{"id":9462,"date":"2021-01-11T20:41:17","date_gmt":"2021-01-12T01:41:17","guid":{"rendered":"\/blog\/?p=9462"},"modified":"2021-01-06T21:06:38","modified_gmt":"2021-01-07T02:06:38","slug":"which-masks-work-and-which-masks-do-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=9462","title":{"rendered":"Masks: Do they work, and how to use them right (or wrong!)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"womanThere may be some confusion around masks and how well they work to prevent the spread of a virus such as COVID-19.\u00a0Some worry that masks just aren\u2019t effective, also that they are uncomfortable, and even that carbon dioxide could build up in your mask as you breathe.<\/p>\n

In the end, everyone from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), major medical journals and associations such as the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)<\/a>,\u00a0Division of Viral Diseases<\/a> , as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) have all reviewed the data and come to the conclusion that masks do in fact work.<\/p>\n

We now know that transmission of the coronavirus can occur through respiratory droplets that are released when people speak, sneeze, or talk. \u00a0\u00a0Masks create a physical barrier to prevent these droplets from spreading into the surrounding air. But it also prevents you from breathing droplets that might already be in the air.<\/p>\n

Masks also prevent transmission because you may accidentally touch a surface with the virus on it; then touch your nose or mouth, and these areas are portals for entry of germs.\u00a0The bottom line is that research demonstrates, face masks are recognized as one of the most affordable and effective ways to slow the spread of the virus.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But, there is a correct way to use masks and an incorrect way. From the CDC content below, please review these RECOMMENDED and NOT RECOMMENDED mask solutions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
Recommended<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

\"mask<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Non-medical disposable masks<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

\"mask<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Masks that fit properly (snugly around the nose and chin with no large gaps around the sides of the face)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
\n

\"Masks<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Masks made with breathable fabric (such as cotton)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
\n

\"mask<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Masks made with tightly woven fabric (i.e., fabrics that do not let light pass through when held up to a light source)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
\n

\"illustration<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Masks with two or three layers<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
\n

\"mask<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Masks with inner filter pockets<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
Not Recommended<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

\"mask<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Masks that do not fit properly (large gaps, too loose or too tight)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

\"Masks<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Masks made from materials that are hard to breathe through (such as plastic or leather)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
\n

\"Masks<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Masks made from loosely woven fabric or that are knitted, i.e., fabrics that let light pass through<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\"purple<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Masks with one layer<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\"mask<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Masks with exhalation valves or vents<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

\"Wearing<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Wearing a scarf\/ski mask as a mask<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Content source:\u00a0National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)<\/a>,\u00a0Division of Viral Disease<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/prevent-getting-sick\/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There may be some confusion around masks and how well they work to prevent the spread of a virus such as COVID-19.\u00a0Some worry that masks just aren\u2019t effective, also that … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[494],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7Qv5g-2sC","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12687,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=12687","url_meta":{"origin":9462,"position":0},"title":"Proof of a Mind-Gut Connection?","author":"Will Clower","date":"December 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"This article from the Harvard School of Public Health is pretty amazing actually. 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This is where all of the fiber is found. We want to get all of the nutrition we can out of the foods we eat to help us in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Recipes"","block_context":{"text":"Recipes","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=380"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/avocado-lemon.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/avocado-lemon.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/avocado-lemon.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/avocado-lemon.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/avocado-lemon.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2105,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=2105","url_meta":{"origin":9462,"position":4},"title":"Extra weight making you crazy? 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