Treatment For Headaches And Migraines
See your doctor if you begin having problems that you havent had before, or if you begin having them more often than you have in the past or if they seem to be getting worse. Over-the-counter medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen might help temporarily, though those kinds of medications usually arent strong enough to take care of a migraine. Your doctor can prescribe stronger medications if necessary, but if you continue to be exposed to mold, youll probably continue to have mold sickness symptoms and they may even get worse over time.
Strong prescription medications are often required to relieve a migraine, which carry the risk of serious side effects. Sometimes injections of pain medication are required. Other medications can be used to prevent migraine symptoms if they occur frequently, but that means taking prescription medications daily, which also carries the risk of side effects. And unfortunately, if you are experiencing migraine symptoms due to exposure to mold, preventative medications may not help much if you continue to be exposed to mold.
How Can You Prevent Or Remove Mold Inside Of Your Home
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To prevent mold in your home, you need to prevent moisture. Mold grows on damp surfaces, often where there is inadequate light.7Thats why basements, attics, and unventilated bathrooms are prime locations for mold to flourish. If you have any type of plumbing leak or a leak in your roof, then you might also be experiencing mold in the ceilings, in the walls, or in other hidden areas of the home. Be aware of any leaks or moisture buildup and get these issues taken care of promptly.
If you have an area that tends to be humid, an air purifier can help keep the air free from mold spores.8Note that if there is already mold growth, that needs to be removed first. A dehumidifier is another good choice if you are looking for a machine to help reduce the mold in your home.
Once you have found mold, particularly if you or someone in your home is experiencing headaches, respiratory issues, or any other symptoms of mold exposure, its best to consult with a mitigation specialist. There are ways to remove some types of mold yourself, but unless you know that your mold is non-toxic, its best not to try, as doing it incorrectly can spread the spores throughout the home. A mold remediation specialist will know how to not only remove the mold but also prevent it from spreading to other rooms while its being removed.
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How Mold Causes Headaches
Mold exposure itself does not directly cause headaches. However, it causes a variety of health issues that are linked to headaches.
1. The nervous system & headaches
Studies show mold negatively affects the central nervous system. Headaches are a symptom of problems in the central nervous system. Mold can easily enter the nervous system through inhalation, IV drug use, surgery, and even contaminated medical supplies.
2. Rhinitis & headaches
Mold exposure can cause rhinitis, which is irritation/inflammation of the mucous membranes inside the nose. And people with rhinitis have more headaches and migraines.
3. Sick buildings & headaches
If you only get headaches at work or at home, its worth investigating the health of the building. A sick building and/or hidden growth of toxic mold could be the root cause of your headaches.
Sick building syndrome is a medical condition where people in a building become sick for no apparent reason. Nearly 30% of buildings may have sick building syndrome.
One cause of sick building syndrome is mold. About half of residential and commercial buildings have mold growth from water damage.
Properly identifying mold in your house or building is no easy task. All too often, mold growth occurs in areas you cant see, like HVAC systems, crawl spaces, attics, and exhaust fans.
4. Asthma & headaches
As you can see, mold is the common thread of every headache trigger discussed whether its asthma, inflammation, sinus infections or sick buildings.
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Indoor Mold: 5 Symptoms Of Mold Exposure
Have you been wheezing lately, or getting out of breath just taking the stairs? Or maybe you feel like youre constantly battling a headache that just wont go away. Symptoms of mold exposure can be similar to those of infections or other conditions. So diagnosis and treatment takes longer than it should. But take heed. Those exposed to mold can be between 30-50% more likely to develop asthma. They also suffer from other respiratory problems and bronchitis.
Can Allergies Cause Fatigue And Body Aches
Once patients ask and receive the answer to the question, Can allergies cause fatigue? they are apt to wonder if allergies might be behind other frustrating symptoms. One of these lesser-known symptoms of allergies is body aches.
Allergies cause inflammation not only in your nasal tissues but in other areas of your body as well, including the tissues in your joints. This inflammation can cause body aches, which can be compounded by fatigue. Allergy-related body aches may also stem from frequent snoring or coughing, which can create wear and tear on a patients body.
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Migraine Or The Highway: Treating Allergy Migraine
If you think you have allergy migraine, its important to speak with a doctor.
Youll need to describe your symptoms in detail to avoid a misdiagnosis of sinus headaches. Really pay attention to how your pain feels and where it sits. This will help the doc diagnose your condition more accurately.
Since many people with allergy migraine also show symptoms of rhinitis, treatment may include nasal steroids and oral or nasal antihistamines. The doc may also prescribe allergy shots.
To help you manage the pain of migraine symptoms, they may also suggest over-the-counter meds or prescription drugs, including:
- pain relievers like aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen
- antiemetics like domperidone
How Do Molds Affect People
Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin. Some people, such as those with allergies to molds or with asthma, may have more intense reactions. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath.
In 2004 the Institute of Medicine found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people with asthma symptoms in people with asthma and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition.
In 2009, the World Health Organization issued additional guidance, the WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould pdf iconexternal icon pdf icon. Other recent studies have suggested a potential link of early mold exposure to development of asthma in some children, particularly among children who may be genetically susceptible to asthma development, and that selected interventions that improve housing conditions can reduce morbidity from asthma and respiratory allergies.
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You May Need Specialists To Treat Your Migraine And Allergies
Its important to be aware that migraine and allergies are commonly present in the same person and both issues need to be addressed, says Hamilton.
It might take potentially seeing different doctors both an allergist and a neurologist and trying different medications for both conditions. In some cases, you may not get complete relief until you address both issues, she says.
Get The Right Kind Of Pot
The wrong size of pot or the wrong material can prevent adequate evaporation from the soil.
Indoor, moist, dark environments may not be the best place for terra cotta as this material pulls moisture away from the soil onto the outside of the pot.
Mold growth can occur easily on the outside of these pots.
A local plant nursery will be able to tell you the right size and material for your plants as well as some tips to reduce mold growth in soil.
If you are reacting to your plant soil, repot your plants.
Clean the pots, rinse the roots and repot the plant with fresh, sterile soil.
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What Are The Signs Of Mold In Your House
Musty smells are a tell-tale sign of mold. Another common indicator is visible signs of water damage.
As mentioned earlier, mold grows fast. Within 24 hours of a water leak, or a flood, mold will begin to take hold. This mold can grow on anything thats humid walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, and even wet laundry.
When there is a chance of mold, its important to have a professional in to test. Professionals qualified to do environmental investigations can:
- Check the surfaces of your house for mold
- Test the air for spores
- Help you to identify sources of moisture
- Identify where the mold is growing and help you decontaminate your house
- Use natural enzymes to kill mold spores
If you dont get rid of all sources of mold, you risk getting sick from it.
More Than 50% Of People Experience Headaches Often The Cause Of The Headache Is Unknown
Did you know that your brain cant feel pain?
Yep. The human brain does not have any pain receptors. However, you, me, and every other human out there has plenty of pain receptors in the tissues surrounding their brains. This includes tissues like your veins, arteries, sinuses, nerves, muscles, and even your teeth. And when mold exposure affects these tissues, you may get a headache.
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What To Do In Case Of Mold Allergy Symptoms
In case of continued symptoms indicating possible mold exposure, you may do the following:
- Consult the doctor if symptoms persist. Follow prescribed allergic medications.
- Do something to prevent new mold growth, such as cleaning up leaks or spills right away, using exhaust fans or dehumidifiers to reduce humidity and moisture at home, regularly cleaning refrigerator drip pans and garbage cans, regularly checking drainage and clearing gutters.
Allergy Headache Symptoms And Location
As mentioned, an allergy-induced headache might cause pain on the top of your head and on your face.
And because its allergy-related, you might also have some pollen allergy symptoms at the same time, such as a runny nose or stuffy nose and itchy or watery eyes.
Since allergy-induced headaches are primarily associated with migraines and sinuses, youre probably going to have symptoms related to those, too.
Lets break down the symptoms of migraines and sinusitis to help you determine which one may be related to an allergy headache.
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Dont Know How To Fix Your Allergy Fatigue Balloon Sinuplasty At Kaplan Sinus Relief Could Help
Can allergies cause fatigue? Yes. But does knowing that help you fix your allergy fatigue? Not really. And if your allergies havent responded to traditional treatments and are making you tired all the time, then a more strategic approach might be necessary.
At Kaplan Sinus Relief, we help you breathe freely again with procedures like ClariFix for chronic rhinitis and allergies and balloon sinuplasty.
Balloon sinuplasty, a non-invasive, in-office procedure that has provided patients with long-lasting results, and has become an increasingly attractive option for those suffering from allergy-related fatigue. During the procedure, your ENT uses a tiny to balloon to widen the nasal passageways, restore normal drainage, and help you breathe at night.
The best part? The procedure takes less than 20 minutes and most patients are back at work between 24 and 48 hours.
Kaplan Sinus Relief has been a pioneer for the balloon sinuplasty procedure. Our staff is here to answer any of your sinus questions and help you find relief. So, curious whether traditional sinus surgery helps allergies? Wondering if youre a good balloon sinuplasty candidate?
Request an appointment or call Kaplan Sinus Relief at 713-766-1818 today.
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How Do You Know If Mold Is Making You Sick
The presence of mold in the home can affect people in different ways. Some people may be completely unbothered, while others may experience more disruptive health complications. Those with a history of allergies or upper respiratory issues such as asthma are most likely to have mold-triggered symptoms, but how do you know if mold is making you sick? Common side effects to mold exposure include:
- Coughing or wheezing
More severe side effects include:
- Shortness of breath or an asthma attack
- Fever
- Pneumonia
Your doctor can perform a mold allergy test to see if exposure to mold is causing any of the above symptoms.
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Papers Of Particular Interest Published Recently Have Been Highlighted As: Of Importance
This review article reveals opportunities to improve the diagnosis and management of allergic rhinitis through a new multidisciplinary, evidence-based clinical practice guideline. The consensus was created by a multidisciplinary panel of experts in otolaryngology, allergy and immunology, internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, sleep medicine, advanced pediatric nursing, and complementary, and integrative medicine however, the neurologic point of view is absentThe AMPP Study is a longitudinal, population-based study of individuals from the USA with severe headache. The study started in 2004, when headache questionnaires were mailed to 120,000 households . During phase 2, 24,000 people with severe headaches were selected to complete surveys once a year from 2005 to 2009. From this study, we have learned about the prevalence of migraine and chronic migraine, the comorbidities of migraine, the level of disability, the burden and costs, and the treatments used by patients
Fight Mold With The Brickkicker
Regardless of whether or not you are personally finding mold exposure harmful, its still not something you want on your property. Mold can significantly weaken your homes structure and cause costly damage, so work with The BrickKicker for professional mold testing today! We have the technology and know-how to detect mold and make remediation recommendations. Schedule an appointment to get started!
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Food Allergies Food Intolerance And Fatigue
Symptoms: Fatigue, sleepiness, continued exhaustion
Although food is supposed to give you energy, medical research suggests that hidden food intolerances or allergies can do the opposite. In fact, fatigue may be an early warning sign of food intolerance or food allergy. Celiac disease, which happens when you cant digest gluten, may also cause fatigue.
Ask your doctor about the elimination diet. This is a diet in which you cut out certain foods linked to a variety of symptoms, including sleepiness within 10 to 30 minutes of eating them, for a certain period of time to see if that makes a difference. You can also talk to your doctor about a food allergy test or invest in a home test such as ALCAT which may help you identify the offending foods.
Food Allergies And Joint Pain
Seasonal allergies arent the only type of allergies that can contribute to joint pain. Certain foods can cause your body to have an inflammatory response because of a pre-existing condition, a food sensitivity or allergy. Inflammation is what causes the joints to swell and create pain or discomfort. There are two main culprits for food-related joint pain:
- Arthritis
- Food allergy or sensitivity
If you already have arthritis, then you probably have experienced some amount of joint pain in the past. Although there are many different types, arthritis is basically inflammation that affects your joints, causing pain and stiffness. Some patients with this condition experience increased inflammation after eating certain foods. This is especially true of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes chronic joint inflammation, especially in the hands and feet.
Even though arthritis causes your body to be in a constant inflammatory state, its important to be aware of the triggers that can cause bouts of increased inflammation and lead to painful joint symptoms. Some foods known to impact arthritic patients and cause joint pain include:
- Food allergy/sensitivity test
- Elimination diet
- Nutritional deficiency test
Whether it be gluten, dairy or an assortment of other foods, identifying and eliminating these triggers from your diet could help you manage joint pain. An anti-inflammatory menu will also be beneficial to your overall health and well-being.
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What Are The Treatments For Mold Allergy
In some cases, there may be ways to reduce or remove mold exposure. This may not always be possible and you may need medications.
- Avoid contact with mold.
- Take medications for nasal or other allergic symptoms. Antihistamines and nasal steroids are available over the counter without a prescription. If you have allergic asthma, talk to your doctor about which medicines may be best for you. You might also be a candidate for allergy shots. Allergy shots may help reduce symptoms and medications. Learn more about allergy treatments.
Look for this mark to find products proven more suitable for people with asthma and allergies. Find CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® products on our Certification program website.
For Help With Mold Removal
Mold removal will be an important part of your treatment if mold is causing you to feel dizzy. If you are experiencing mold-related health problems, doctors often recommend against attempting to remove mold on your own because doing so will further expose you to the substance that is making you sick. We suggest scheduling a free consultation with a mold removal professional, who will visit your home, inspect the mold growth there, and advise you about the work that needs to be done. Even if you opt to do the work yourself, you can benefit from some valuable advice about the job, including safety tips. To find experienced mold removal professionals offering free consultations in your area, just follow the link.
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