You At Your Best

BY KAreN riCe YOu At YOur Best According to WebMD, exposure to mold can irritate a person's eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. That's true whether a person is allergic to mold or not. Even people who are merely sensitive to mold can experience sneezing and runny nose, and some may even develop red eyes and skin rash if exposed to mold. Reactions are much more severe for people with mold allergies, who may experience shortness of breath or suffer from asthma attacks if exposed to mold. Molds require moisture to grow, and basements may provide ideal growing conditions for mold. Mold spores cannot grow without moisture, so dehumidifiers can help homeowners effectively reduce the risk of mold growth in their basements. WebMD advises homeowners keep indoor humidity levels, which can be measured with an inexpensive instrument known as a hygrometer, below 60 percent. In lieu of wall-to- wall carpeting in basements, install concrete floors and area rugs to make mold growth less likely. Leaks Regularly inspect roofs, basement floors and other places around your home for leaks, as leaks can promote mold growth. Address leaks promptly if any are found. The damage caused by leaks or can linger long after the leak is repaired. Mold left in the wake of a leak or flood poses a significant threat, and WebMD notes that mold can be especially dangerous for people with respiratory issues like allergies or asthma. Mold cleanup must be done with a sense of urgency, as WebMD indicates that mold can grow very quickly in damp environments. Mold clean up after flooding Once it's safe to reenter a home, the CDC recommends the following approach to address mold after a flood. • Wear personal protective equipment. Gloves, masks and goggles should be worn to protect the eyes, nose, mouth, and skin. While personal protective equipment can be highly effective, anyone with mold allergies or preexisting respiratory conditions like asthma should leave mold cleanup to the professionals. • Discard certain items. Items that are wet with flood water but cannot be cleaned and completely dried within 24 to 48 hours should be discarded. People with flood insurance policies may need to take photos of items prior to discarding them if they hope to be reimbursed. • Open doors and windows. The Federal Emergency Management Agency notes that airing the home out by opening the doors and windows can inhibit mold growth when humidity levels are lower outside than inside. • Circulate air around the house. If it's safe to turn the electricity back on, circulate air inside the home with fans. In addition, use a dehumidifier to remove moisture from inside the home. • Do not mix cleaning products. The CDC notes the dangers associated with mixing cleaning products. For example, mixing bleach with ammonia can produce toxic vapors. • Scrub surfaces. Use clean water and detergent to remove all visible mold from surfaces around the house. Dry the surfaces immediately after cleaning them. • Avoid refurbishing until all mold has been removed. Mold can grow even if it's been painted or caulked over. The CDC urges anyone tasked with addressing flood-related mold to make sure surfaces are completely cleaned and dried prior to refurbishing rooms. • Dry the home as quickly as possible. Drying the home as quickly as possible, and ideally within 24 to 48 hours of the occurrence of flooding, can inhibit further mold growth. However, it's imperative that residents only reenter a home after getting the go-ahead from local authorities. Reduce the risk of mold exposure BY KAreN riCe YOu At YOur Best Maybe you are one of the many people who have begun to experience allergy symptoms on a more regular basis, or even for the first time. Could climate change be part of the reason? Some experts think so. Our seasons have become more intense, and the transitions between them can be sudden. Take for example a week this past February, when the temperature in Fayetteville swung from -20 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees. These unseasonal changes cause plants and grasses to grow and bloom when they shouldn't, and allergies to follow suit. The connection between allergies and climate change is hard to ignore. Environmental factors have a huge impact on allergies, and climate change is changing our environment, our seasons, and the transitions between them. In a 2010 report about the impact of climate change, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (aafa.org) noted the connection between climate change and increased pollen, mold and poison ivy, resulting in greater risks for asthma and allergy attacks. Rising temperatures caused by climate change lead to longer allergy seasons and can make air pollution worse. This can increase the risk and severity of asthma attacks and cause more allergies. According to the AAFA, between 1995 and 2011, warmer temperatures in the U.S. have caused the pollen season to be 11 to 27 days longer. These warmer temperatures create more pollen in the air, stronger airborne allergens and more allergy symptoms. People living with asthma and allergies can do a few things to reduce the risks and impact of climate change: • Ask your doctor for advice on how to avoid places or situations that can cause an asthma attack or allergic reactions. • Before leaving your home, check the Air Quality Index to see how polluted the air is in your area. This will help you protect yourself before you go outside. • Advocate and support policy makers to act to reduce climate change and its impact on human health. Allergies and climate change 6 | YOu At YOur Best | NwADg.COm/YOuAtYOurBest April - Allergies & AsthmA | suNDAY, mArCh 28, 2021

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