How Do You Know If Your House Is Making You Sick
- Respiratory Symptoms congestion, aggravated asthma or allergies, sinus infections.
- Cognitive Issues foggy thinking, sleep disturbance, frequent headaches.
- Emotional Changes feeling agitated or depressed.
- Physical Symptoms stomach discomfort, muscle aches, fatigue, rashes, sore throat.
- Respiratory Symptoms – congestion, aggravated asthma or allergies, sinus infections.
- Cognitive Issues – foggy thinking, sleep disturbance, frequent headaches.
- Emotional Changes – feeling agitated or depressed.
- Physical Symptoms – stomach discomfort, muscle aches, fatigue, rashes, sore throat.
Is Your House making you sick?
Are you asking, “Is my house making me sick?”, the answer could be yes. Is Your Home Making You Sick? Sick house syndrome, a term used to describe the situation above, can cause a wide range of symptoms. Symptoms may include: If these symptoms get better when you leave your home, that could indicate a concern.
How do you know if you have mold in your home?
Musty smells are a tell-tale sign of mold. Another common indicator is visible signs of water damage. As mentioned earlier, mold grows fast. Within 24 hours of a water leak, or a flood, mold will begin to take hold. This mold can grow on anything that’s humid – walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, and even wet laundry.
Can mold in my home make me sick?
Having mold in your home won’t necessarily make you sick. But it does have the potential to cause certain health issues. Touching or inhaling mold spores can cause allergy-type symptoms such as:...
Why do I Feel Sick all the time?
If you feel sick all the time, it could be a cause of something serious, that’s lurking inside the walls of your home. Toxins and mold can build up in the home for many reasons. This can cause irritation of the throat, nose, or eyes. As well as flu-like symptoms, appetite changes, headaches, and disrupted sleep.
How do you know if your house is toxic?
Here are a few subtle signs that your house could be harboring harmful mold, according to the CDC and the EPA.Your air conditioning or heating smells weird. ... The grout between your shower tiles is dark. ... Your wallpaper is peeling. ... You feel like you have a cold that just won't go away.More items...•
How do you tell if the air in your house is making you sick?
The “immediate” symptoms of poor indoor air quality can often resemble a cold or allergies. You can feel fatigue or dizziness and may frequently get headaches and experience eye, nose, or throat irritation.
Can something in my house be making me sick?
Is your house making you sick? Don't be surprised if the answer is yes. Toxins, pesticides, gases, mites, and molds are everywhere, and the more you're exposed to them, the greater your risk for developing the health problems they can cause.
Why does my house make me feel sick?
HVAC is probably the biggest culprit, May says. When air-conditioning cools your home, for example, it often leaves traces of water in the ducts that become the perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria. That microbial growth is often the cause of respiratory issues—asthma, allergies, coughing, and headaches.
How do you test air quality in your home?
How to test indoor air qualityPurchase an indoor air quality monitor.Evaluate health symptoms.Monitor carbon monoxide and radon levels.Get an air purifier.Call an air quality professional.
How can I improve indoor air quality?
7 ways to improve indoor air quality and reduce air pollution in...Change your AC filter. ... Don't forget about other air filters. ... Check your air ducts. ... Use cooking vents. ... Keep your rugs and carpets clean. ... Control humidity in your home. ... Buy indoor plants to freshen the air.
How do you test for sick building syndrome?
There is no specific medical test to diagnose sick building syndrome. Physicians usually treat the symptoms individually, but the real identification of a "sick building" is subjective.
Can a house be toxic?
When the air in your home begins to contribute to acute illness, or exacerbates chronic illness, your home may be described as having “toxic house syndrome.” Some other terms for this may be toxic home syndrome or sick building syndrome.
Can a cold house make you sick?
Cold homes are bad for health. If you're struggling to pay your heating bills and your home is cold and damp, your health may suffer. Problems and diseases linked to the cold range from blood pressure increases and common colds, to heart attacks and pneumonia.
Can your house make you tired?
1. Your Clutter. Sure, you're resting up by not cleaning, but that might be causing you to feel even more fatigued: A Princeton University Neuroscience Institute study found that a messy, unorganized environment causes you to expend mental energy on stress, which increases your exhaustion.
Can my bedroom make me sick?
If you leave your room unclean and unorganized, it can turn out as a real haven for bacteria growth that can make you sick. Make sure to clean hard-to-reach places because that's where they'll often be.
Can a dirty house make you sick?
Allergies and Infections All surfaces can trap bacteria, dust, dirt, dander, and allergens. Those in the bathroom trap moisture as well, which can lead to mold and fungus growth. So if you leave your surfaces uncleaned, this can exacerbate allergies and cause rashes and skin infections to occur.
How do you test for sick building syndrome?
There is no specific medical test to diagnose sick building syndrome. Physicians usually treat the symptoms individually, but the real identification of a "sick building" is subjective.
What can lack of fresh air cause?
Breathing in stale air can reduce your body's oxygen supply, and a lack of fresh air in the home can reduce immune system function, making it more difficult to fight of viruses, including Covid-19.
Is my air conditioner making me sick?
Many people complain about air conditioning sickness and believe that the culprit is their HVAC unit. This is not entirely true. Your air conditioner does not make you sick, but due to certain factors, it only leads to a sickness-inducing environment. The good news is there is nothing to worry about!
Can a stuffy room make you sick?
It can cause headaches, fatigue, dry skin and irritation of the respiratory and nasal tract, resulting in coughing and nasal and sinus congestion.
Is My House Making Me Sick?
Feeling under the weather while living under your roof? If you feel sick all the time, it could be a cause of something serious, that’s lurking inside the walls of your home.
7 Warning Signs of an Unhealthy Home
Still wondering, can a house make you sick? If Mold, bacteria, and other chemicals are living in your home it can poison your body. Here are 7 signs that your home may be providing an unhealthy living environment.
Maintaining a Happy and Healthy Home
Once you know the answer to is my house making me sick, you can take steps toward eliminating toxins from your home environment. Start by incorporating a weekly cleaning routine. Then you can begin to make changes in your home’s maintenance techniques.
Why does my house make me sick?
Is your house making you feel sick when you clean it? It could be the air itself. The air in your home is up to five times more polluted than the air outside .
Why is the air in my house so polluted?
The EPA provides insight into what causes this, but it can occur as a result of cleaning chemicals, paint, combustion pollution, and other toxins. Newer homes with less ventilation are at a higher risk.
What are the symptoms of a swollen throat?
Headaches. Eye irritation. Nose irritation. Sore throat. Skin rashes. Chronic fatigue. Congestion. Dizziness and others. If these symptoms get better when you leave your home, that could indicate a concern.
Is mold dangerous in the basement?
Mold is dangerous no matter where it is located, though it is most common in high-moisture areas such as the bathroom or basement . It’s often visible, but sometimes can be behind carpeting or drywall. You may notice allergy-like symptoms, such as itchy eyes and runny nose, or you may smell a musky scent, which could be mold.
Can you get sick in your home?
Your home can make you sick, but the right treatments can help. Though costly, it can be very important to take steps to improve these conditions to ensure your home is safe.
Can home go make you sick?
Your home can make you sick, but the right treatments can help. Though costly, it can be very important to take steps to improve these conditions to ensure your home is safe. If making the changes becomes too expensive and burdensome, HomeGo will purchase your home as-is and allow you to move out and move on to a safer environment as quickly as you ...
Can a leak in an HVAC system cause allergies?
Leaks in your HVAC system can lead to moisture buildup. Then, these systems blow air – often with dander, dust, mold spores, and debris – throughout your home. This can cause problems related to headaches, difficulty thinking, and allergy symptoms. Proper cleanly of your air ducts is an important step.
Why does my house smell like mold?
One of the main reasons for this mold epidemic is due to modern building methods that are designed to conserve energy, reducing air circulation inside the building.
What are the symptoms of mold exposure?
With that said, there are several symptoms of mold exposure that are more common: Skin rashes, eczema, psoriasis. Memory problems, difficulty concentrating, “brain fog”. Neuropathy.
What is the best way to test for mold in a home?
Some of most effective tests I recommend to test mold in homes use DNA mold technology that can identify mold species and mycotoxins in dust samples. Good examples include:
What are the health effects of mold?
In some cases, mold toxicity may be linked to digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Mood swings, such as anxiety or depression. Behavioral problems in children. Unexplained weight gain or loss.
How does the body respond to mold?
These include genetics, our immune system, nutritional status, and other toxins we have been exposed to that have accumulated in our bodies. All these factors affect the body’s ability to clear out mold-produced toxins.
Why is mold growing in my house?
As a result, humidity stays higher inside, which encourages mold growth. Other common causes that make this problem worse include mass production of homes with less attention to detail, using cheaper materials that are not waterproof, and other cost saving construction practices.
How to heal from mold?
Move to a clean mold-free environment, get the toxins out, support your body’s healing process. 1. Move to a Mold-Free House. Removing yourself from the moldy environment is a key part to your healing.
What are the causes of sick house syndrome?
Do you have a sick house? Lead paint, pesticides, and pollution can contribute to sick house syndrome. Here are 10 things you can do to keep your house, and you, healthy.
What are the symptoms of sick building syndrome?
The first angle, typically referred to as "sick building syndrome," usually results in a group of symptoms such as eye, nose, and throat irritation, stuffiness, "spaciness," and rash, says McLellan.
What happens if you breathe asbestos in your home?
Exposure to small amounts of asbestos probably won't harm you, but breathing high levels of it can increase your risk of cancer and lung disease.
What are the environmental hazards you can live without?
Falling under those headings are "10 environmental hazards you can live without," says McLellan: Tobacco smoke. Long-term exposure to other people's tobacco smoke (not to mention your own!) increases your risk for lung cancer, respiratory infections, other lung problems, and possibly heart disease.
How to check water quality in your area?
To check the water quality in your area, call the EPA's Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 246-4791, or visit the web site at www.epa.gov/safewater/dwhealth.html. If you use a private well, test your water every year for nitrates and bacteria. Depending on where you live, you may also want to test for pesticides, organic chemicals, or radon.
Can you get home sick from a pesticide?
Don't be surprised if the answer is yes. Toxins, pesticides, gases, mites, and molds are everywhere, and the more you're exposed to them, the greater your risk for developing the health problems they can cause. When it comes to being "home sick," says Robert McLellan, MD, director of Exeter Hospital's Environmental and Occupational Health Center in ...
Can you test for lead paint in an older home?
And if you live in an older home, consider testing for lead paint. For more information, call the National Lead Information Center at (800) 424-LEAD, or visit the EPA's web site at www.epa.gov/lead/leadpbed.htm. Another, more contemporary, risk of lead poisoning comes from scented candles.
What Are the Signs of Mold in Your House?
Musty smells are a tell-tale sign of mold. Another common indicator is visible signs of water damage.
What Are The Symptoms of Mold Sickness?
If your Total Body Burden is high, or you are genetically predisposed to recycling toxins, regular exposure to mold can cause allergy symptoms, such as:
How Long Do Mold Symptoms Last?
The tricky thing about mold exposure is that it’s different for each person. The amount of time mold exposure symptoms persist depends on:
How does mold affect the body?
Each person’s body is affected by mold toxicity in different ways. Some experience constant migraines and headaches, shortness of breath, brain fog, fatigue or even depression. Since symptoms differ from person to person, they may not be quickly associated with mold exposure. Many people suffering from mold illness struggle to get ...
What are the symptoms of mold?
Fatigue and weakness. Poor memory, brain fog, difficulty with focus. In some cases, the spores from mold take root and grow in specific parts of the body, such as the lungs and sinuses. This can cause serious respiratory illnesses and infections.
What happens if you don't get rid of mold?
If you don’t get rid of all sources of mold, you risk getting sick from it.
Can mold cause depression?
People suffering from mold exposure can often be misdiagnosed with disorders such as: Depression.
What to do if you have mold on your house?
Wear protective eyewear, nonporous gloves, and a face mask or N-95 respirator. Never mix other cleaners or ammonia with bleach, as it can create toxic fumes. Use a brush to scrub mold off surfaces, making sure you get it all. Porous materials, such as carpeting, furniture, and ceiling tiles, may have to be discarded.
How to keep your home ventilated?
Keep your home well ventilated. When possible, exhaust fans should vent outside. Use exhaust fans or open windows when showering or bathing.
How does mold get indoors?
Outdoor molds release tiny spores that float through the air. These spores can enter your home via:
What is the most common mold in the house?
The most common indoor molds are: Cladosporium. This mold is brown, green, or black. Cladosporium grows in both warm and cool locations. It’s most often found on wood, carpets, or fabrics, and in heating and cooling ducts. Penicillium. This fuzzy mold is blue, green, or yellow.
What is the yellow mold in my basement?
Penicillium. This fuzzy mold is blue, green, or yellow. It’s often found under carpets, in basements, and in insulation, especially when there’s been water damage.
How to maintain low humidity in home?
Maintain low humidity in your home with air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Change filters and service air conditioners and furnaces as recommended .
Can mold spores grow in a house?
As part of the fungi family, they release tiny spores that float through the air. These spores can enter your home via: Inside, mold spores can’t grow unless conditions are right. The spores can latch on to a variety of materials, including fabrics, carpet, paper, and wood.