A REACTION to mould left a Wrexham woman struggling to breathe and it took her 12 months to recover.

Lorraine Hewitt, a retired nurse from Ruabon, has allergic asthma. After attending a meeting at a mouldy village hall, her health quickly detreated. Breathing in mould spores left her struggling to breathe, she was hospitalised, and it took her 12 months to recover.

“I attended a work meeting at a village hall and had a reaction to breathing in mould," the 64-year-old said. 

"Three days later I was hospitalised and it took me over 12 months to recover. Despite six months of steroids, my lungs have never returned to how they were. I had no idea that breathing in mould spores could do that.

“There needs to be more awareness of the dangers of mould, especially to those who live with a lung condition like me. That one meeting in a mouldy village hall, left me struggling to eat or walk up the stairs."

The Leader: Lorraine Hewitt was left struggling to breathe due to a reaction to mould. Lorraine Hewitt was left struggling to breathe due to a reaction to mould. (Image: Asthma + Lung UK Cymru)

Mould can be very harmful to health, especially for babies, small children, older people and people with allergies because it produces spores, which can be breathed in and can cause health problems in those who are sensitive or allergic to them.

Mould usually appears as fuzzy black, white, or green patches on the walls, ceiling or tiles. It might also smell damp and musty. If you are allergic to mould it can cause symptoms like coughing, wheezing, sneezing and watery eyes or cause symptoms of a lung condition like asthma or COPD to worsen.   

Keeping your home well aired and warm to at least 18°C in colder months helps reduce condensation, which leads to mould. But the rising cost of living has made this increasingly harder for those with lung conditions who live in socially deprived areas and are already struggling to pay bills.  

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​In a recent survey conducted by leading lung charity Asthma + Lung UK Cymru, 39 per cent of people surveyed with a lung condition in Wales said mould was a trigger for their condition, prompting symptoms such as breathlessness, coughing and wheezing or bringing on potentially life-threatening asthma attacks.

The charity says the numbers are worrying and is urging anyone with a lung condition to take precautions to protect their health.

Joseph Carter, head of Asthma + Lung UK Cymru, said:  “Mould is a serious issue. If you have a lung condition, your symptoms may get worse, and if you have asthma, mould could cause an asthma attack. Babies, small children, older people and people with allergies are more likely to be affected by mould. 

"Asthma + Lung UK Cymru believes no one should have to suffer worse health because of where they live, or how much money they have. There is a link between poor housing and asthma, because of things like mould and damp.

“If you think your home is damp or you’ve noticed mould, it’s best to act quickly before it gets worse. For those in rented accommodation, landlords have a responsibility to their tenants and to fully support them to make sure that the housing is up to scratch. They should not just paint over the problem."

Further advice is available at www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/moulds-and-fungi/

To help protect yourself and your home against the potentially harmful effects of mould this winter, Asthma + Lung UK Cymru has the following tips:  

1. Take all your medicines as prescribed to reduce your risk of mould affecting your lung condition.  

2. Keep rooms well-aired. Open your windows for 5 to 10 minutes several times a day if you can, especially if you’re cooking or using the shower. If you live in a highly polluted area, check the air pollution levels before opening windows.  

3. If you can, dry washing in a tumble dryer. If you can’t do that, try a well-aired room or airing cupboard.  

4. Fix any leaks or water damage, as this will help to prevent humidity that causes condensation.  

5. Try to keep your home at a good background temperature so it never gets too cold - ideally at least 18 degrees when it’s cold outside. 

6. Use extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom or open a window when cooking or after a shower to get rid of moisture in the air. 

7. Close the door of the room you are in if you’re cooking or showering - to prevent condensation in other rooms. 

 8. Some people find that de-humidifiers help to dry the air and prevent damp and mould. But make sure you get the setting right as leaving the air too dry might make you cough.

9. And remember mould spores can be outside too, so make sure you carry your reliever (or rescue) inhaler wherever you go to deal with any symptoms quickly.