Mold In Your Home And How It Can Effect Your Health

After a small gas leak in my parents neighborhood in Hartsdale, NY, the utility company started to try to determine the source. It turns out that it was under their newly paved driveway and they proceeded to notify the surrounding homes that work would be underway. One of the workers entered a neighbor's home and after a few minutes he came running out, gagging, coughing and sniffling. I asked him what was wrong and he said that every wall in the house was covered in black mold, from floor to ceiling. Unfortunately, the homeowner had a flood but never had the problem remediated. She has severe health problems and the other members of the household have neglected the problem entirely.

This situation is not an unfamiliar story. Many people dont realize that water damage can lead to mold problems if it is not remediated properly. There are many different types of mold, some of which are harmless. But the fact remains that certain types of mold can be dangerous and adversely effect our health. If you have asthma or allergies, mold can cause itching, skin rashes, eye and nose irritation, coughing and increase the frequency of asthma attacks. If your immune system is weak, if you have lung disease, are elderly, or have young children or infants, the health risks become even greater and can be at higher risk for developing infections.

Some researchers believe that more serious health problems can occur due to certain types of mold infestations. Symptoms include respiratory infections, respiratory distress, chronic headaches, nose bleeds, vomiting, dizziness, and possible organ damage. If you believe that your health problems are due to a mold problem, contact your primary care physician immediately. They might recommend an allergist or if the problems are more serious, they might refer you to a specialist such as an infectious disease physician or a pulmonary specialist.

I talk about water damage a lot in my blogs, I know. But thats because I know how easily a water damage issue can turn into a mold damage issue. I am really quite worried about the homeowner that I wrote about in the beginning of this blog. I am going to continue to offer my services to her but it is extremely frustrating when people have difficulty hearing and accepting the truth. If you ever have water damage in your home or business, remember that resolving the problem can, in fact, cost you money, but not addressing the problem can cost you more. Not just more money, but it can cost you your good health and quality of life. If you are facing a mold or water damage problem, call a professional remediation company. We do this kind of work on a daily basis and can prevent a mold problem from ever occurring.