From musty odours to steamed-up windows, there are lots of warning signs that your home is under threat, but what about when it comes to your health?<\/p>\n
With household fungi producing microscopic allergens, irritants and spores that are harmful to humans, it\u2019s important to recognise the subtle and early warning signs that mould exposure is afoot, so you can tackle the issue before it gets much worse. Here’s what to look out for.<\/p>\n
1. You\u2019re sneezing and have a runny nose<\/p>\n
As damp and mould predominantly affect the airways and lungs, an irritating and chronic case of the sniffles can be an indicator that mould is circulating in your home.<\/p>\n
“Mould spores are airborne allergens, so if you\u2019re breathing them in without realising it, they\u2019re entering the body through the respiratory tract and causing irritation,” says Dr Suhail Hussain<\/a>, Doctify-rated<\/a> primary care doctor.<\/p>\n “That\u2019s why people often experience symptoms that mimic a cold or hay fever.”<\/p>\n 2. You\u2019re coughing more than usual<\/p>\n Likewise, a lingering, unexplained cough is another common reaction to mould exposure.<\/p>\n “Because the spores irritate the airways, many people living in a mouldy home notice a persistent cough, which worsens when they\u2019re spending time indoors,” says Dr Hussain.<\/p>\n He adds that this can manifest as a tickly cough, chest tightness, or a general sense of irritation that doesn\u2019t seem to go away.<\/p>\n 3. You’re having difficulty breathing<\/p>\n For people already diagnosed with asthma or other common respiratory conditions, the effects of breathing in mould can exacerbate their existing symptoms.<\/p>\n “People often find they\u2019re wheezing or short of breath, even if they can\u2019t see the mould in the house themselves,” says Dr Hussain. “If you already have a respiratory condition, you need to be extra careful during winter, as mould can definitely make things flare up.”<\/p>\n The effects of breathing in mould can exacerbate the symptoms of respiratory conditions like asthma. (Getty Images)<\/p>\n 4. You’ve spotted a skin rash<\/p>\n If you have a mould allergy, touching the spores on damp walls, window sills, and other common condensation hotspots can trigger an itchy, red rash that may leave the skin dry and scaly to the touch.<\/p>\n “The same goes for your eyes,” notes Dr Hussain. “Touching mould and then rubbing this area can often lead to a bout of redness and irritation.”<\/p>\n 5. Your mental health is suffering<\/p>\n While we often associate patches of fuzzy black mould with physical symptoms like coughs and sneezes, the UK government<\/a> notes that many people also experience mental health effects, including anxiety and depression.<\/p>\n![\"Middle](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/408d8cb0-cc4a-11f0-9f7d-63dd11d49826.jpeg\"\/)
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