even trigger everything from allergies to serious respiratory issues.
Mold exposure can always be serious, even when you aren’t sure which type of mold you’ve been exposed to.
The Symptoms of Mold Exposure
Mold exposure might present with mild symptoms, which later progress to more serious symptoms or long-term issues.
Initial signs of mold exposure include eye and throat irritation, as well as a running nose or irritated sinuses. Mold exposure can resemble nothing more than an allergy at first, except the allergy doesn’t go away – or respond to traditional treatment.
Symptoms of mold exposure can worsen over time, leading to serious side effects like respiratory infections or even hallucinations brought on by mold toxicity.
In extreme cases, mold exposure can even prove fatal.
If you suspect that you might have been exposed to mold, seek medical attention for confirmation and treatment. Simple tests can establish whether you’ve been exposed to mold, and even what type might have affected you.
Reporting Mold for in Your Home or Business
It’s important to seek professional advice from the first moment you notice mold – contact a professional mold remediation company near you.
Scheduling a consultation with a professional mold removal contractor can stop mold from spreading further, which requires immediate action.
Denver Clean-up & Restoration Services
With over 150 years of combined experience, the Colorado Cleanup Services, Inc. team has the knowledge, skill, and commitment necessary to handle any emergency cleanup services you may require. From flood and fire damage restoration to sewage backup, and coronavirus cleanup services in Denver, CO, you can always turn to us when you need deep, disinfecting cleaning for your home or business.
Family-owned and operated, our cleaning company is proud to provide the services of trained and certified technicians to all our clients. Our impressive team knows what it takes to return damaged properties to their original condition with the highest level of professionalism. Don’t settle for anything less when you require high-quality disaster recovery services. Our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure you receive the help you need when you need it give us a call: 303-237-4406.
