The number of children and adults suffering from asthma has been steadily rising over the years all around the world. The uninterrupted increase of pollutants in the air has been in a heap of ways been responsible for the rise in the number of cases of this incurable disease. Combine it with the presence of airborne mold and mildew inside the house and you only increase your vulnerability towards this disease. Let’s see how mold and mildew may cause asthma and what may you do to control these spores to get cleaner air inside your house.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a impairment of normal physiological function that affects the airways carrying air to and from the lungs. Here are the sensations or changes of asthma:

• Wheezing or a whistling sound while breathing
• Feeling of tightness in the chest
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Symptoms experienced ordinarily for the duration of the night or early in the morning

What are molds and mildews and how do they cause asthma?

Molds are basically types of fungi that grow on moist organic matter and mildew is mold growing on fabric. Molds reproduce by disseminating microscopic spores that float in the air and these then deposit themselves on any damp organic matter such as wood, carpet, rubber, etc. This is where they commence growing and eating up the material.

Since molds are airborne, they are often times inhaled by the persons living in the house and may cause respective breathing disorders including asthma. In fact, studies such as the one conducted by the National Institute of Health and Medicine Research (INSERM) in Paris, France, has shown that asthmatics are more sensible to airborne molds than animal dander and pollen. This is because persons are more exposed to mold and mildew as these microorganisms are present inside the house where persons spend most of their time.

How to control mold and mildew growth to prevent asthma?

Keeping the humidity level low in your home is necessary for preventing the growth of mold and mildew and here are a few steps that you may take to keep the indoor humidity underneath 50 percent.

• Maintain proper ventilation. Opening doors and windows whenever possible will support in reducing the humidity levels indoors.
• Opening shades and curtains allows sunlight inside your house which is the best possible way of killing mold and mildew.

• Bathrooms and kitchens are two rooms in the house that may raise the humidity levels indoors. So, use exhaust fans in kitchens or open the windows while cooking or using the dishwasher. Use a bathroom fan while showering or open the window.

• If you are staying in a neighborhood that has a higher level of air pollution, such as a busy street, you would probably not want to open your doors and windows. This is specially true if you already have someone who is prone to fabricating asthma such young children or elderly, or there is an individual with chronic asthma in your family. This is where a dehumidifier may be actually helpful. These are household gimmicks that may reduce the humidity level inside the house and maintain it in the range of thirty to fifty percent. They are in particular utile for reducing the growth of mold and mildew which cannot grow and survive if the humidity level is held low.

With the rising air pollution, the best you may do is keep the indoor air free of mold and mildew. So, make sure to provide ventilation, grant a heap of sunlight into the house, and use a dehumidifier.

Paris France Shower Curtain Pic

Paris France Shower Curtain Photo

Paris France Shower Curtain Picture

Paris France Shower Curtain Image

Paris France Shower Curtain Picture

Paris France Shower Curtain Picture