Drywall dust allergy symptoms include: Runny nose. Coughing. Sinus congestion/infection.
Over time, breathing the dust from drywall sanding/dust may cause persistent throat and airway irritation, coughing, phlegm production, and breathing difficulties similar to asthma. Smokers or workers with sinus or respiratory conditions may risk even worse health problems.
Over time, breathing the dust from drywall joint compounds may cause persistent throat and airway irritation, coughing, phlegm production, and breathing difficulties similar to asthma. Smokers or workers with sinus or respiratory conditions may risk even worse health problems.
Understanding Drywall Dust Allergies
Individuals exposed to drywall dust may experience symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, wheezing, skin irritation, and even heightened cold sensitivity.
People who are sensitive to dust, smog, smoke, strong odors and chemicals may experience nonallergic sinusitis. Temperature changes, along with changes in humidity and stress may also be triggers. Other causes may include: Infections - Viral infections, such as a cold or flu, may trigger nonallergic sinusitis.
You can get bacterial infections through the air from contaminated dust or droplets of water or mucus (like phlegm or snot). Legionnaires' disease, pertussis (whooping cough), tuberculosis, meningococcal disease and strep throat spread this way.
Given the factors mentioned above, determining an exact settling time for construction dust can be challenging. However, as a general guideline, most construction dust begins to settle within 48 to 72 hours after work has ceased.
Dust Allergies. People who have dust allergies are familiar with sneezing—but sneezing isn't the only uncomfortable symptom. Dust allergies also give many people a stuffy or runny nose, or cause their eyes to itch or become red and watery.
Drinking plenty of fluids, particularly water, aids in the thinned mucus in your lungs. This allows your body to evacuate the mucus and any trapped dust particles, allowing for cleaner breathing. Hydration also promotes general immune system function, which is vital in preventing diseases caused by dust inhalation.
To help drywall dust move outside, house cleaning professional Raymond Chiu recommends that you “open the windows to allow for ventilation.” Place box fans in the windows so they blow the air out of the room, and tape plastic sheeting around the fans and window frames to seal off the area.
The health effects (respiratory irritation, headaches, sinusitis, eye irritation, throat irritation, malaise/weakness, and others) reported by these families are consistent with known health effects from sulfur gases, and with symptoms reported by others living in homes constructed with Chinese drywall.
An otherwise healthy person may experience coughing, shortness of breath and mucus. The dust could also exacerbate underlying health conditions like allergies, asthma or cardiovascular disease, requiring treatment that could outlast the pointing work.
Mold and Mildew
Mold spores are notorious for causing sinus problems. They thrive in damp areas like bathrooms, basements, and around windows. Inhaling mold spores can irritate your sinuses, leading to inflammation and infection.
Yes, air purifiers play a big role in cutting down on construction dust and debris while projects are taking place in the surrounding area. This helps prevent harmful construction dust particles from making their way into HVAC systems and other areas of the building.
Indoor heating typically produces dry heat, which lacks moisture. As this dry air enters our sinuses, it can dry out the mucous membranes, making them more susceptible to irritation and inflammation. Inflamed sinuses are more prone to infections, leading to discomfort and even pain.
Once you're no longer around dust mite allergens, your symptoms usually go away after a few hours. If you have severe dust mite allergies, your symptoms may last for several days.
Dust buildup can cause serious health problems, according to Johns Hopkins Hospital lung expert Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, including serious lung infections and in rare cases, even death. “A good inhalation of dust could be life threatening depending on someone's asthma exacerbation,” Galiatsatos said.
Over time, breathing the dust from drywall joint compounds may cause persistent throat and airway irritation, coughing, phlegm production, and breathing difficulties similar to asthma. Smokers or workers with sinus or respiratory conditions may risk even worse health problems.
Many reported a decrease in symptoms when they left their homes and a recurrence of symptoms upon returning. Reported symptoms included headaches, irritated and itchy eyes/skin, difficulty breathing, persistent cough, runny nose, sinus infections and congestion, sore throats, frequent nosebleeds, and asthma attacks.
To avoid problems, begin cleaning the dust when it's dry before proceeding to damp methods and always keep a dust mask on: Lightly brush the dust off the walls with a soft broom or hand brush. Move slowly from top to bottom. Sweep the dust from the floor before the next step.
In some studies, sneezing, coughing, eye irritation, lung tissue swelling, asthma and throat infections were found to be more prevalent among individuals exposed to occupational dust.
Treatment for Drywall Dust Allergy
Antihistamines can help reduce sneezing, itching, and a runny nose, while decongestants can alleviate nasal stuffiness.