Cold or mold? Identifying mold allergy symptoms.
Cold and flu season is almost upon us and with it comes the typical seasonal symptoms such as runny nose, cough, congestion, and sneezing. A recent concern for a lot of people has become mold allergies and symptoms relating to mold exposure. But with cold season almost here, how do you tell the difference between cold symptoms and mold allergy symptoms? Here are some guidelines.
Common Cold Symptoms
Most of us have had a cold, hence the name “common cold”, but just for reference sake, here are the most common symptoms of the common cold.
- Stuffy and/or runny nose
- Sinus drainage
- Sore throat
- Sneezing
- Cough
- Itchy and watery eyes
- Headache
- Aches and pains
- Feeling tired
- Possibly a low fever
Mold Allergy Symptoms
In addition to symptoms similar to those listed above, mold allergy symptoms can also include the following:
- Difficulty breathing
- Extreme headaches
- Difficulty concentrating
- Dizziness
- Feeling faint
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Itchy skin and/or rashes
- Sore, red eyes
- Inflamed sinuses, eyes and throat
- Wheezing
Differentiation: Cold or Mold?
The mold allergy symptoms are more severe than the cold symptoms, but as you can see it could be hard to differentiate between the two if the symptoms are mild. One thing that will help is the duration of the issues. Have you had the symptoms for longer than a couple of weeks? Are they lingering even when taking cold and flu medication? Do you feel better when you’re outside or at work and worse when you get home? All of these could indicate what you are feeling are mold allergy symptoms.
Mold is not something to take lightly. It can damage your home and your belongings in addition to making you sick and affecting your health long term. The good news is that research has shown that in most cases mold allergy symptoms and any ill effects go away once the mold is removed from your home.
Don’t try to handle mold removal on your own!
