COVID-19 FACT CHECK: DOUBLE-MASKING CAUSES NO BREATHING PROBLEM, EVEN IF YOU HAVE RESPIRATORY ISSUES
Editor’s Note: The COVID-19 fact check is a series where we talk to doctors and ask them questions about everything from COVID-19 treatments, vaccines to diagnoses.
To quote the Mumbai Police, denim over denim is a fashion trend, but wearing two masks is a safety trend.
Double-masking is the hot new phrase in the city. While the WhatsApp group and Instagram DM are full of people discussing pros and cons, surprisingly, many of them are not practicing double-masking. Regular hand hygiene, avoiding large indoor gatherings and receiving vaccinations, along with adhering to physical distance, require double-masking time.
“With the various mutants getting closer to us, the next step should be better security measures, which means a double layer of masks,” Dr Tushar Tayal of the Internal Medicine Department of CK Birla Hospital, Gurgaon, told Firstpost.
A recently published study in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine states that wearing two masks doubles their effectiveness and helps keep the virus away. Another reason for double-masking is to eliminate any gaps or poorly fitting areas around your face.
Megan Srinivas, an American Medical Association (AMA) member and an infectious disease specialist at the University of North Carolina, said the fit of the mask is important because it creates “a circle around any orifice” that allows the virus particles Can discharge.
“It means covering your nose and mouth completely, but then doing it in such a way that it fits against your skin”, says Srinivas.
Tael adds, “Layering not only provides a strong protection by being a barrier to infectious germs, but also reduces the infectiousness of infections. Double masking also improves fit and filtration, especially in public and low- Protects the person in ventilation. Spaces. “
Mask up x 2
But is there a right or wrong way to double-mask?
“You can’t wear two N95 masks or surgical masks on top of each other – it won’t be useful,” says Srinivas.
For best protection against SARS-CoV-2, tying a surgical mask under a cloth mask is one way. Alternatively, you can also use a cloth mask that has multiple layers of fabric or stick to wearing the same N95 mask without a valve. There are some mask combinations that you should absolutely avoid, as stated by the CDC, for example. Combining two surgical masks, a KN95 or N95 mask with another type of mask. These combinations can either make it difficult to breathe or have no effect on ensuring a safe mask fit.
Some people refuse to wear masks because they feel they cannot breathe. However, Tayal says, “Masks are safe for everyone; while they may cause little discomfort, they are the best course of action to take during an epidemic. If one cannot wear a mask due to severe asthma or respiratory problems , Then they should protect themselves from COVID-19 by following the standard COVID hygiene protocol. “
Dr. Rohan Sequeira, Consultant General Medicine, Jaslok Hospital and Research Center, told Firstpost that masking causes difficulty breathing.
“Double masking is for everyone; even if you have problems with breathing, it won’t cause any problems. Right now it is being recommended all over the world because double-masking is the new norm”, he says.
How can you improve the fit of a mask?
The study of JAMA states that wearing any type of mask is better than wearing a mask. A well-fitted mask works best to block both aerosol emissions as well as to avoid exposure. A unshielded surgical mask or cloth mask can single-handedly inhibit approximately half of the aerosol projected during a whooping cough in the study. On the other hand, just tying and tucking a surgical mask can block about 77 percent of coughing particles, while 85.4 percent can be blocked with a double mask – for example, wearing a cloth mask over a surgical mask.
And when two people double-mask (with a reasonable fit), the study found that the receiver’s exposure to the virus decreases by 95 percent when people don’t wear a mask.
To check if the mask is properly applied around your mouth and nose, follow these steps:
- Use a mask with nose wire.
- Use a mask fitter or brace to prevent air from exiting.
- Check for gaps by capping your hands around the outer edges of the mask. Make sure no air is released from the area near your eyes or from the edges of the mask.
- If the mask is a good fit, you will feel the warm air filter through the front of the mask, and you may be able to see the mask material in and out with every breath.
- You can also knot your three-ply face mask where the wires attach to the edge of the mask.
- Fold and tuck unnecessary material under the edges. Insert video
- Check if you can see clearly by applying a mask and make sure that your vision is not obscured in any way.
When to change mask
According to Jeremy Biggs, medical director of occupational therapy at the University of Utah Health, cloth masks should be washed every day, especially if they are worn for a long time. You can go several days without washing them if you wear them for only five to ten minutes daily.
If worn correctly, a medical mask will last for eight hours. If it gets wet in the middle, it should be removed immediately. If surgical masks are used for a long time, they should be discarded every day. If used for a short time, they can be reused three or four times before discarding.