(HealthScoutNews) -- Sensitivity to airborne molds can increase asthma severity.

That's the claim of a European study in this week's British Medical Journal.

The study used data from 1,132 people with asthma from the European Community respiratory health survey. The researchers found a strong connection between a person's sensitization to molds and the severity of their asthma, but found no such connection with pollen or cats.

The researchers suggest the small size of fungal spores of airborne molds let the spores enter a person's lower airways. Also, while pollen is present only at certain times, molds are present throughout the year and their spore counts just increase during autumn.

Mold exposure levels are probably greater than those of pollen because mold exposure occurs indoors, where people spend most of their time.

The study authors say people with asthma who are sensitized to airborne molds must pay close attention to their asthma symptoms and adhere to their treatment programs, especially during the fall when mold spore counts increase.

Improving the ventilation and decreasing the dampness in your house can also help decrease your exposure to molds, the authors say.

More Information

The American Lung Association has more information about asthma.

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