Masks are here to stay, at least for the near future. The British government has warned that masks may need to be worn until winter 2021 even with the vaccine. Therefore, I would like to tell you the truth about how masks are affecting you and what you can do to take care of yourself.
Before we start, I would like to say that, although I do not agree with masks in the way that they are being used in the current situation, I totally respect your right to make the choice to wear one. The decision whether to wear one or not to wear one should be a fundamental right for every adult human being.
So, let’s look at what happens to human beings when they wear a face covering for any extended length of time:
MASKS MAY REDUCE YOUR OXYGEN INTAKE AND INCREASE YOUR CARBON DIOXIDE INTAKE
Although some studies are saying that wearing a mask does not reduce your oxygen intake, common sense tells us that wearing a covering over your mouth and nose is going to reduce the amount of oxygen you can breathe in. This is why many people complain of headaches by the end of the day. When a person has reduced levels of oxygen in their blood it is known as hypoxia. The symptoms of mild hypoxia are: shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, slow thinking, rapid heartbeat, chest pain.
Of course, you may not have all these symptoms, or you may have them only mildly but this is really not good for you if it is happening over many months. (By the way, hospitals often pump oxygen into operating theatres to compensate for the lack of oxygen surgeons will experience while they wear the surgical masks).
Also, you will be re-breathing in the carbon dioxide that you have just exhaled which is a waste product and this is not good for your health.
Solution: Take your mask off as often as you can and do some deep breathing making sure that you extend your belly as you breathe in. It is ideal if you can learn the Wim Hof breathing method (see link below). You can also buy small canisters of oxygen that you can breathe when you get home to restore the oxygen levels in your body. You can also take oxygen-increasing supplements (see below).
MASKS IRRITATE YOUR SKIN
When you wear a cloth next to your face it will naturally hold your sweat, saliva, bacteria and anything you have touched before you touch your mask. It is also reducing the amount of fresh air and daylight that your skin needs to be well.
Solution: Remove and change your mask as often as possible and only touch the side -loops when you take it on and off. Cleanse your skin regularly with a gentle, oil-based cleanser (see link below). Avoid using harsh chemicals to wash your cloth masks as these can irritate the skin. You may also want to try a 3D mask inner bracket as these keep the fabric away from your face. Just search “3D mask bracket” on Google. You can buy 5 of them for around £8 and they can be washed and re-used.
MASKS CAN CREATE DENTAL PROBLEMS
Dentists say that face masks can promote mouth-breathing which causes your mouth to become dry which can lead to an increased risk of tooth decay. The masks can also trap bacteria, such as Candida Albicans, which irritate oral tissues and can lead to infections.
Solution: Make sure that you are removing your mask and drinking water regularly. Have a natural, diluted mouthwash that you can use throughout the day if you are wearing your mask all day. Maybe try rinsing your mouth with some water that has a few drops of a natural mouthwash in it like PerioBrite by Nature’s Answer. You could also sometimes try adding a few drops of another mouthwash that is especially hydrating like Gengigel mouth rinse. This contains hyaluronic acid which is very soothing and hydrating.
MASKS MAKE NORMAL COMMUNICATION DIFFICULT
When you’ve been ordering a coffee at the counter have you bent down to talk through the gap so that the server can hear you? Or have you had to ask people to repeat themselves because you can’t hear what they are saying? Inevitably, masks make it difficult to hear and be heard. It is also more difficult to read other people’s expressions which can lead to misunderstandings.
Solution: Obviously, be aware of the sound challenges and speak as clearly as you can to help other people hear you. Don’t be afraid to ask people to repeat themselves – unfortunately, this situation makes that a part of life now. Let’s try and be more tolerant of each other as we struggle to communicate in this way.
MASKS AFFECT OUR PSYCHOLOGY
I believe that there is a deep psychological price that we are paying for wearing masks all the time. Firstly, masks are unnatural. The only time humans see other humans wearing masks is when there is something hazardous around or if somebody is committing a crime and doesn’t want to be recognised. So, subliminally, being around masked human beings makes us uneasy and keeps us on subtle alert.
Masks also take away our identity. We are no longer recognisable, even to our friends at times. It’s as though we only exist as a proper person when we are at home. Masks have also been known to frighten children and we can only imagine what it must be like for young children who are not getting to see many natural faces and how this might affect their development.
There is also the fact that many people do not choose to wear a mask so feel like they are being muzzled against their will.
Solution: I don’t know if there really is a solution for this, unless we don’t wear the masks. Perhaps we just need to be aware of the psychological effects and do our best to compensate for them.
MASKS ARE A GERM TRAP
After a while, your mask can turn into a ‘dirty rag’ if you are not careful. Naturally, small amounts of sweat, saliva, dead skin cells and anything that you are breathing out will get onto the mask from the inside. This environment can be a breeding ground for bacteria and germs, especially in warm weather. From the outside, your mask can act as a trap for virus particles, dirt, pollen and whatever is on your hands when you touch it.
Solution: Ideally you should change your mask every hour but at least every 4 hours. If you wear cloth masks, never put a dirty one on the next day. Try not to touch your mask when you take it on and off and use the loops only. Also, be aware of how you are storing it when you don’t have it on. I have seen people put it under their chin, on a table, in their handbag, looped around their wrist, in a pocket all of which are not really hygienic. Maybe carry a small plastic bag, like a freezer bag, that you can put your mask in when you are not wearing it.
You might like to try spraying a little colloidal silver on the inside of your mask when you first put it on. Colloidal silver is not only antibacterial, it is also something that you can take internally for immune support so will not harm you on a mask but the microbes won’t like it (see link below).
MASKS CAN GIVE YOU A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY
Masks can give people a false sense of security because they feel that when they are wearing it, they are totally protected from viruses like Covid-19. Your mask might protect other people when you sneeze or cough as it traps some of the droplets that spray out (bear in mind these are now inside the mask for you to re-breathe in!) However, it has been shown that the sneeze may blow out of the sides of the masks so the person behind may be affected.
Cloth and disposable masks do not stop most virus particles coming in from the outside as the holes in the cloth are much bigger than virus particles which are only, on average, around 60 nm wide (a human hair is around 100,000 nm wide). One doctor described it like putting chicken wire around your garden to stop the mosquitos!
Solution: Remember that just because you have a mask on you are not invincible and carry on with other measures such as hand washing.
Useful Links:
OXYGEN
https://www.luckyvitamin.com/p-345426-healthforce-superfoods-oxygen-extreme-version-3-4-fl-oz?LanguageCode=EN&locale=en-GB&gclid=CjwKCAiA_eb-BRB2EiwAGBnXXpowqXpVzPPPFDVLb-sHdv7gsucnbzJOAh1pE21aFkS3DWpf8j4jGRoC354QAvD_BwE
Wim Hof Breathing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tybOi4hjZFQ
SKINCARE
https://futureproofhuman.co.uk/skincare-for-mask-wearers/
COLLOIDAL SILVER
https://www.ukcolloidalsilver.co.uk/
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional although I have done a lot research of work presented by people who are medical professionals. However, this information is for education only, it is not prescriptive, and should be used at your own discretion.
Photo by Usman Yousaf on Unsplash