Doctor’s Senior Exercise & Health Newsletter

February 1, 2003

Issue Vol. 3 No. 2

In This Newsletter
Introduction
Healthfully yours
Health Hints
 

Introduction***

The Doctor’s Senior Exercise & Health Newsletter is written monthly, solely for information to help seniors, baby boomers and anyone who may have an interest in staying healthy, living a vigorous, active lifestyle and combating the aging process. It does not constitute the practice of medicine and is not meant to prescribe treatments. It is offered strictly as an educational aid. Any medical problems you may have, we recommend that you seek the help of your physician or other healthcare professional. Discussing your intentions with your doctor is always the proper procedure. The newsletter also includes know-how in the form of useful tips and links to more extensive material on the Internet. You may wish to share this newsletter by sending a copy to a friend, neighbor or relative and suggesting they subscribe to it.

Website: http://www.doctorsexercise.com

How to subscribe: Click Newsletter on left menu at website for more info and to subscribe or browse directly to:

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E-Mail address: newsletter@doctorsexercise.com

Healthfully Yours***

MOLD: The hidden cause for many ills and ailments.

In our June 1, 2002 Newsletter we wrote about the “Sick Home”, which described the air quality found in a great majority of homes. On July 15, 2002 in our “Doctor’s Journal” we wrote an article on “Air Pollution”. To read this newsletter and article go to our website: http://www.doctorsexercise.com. To read the newsletter click on the “Newsletter Index”, and click on the above date. The article, “Air Pollution” can be read by clicking on the link on the home page.

My Newsletter and article both mention molds as a major contributor, and cause of various illnesses and ailments. There has been a major increase of publicity in Newspapers and Magazines concerning this problem to our health. In fact the problem has become so prevalent and invasive, the Insurance Companies are increasing premiums to cover losses from mold related problems. More importantly, many Insurance Companies are completely excluding the mold related problems and will not pay if any such incident arises. It would be wise to check your homeowners or renters policy to see if you are presently covered. When your policy comes up for renewal, check with your Insurance Company, and specifically ask about mold related coverage. If your Insurance Company excludes mold and mold related illnesses from your policy, you need to investigate others companies. It may be hard to find one, and you may have to resort to other avenues. For example in Florida, you may have to contact the Citizen’s Property Insurance Corporation. No doubt, there are such insurers to be found in your state.

Mold growth, although more prevalent in warm and humid climates, can be a problem in other areas of the country, even in cold climates as well. Houses are not the only ones affected, but apartments can be plagued as well, as the mold travels through the entire building. Some of the most upscale and prestigious buildings in New York, Washington, California and most of the other states have been prone to mold infestation. There have been innumerable lawsuits and they have been growing by leaps and bounds.

Mold, mildew and fungi are generally caused by dampness and water leaks. The leaks can be caused when there is a slight leak in the roof of a house or an apartment building. The water will find it’s way into a wall and spreads to other apartments or rooms. Another serious cause is a pipe in the wall that develops a leak and is constantly wet and damp, letting the mold, mildew and fungi grow and spread like wildfire. As these molds develop in the dark recesses of the walls, ceilings, and under the floors, they develop spores that carry “mycotoxins” into the air.

It is these mycotoxins that cause innumerable diseases and conditions that may cause entire families to move from their homes unless the mold is removed. There are companies that specialize in mold removal and this can prove to be quite expensive. Your home should be thoroughly inspected if you suspect a mold problem, or if you see an area or areas of dampness anywhere on a wall or ceiling. There are also companies that will inspect your entire home for mold infestation. You can also purchase a do-it yourself kit that will test for mold spores in the air. If this is the case, and the results are positive for spores, it behooves you to call in a professional company that specializes in mold removal.

Leaks are of course the extreme causes in spreading molds. A more spontaneous cause other than leaks is a high humidity in the home where air circulation is impaired. Older homes have a tendency to have more air than newer homes that have better insulation that keeps the air from circulating. The best remedy is an air-circulating unit. To learn more about such units, go to http://www.doctorsexercise.com and click on Blueair Purification Systems on the home page. Because the air in our homes has more pollution than the outdoors environment, these units can prevent many illnesses. Some of the mold-related illnesses due to the mycotoxins circulating in the air are:

1. Chronic fatigue.
2. Memory impairment.
3. Respiratory disorders.
4. Sinus problems.
5. Headaches.
6. Sleeping difficulties.
7. Breathing difficulties.
8. Asthma.
9. Nose bleeds.
10. Constipation.
11. Impaired immune system.
12. Unexplained symptoms that are recurring, such as flu-like symptoms.

This list can go on and on. That leaves, what is to be done about this serious health hazard? Read the answers in the Health Hints below.

Health Hints***

Always, the best cure is prevention. The home has to be thoroughly inspected for leaks and damp areas when there are not any visible leaks. The leak can be in a wall, ceiling, and roof or under the floor, and the only visual affect will be dampness or stains on the ceiling, wall or floor. Should any of these leaks or stains be discovered, it would be wise to seek the advise of a professional appraisal of the problem. The problem of course will have to be corrected before the actual cleanup of the mold is undertaken. Unless professional help is necessary, the following steps should be undertaken.

1. Every room must be thoroughly vacuumed. That means every nook and cranny.
2. Carpeted areas should be vacuumed more than once, while tile or marble floors need to be washed with a solution that will attenuate the spores. Do not use the aerosol sprays.
3. Curtains and drapes should be taken down and washed or cleaned.
4. Bedding must be thoroughly washed in hot water.
5. The mattress and spring or box spring must be thoroughly vacuumed also including bottom and sides.
6. All air conditioner filters need to be replaced.
7. All heat and furnace filters need to be replaced.
8. Wash down tile or marble in bathrooms and showers with an environmental friendly cleansing solution, as mentioned in the number 2 suggestion.
9. When all the above has been accomplished, you should consider an air cleaning unit. Such a unit will assure clean air and should at least be placed in the bedroom. We spend at least one-third of our day in the bedroom. Clean air will assure you of good nights sleep and the abatement of all or most of the above symptoms.
10. And finally, smoking is of course a no, no. Smoking too is a leading cause of air pollution in the home. If there are smokers in the home, an air cleaner is a must. The Blueair cleaner can be used with a special SmokeStop Filter made expressly for it. Otherwise you would use the regular Particle Filter

The seriousness of this escalating mold problem and the resulting air pollution caused by this and other environmental factors, warrants your undivided attention, if you wish to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Doc Cane

Copyright, Disclaimer, and Trademark information Copyrightă 1997-2003 Emanuel M. Cane. All rights reserved. Except stated below, this material or parts thereof may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed by any means whatsoever without explicit, written permission from the author.

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