Finding mold in air ducts, basements, bathrooms or any other area of your home is something that requires immediate attention.
But mold in your air ducts specifically can pose a greater threat to your family’s health than mold elsewhere. This is because your air ducts move airborne dust and particles all around your home. If mold is present in your HVAC system, it is being spread throughout your house.
It may be easy to dismiss this at first, especially if you don’t see other signs of mold growth or water damage. But there are a few significant health challenges that come from constant mold exposure.
Having your air ducts cleaned regularly is the best way to protect your family’s health, especially if anyone in your family has a weaker immune system.
Here are the top five diseases or health problems caused or aggravated by mold in your air ducts:
The 5 Most Common Health Issues Caused by Mold in Air Ducts
1. New Allergies to Mold or Flaring Up of Existing Allergies
Mold in air ducts can trigger new allergies or worsen existing ones due to the constant circulation of mold spores in the air.
Symptoms can include:
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Watery eyes
- Skin irritation
For individuals who are already sensitive to mold, this exposure can lead to more frequent and severe allergic reactions. If you are experiencing this in your home, it is a good idea to have your air quality tested.
2. Resurgence of Asthma Attacks and Asthma
Asthma sufferers are particularly vulnerable to poor indoor air quality caused by mold in air ducts. The presence of mold spores can irritate the respiratory system, leading to a resurgence of asthma attacks or worsening symptoms such as:
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Shortness of breath
Prolonged exposure can make asthma management more challenging and increase the frequency of attacks.
Children growing up with regular exposure to mold can also be at greater risk of developing asthma. This makes the regular maintenance and cleaning of your air ducts especially important.
3. Chronic Inflammation and Fibromyalgia
Mold in your air ducts can also increase inflammation and worsen conditions like fibromyalgia. This is a condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties. Mold in the air is one potential environmental trigger that can increase inflammation and worsen these health issues.
Persistent exposure to mold spores can keep the body in a constant state of stress. This causes those with fibromyalgia to experience more pain and fatigue. It can also prevent them from healing.
Addressing sources of inflammation, like mold in your air ducts, is important if you want to manage this condition.
4. Lung Infections in the Immuno-Compromised
Individuals with weakened immune systems are at a heightened risk of developing lung infections when exposed to mold. This is especially true of those who already have chronic lung disease or conditions like those we’ve mentioned earlier.
Mold spores can invade the respiratory system, leading to infections such as aspergillosis. This can become severe in those with compromised immunity.
Keeping your environment as mold-free as possible is the best way to avoid more health risks and complications.
5. Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is an inflammatory condition of the lungs caused by repeated exposure to environmental agents, such as mold spores. This reaction occurs when the immune system becomes overly sensitive to inhaled particles, leading to symptoms like:
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
If left untreated, chronic exposure can result in long-term lung damage and scarring. Addressing mold in your air ducts as quickly as possible is important if you have started experiencing these symptoms.
What Are The Signs Of Mold In Your Air Ducts?
There are a few ways to tell you have mold in your air ducts. But, when considering this from a health perspective, one telltale sign can be if you always feel better when you are out of the house.
If you notice your symptoms like a runny nose or sinus headache decrease on vacation or when you’re at work, then seem to flare up in the evenings when you return, you could be reacting to mold in your environment.
Other signs of mold in your air ducts can include:
- A musty smell in your home
- Rooms feeling stuffy even when the air conditioner is running
- The rapid appearance of mold in moist areas such as bathrooms
Before You Blast the A/C, Let First Call Make Sure Your Air is Safe and Clean!
At First Call, we know all too well how the humidity of North Carolina can turn any potential mold issues into a serious problem quickly. So, before you blast the air conditioning this summer, have us inspect your air ducts for mold.
We can give you a report about your air quality, remediate any mold we find in your air ducts, and restore them to a clean state. Keep your family breathing easily in the warm months ahead. Contact us for a free quote today.
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Sources:
American Lung Association, “Managing Asthma,” https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/managing-asthma
