Lung problems due to mold and fungus
Beyond a scratchy throat and irritated eyes, respiratory problems are a common result of exposure to mold and fungus. Not all molds will cause this sort of reaction in all people, and the levels of lung and respiratory problems will vary from person to person, depending on what type of mold that individual has been exposed to and, of course, how much.
For people with asthma and mold allergies, lung problems can be triggered in a damp basement or any other moist area of the home where mold tends to grow and flourish. For these people, their bodies recognize the mold spores they are breathing as foreign entities, and antibodies are developed to fight them – these are the allergy symptoms. Even a small bit of mold that a non-sensitive person might not detect (beyond the recognizable smell) can bring on allergy symptoms like congestion, wheezing, coughing, and the production of excess mucus.
Additional lung problems can result for someone with a mold allergy. A condition called mold-induced asthma can sometimes occur. This is caused by inhaled mold spores. While these people may not commonly be asthmatic, an asthma flare-up can be caused through mold exposure.
Individuals with existing conditions such as asthma, COPD, HIV, cystic fibrosis, or a chronic lung condition can have additional difficulties as well. They could end up with a fungal infection in their lungs as a result of inhaling airborne mold spores. A condition called Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis can develop. When this particular lung condition develops the mold does not grow into the lung tissue, but it lives in the lungs providing a constant source of irritation and allergic reaction.
Pneumonitis is another lung problem that can develop. Pneumonitis is a condition that is characterized by swollen or inflamed lung tissue, and is often caused by exposure to mold spores. Symptoms of Pneumonitis include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath.
Pulmonary Hemorrhage is probably the most worrisome of all the lung conditions caused by mold exposure. Pulmonary hemorrhage is bleeding of the lungs in layman’s terms. The evidence that this condition is tied to exposure from black mold is somewhat limited, but many people believe that the condition is linked to black mold. This condition affects mainly infants and adults with compromised immune systems.
Larger accumulations of mold in areas such as the basement can cause lung problems in a greater proportion of people, even for individuals who are otherwise healthy. Coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath are common symptoms that these people may experience from large amounts of mold growth.
Exposure to mold can cause many problems for people, even those who are otherwise healthy. Lung problems and respiratory difficulty are just a few of the ways that mold exposure can impact you. It is important that people who run a higher risk of the aforementioned problems do all they can to ensure that their environment is inhospitable to mold.
