Articles by Dr. Erdman are for informational purposes, and are not to be taken as specific medical advice.
This corona virus situation seems to have more sides and
opinions than hairs on our head. You can
debate where it came from, how it started and why it progressed as it did. We can posit why so many died in nursing
homes in New York and PA but not in many other places. But the thing we seem to fight over the most
is mask or no mask!
Besides the obvious lack of authority by the government to
mandate mask wearing and mandate businesses be the gate keeper of this mandate,
is there evidence that makes mask wearing a good idea? Maybe, maybe not is the
answer. It depends on the stated objective of mask wearing.
If you think mask wearing is effective at completely
stopping the virus from passing from you to someone else, you are sorely
mistaken. Even a surgical N95/100 mask does not have this objective. Virus are generally sized smaller than these
masks can filter out at 100%. Science shows that a perfectly fitted N95 surgical
mask can inhibit 98% of particles sized at .3 microns or larger. Comparatively,
a cotton t-shirt is 51%, dish towel is 73%, silk is 54% and a scarf is 49%
effective at reducing particles of that size. The conclusion is that some form
of face covering can reduce particulates. But it is not a fully protective
measure. We really do not have an exact
aerosol particle size of the COVID-19, but it’s thought to between 0.06 and
0.14 microns. So masks can capture many
particles, but it is not a situation where wearing a mask assures that you do
not get any disease. It is a false sense
of security that still applies some level of risk to the wearer.
Yet, all we here from the authorities is that” Your mask
protects me, and my mask protects you.”
That line just makes no sense at all when you understand how much or
little a mask can do for you. Masks do not keep a person from getting any
particular disease, including Covid-19.
A N95 mask with a respirator valve offers zero protection
from aerosols to others, only to the wearer. This is because there is a one-way
valve directly out of the mask on exhalation.
Nothing gets filtered on the way out!
If in mask wearing your objective is to “flatten the curve”,
you may be onto something. Since masks are moderately effective at stopping
your spit and aerosols from a cough or sneeze from spewing less distance from
the source (your mouth) than nothing at all, it can have an effect of
decreasing distribution of particles to longer distances. The problem is so can
sneezing into your elbow, or a tissue. All options do that stop particles from
longer distance travel.
None of these useful mask options apply to people who are
well. Masks partly reduce the likelihood of infected people of transmitting
disease to other people or surfaces. It really doesn’t stop well people from
contacting disease particles and getting sick.
This is what your healthy immune system is supposed to do, recognize and
kill off the things you contact.
“Catching” a disease is also load dependent. Super exposure
can more easily lead to contracting the disease. Smaller doses over longer
times can lead to the body fighting the disease off much more readily. Can a
mask do this? Likely, but keep in mind even the latest government advice says
that it takes constant close contact for longer than 10-15 minutes for anyone
to transmit this disease. And close contact is defined as closer than three
feet. So, passing in hallways stores, offices, churches or outside is not a
time to wear a mask. Taking care of an infected family member is a time to wear
a mask.
Its not just about effective or ineffective data on masks.
But many medical experts say face masking on healthy people can cause harm.
Most people know breathing air with high carbon dioxide content leaves you
struggling of oxygen. Its even worse for asthmatics, people with phobias, and long-term
use.
Viruses can get trapped in a masks material and add to the
likelihood of getting an infection. Other issues include headaches, and
increased airway resistance for those with breathing problems. It can be fatal.
The other danger with cloth face masks is the constant
touching of the mask, taking it on and off, adjusting it, reusing it. This is almost the worst part. I’d rather have
your breath on me than touch me after you’ve touched your mask 10 times.
These disposable little blue masks are literally meant to be
used one time, without touching it, and then discarded. Are people doing that? No way!
They are using them many times over, on and off multiple times,
contaminating them every time they are touched…and they still think they are
doing themselves and others a whole lotta good! ‘Ignorance is bliss’, as they say.
Now, I will give you the experts (WHO) conditions for the
wearing of even a cloth face mask. Once the rules are violated you can
basically kiss any positive protection your mask may actually offer you or
others goodbye. When you violate these rules, I venture to say your mask is
useless. So, ask yourself as you read these 5 rules, “Can and does anyone you
know treat their mask wearing like this?” If you answer no, then you know why I
am flagrantly unmasked all the time! Here goes:
1.
Wash hands with soap and water prior to putting
on the mask.
2.
Cover your mouth and nose with the mask, leaving
NO gaps.
3.
Do not touch your mask again! If you do, you
need to rewash your hands.
4.
Replace the mask as soon as it is damp and do
not reuse single use masks.
5.
Do not touch the mask when taking it off. Discard it, if disposable, or wash a cloth
one after one use. Then clean your hands.
If this is what needs to be done to be effective when
wearing a mask, then having people in everyday circumstances wear masks is a
totally ineffective way of stopping this or any disease.
You can argue masks may help with in certain parameters, but
you cannot tell me it helps enough to make everyone use them all the time.
Next time, we will discuss basic nutrition to help give
yourself the best chance of fight off these types of infections.