There are a number of health issues and dangers associated with living in a damp house.
These include respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis, skin conditions such as eczema and eye irritation.
Condensation is often the main cause of this problem, but not the only cause. This is because moist air can come into contact with cold surfaces and then condense onto them creating black mould spots and condensation stains on walls.
Will an exterior wall coating solve all these issues?
Living in a house infested with damp and mould can ruin your health, but in what way?
Respiratory Issues
A damp house can cause a wide range of respiratory problems and infections.
Some of these can be serious and even fatal.
These include asthma, nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy eyes and even impact your immune system.
A lot of these issues are caused by the presence of mould fungi and bacteria. This is because they produce allergens, irritants and sometimes toxic substances which are harmful to your health.
What health conditions can be caused from living in a mouldy house?
The effects of damp and mould on your respiratory system can be especially dangerous for people with allergies as it can exacerbate symptoms or make them worse.
This is due to the fact that mould is extremely allergenic and can also be a trigger for asthma attacks.
This is particularly true in children as they are more likely to have these problems when exposed to damp and mould.
They are also more prone to recurrent respiratory infections which can lead to pneumonia and even death.
Damp can be the result of leaks, broken roof tiles and porous brickwork which allow water to enter your property. It could also be the result of poor ventilation.
If you have a damp or mouldy home then it is important to get it checked out as soon as possible to prevent these issues.
This is because it can cause a whole host of health issues including sinus and lung infections, general nausea, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus and even cancer.
A number of studies have found that the presence of damp and mould in homes is associated with a number of respiratory health issues.
These studies have shown that there is a correlation between the presence of damp and the occurrence of lung diseases such as asthma, sinusitis and bronchitis.
Asthma is the most common type of respiratory disease in the UK, accounting for around one in five hospital admissions. It can affect people of all ages and is a leading cause of disability in Britain.
Respiratory infections account for more than half of all hospital admissions in the UK and are the leading cause of mortality among both adults and children. They can be caused by viruses and bacteria.
Skin Issues can be caused by mould
It’s well known that damp can cause respiratory issues, but what about the impact it can have on your skin? A damp house can also lead to a variety of health problems that affect the skin, from itchy rashes to eczema and psoriasis.
Damp is the perfect environment for a number of different microorganisms to grow and reproduce in high numbers. These include bacteria, fungi and algae.
These pathogens can be harmful to your health – they can release toxic chemicals that can pollute the air or act as allergens.
They can also cause allergies and asthma symptoms. These can be mild or serious, depending on how sensitive you are to the chemicals.
Some of these chemicals can even cause cancer, so it’s important to get rid of them as soon as possible!
Another issue caused by a damp house is that it can attract pests such as fleas, mosquitoes and flies. These can also be very unpleasant to live with and can affect your quality of life.
What should you do if you live in a damp or mouldy house?
As with any health issue, you should seek medical help if you have concerns about the effects of mould in your home.
Mould can cause a variety of health problems, including respiratory infections, allergic reactions and asthma, as we discussed above.
What figures do the UK government give on how many damp homes exists in the UK?
How many households are affected by damp, mould and excess cold?
According to the English Housing Survey, around 904,000 homes in England had damp problems in 2021. Of these, around 11% in the private rented sector had damp problems compared with 4% in the social-rented sector and 2% of owner-occupied homes.
In 2019, an estimated 653,000 households in England lived with a ‘category 1 hazard’ of excess cold – i.e. a home with poor energy efficiency that could lead to cold conditions posing a serious risk to health and safety. Source: House of common Library
Mould is a type of fungus that grows and thrives in damp conditions. It can vary in appearance, but usually looks like a ‘fuzz’ or a stain. It’s also capable of producing spores, which allow it to grow and spread.
The spores are very small and can be half the width of a human hair – so they can easily float in the air unseen. When inhaled, they can cause a wide range of allergic reactions including sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose and a skin rash.
If you are particularly prone to the spores, you may develop a health condition called sporotrichosis. This is an infection that can cause pink or purple, hard nodules to form on the skin. It can take months for the spores to infect your body and if not treated, it can result in a severe, life-threatening condition.
Asthma can be triggered by living in a mouldy home.
A damp house can cause asthma attacks in people with this condition, and it can also aggravate other respiratory issues such as allergies, bronchitis or lung disease.
Asthma occurs when the lungs become narrowed and can’t get enough air in or out. Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing or chest tightness.
There are many factors that increase your risk of developing asthma, including family history, genetics and environmental factors.
These include cigarette smoke, strong chemicals, odours and other substances that can irritate your breathing and make you more likely to have an asthma attack.
So what we know is, a damp house can spawn mould, which can trigger an asthma attack.
This is particularly true for people with a mould allergy and asthma.
Damp areas can also create an ideal environment for pests, such as cockroaches, mice and other insects. This can aggravate asthma, especially in children with allergy or asthma to these pests.
If your home is damp, it’s important to fix any problems before they get worse.
This can be done by sealing up leaks and keeping your house dry, making sure you have good ventilation and cleaning the walls regularly to remove any mould growth.
When cleaning, do NOT use spray bleach, always use the correct mould and mildew cleaner, which most DIY stores sell.
Spray bleach will NOT cure mould, in fact it makes the problem WORSE!
A damp or mouldy house can also cause a more severe illness called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
This is when your immune system overreacts to the spores in mould and causes an inflammation in the lungs which can cause shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing.
Asthma can be triggered by many things, from pollen, dust, pet hair and other allergens to stress, colds, and extreme weather conditions. Your doctor can help you determine what triggers your asthma symptoms and find ways to reduce them.
Other things that can irritate your lungs and make you more likely to have an asthma reaction include smoking, strong odours, infections, exercise, and hormones. These can be controlled by controlling your environment and taking the right medication to control your symptoms.
Asthma is a chronic illness that can’t be cured, but it can be managed.
You’ll need to take your medication every day and avoid the things that can make you have an attack. It’s also important to have a written asthma action plan so you can see your doctor for regular check-ups and treatment.
Living in a mouldy home can be fatal, don’t underestimate the problem.
The problem with a mouldy home must be taken very seriously, and no I am not just saying that to try and sell you a damp proof wall coating.
I am doing you a favour by pointing out how serious having damp actually is.
In the news recently we have had the tragic story of Awaab Ishak the 2 year old little boy living in social housing in Rochdale, who succumbed to the toxic effects of mould.
The coroner at the time said …..
“Describing the property, which was owned and managed by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, the coroner said it “was not equipped for normal day-to-day living activities, which led to excess damp and condensation”. Source: news.sky.com
The doctor who treated him said that
“Fungus was found in his blood and lungs, with such severe inflammation suggesting an allergic reaction to it, he said.”
He gave the cause of death as “environmental mould pollution”.
A solemn read and this points out how bad mould can be for your family’s health.
It is not to be underestimated and you MUST find a solution to get rid of the mould in your home fast.
Mental Health Issues can be triggered by living in a miserable, cold and damp home.
Damp in the house doesn’t just affect physical health – it can also have negative effects on your mental health. This is because there is a high amount of stress associated with living in a damp home.
This includes the damage to your possessions, the unattractive appearance and smell as well as the concerns about it impacting on your health and that of your family.
This can lead to a range of issues including anxiety, sleep problems, attention difficulties and “brain fog”.
You may also feel like you aren’t in control of the situation and can’t work out where the problem is coming from.
Thankfully, there are ways to deal with a damp house.
The first is to call in a professional, who can help you to resolve the issue and get your property back in order.
They may be able to sort out the problem for you without having to pay a fortune, depending on the size of the damp issue and whether it is affecting your home’s structure or not.
In addition, a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that people who live in homes with mould or damp are at an increased risk of depression.
While it’s not clear how this happens, the study suggests that it could be related to poor housing conditions and the presence of mould.
The study analysed data from the Longitudinal Assessment of Resident Environments (LARES) in five countries: France, Germany, Hungary, Portugal and Slovakia.
A team of researchers interviewed 5,882 adults who lived in 2,982 households and asked them to report their level of exposure to mould or dampness and depressive symptoms.
Results showed that those who were living in homes with minimal, moderate or extensive mould and dampness exposure reported a 40% higher rate of depressive symptoms than those in homes with no dampness or mould.
The association between these exposure levels and depression was significant in multivariable analyses and was independently mediated by perception of control and by physical health.
In models 1 and 2 , these mediators were significantly attenuated by the model’s inclusion of all 6 individual conditions that make up the physical health index (P values .001).
If you think you are suffering from any of the above mentioned health issues, or are worried about your family’s overall health, you should consider calling in a professional to inspect the property and ensure that the problem is resolved as quickly as possible.
This will be a big step in improving your health and the health of those you love.
We offer a range of guaranteed exterior wall coatings, guaranteed to stop damp and mould in its tracks.
The foremost reason your home is damp is poorly maintained exterior walls, which allow moisture into the home.
Merely painting the walls will not cure it.
This is because most masonry paint is merely coloured water, yes even the top brands.
The masonry paint a decorator would apply to your wall may well make it look nice but it will not afford any protection from the weather, and the damp that comes with a porous wall.
An exterior wall coating will also make your home look great, but it is formulated to do much more than that, it acts as a water dispersant, allowing rain to simply bead off the wall and into the ground, rather than soaking into the wall itself.
A wall coating will protect your family against a whole host of mould related issues, allowing the walls to “breathe” but resisting rain, snow and ice from affecting the house.
Our coloured wall coatings are guaranteed for 20 years to stop damp, but also not to fade, crack, chip or peel.
Our exterior wall coating comes in many colours also, so if you fancy getting some info about this, please do get in touch by calling us on 0800 970 4928
And for the ultimate wall protection, why not consider our ProPerla exterior wall coating which not only protects the home and those inside it, but it also can LOWER your home heating bills by 30%
I don’t know about you, but that represents a huge saving each month and will pay for itself in no time at all.
For a free consultation on how to get rid of the damp in your home, email us today, you’ll be glad you did.
Available in most areas of England and Wales only.