Benefits of wearing a mask include reducing severity of COVID-19
A research group from the National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, Maryland) looked at the effects of wearing a mask on the severity of COVID-19. They found that wearing a mask also had benefits after an infection. Masks not only reduce the likelihood of the virus being transmitted, but can also improve the functioning of the immune system.
Authorities have provided various steps a person can take to reduce the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. Physical distancing, regular hand washing, and leaving the house only for essential purposes are good ways to reduce the likelihood of transmission. Wearing a face mask has been shown to be another effective way to reduce person-to-person spread, especially in places where physical distancing is impossible.
In addition to reducing the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission, researchers are now finding that wearing a mask has additional benefits. Even after infection, masks can help reduce the severity of the COVID-19 virus.
Like most respiratory diseases, the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets. These can arise from coughing, sneezing and breathing. Wearing a mask, including cotton, disposable and surgical varieties, can reduce the amount of droplets transferred.
The seasonality of respiratory diseases can be attributed to the change in humidity. Low indoor and outdoor humidity reduces the amount of moisture in the airways. The mask absorbs water and increases the humidity inhaled by the wearer. Airway hydration has been shown to be extremely beneficial for the immune system. This can be achieved by increasing the amount of humidity that is inhaled. When wearing a two-layer cotton mask, the humidity can exceed 100%. This would benefit the user even if an infection had already occurred.
Not only does this information apply to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it can also be helpful with other respiratory diseases. Because colder temperatures mean a decrease in humidity, seasonal colds and other respiratory diseases are highly seasonal. Because masks can reduce evaporation in the airways, they also reduce the severity of related diseases.
People suffering from a cold might consider wearing a mask, not only in public, to reduce transmission, but also to reduce the severity of the effects. With masks now more accessible than ever, this would be a good time to better understand the benefits of wearing a mask.
Source:
Courtney and Bax, Respiratory Hydration: An Alternative Explanation of Why Masks Mask Less Severity from COVID-19, Biophysical Journal (2021), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2021.02.002
Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay
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