WASHINGTON — It’s a hidden threat that could be lurking right inside your home: Mold. And while it might just look like an eyesore on your walls or ceiling, experts say it can pose a serious risk to your health.
A common but overlooked health hazard
Mold spreads tiny spores through the air that can trigger sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, and breathing issues. For people with asthma or allergies, the effects can be even worse.
Dr. Gary Kaplan, founder of the Center for Integrative Medicine, says mold exposure can lead to a wide range of symptoms that go beyond what most people expect.
“Respiratory symptoms, especially asthma is probably the biggest one, chronic sinusitis, so nasal congestion, uh, if you’re finding a lot of skin irritation, you might want to wonder whether or not that’s secondary to mold exposure in your environment.,” Dr. Kaplan explained. “So those are the big things that you can see, but the other thing is, are you having fatigue, headaches, chronic illnesses, and are you seeing weaknesses potentially in the immune system?”
When mold levels rise
Here in the D.C. region, mold is around all year long, but counts typically spike between May and October, especially after rain or fog, according to Susan Kosisky, Chief, Microbiologist and Director, Aerobiological Reporting and Evaluation with the US Army Centralized Allergen Extract Lab…