Fox Health: Hurricane Helene flooding: Mold in your home could cause severe health risks, experts say

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Hurricane Helene flooding: Mold in your home could cause severe health risks, experts say

The aftermath from Hurricane Helene brought on intense flooding and major water damage. Experts discuss the health risks associated with mold exposure and what to do if mold grows....                        ...                        ...                            ...The aftermath of You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login has brought severe flooding to the southeast.......With You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login in the home, there's an increased risk of mold growth, which can lead to serious health risks.......Mold in your home can look like multicolored spots and can smell musty, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).......You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......Mold can cause a variety of symptoms, such as stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing, wheezing, burning eyes and You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login.......In an appearance on "Fox & Friends," Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel noted that wet walls can lead to mold that might not always be visible.......Siegel called out two "very serious molds" that he's most worried about: black mold and aspergillus.......You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......Black mold can appear as black or dark green splotches, Siegel detailed.......Aspergillus is invasive and can cause aspergillosis, an infection that's You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login according to Mayo Clinic.......Both molds can provoke You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login and infections, as well as conditions like hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an allergic reaction that causes inflammation in the lungs, according to Siegel.......You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......Mold can also trigger breathing conditions like You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, the doctor added......."I'm worried about people who are immunocompromised and have chronic illnesses," he said......."It can be fatal if you're immunocompromised or if you've You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login — you can get a severe case of infection from mold."......People with conditions like chronic lung disease can develop an infection in the lungs, the CDC stated.......Mold can develop in as little as 24 hours, Cleveland Clinic experts reported in a news release.......The sooner water damage is cleared up, the less risk there is for mold to grow, according to Maeve MacMurdo, MD, a pulmonologist for Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.......You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......"Obviously, the sooner the better, and it's hard," she said in the release. "People are dealing with a lot, but cleaning up the water and mold remediation is a really big part of it."......For those who have regained power in their home, Siegel recommends plugging in a You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to dry out the space......."Even if it's cool outside, you want air-conditioning because you want to get rid of the humidity," he said. "The humidity is where mold grows."......The doctor also recommends using bleach or vinegar to wipe down mold spots on walls – or hiring a professional to detect and remove mold......."There are professional organizations that can spot the mold that's hiding in the nooks and crannies," Siegel said.......You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......For mold prevention, the CDC recommends keeping humidity levels at no higher than 50% in the home.......Air should "flow freely," helped by exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom, according to the same source.......You are not allowed to view links. Register or LoginYou are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......Fixing leaks in the roof, walls and plumbing will help ensure that no moisture in the home turns into mold, experts advise.......The CDC also recommends not using carpet in rooms where there is more moisture, such as bathrooms and basements, and replacing carpets and upholstery that have been soaked.......When cleaning mold spots, never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners, the agency warned, as this will produce a poisonous gas.......It is best practice to follow the manufacturer's instructions on the bleach container's label, open windows to provide fresh air, and wear rubber boots, gloves and goggles during cleanup, experts advise.......People with persistent symptoms should seek You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, MacMurdo urged. While the flu season will bring temporary viruses, mold symptoms will continue to linger....

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