Dangers Of Sleeping In A Damp Room

CONTENTS

• How to detect damp in your bedroom
• Health risks associated with damp
• What treatments are available for mould-related illnesses?
• How to prevent mould and damp
• Get in touch

Here at ICE Cleaning, we're damp and mould specialists. Click here to check out our full range of mould removal services.

According to the Sleep Foundation, adults sleeping in damp-ridden conditions are more likely to encounter sleep disturbances. One of their recent studies revealed that bedroom mould correlated with high levels of snoring, insomnia, and tiredness. Aside from affecting your sleeping pattern, damp, and mould are incredibly bad for your health.

If you are concerned about mould in your property, our Dewpoint-accredited technicians can perform a moisture survey to determine whether any is present. They can also provide you with effective mould removal services to significantly improve the air quality in your home.

Read on to learn more about the dangers of sleeping in a damp bedroom.

Get A Quote Today

How to detect damp in your bedroom

Though not always visible, damp often has a distinct, musty smell. If damp is visible in the room, it may appear in the form of dark, discoloured patches on walls or plaster. Heavy moisture may also be present on cold surfaces, such as windows, in the form of water droplets. 

Damp normally occurs due to excess moisture in the air that has nowhere to escape, so it accumulates on surfaces in your home. This could provide mould with the ideal conditions for growth and lead to a mould problem. To be certain, you should hire a professional cleaning company to conduct a damp and moisture survey. 

Health risks associated with damp

Failure to detect damp or mould in your home may put your health at risk. It can result in mould growing in your home, which is a harmful fungus that produces allergens, irritants, and airborne spores. Without knowing, you could be inhaling these spores in your sleep and might be at risk of developing health problems like:

Respiratory symptoms

Mould and damp have been known to cause both respiratory problems and skin conditions. According to The Conversation, inhaling mould fragments can inflame the airways. This may cause:

• Nasal congestion
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Coughing 
• Throat irritation
• Breathing difficulties

The longer the issue is ignored, the worse the side effects will be. Prolonged exposure to high levels of dampness has been proven to reduce lung function and cause chronic health problems, such as asthma. If you already have asthma, you may be subject to more severe side effects. 

A report conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that exposure to indoor dampness is one of the biggest contributors to childhood asthma. Whilst children and adults of all ages are vulnerable to the health effects of mould, some groups are more at risk than others. These include:

• Young infants
• Elderly residents
• Those with a weakened immune system
• Individuals with underlying conditions like asthma or eczema 

Skin problems

Mould may also cause you to experience a range of skin conditions due to the irritants present in the mould spores. You may notice symptoms like:

• Skin rashes or bumps
• Red or inflamed eyes
• Pressure or pain behind your face

If you have an existing skin condition, such as eczema, symptoms may be more intense. Allergic reactions to mould may also worsen the effects.

Toxic mould syndrome

In extreme situations, the consequences of mould can be long-term. A condition known as ‘toxic mould syndrome’ can arise from extreme exposure to poisonous mould spores. Symptoms of toxic mould syndrome include:

• Brain fog
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Muscle cramps
• Blurred vision
• Light sensitivity
• Abdominal pain 
• Attention issues such as ADHD

Due to its rarity, toxic mould syndrome often goes misdiagnosed as a mould allergy. A person with a mould allergy will experience symptoms similar to that of hay fever like shortness of breath, headaches, tiredness, and itchy, red eyes.

However, a person with toxic mould syndrome is subject to more severe health problems, including chronic inflammatory response syndrome. The symptoms may be uncomfortable, but treatment is available. 

What treatments are available for mould-related illnesses?

According to the Mayo Clinic, most health problems caused by mould can be treated by over-the-counter medications. You may be given:

• Antihistamines: Antihistamine tablets, such as cetirizine or loratadine, can be used to clear your airways and reduce your immune system response. 
• Decongestants: Decongestants, for example, pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), can be taken to reduce swelling caused by an allergic reaction to mould.
• Nasal sprays: Nasal sprays or rinses, such as fluticasone (Flonase), to reduce nasal congestion and improve your airflow. 

How to prevent mould and damp

There are several steps you can take to prevent mould growth, like monitoring humidity levels. Mould thrives in damp, humid conditions. Therefore, to prevent mould you should keep humidity levels below 50% throughout the day. You can control your home environment by:

• Opening windows for ventilation
• Wiping down condensation when you see it
• Closing the kitchen and bathroom doors when in use
• Installing extractor fans in bathrooms and kitchens
• Using a dehumidifier and air purifier to tackle damp and mould
• Drying your clothes outdoors where possible
• Ensuring that furniture against the wall has a gap to allow ventilation

Get in touch

Here at ICE Cleaning, we offer reliable, thorough mould remediation services. Upon conducting a survey and determining the type of mould in your home, our technicians will remove all the mould from your home, including airborne mould. Our mould removal services come with a lifetime guarantee*, so if the mould returns we will remove it for free.

To discover our full range of services, give us a call on 0208 066 0360 or email us at enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk.

Our friendly support team will be able to provide professional advice regarding your situation. We have mould experts stationed nationwide who can reach you quickly to remediate your mould problem. 

*subject to advisories