An environmental allergy occurs when your immune system reacts to an otherwise harmless substance and produces histamine in order to fight the substance off. Histamine can make you cough, cause your eyes to itch and make your throat scratchy. While many experiences these symptoms during certain seasons, an allergy to mold can be year-round.
What Is Mold? 
Mold is a type of fungus. To reproduce, mold creates seeds called spores, which travel through the air. Inhaling these spores into your lungs is what can cause an allergic reaction.
Mold lives indoors and outside, usually in a moist environment. This includes rotting logs, fallen leaves, compost piles and grass. Unlike pollen, mold does not die with the first frost. But most outdoor molds do become inactive in the winter. Indoor sources of mold, which include bathrooms, kitchens and basements, can be present any time of year.
There are many types of mold, but only a few dozen cause an allergic reaction.
What Are Common Mold Allergy Symptoms?
Like other environmental allergens, mold allergy symptoms include:
- Sneezing
- Itching
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Dry skin
Since mold allegories occur when you breathe in mold spores, many also experience asthma. When the spores reach the lungs, a chemical reaction takes place. This reaction can happen immediately or be delayed, leading to nasal congestion or worsening asthma over time.
Your symptoms can get worse when spending time in a damp basement or other room with mold.
Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a more severe allergic reaction to mold that some patients experience. This occurs when you have both an allergic and an inflammatory response to mold spores and can cause severe wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.
How Is a Mold Allergy Diagnosed?
After a review of your symptoms and medical history, your doctor will order a skin and/or blood test in order to diagnose an allergy to mold.
How to Prevent Allergic Reactions
There is no cure to a mold allergy. That being said, there are a number of ways to prevent or lessen your mold exposure, thus eliminating your symptoms.
Outdoor Exposure
When mold counts are high, you can decrease the amount of spores you inhale by limiting your time outside. And when cutting the grass, gardening or raking up leaves, wear a mask.
Indoor Exposure
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, you can prevent mold and mildew in your home by:
- Improving air flow through your rooms
- Using exhaust fans when cooking
- Using central air conditioning or a dehumidifier
- Fixing any leaks
- Removing sources of dampness
- Making sure rainwater drains away from your home
To learn more about allergies or to schedule an appointment, contact the experts at Oregon Ear, Nose & Throat Center.