Joann Grayson is getting an allergy shot. It’s part of her daily battle with mold allergies.

Mold is a type of fungi with up to 250,000 species. Out of that quarter-million, only about 250 are harmful to humans.

In Joann’s case, the moist, humid climate of the south is the perfect environment for molds.

“Pretty humid around here as we know and the warm nature of the seasons and the climate make mold really thrive here,” Dr. Jeremy Roebuck says. Roebuck is an Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist.

Many areas of the gulf coast are still battling the mold spawned by hurricanes Rita and Katrina.

“The trees that have gone down and the mold and mildew in the house from all the rain. Mold has just definitely run rampant since she’s come through,” Grayson says.

You can control the growth of mold inside your home by keeping humidity levels between 40 and 60-percent. Ventilating your shower, laundry, and cooking areas can also help.

“And a lot of times you don’t even see the mold; it’s not like the black mold you see all the time. It can be mold you don’t even realize is there,” Roebuck adds.

These welts show just how allergic Joann’s body is to mold. Besides her weekly shots, she also employs several de-humidifiers.

“You can get those and keep those running 24 hours; I put it mainly in my bedroom, keep it going and it definitely helps clean the air. You want to make sure you clean like underneath your refrigerator drip pan, the water, and underneath like your toilets… and underneath the tank where the mold can grow,” Grayson adds.

Living with mold allergies isn't easy, but it's a battle won by monitoring your health and your environment.

Failing to protect yourself and your home against mold can be costly homeowners in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada and Texas have spent nine billion dollars in the last five years.