You’ve probably heard the saying “what you don’t know can’t hurt you,” and it can be true in many instances. When it comes to your health, however, it’s precisely the things you don’t know or see that will cause you the biggest trouble, like bacteria and viruses. What’s more, another threat might be lurking in your home—molds. This article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that these fungi may cause serious health problems for you and your family:
Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, molds can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, or, in some cases, skin irritation. People with mold allergies may have more severe reactions. Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may get serious infections in their lungs when they are exposed to mold.
In 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition. The IOM also found limited or suggestive evidence linking indoor mold exposure and respiratory illness in otherwise healthy children.
You might not know it but a leaky roof can invite mold growth in your home. When water penetrates a hole in your roof, it can trickle into the attic or between your walls, making them ideal breeding grounds for molds because they are moist and dark. When molds mature, they release spores that your family can inhale, thus causing the health problems mentioned above.
To prevent this from happening, make sure to call contractors like Muth & Company Roofing that provide expert roof repair for Gahanna, Ohio residents. They’ll assess your roof to find all the holes and will patch them up so water can’t enter your home, thereby reducing the risk of mold infestation.
Aside from getting Gahanna or Dublin, Ohio roof repair, also make sure that water spills, flooded basements, or wet spaces in your home are dried no later than 48 hours so molds won’t have a chance to grow. Another great idea is to buy inexpensive indoor humidity monitors to keep track of your home’s humidity levels. Ideal humidity falls between 35-55%, and if it reaches 60-70%, mold might start to thrive in the dark and damp corners of your home.
(Article Information and Image from Facts about Mold and Dampness, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)