Tag Archives: Mold and Allergies

What Do Mold Spores Look Like?

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If You're Allergic to Mold, Knowing What Mold Smells Like can Save you an Allergic Reaction.

If You’re Allergic to Mold, Knowing What Mold Smells Like can Save you an Allergic Reaction.

There are well over 1,000 different types of mold. It can grow anywhere that it has moisture, food, and the right temperature. This fungus is so common that you may take it for granted when you see it under a sink or growing along the exposed floor joists in your basement or crawl space. Don’t ignore mold.

Mold spores

Mold spreads and reproduces via spores. These spores are tiny; three to 40 microns. That is too small to be seen with the naked eye. These tiny spores easily become airborne and cause allergic reactions in some people. A 2004 study by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found evidence that exposure to indoor mold could cause respiratory illnesses in otherwise healthy children.

Dangers of mold spores

Since mold often grows in out of the way places and the spores are too tiny to be seen, mold can thrive and cause health issues for building occupants without them realizing the source. Spores may cause eye irritation, sore throat, headaches, skin irritations, or other symptoms that compromise a person’s quality of life and later lead to more serious illness. Unless a doctor specializes in mold-related illness, they may give an incorrect diagnosis that leads to ongoing suffering and frustration.

The best solution

A report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that as many as 50% of all U.S. buildings have water damage or moisture conditions that could lead to mold growth and illness from mold spores. The experts at Stern Mold have more than 20 years experience effectively treating mold and protecting properties from future mold problems. Contact us today for a free inspection and consultation.

Posted in Mold Identification, Mold Information, News

Learn About Mold: What Are The Signs of a Mold Related Illness?

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Learn About Mold: What Are The Signs of a Mold Related Illness?

Learn About Mold: What Are The Signs of a Mold Related Illness?

You’ve heard all the news stories and reports about the health risk of exposure to mold. What you might be unclear about is how to recognize the signs of a mold-related illness.

Have you or a family member been experiencing any of these symptoms with seemingly no cause? It might be time to seek professional NYC mold removal for your home or business.

Physical Ailments

• Microscopic mold spores are ingested with every breath you take, so they can trigger upper respiratory allergic reactions even in people who have no history of allergies. Symptoms range from sneezing and runny nose to coughing and wheezing.

• Mold can aggravate existing respiratory problems such as asthma, while people with immune system deficiencies can develop lung infections.

• Some varieties of mold contain mycotoxins that can irritate your digestive system, resulting in nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pains and loss of appetite.

• Unexpected weight gain is a surprising side effect of mold exposure. Mycotoxins can disrupt the balance of leptin, a hormone that regulates appetite.

• If you experience that familiar tingling of your extremities “falling asleep” without obvious cause, it could be mycotoxins affecting sensory nerves.

Mental Symptoms

• Prolonged mold exposure can lead to the disturbing problem known as “brain fog,” involving cognitive difficulties such as memory loss and inability to focus.

• Depression can be caused directly by mold exposure or indirectly by perceived lack of control over your environment.

Contact Stern Mold for Professional NYC Mold Removal

Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Contact us today to schedule a free mold inspection by our helpful and experienced technicians.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Information, MoldExterm, News, NJ Mold Removal, NYC Mold Removal

Other Health Effects That You May Not Commonly Think Would Be Caused by Mold

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Spring Brings Along Allergies... and so Does Mold.

Spring Brings Along Allergies… and so Does Mold.

When left untreated, indoor mold can cause serious cosmetic and structural damage to your NJ home or building, but it poses an even bigger threat to your health. How much do you know about the physical effects of mold exposure?

Allergic Reactions

Mold spores commonly trigger upper-respiratory allergic reactions, even in people who are not normally sensitive, so you may already be aware of this health problem. Symptoms frequently include sneezing, wheezing and red, itchy eyes.

Due to its impact on the upper respiratory system, mold exposure can aggravate and intensify symptoms in people with asthma. Inhaling mold spores can also lead to hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a pneumonia-like disease characterized by fever, coughing and fatigue.

Rashes

Inhaling spores is not the only way to be physically affected. If you come into contact with mold, the irritants it contains can cause an inflammatory response resulting in a skin rash.

Infections

Individuals with compromised immune systems are vulnerable to mold-related infections such as aspergillosis, which occurs when fungus is present in the lungs.

What’s That Smell?

Microbial volatile organic compounds, or mVOCs, are the compounds that give mold its distinctive musty odor, but they have also been linked to symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, dizziness and headaches.

The Stern Difference in NJ Mold Remediation

Killing mold is not enough to remove the threat. The infestation must be totally removed from the affected area. Our two-step MoldExterm treatment removes mold from all surfaces and includes a polymer sealer to prevent future reoccurrences.

Contact us today to schedule a free mold inspection and learn why Stern is the leading name in NJ mold remediation.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Treatment

Aspergillosis – a Lung Infection Caused by Exposure to Mold

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Lungs And Mold

Lungs And Mold

Inhaling mold spores on a regular basis can irritate your throat and nasal passages, causing allergic reactions such as sneezing and coughing. A more serious threat lurks for people who have low resistance or pre-existing lung conditions.

Aspergillosis: When Mold Turns Infectious

Aspergillus is one of the more common types of mold, occurring frequently both indoors and outdoors. Chances are you inhale Aspergillus spores on a daily basis with little or no adverse effects.

However, individuals with weakened immune systems or who have a lung disease are at risk of developing aspergillosis, which is an infection resulting from exposure to Aspergillus spores.

Types of Aspergillosis

There are more than 180 identified species of Aspergillus, but fewer than 40 of them cause infection. Different forms of aspergillosis include:

• Allergic bronchopulmonary and allergic sinustis cause inflammation that triggers allergic reactions but no infection.

• Aspergilloma, or “fungus ball,” is a ball of Aspergillus mold that grows in the lungs and sinuses.

• Chronic pulmonary causes cavities in the lungs, and may occur in conjunction with aspergilloma.

• Invasive is an infectious form that usually affects the lungs, although it can spread to other parts of the body.

• Cutaneous develops when Aspergillus spores enter the body via the skin, such as through a cut or wound.

Live in Northern NJ or NYC? Schedule your Free Mold Inspection from Stern Mold.

If you suspect a mold infestation in your home, it should be treated immediately regardless of the type of fungus. Contact us today to schedule your free mold inspection by our professionally trained technicians. We can deal with mold infestation quickly and effectively using our eco-friendly MoldExterm process.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Tips, News

Inhalation of Mold and Dust – a Health Hazard

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Inhaled Mold Spores Can Be Detrimental to Health

Inhaled Mold Spores Can Be Detrimental to Health

Big things come in small packages, and that applies to health risks as well. Dust and mold spores may not be visible to the naked eye, but they can have a serious impact on your physical well-being. Why do these microscopic particles create such a threat?

Mold Spores: Small but Mighty

Even the largest mold spores measure only 40 microns. In comparison, a human hair ranges from 100 to 150 microns. At that size, it’s easy for spores to slip past the natural filtering in your nasal passages, causing irritation to your upper respiratory system that triggers allergic reactions.

People who don’t generally suffer from allergies can still experience mild symptoms, such as wheezing and a runny nose, but the more sensitive an individual is, the more serious the effects. Reactions can range from chronic sinus infections to asthma attacks as well as lung infections in people with compromised immune systems.

Dangers of Dust in the Air

Dust is always present in the air, but treatments like traditional mold remediation can aggravate their presence. When building materials are removed, chemical vapors, silica particles and other irritants are released to combine with existing dust motes. Such disturbances also stir up mold spores that are dispersed into the air, where they can enter your system or find a new surface where they will continue to multiply.

State-of-the-Art Mold Remediation in NYC and northern NJ

Stern Mold uses a proprietary system called MoldExterm for effective and eco-friendly mold removal. Visit our website to learn more about why MoldExterm is superior to traditional mold remediation.

 

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Remediation, Mold Treatment, MoldExterm, News
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