Ask Karen: Sneezing, wheezing and scratchy eyes — is it mold?

Karen McNew
WSLS 10 Anchor
Published: July 9, 2008

QUESTION: Are mold allergies bad right now?

ANSWER: I honestly feel like the older I get, the worse my allergies are.
We talk about tree pollen allergies in the springtime and typically mold allergies in the fall. I was under the impression the cold dampness is what leads to mold allergies, but that is not always the case.

Dr. Luis Matos with Asthma and Allergy Center in Roanoke and Lynchburg says, “Whenever it gets muggy, then definitely the mold spores are out.”

I checked with Storm Team 10 meteorologists to see if we are more humid than usual and found we are about average for this time of year. Dr. Matos says all you need is 50 percent humidity for mold allergies to act up.

The rain brings relief for people with pollen allergies, because it clears the pollen from the air, but Matos says that’s not the case for mold allergy patients.

“They will notice flare ups just before the rain and just after,” he said.

One way to try to keep the mold spores down inside your home is to run a dehumidifier. Dr. Matos says the air conditioning also serves the same purpose.