Asthma Triggers Is Household Mold Worsening Your Asthma? By Pat Bass, MD Pat Bass, MD LinkedIn Twitter Dr. Bass is a board-certified internist, pediatrician, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 19, 2021 Medically reviewed by Daniel More, MD Medically reviewed by Daniel More, MD Daniel More, MD, is a board-certified allergist and clinical immunologist with a background in internal medicine. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Mold is a microscopic fungus that thrives in damp, dark environments. It can grow on any surface (e.g., food, indoor plants, walls, floors, or fabric) under the right conditions—moisture and high humidity, plus some form of nutrient. Mold also is a common indoor trigger for asthma symptoms, among them: Chest tightness Chronic cough Shortness of breath Wheezing If you have asthma and you're sensitive to mold, reducing your exposure to it should be an effective way to stave off asthma symptoms. The Connection Between Mold Allergy and Asthma Signs of Mold in Your Home There are a number of clues you may have mold in your home: White, orange, green, or black growth in a moist areaA musty, mold odorDiscoloration in a wall, ceiling, or area with prior water damage Fevziie Ryman / Getty Images Prevent Mold Growth in Your Home Decreasing your mold exposure will require both the removal of mold and moisture control. There are a number of things you can do to prevent mold growth in your home: Wash, disinfect, and dry all surfaces.Don't let water build up anywhere.Repair any leaks inside your home and dry up any moisture from them.Ventilate, preferably to the outside of your home with exhaust fans, the source of any moisture, such as clothes dryers, stoves, and other appliances.Put plastic over any dirt crawl spaces and make sure the crawl spaces are well ventilated.Limit the number of indoor plants in your home.Maintain the relative humidity in your home at less than 50%; this may require air conditioning or a dehumidifier.Keep drip pans on appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners clean and dry.Install an air filtration system or air purifiers, such as one with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, to remove mold and other particulates such as dust, pollen, and bacteria from the air. What to Do If You Find Mold Growth in Your Home If you have asthma, exposure to mold creates serious health risks. If you notice mold in your home, do not attempt to remove it yourself. Most serious mold problems should be mitigated by a professional. Figure out where the moisture is coming from, and fix that problem first. Remember, you may not always see mold, but it may be present if you enter a room and smell musty, stale air. Also, note that mold can be hidden by wallpaper or tile.The most likely areas are those with high humidity and moisture, such as the kitchen, bathroom, or basement.Check rooms with water sources, as leaky pipes in walls are another common place for mold to accumulate.Scrub mold off from affected areas with detergent and water, clean the area, and then let it dry completely.Certain materials tend to hold moisture and may need to be replaced, among them sheetrock, ceiling tiles, and carpet.While you can easily clean a little mold in the bathroom area, you may want to consider a professional cleanup for anything over 10 square feet.Make sure any areas you are working in are well ventilated or you may increase your acute exposure to molds.Use an air conditioner during the most humid months.Avoid carpet in areas like bathrooms.Consider using paint that is "mold-resistant."While the trend in home building and remodeling is to make homes "airtight" in order to make them more energy-efficient, older houses that "breathe" more are less likely to harbor mold. For mold mitigation to be effective, it's important to take a "multicomponent" approach, according to recommendations for asthma management issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in December 2020. In other words, simply removing moldy carpet, say, or installing an air filter will not be sufficient. For example, the NIH suggests "three single-component interventions (eg, air purifiers, impermeable pillow and mattress covers, and HEPA vacuum cleaners) for individuals sensitized and exposed to dust mites and mold." Your healthcare provider can help you determine which measures will be most useful to you and others in your household with asthma who are sensitive to mold. 1 Source Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cloutier MM, Baptist AP, Blake KV, et al. 2020 focused updates to the asthma management guidelines: A report from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program coordinating committee expert panel working group. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2020;146(6):1217-1270. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2020.10.003 Additional Reading Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Indoor asthma triggers. Reviewed October 7, 2019. Environmental Protection Agency. Asthma triggers: Gain control. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR3): Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Published September 2012. By Pat Bass, MD Dr. Bass is a board-certified internist, pediatrician, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit