Asthma is a condition that affects over 20 million Americans and unfortunately, nine million of them are children. Asthma is a complex condition that comes in two primary forms, Extrinsic or allergic and Intrinsic or non-allergic. Some types of asthma are genetically inherited while others are caused by lifestyle factors that can include lack of exercise and some occupations. There is no known single cause of Asthma, but the well-known contributing causes include lung diseases as well as some genetic factors. Recent research has shown however, that a connection between dampness and Asthma exists and the key to this connection apparently is mold.
The Connection
It has long been known that damp conditions can exacerbate Asthma symptoms and induce a severe Asthma attack. What has been controversial is whether or not dampness can cause the condition. Over the last few years research has proven that damp, indoor conditions can cause Asthma in both adults and children, although children are at greater risk due to the volume of air breathed in proportion to body weight, according to a recent study.
What was realized is that active mold spores are not the only culprit, but fragments of mold material was also shown to cause the condition. These materials are known collectively as Bioaeresols. One of the breakthrough findings was that inert mold particulates carry the chemical that is known to cause the immune system reaction. The importance of this is that even if mold has been mitigated the material in the environment is still toxic and can persist for some time. The root cause of dampness is the most important fact. This is a major breakthrough in the treatment of this disease.
Defending your Family
With the scientific conformation of this information the most important thing is to study the research. Once informed, the next thing to do is to address the problem. Just looking for mold is ineffective as the research showed that any mold material is suspect. If there is evidence of dampness or moldy conditions the most logical step is to contact a professional in the field of mold abatement and water proofing. The professionally should be told the reason for the assessment, that there is a concern about mold so that they can investigate properly and recommend possible solutions. If symptoms are already showing a healthcare professional should be consulted first. Once a full assessment is done there are several different methods for addressing the problem. The method chosen may depend on the conditions found and whether or not the health risk is immediate. All homeowners should address this issue as soon as possible, especially if there are children in the home.
Britney Baker is a freelance writer and blogger who usually looks at car insurance companies over at CarinsuranceCompanies.Org.
