Molds may trigger asthma

Last year, we found out that astronauts circulating about 240 miles above Earth in the International Space Station have to scrub down the interior of their ship to beat black mold that is smoldering in the walls. Scientists now know spores of the two most common types of mold on the ISS, Aspergillus and Penicillium, can survive X-ray exposure at 200 times the dose that would kill a person. Fortunately, molds are not particularly harmful unless you have an allergy or hypersensitivity to them. That can trigger asthma and hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and skin rash.

You may worry that you have much-feared black mold. Well, one study in Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology says the “symptoms of memory loss, inability to focus, fatigue, and headaches ... were reported by people who erroneously believed that they were suffering from ‘mycotoxicosis.’ Similarly, a causal relationship between cases of infant pulmonary hemorrhage and exposure to ‘black mold’ has never been proven. Finally, there is no evidence of a link between autoimmune disease and mold exposure.”

Still, you do not want mold in the house, damaging walls, tile grout or worse. So, use a dehumidifier in damp areas, repair leaks and drips pronto, and prevent moisture from pooling outside your home.

If you have to remove moldy, porous materials on walls or ceilings, check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings” at epa. gov — it’s got great info for anyone to use.

Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. To live your healthiest, tune into “The Dr. Oz Show” or visit www.sharecare. com.