Search Results for: blog damp mold and mental health

Mold Basics

I’m allergic to mold. Allergic enough that I can’t take penicillin when I’m sick — I break out in hives. I can’t even eat bleu cheese — it makes my mouth burn. Fall is one of my big allergy seasons thanks to leaf mold. Mold is a definite health problem for certain people. You may be more sensitive to mold if you: Have allergies Have asthma Have another lung or breathing condition Have HIV Are a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy Have received an organ transplant Have any other immune system suppression or issue Exposure to mold can cause a number … Continue reading →

Damp, Mold, and Mental Health

A recent study from the Brown University School of Medicine looked at a possible link between damp, moldy homes and emotional problems like depression. Researchers looked at living conditions and health conditions in several cities around Europe, including Bonn, Germany, Budapest, Hungary, and Geneva Switzerland. Their data came from World Health Organization surveys performed in 2002 and 2003. Nearly six thousand men and women from households around Europe were asked about their health, including any diagnosis of depression in the last year. Participants were chosen at random, divided equally between men and women, and ranged in age from 18 to … Continue reading →

Voluntary Recall Announced for Over the Counter Medications

McNeil Consumer Healthcare — makers of Tylenol and many other familiar over the counter medications — announced a voluntary recall of several products on January 15th. The recall affects certain Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, Rolaids, Simply Sleep, and St. Joseph’s products available for purchase in North, South, and Central America, the United Arab Emirates, and Fiji. Why the voluntary recall? Some consumers reported a strange moldy, musty, or mildewy odor associated with certain products. A small number of consumers reported nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, or vomiting after using a product with the unusual smell. The symptoms were temporary and not life … Continue reading →

An Unexpected Reaction

I discovered mold underneath the sink in my bathroom last week. Living in a very high humidity area like the Pacific Northwest — that’s not a big surprise. I did some research on how to clean it up and prepared myself to tackle the growth. One important thing to note here: I’m allergic to mold in all forms. If I take penicillin (or any mold-based medication), I break out in hives. If I eat bleu cheese, my mouth burns. Knowing this, I protected myself with a face mask and rubber gloves. I figured I was in danger of ending up … Continue reading →