What to do when you’re stuck in a moldy room

If you’re at all sensitive to mold, as more and more people are becoming through overexposure to it, getting trapped in an elevator or a room that smells of mold or mildew can set off allergic reactions or sensitivity symptoms that wreck your day. Here are some tips for avoiding the problem:

• If you know you can pass through the moldy area in a few seconds or minutes, do not try to hold your breath unless you have such good control over your breathing that you can avoid sucking in another big gasping lungful as soon as you let that breath out. Instead, take shallow breaths so that none of the air is going very deep into your lungs. This will make it easier for your body to expel the stuff and protect itself.
• If you’re truly stuck in there, wear a dust mask if at all possible. These are easily found at hardware stores, for not much. Of course, not every social situation lends itself to that – if you’re at a relative’s house, for example, it might not go over well.
• Another option: take Nasalcrom. I can’t swear by this stuff hard enough. It is safe and non-addictive and can be taken with other medications. Some doctors claim it’s not very effective, but I find that if you take it as directed – before encountering the allergen – it protects me from a allergic reactions even with serious exposure. If you only manage to take it after encountering the allergen, I still feel like it helps me somewhat – and every little bit counts if you’re an allergy sufferer.

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Posted in Health and Beauty on July 10, 2007