Molds (fungi) grow in almost all indoor and outdoor environments where they have a source of water. Molds are found in water, in the air, in and on plants and animals, in and under soil, and in all kinds of surfaces indoors. Mold can use almost anything which contains carbon as a food source, including carpeting, drywall, wood, decaying food and vegetation, and even crude oil!

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The US is now facing concerns about the H1N1 flu epidemic. In 2009, about 10,000 US citizens have died of this flu- including about 1,000 children. Much of the world has been severely affected by the AIDS/HIV epidemic over the past 29 years. However, 3 more prevalent epidemics facing the US and other developed nations include the interrelated problems of obesity, type 2 diabetes and mold related health problems.

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Fungi (mold) are a frequent cause of skin problems in children. The two most common forms of skin infections in children involve Candida and Tinea. Candida is a yeast (mold) that commonly grows in the human digestive tract and tends to overgrow with a high sugar diet and/or frequent use of antibiotics which kill off good gut bacteria. Candida also can grow on other body areas including the skin, mouth, urinary tract and sex organs such as the vagina and penis. Candida can sometimes cause life threatening infections by spreading through the bloodstream. These spreading or disseminated Candida infections are most common in patients with compromised immune systems such as those with HIV, certain forms of cancer such as leukemia and lymphoma, and genetic immune deficiencies. Candida can be spread by many means including food, water, air, and contact with people, animals and inanimate objects. Keeping skin dry can slow the spread of Candida.

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In recent years, many people, including this writer, have written many articles about many types of environmental problems in our water, air, land, food, workplaces and indoor environments.  However, we can be thankful that major progress has been made on many environmental health fronts including outdoor air quality, water quality and lead abatement.

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In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to indoor air quality in schools.   About 57 million students, teachers and staff attend US elementary and high schools. Types of school buildings used in the USA are quite variable and range from new buildings, which often have poor ventilation, to buildings more than one hundred years old, which may have problems with dust, lead paint, and mold and moisture damage. 

A major impetus for school indoor air quality concerns is the high prevalence of asthma in children and adolescents.

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Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a very common health problem. Blood pressures higher than 140 mm Hg systolic (pumping phase of heartbeat) and/or 90 mm Hg diastolic (relaxed phase of heartbeat) are considered to be hypertension. According to research published in the November 2008 Hypertension, about 29% of all US adults had high blood pressure in the period 1999-2004.

Hypertension puts people at increased risk for many serious health problems including heart disease, strokes, kidney problems and damage to vision. Chronic hypertension is also a major cause of headaches, nausea and mental disorientation.
The early signs of hypertension often give no warning and the hypertensive patient often feels fine. That is why it is important to get your blood pressure checked at least once a year. Many pharmacies and supermarkets have automatic blood pressure testing cuffs that will test your blood pressure for free.

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