Six Ways to Reduce Mold Allergy Reactions
Sniffling, sneezing, stuffy nose, a sore throat…sound familiar? You assumed it was seasonal allergies, but it’s lasted for six seasons now.
What is it? Two words—mold allergies.
Mold is present in some quantity almost everywhere. When it infests tight spaces in high concentrations, the spores released can cause unwanted side effects. And when these tight spaces happen to be in our homes or offices, it can cause those of us with mold allergies to experience a miserable combination of symptoms.
The good news is, there are steps you can take to reduce mold allergies.
1. Get rid of the mold
The first step to reducing mold allergies is to call a professional to identify mold in your home or office and have it professionally removed. At My Pure Environment, we’ll meet you on site to do an air quality assessment, and collect surface samples.
Our Dry Fog technology penetrates deep into the cracks and crevices in your home, where mold settles. It eradicates mold and pathogens on contact. Leaving you with the purest air you’ve experienced in your life.
2. Reduce inflammation in your sinuses
Nasal corticosteroids can treat the inflammation caused by an upper respiratory mold allergy. See a physician to assess the severity of your mold allergies, and ask if a prescription for a corticosteroid nasal spray is right for you.
3. Block histamine production in your body
Antihistamines work to reduce itching and sneezing, by blocking histamines. Histamines are a chemical your body naturally produces in response to an allergy. You should be able to find OTC antihistamines at your local drugstore. A physician may prescribe a nasal antihistamine if your mold allergy reactions are bad enough.
4. Reduce congestion with oral decongestants
With your sinuses working overtime to flush the irritant from your upper respiratory tract, there’s typically a lot of drainage when you’re experiencing a mold allergy reaction. As a result, congestion can be a secondary effect of a mold allergy reaction. Reducing congestion is as simple as picking up an OTC decongestant.
Because oral decongestants can raise blood pressure, it’s a good idea to avoid them if your blood pressure is already high. Always read warning labels and consult a physician before taking a new medication.
5. Stop the mold spores before they get to you
Sometimes, we can’t avoid being exposed to mold. If you have yardwork to do before the snow starts falling, you may want to wear a mask and gloves when handling piles of yard waste, or working in a musty shed or garage.
Avoid going outside after it rains, as mold concentrations can be particularly high around this time. You can always monitor the mold concentrations in the air by going to your local weather report and checking the allergy information.
6. Flush out the irritation with a nasal rinse
If you’re experiencing heavy symptoms, and need to reduce irritation from a mold allergy reaction, you can do a simple nasal rinse. You can find information about how to do an at home nasal rinse here.
Unfortunately, this won’t work if your sinuses are severely blocked. As with just about anything, consult your doctor before use, and stop using the nasal rinse if you experience pain or nose bleeds.
Mold Testing, Mold Inspection, and Mold Remediation in Spokane, WA
My Pure Environment now operates out of our remote facility in Spokane, Washington. We perform all the same services as our walk-in locations. If you have allergy symptoms that just won’t go away, they might be due to mold allergies. Contact our trained mold specialists to have your home or workplace inspected.
Photo from PxFuel.com
