Year-Round Allergies: Airborne Mold
If your nasal allergy symptoms get worse when the weather turns warmer, outdoor airborne mold could be to blame.
There are many different types of molds, and they can be found both outdoors and indoors. Molds reproduce with microscopic particles called spores, and during warmer seasons, outdoor mold spores are carried in the air like pollen. Mold can also thrive in dark, moist areas such as rotting logs, fallen leaves, and compost piles, and on farms in grain bins and silos.
Mold counts, unfortunately, aren't quite as useful as pollen counts, since some molds prefer dry air and others damp — different types of molds are present in different conditions.
Tips to reduce nasal allergy symptoms
caused by airborne mold
- Keep windows closed
- Wear a mask when cutting grass or raking leaves
- Keep your yard cleared of leaf piles and other damp, dark places where mold can thrive
- Take off your shoes before coming inside the house
- To help prevent symptoms, your healthcare professional may tell you to start taking your allergy medicine 1 to 2 weeks before mold season starts in your area
- Take steps to allergy-proof your home
When Are Airborne Mold Allergies at Their Worst?
Generally, there's more mold in the air as the weather gets warmer. In colder regions, mold increases in the spring and peaks in the summer and fall months. In warmer regions, there may be mold spores in the air all year round.