Mask Wearing: The Pros and Cons You Never Even Thought Of
Mask Wearing
The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared Covid-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020. And ever since then, mask wearing has become a hot topic around the world.
Many health organizations initially said that the general public didn’t need to wear masks. But, within a few weeks, they changed course and started encouraging everyone to wear masks in public and to social distance.
Since that happened, people have been questioning whether or not mask wearing is actually effective, who should be required to wear masks, and if mask mandates are a way to protect each other or simply a way to control people and eliminate their personal freedoms.
Of course, disinformation is now everywhere these days. With myths about mask wearing spreading around the internet and social media accounts like wildfire.
Doctors and scientists are constantly trying to combat this misinformation and often with little success since the public has grown pandemic-weary.
What everyone agrees with is that we all want this pandemic to be over with and for our lives to return to normal.
The only disagreements people have are on how to actually accomplish that. So we’ll take a look at what top experts in the field are saying about masks and how they can help end the pandemic.
Mask Wearing Myths
The step is to take a look at some of the popular mask wearing myths that are currently circulating.
It's important to remember that medical professionals have been wearing masks regularly since the 1920's. Plus, people in many Asian countries have been wearing them out in public for a variety of reasons for decades.
So if masks were really harmful to your health, we would certainly know about it by now.
Here are the top 6 mask-wearing myths people are concerned most about:
1. Myth: Masks Are Full of Fungi and Bacteria That Can Infect You
There's absolutely no evidence that masks are full of fungi or bacteria that can cause infections like pneumonia. In fact, if you do have any germs inside of your mask, it's because you already had those same germs inside your body, and they were simply spread to the inside of your mask through the respiratory droplets you expelled through talking, coughing, or sneezing.
Experts do, however, recommend wearing a new N95 or surgical mask or a newly washed cloth mask daily.
2. Myth: Masks Make You Breath in Your Own Carbon Dioxide Which is Dangerous
The science simply does not back this up. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) particles are so small that they can pass through the barrier of any type of mask. That means that when you breathe out, the CO2 particles are not trapped inside of your mask.
Experts say that you don’t experience an elevated CO2 level inside of your mask no matter how long you wear it.
3. Myth: Covid-19 and Other Viruses Go Right Through Masks
When worn correctly, masks contain 60-95% of the viral load inside of them when someone talks, coughs, or sneezes. That means that only a fraction of the virus has a chance of escaping your mask at any given time.
When you wear a mask, and others around you do the same, you all have a barrier of protection between you and any virus that is circulating in the air.
4. Myth: Masks Do Not Prevent You from Getting Covid
Wearing a mask can help prevent you from getting Covid when you also practice social distancing and regular hygiene. Since masks act as a barrier, the number of respiratory droplets you're exposed to is greatly reduced.
Wearing a mask helps keep you from getting others sick as well.
5. Myth: Masks Should Not Be Worn by People with Asthma or Other Lung Diseases
People with asthma and other lung diseases have a higher risk of getting hospitalized with a Covid-19 infection and experiencing severe complications including death. Many people with these conditions wear masks daily and do not have any additional trouble breathing.
Cloth masks, in particular, may be a good option for people with asthma and other lung diseases.
6. Myth: Masks Don't Need to Be Worn by People Who Are Vaccinated or Have Natural Immunity
While still extremely rare, breakthrough cases of Covid-19 do occur in people who have been fully vaccinated, and there are also cases of people who've been infected with Covid-19 more than once, so all people should wear masks in indoor settings or crowded outdoor settings.
Masks also protect those around you because anyone can be carrying the Covid-19 virus at any time with or without symptoms.
Mask Wearing Pros
Now that we've debunked some of the mask-wearing myths out there, let's take a look at the top 10 pros of wearing masks:
7. Protect Others from Illness
Wearing a mask out in public is a simple thing you can do to protect others from illnesses that you don't even know you have. Just like the common cold or flu, many people have Covid-19 long before symptoms appear -if ever.
Every time you talk, cough, or sneeze, tiny respiratory droplets escape your body, float through the air, and can enter another person's body and infect them. And wearing a mask drastically lowers the viral load that people around you get exposed to.
8. Protect Yourself from Illness
Wearing a mask also protects you from getting illnesses. Many people who regularly wore masks over the last year were shocked when they never got the seasonal illnesses they're used to getting every year.
Remember, masks are a barrier between you and any infected people around you so they lower your risk of getting many types of contagious diseases.
9. Keep Businesses and Schools Open
Many businesses and schools had to shut down temporarily over the last year due to having outbreaks of illnesses such as Covid-19 and norovirus. Once an outbreak occurs, you can no longer receive services from that business or school.
When everyone wears a mask regularly, businesses and schools have a lower risk of experiencing an outbreak and being forced to shut down.
10. Limit Exposure to Environmental Toxins
People in Asian countries have been wearing masks in public for decades to lower their exposure to environmental toxins like air pollution. Environmental toxins can do some serious harm to your health and cause conditions like asthma, emphysema, heart disease, and lung cancer.
By wearing a mask, you can drastically lower the number of toxins that you breathe into your body every day.
11. Makes Noxious Smells Less Offensive
Let's face it, there are plenty of smells out in the world that are anything but pleasant. From body odor to flatulence, rotting food, and car exhaust, leaving the house means coming across smells you would much rather avoid.
While not eliminating certain scents entirely, wearing a mask does make noxious smells less offensive.
Makes It Easier to Avoid Social Interactions
This one may seem humorous, but many people do suffer from intense social anxiety. And thisis especially true in crowded public spaces.
So masks can help some people feel more comfortable while also avoiding eye contact and maintaining social distancing.
13. Hides Blemishes
Everyone feels awkward leaving the house with a newly discovered blemish on their face.
Fortunately, masks can cover many types of facial blemishes that you would rather not show off to the world.
14. Eliminates Need for Makeup
Another pro of wearing masks is that it eliminates or reduces the need for a face full of makeup. With a good portion of your face covered up by a mask, there's no need to wear many of the products you used to wear on a daily basis.
Wearing a mask can actually feel very freeing for people who are generally concerned with their appearance.
15. Tons of Styles to Choose From
There are tons of mask styles to choose from these days. So you can find one that fits all of your personal needs, the size and shape of your face, and with or without a filter.
From neck gaiters to cloth masks, surgical masks, and N95s, there's a mask for just about everyone.
16. Can Match Them with Your Outfit
Many businesses started producing cloth masks once the pandemic hit which means that you can easily find masks locally or online. And there are a ton of colors and patterns to choose from.
Many people now wear cloth masks as an accessory, and you can even get them to support certain causes that are important to you.
Mask Wearing Cons
Of course, our discussion wouldn't be complete without looking at the top 10 cons of wearing masks:
17. Can Be Hard to Find a Good Fit
Even with so many masks on the market, it can be hard to find one that fits well naturally or to experiment with all of the adjustments to get it just right. To make it easier, once you find a mask you like, buy a bunch and stick with it.
18. Feels Hotter
Probably the most noticeable con of wearing a mask is that it does make you feel slightly hotter since your warm breath is now staying so close to your face. To combat this problem, take breaks often whenever it's safe to do so.
Makes Physical Activity More Difficult
While normal activities often feel the same while wearing a mask, it does make strenuous physical activity a lot more difficult. So consider getting as much of your exercise as possible outdoors.
Can Make It Harder to See
Depending on how high your mask sits, it can obscure your field of vision and make it harder to see. Finding a mask that sits lower on your face but just above your nose or making the necessary adjustments can help you solve that problem.
21. Makes It Harder for Others to Hear You
Everyone has to talk louder while wearing a mask, and sometimes it's a struggle to get people to hear you no matter how much you're raising your voice. The best way to handle this situation is to speak loudly the first time and in simple, short sentences.
22. Hides Your Facial Expressions
Hiding some of your facial expressions may be a good thing, but sometimes a mask covers up facial expressions that you want others to see like your big, beautiful smile. But don't worry, people can tell you're smiling by looking at your eyes.
23. Can Irritate Your Skin
Many people report changes to their skin after wearing a mask all day including redness and acne. To keep your skin looking great, wash masks daily and don't wear any fabrics that irritate your skin.
24. Fogs Up Glasses
Another con of mask-wearing is the annoying way masks keep fogging up glasses and sunglasses. To fix this issue, spray your lenses with a defogger.
25. Can Slide Around
Even when your mask fits tightly on your face, after a long day of use, they can start to slide around. When this happens, simply readjust your straps.
26. You Have to Purchase New Ones or Wash Them Daily
Unless you wore a mask regularly before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, you've incurred the new expense of buying masks or added washing masks to your to-do list. But on the bright side, it's far less of a burden than having a Covid-19 infection.
Mask Wearing Exemptions
Of course, there are some people who simply can't tolerate wearing masks no matter what the pros and cons are.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people -including people with disabilities- can and do wear masks on a daily basis. However, if you feel like you have a valid exemption for wearing a mask in public, it's best to speak with a physician to get an exemption.
And just like any other health concerns you may have, telehealth services are available online so you can speak with a licensed doctor from the comfort of your own home. In fact, telehealth is a convenient way to get answers to all of your health questions, receive a diagnosis, and get a doctor's prescription online.
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