All You Need to Know About Mould in Your Home
According to Shelter, one in five renters are currently affected by damp and mould in Britain. "A person can feel the effects of mould exposure in as little as two hours," Dr Tang, our expert GP cautioned. "And the effects can last for one to three days." For those exposed to mould on a daily basis, "they may be short of breath, cough frequently and have a sore throat".
Mould can be a costly and unhealthy problem to have in your home. Not only is it unsightly, but it can also lead to serious health problems if not correctly treated. In this blog post, we will talk about the risks of mould exposure, how to stop mould growth, and what you can do to prevent mould from growing in your home.
What Are The Risks Of Mould Exposure?
Mould exposure can cause a variety of health risks, such as respiratory illness, asthma attacks, and allergic reactions. It is especially harmful for those with weakened immune systems or respiratory issues. For example, people with allergies may experience more severe symptoms when exposed to mould spores. Dr Tang says, "These mould spores can grow inside the lung cavities creating a ball of mould in the lungs, which can require surgery to remove if medication does not work."
People with asthma are more likely to experience asthma attacks living in a mouldy home, which can be life-threatening. Additionally, there is some evidence that long-term exposure to mould may even cause cancer. It’s important to take these risks seriously and address any signs of mould growth immediately.
Living in a mould home can lead to:
- A runny or blocked nose
- Skin and eye irritation
- Wheezing
- Sneezing
- Chest problems
"In extreme cases a person can develop aspergillosis – a condition caused by inhaling tiny particles of mould," said Dr Tang.
Dr Tang warned: "If mould intoxication has spread to the lung and sinuses, it could cause permanent lung damage known as fibrosis and sometimes even death."
He advised: "if you have spotted mould in your home, monitor it and keep a check on your health.
How To Stop Mould Growth
Once you have identified the presence of mould in your home, you need to take steps to remove it quickly before it spreads further into your home’s walls and furniture. The first step is to identify the source of the moisture that caused the mould growth. This could be something like a plumbing leak or high humidity levels in certain rooms of your home. Once you have found the source of the problem, you need to act fast by drying out affected areas and removing any contaminated items from your home such as carpets or furniture that have been infected by mould spores. If necessary, hire a specialist cleaner who can properly clean up all areas affected by mould growth.
How To Prevent Mould From Growing In Your Home
In order to prevent future instances of mould growth in your home, it’s important that you keep humidity levels low and make sure that there are no water leaks within your property’s walls or floors. Additionally, open windows regularly for ventilation purposes so that air circulates throughout your house properly and prevents condensation build-ups which could lead to further issues with mould growth down the line. Finally, invest in proper insulation for attics and crawl spaces so that they remain dry at all times as moisture trapped here could easily lead to future issues with mould development if not addressed accordingly.
Living with mould in your home is an unpleasant situation but one that can easily be prevented if proper precautions are taken beforehand such as keeping humidity levels low and ensuring all water leaks are fixed promptly before they become an issue. Furthermore, regular inspections should be conducted on vulnerable areas within your property such as attics or crawl spaces where moisture build-up may occur without being noticed right away if left uninspected for too long periods of time! By taking these simple steps now you can save yourself time and money by preventing any further damage caused by unwanted mould infestations and also save yourself from serious illness’.
Whether you are experiencing severe symptoms or simply seeking peace of mind regarding health concerns related to mould within your home, you can easily schedule an appointment with one of our experienced GPs either remotely or face to face at one of our North West clinics.