BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuAllergies, asthma, and moldsReactive airway - mold; Bronchial asthma - mold; Triggers - mold; Allergic rhinitis - pollenIn people who have sensitive airways, allergy and asthma symptoms can be triggered by breathing in substances called allergens, or triggers. It is important to know your triggers because avoiding them is your first step toward feeling better. Mold is a common trigger.AllergyAn allergy is an immune response or reaction to substances that are usually not harmful.Read Article Now Book Mark Article AsthmaAsthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and become narrow. It leads to breathing difficulty such as wheezing, shor...Read Article Now Book Mark Article AllergensAn allergen is a substance that can cause an allergic reaction. In some people, the immune system recognizes allergens as foreign or dangerous. As ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersMoldsWhen your asthma or allergies become worse due to mold, you are said to have a mold allergy. There are many types of mold. They all need water or moisture to grow. Molds send out tiny spores that you cannot see with the naked eye. These spores float through the air, outdoors and indoors. Mold can begin growing indoors when the spores land on wet surfaces. Mold commonly grows in basements, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Controlling Mold IndoorsFabrics, carpets, stuffed animals, books, and wallpaper can contain mold spores if they are in damp places. Outdoors, mold lives in the soil, on compost, and on plants that are damp. Keeping your house and yard drier will help control mold growth. Central heating and air-conditioning systems can help control mold. Change furnace and air conditioner filters often. Use high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to best remove mold from the air. In the bathroom: Use an exhaust fan when you shower or take baths. Use a squeegee to wipe water off shower and tub walls after you bathe. Do not leave damp clothes or towels in a basket or hamper. Clean or replace shower curtains when you see mold on them. Keep indoor air dry. Mold thrives in moist air.In the basement: Check your basement for moisture and mold. Use a dehumidifier to keep the air drier. Keeping indoor moisture levels (humidity) between 30% to 50% will keep mold spores down. Empty dehumidifiers daily and clean them often with a vinegar solution. In the rest of the house: Fix leaky faucets and pipes. Keep all sinks and tubs dry and clean. Empty and wash the refrigerator tray that collects water from the freezer defroster often. Frequently clean any surfaces where mold grows in your house. Do not use vaporizers for an extended time to manage symptoms during asthma attacks. Outdoors: Get rid of water that collects around the outside of your house. Stay away from barns, hay, and wood piles. Do not rake leaves or mow grass. Open ReferencesReferencesAmerican Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology website. Home allergy management. acaai.org/resource/home-allergy-management/. Updated June 28, 2023. Accessed April 12, 2024.Matsui E, Platts-Mills TAE. Indoor allergens. In: Burks AW, Holgate ST, O'Hehir RE, et al, eds. Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 28.AllVideoImagesTogA Closer Look Asthma in children and adolescents - InDepth(In-Depth)Asthma in adults - InDepth(In-Depth)Allergic rhinitis(Alt. Medicine)Food allergy(Alt. Medicine)Allergic rhinitis - InDepth(In-Depth)Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Self Care Allergies, asthma, and moldsAllergic rhinitis - self-careRelated Information Review Date: 4/1/2024 Reviewed By: Charles I. Schwartz, MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. 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Allergies, asthma, and moldsReactive airway - mold; Bronchial asthma - mold; Triggers - mold; Allergic rhinitis - pollenIn people who have sensitive airways, allergy and asthma symptoms can be triggered by breathing in substances called allergens, or triggers. It is important to know your triggers because avoiding them is your first step toward feeling better. Mold is a common trigger.AllergyAn allergy is an immune response or reaction to substances that are usually not harmful.Read Article Now Book Mark Article AsthmaAsthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and become narrow. It leads to breathing difficulty such as wheezing, shor...Read Article Now Book Mark Article AllergensAn allergen is a substance that can cause an allergic reaction. In some people, the immune system recognizes allergens as foreign or dangerous. As ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersMoldsWhen your asthma or allergies become worse due to mold, you are said to have a mold allergy. There are many types of mold. They all need water or moisture to grow. Molds send out tiny spores that you cannot see with the naked eye. These spores float through the air, outdoors and indoors. Mold can begin growing indoors when the spores land on wet surfaces. Mold commonly grows in basements, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Controlling Mold IndoorsFabrics, carpets, stuffed animals, books, and wallpaper can contain mold spores if they are in damp places. Outdoors, mold lives in the soil, on compost, and on plants that are damp. Keeping your house and yard drier will help control mold growth. Central heating and air-conditioning systems can help control mold. Change furnace and air conditioner filters often. Use high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to best remove mold from the air. In the bathroom: Use an exhaust fan when you shower or take baths. Use a squeegee to wipe water off shower and tub walls after you bathe. Do not leave damp clothes or towels in a basket or hamper. Clean or replace shower curtains when you see mold on them. Keep indoor air dry. Mold thrives in moist air.In the basement: Check your basement for moisture and mold. Use a dehumidifier to keep the air drier. Keeping indoor moisture levels (humidity) between 30% to 50% will keep mold spores down. Empty dehumidifiers daily and clean them often with a vinegar solution. In the rest of the house: Fix leaky faucets and pipes. Keep all sinks and tubs dry and clean. Empty and wash the refrigerator tray that collects water from the freezer defroster often. Frequently clean any surfaces where mold grows in your house. Do not use vaporizers for an extended time to manage symptoms during asthma attacks. Outdoors: Get rid of water that collects around the outside of your house. Stay away from barns, hay, and wood piles. Do not rake leaves or mow grass. Open ReferencesReferencesAmerican Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology website. Home allergy management. acaai.org/resource/home-allergy-management/. Updated June 28, 2023. Accessed April 12, 2024.Matsui E, Platts-Mills TAE. Indoor allergens. In: Burks AW, Holgate ST, O'Hehir RE, et al, eds. Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 28.
