Mold levels chicago

Sometimes a mold allergy can cause delayed symptoms, leading to nasal congestion or worsening asthma over time. Symptoms often get worse in a damp or moldy room like a basement. This may mean you have a mold allergy. Rarely, some patients can have a more serious illness called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. In this condition, there is both an allergic and an inflammatory response to the mold. Symptoms may include severe wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath, much like asthma.

It is more likely that reactions to food fungi are caused by the food's direct effect on blood vessels. For example, fermented foods like wine may naturally contain a substance known as histamine. Histamine is also a chemical your allergy cells release during an allergic reaction. Foods that contain histamines can trigger allergy-like responses when you consume them. To diagnose an allergy to mold or fungi, the doctor will take a complete medical history.

If they suspect a mold allergy, the doctor often will do skin tests or allergen specific IgE blood tests. Extracts of different types of fungi may be used to scratch or prick the skin. The doctor uses the patient's medical history, the skin testing results and the physical exam to diagnose a mold allergy.

Rachna Shah with the Asthma and Allergy Center of Chicago, levels of mold and weed are currently the highest in the metro area as of Thursday. In addition to elevated mold and weed levels, the ragweed and other weeds are often heightened from mid-August through the end of September, experts said. Those levels are indeed increased in the Chicago area, but the levels remain average for now, Shah said.

According to Loyola Medicine's daily allergy count, the levels as of Thursday were reported to be:. If you have an allergy, your immune system overreacts to a substance you inhaled, touched or ate, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. People inherit the ability to be allergic, but they don't exactly inherit what they're allergic to," said Dr. Seasonal allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, is usually triggered by outdoor allergens such as pollen and mold spores.

In fact, it is one of the leading causes of lung cancer among non-smokers. Elevated Radon levels can be found in any home, regardless of its age and quality of construction — making testing all the more important.

If you are testing as a part of a real estate transaction, you can add radon testing to your home inspection through Windy City, or contact a licensed radon testing company. If you are testing after a real estate transaction, you can also purchase a home radon test through the Illinois Department of Health, or at most hardware stores. If a test finds high levels of Radon, Windy City can help you connect with local companies who specialize in radon mitigation, who can analyze your test results and help you determine the best mitigation system for your Chicago-area home.

Once a mitigation system has been put in place, it is important to have a clearance test done to ensure that radon is being controlled properly. If a standard home inspection uncovers evidence of wood-destroying insects or other unwelcome guests, your inspector may recommend a termite and pest inspection.

During a typical home inspection, your inspector will look for evidence of pest and insect damage, including visually checking vents and chimneys for signs of unwanted inhabitants. You can find sample reports with more detailed checklists and descriptions here. Windy City Home Inspection can help refer you to pest control services based in the Chicagoland area. Have any other questions? You can learn more or sign up here. Curious about what goes into the home inspection process here in Chicago?

Looking for guidance or insight from an experienced home inspection team? With Windy City Home Inspection, buyers and sellers can expect a thorough, diligent inspection that never cuts corners.

Each home inspection we provide is backed by our Warranty and Protection Plan. Furthermore, we pride ourselves on our superior customer service.