For those of us who are neat freaks, this headline may come in handy the next time you have to nag your partner/roommate/child to clean up. It seems researchers have identified a link between damp, moldy homes and depression in adults.
Most people know that mold can cause some physical health problems, including nasal congestion, coughing, headache, and allergic reactions. A study released last week suggests that mold and dampness also may affect mental health. Researchers from Brown University interviewed nearly 6,000 people in six European cities. For each person, they measured dampness and mold characteristics of the home, as well as depressive symptoms.
They found that people who lived in homes that had any dampness or mold - from minimal to extreme - were more likely to have depressive symptoms than people who lived in homes without any mold or dampness problems. Further, women were one and a half times more likely than men to report depression. The researchers suggest that exposure to the toxins released by household mold may affect the brain's ability to regulate emotions.
If you live in a humid climate, have an older home, or have ever had water damage in your home, you are more likely to have problems with household dampness and mold - and perhaps depression. The EPA provides some great resources on cleaning up mold and preventing mold from invading your home in the first place. You also can monitor your mental health online.
And to all the neat-freaks like me out there --- dehumidifier anyone?
Most people know that mold can cause some physical health problems, including nasal congestion, coughing, headache, and allergic reactions. A study released last week suggests that mold and dampness also may affect mental health. Researchers from Brown University interviewed nearly 6,000 people in six European cities. For each person, they measured dampness and mold characteristics of the home, as well as depressive symptoms.
They found that people who lived in homes that had any dampness or mold - from minimal to extreme - were more likely to have depressive symptoms than people who lived in homes without any mold or dampness problems. Further, women were one and a half times more likely than men to report depression. The researchers suggest that exposure to the toxins released by household mold may affect the brain's ability to regulate emotions.
If you live in a humid climate, have an older home, or have ever had water damage in your home, you are more likely to have problems with household dampness and mold - and perhaps depression. The EPA provides some great resources on cleaning up mold and preventing mold from invading your home in the first place. You also can monitor your mental health online.
And to all the neat-freaks like me out there --- dehumidifier anyone?
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