What happens if you inhale mildew

That being said, prolonged exposure to this or any other type of mold can still potentially cause unpleasant symptoms or even pose the risk of more complicated infections. Unfortunately, this is a possibility with certain infections, especially aspergillosis. However, it is treatable in most cases with some oral medications and, less frequently, surgery. The longer you breathe them in, the longer the spores have a chance to find an open cavity in your lungs to settle down and colonize.

For individuals who have had recent surgeries or other diseases that can cause open cavities in the lungs emphysema or tuberculosis , the risk is much higher. Fortunately, your doctor can prescribe you oral corticosteroids to help bring down the inflammation and reduce symptoms. For more invasive cases of this disease, an oral antifungal may be prescribed.

Especially severe cases may require surgery to physically remove mold from the lungs, though this is less common and typically only done if side effects become dangerous causing excessive internal bleeding, for example. If your exposure to mold is fairly minimal, chances are you may not even experience any symptoms. For more prolonged cases of exposure, the symptoms are generally recognizable across the board: sneezing, coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or discomfort, and shortness of breath are all strong indicators that there are mold spores in your lungs.

The issue here is that all of these symptoms can be found in a variety of illnesses or allergic reactions, so it can be difficult to directly pin down mold exposure as the cause. Pay close attention to your symptoms, as well as when they started and how they change. Make a mental note of when you discovered mold growing around you, how long you were around it and whether or not you had any protection like a medical face covering.

Mold exposure can potentially cause serious problems, but most healthy people have nothing to worry about aside from some uncomfortable, temporary symptoms. Hiring a professional mold inspector will give you peace of mind. Being in a position where you are uncertain as to the toxicity of mold in your residence can be extremely stressful.

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Some of the most common varieties of indoor mold are Aspergillus , Cladosporium , and Stachybotrys atra , which is also known as black mold. Mold needs moisture to grow. Damp, humid environments are particularly prone to mold growth. Poorly ventilated areas also pose a mold risk. Certain mold species thrive on foodstuffs such as cereal, bread, nuts, and dried fruits.

Some of these may contain toxic substances called mycotoxins. People with certain health conditions may be more likely to experience symptoms, including infections and respiratory distress. These conditions include:. Infants, toddlers, and children may be particularly at risk. One study found that children who grew up in mold-infested homes had lower cognitive scores than their peers.

Another study indicated that early mold exposure increased the risk of acquiring asthma later on in life. This finding has been substantiated in other research, including a National Institute of Health NIH -funded study , run by a team at the University of Cincinnati.

This study found that the amount of mold in the home, as well as the type of mold, had an impact. This test analyzes dust to identify mold strains and quantity. According to the study, the three species of mold most commonly associated with childhood asthma are Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus unguis, and Penicillium variabile.

The children who lived in homes with high ERMIs during infancy had the highest rates of asthma by age 7. Some workplaces, such as poorly ventilated factories, greenhouses, and vineyards, may house large amounts of mold.

Any workplace that contains lots of old paper products, such as used book stores, may be a source of mold. Paper contains cellulose, an organic food source that certain mold species thrive upon. Farms and stables may also harbor large amounts of moldy hay. Mold toxins often develop in hay after a delayed harvest. Hay that contains mold is dangerous for humans to breathe in and for horses to eat.

Mold allergies are progressive.