Popular myths would have you believe that the cold weather is the leading cause of colds. Or perhaps that it’s going out with wet hair and no hat. Except that colds are caused by being damp and cold all over, right? Nope. Colds are caused by viruses which means no amount of dampness and coldness will ever cause a cold. Maybe hypothermia, but not a cold. You may be wondering what this has to do with our business at Amity Environmental, after all, we’re Calgary’s mould and asbestos experts not doctors. Well, there’s actually a bigger connection that you might think.
Mould can cause cold symptoms. In children, the elderly, asthmatics, or anyone who’s simply been exposed to mould for too long, what we usually think of as cold symptoms are often some of the first signs of a mould problem to appear. Exposure to mould leads to the symptoms often shared by colds and allergies: a runny, snotty nose, puffy, red eyes, and a scratchy, sore throat. During the Calgary winter, people spend a lot more time inside. A mould problem that doesn’t bug you during the summer months spent outside, may in winter, leave homeowners with a perpetual winter cold they can’t get rid of. Often, those suffering from mould allergies will find their symptoms vanish when they’ve been out shopping for a couple hours. If you or someone in your family seems to always have a “cold” that’s worse in a particular room or building, you may want to call in Calgary’s mould experts at Amity Environmental.
Air out your house. During the summer, you are less likely to develop a cold because you’re simply not in contact with as many other people all the time. More time is spent outdoors and windows are left open. Open windows air out the space removing stuffy air and replacing it with fresh outside air. Because it’s cold outside, Calgarians don’t tend to open their windows in winter. However, opening a window for a minute or two daily will likely lower the amount of colds your household contracts. It will also help to keep your house smelling fresher and whisk away any humidity that’s been building up lowering your risk for mould.
Catching a winter cold often seems inevitable, but by airing out your house and keeping careful control of your humidity, you can lower your risk for the “colds” actually caused by mould infestations. Do you think your home may have a mould problem? The Calgary mould experts at Amity Environmental want to help! Call us today at (403) 667-8264.
