How to Control Mold and Mildew and Prevent Asthma

The number of children and adults suffering from asthma has been steadily rising over the years throughout the world. The continuous increase of pollutants in the air has been in many 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 can cause asthma and what can you do to control these spores to get cleaner air inside your house.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a disease that affects the airways carrying air to and from the lungs. Here are the symptoms of asthma:

• Wheezing or a whistling sound while breathing


• Feeling of tightness in the chest


• Coughing


• Shortness of breath


• Symptoms experienced usually during 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 spreading 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 begin growing and eating up the material.

Since molds are airborne, they are often inhaled by the people living in the house and can cause various 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 sensitive to airborne molds than animal dander and pollen. This is because people are more exposed to mold and mildew as these microorganisms are present inside the house where people spend most of their time.

How to control mold and mildew growth to prevent asthma?

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

• Maintain proper ventilation. Opening doors and windows whenever possible will help 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 can 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 especially true if you already have someone who is prone to developing asthma such young children or elderly, or there is someone with chronic asthma in your family. This is where a dehumidifier can be really helpful. These are household appliances that can reduce the humidity level inside the house and maintain it in the range of thirty to fifty percent. They are particularly useful for reducing the growth of mold and mildew which cannot grow and survive if the humidity level is kept low.

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