Hi all,After having COVID in sept, and now a viral infection December, considering wearing a face mask to help reduce risk, as these infections are causing flare ups, which each time, take time to settle, even with meds including steroids.
I work in a college - so busy, and high risk environment. But I'm also thinking more about shops now too.
It feels daunting to wear one, and very out of place, not like during COVID when everyone was wearing one, but I feel my body needs a break!
Just wondered what everyone else's practices are for wearing one over cold season and if you feel they help.
Thankyou so much everyone.
Jenny
Written by
Jeb2012
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I believe the research shows that face masks are mostly effective at preventing you transmitting germs to other people, rather than the other way around. But since one of the easiest ways of picking up germs is by touching an infected surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth, I guess that by covering up your nose and mouth you are reducing the risk of doing this.
I guess the only potential issue of wearing one now is that you may find people are wary of being around you, because they may assume that you have Covid and are trying not to pass it on to them! But if you do it all the time, people who see you regularly will soon realise that it is a constant thing with you and will stop reacting.
Though if people in shops etc stay away from you as you go about your day, that is an effective way of maintaining a good amount of social distance between you and others. Bonus!
Yes, it's my pet hate when someone stands RIGHT behind me in a queue - and it is always the person who is coughing and sneezing who does this! But unfortunately, I've yet to find a mask that doesn't trigger my asthma so it's not an option for me.
How about a scarf of some sort? Or is it anything that covers your mouth and nose? Maybe get home delivery for food? Send for other stuff from Amazon until the respiratory infection season passes.
I've seen a number of people wearing masks recently when shopping, at the the cinema and theatre, so it's still normal to see. I recently picked up another virus while visiting the opticians, so it feels like this year has been nothing but a series of infections. I don't use a mask but do try and adhere to the hand hygiene routine plus avoid touching my face (which is easier to achieve if wearing a mask).
I'm on the fence as to whether or not a mask prevents infection, but I do think that the previously encouraged 3 step protocol did work to some degree (mask, hand hygiene and social distancing), but it's not practical in the long term. And supermarkets have abandoned all the trolley/basket hygiene protocols, so unless we take hand gel/wipes with us and wipe down our trolley or basket, we're exposing ourselves to all and sundry anyway.
I've tried to choose quiet times to shop, but the closer we get to Christmas, the harder that is! But the social events are unavoidable...and too tempting. I just know I'm going to pay for it later.
Thankyou Poobah. Yes im doing the hand hygiene too. And also agree re the trolleys etc. I also think anyone could have touched what we pick up, so there's only so much we can do.I just about get well from one infection and then I seem to have a little relief, with low symptoms, then get hit by something else, and asthma flares up again. Really challenging at mo
I have been wearing a face mask constantly while at work or shops for several months now and with the start of colder weather when I go outside too cause the change of temp affects me. I’ve had infections etc but I think I caught them from family.
I sought advice on here for mask recommendations and after research picked one to try. It has certainly helped reduce the irritants that we’re setting me off before, but it’s hard to say about bugs because like I said family and I work in a hospital so exposed to sick people frequently when moving about, though generally I do feel it has helped.
Personally it doesn’t bother me if people are wary of me due to the mask, if it means that I’m not exposed to their triggering smells, I can live with it. For me my health is more important than other people’s perceptions.
I do still see people wearing them here and there - I've just assumed they don't want to be exposed because they or someone close to them might be more affected by one of the things going round. Or that they have a cold or something. I don't think I've assumed they have COVID.
I don't wear one myself I have to say - I don't find it helps with scent triggers for me personally and I just find them irritating. I do try to keep my hands clean as I always have done, but I'm not doing anything differently. I'm also not just focusing on COVID, because flu and RSV to me are worse and they're always around so I don't feel I can always be alert to everything.
I would also be mindful of others if I did catch something, though it's easier for me because I'm self-employed and work from home - which does also mean less exposure to triggers and infections. Lucky for my health and I know many people would love to be able to - though grass is always greener as I'd actually love to get out more and not WFH all the time! lf I did catch something I'd be at home anyway as it would be affecting me.
There's definitely a balance between taking precautions and letting that take over life. I think everyone needs to work out where that balance is for them. And I'm in no way judging people whose balance is different from mine!
Unless they're the ones sneezing and coughing without covering their mouths and noses that is... they may have circumstances we don't know about making them have to be out, but they can still observe the basics of hygiene!
Thankyou for this viewpoint. I agree about balance and not letting it take over. So I'm trying to find the right balance between precaution and living. Thankyou
Air conditioning is one of the safest places not to wear a mask as the air flow blows everything towards the floor and super markets will have filters in the system so you will he completely fine, wearing one on a plane won't helps as the air flow blows everywhere so a mask won't help
Me too! After suffering a chest infection whenever I flew, I now wear a mask and no more chest infections. Air handling systems can be a bain for some asthmatics and in my experience, wearing a mask really helps. Unfortunately, air handling systems are rarely maintained as prescribed and can affect humidity levels. Very dry air can be just as bad as high humidity for some.
We lost a colleague to legionnaries disease, the investigation discovered that the air con was the culprit; maintenance the underlying fault.
The Truth about wearing masks has out as there was no science behind which Doc Fuaci has admitted as with the lockdowns there also no science behind the decision.Now back to your original point of wearing a mask, only clinical mask works and you have to change them every 2 hours for them to work correctly, but it doesn't stop you get air born viruses. It only stops any virus and cold you have as your breathing is pushed towards the ground.
But I will add if it gives you piece of mind wearing one, then you wear one and don't worry what anyone around you thinks.
Thankyou for this. Yes I handwash alot too and use sanitiser, however I work at a college and so naturally encounter more germs, but I love my job there, so it's finding ways to reduce the risk
I wear my mask when i am out after avoiding covid for the last 4 yrs i finally caught the bugger in oct 24 after forgetting to use my mask ,am now takeing 750mg antibiotics twice a day due to covid leaveing me with a bug 🤣 as the lab puts it on both my lungs, needing xrays again in 6 weeks to see if it is clearing up.
Sorry to hear Covid finally got you, and it did with me too. I also succumbed to it for the first time in October this year and it really affected my lungs. I had to have 3 days of intravenous anti viral drugs. I too have been left with what seems to be more sticky mucous since then, which I think is an aftermath of Covid. I hope you recover soon.
Thank you for your reply hope you can get some relief from the mucus build up i'm treating myself to nice honey and lemon morning drink seams to keep my throat clear of mucus, i just had another doctor ring me to see how i am doing on the antibiotics due to the bad side effects,the bug the covid left me with is a bacterial infection so due to having 3 lung problems and a small colaspe being monitured im hoping my next exray showes some inprovement take care
Oh I wish you all the very best, as that sounds like a lot to deal with. It's good to hear your doctor has been in touch to ask how you are getting on... that's rare these days! You take care too, and I hope that by 2025 you are feeling much better.
I think it is a bit like using anything out the ordinary we are hyper aware the first few times, but most other people take no notice: examples for me wearing glasses for the first time in public and using my inhaler when out and about. I felt conspicuous but no-one took any notice. I do see people wearing masks sometimes, it has become more common since covid.
I generally wear a re-usable washable mask when out. I do still see others in masks too. I assume that they are either vulnerable themselves or are close to someone who is. The disposable blue and white masks that were promoted during covid are useless at filtering what we breathe in. To be effective a mask needs to fit well to your face.
I find my masks very effective at filtering out traffic fumes, perfumes, dander, dust, smoke, vapes etc.
I am allergic to many airborne triggers. I am not sure about the masks efficacy for viruses- my children bring those into the house and I catch bugs from them!
I haven’t experienced any adverse reactions from other people, it’s just part of my asthma management now to wear a filter mask. Plus, I definitely do not want covid again- it became long Covid and the fatigue has totally debilitated me. Every time I get covid it makes the long covid even worse.
Thankyou for your reply. Sorry to hear you experience long COVID. I have brought a reusable, fabric mask online, as I agree the disposable ones don't fit well. Even if the mask isn't fully effective, it will help reduce the impact of what's breathed in. I also think it will be good for the colder air as well. Take care
Hi, I wear a mask anywhere that's busy, from October onwards, it makes me feel more at ease, I get weird looks and sometimes comments from people, but they're not me, they don't walk in my shoes, or care to understand how unkind a simple cold is to the Eosinophilic asthma I live with, like everyone on here, i put so much effort into every single day of the year staying well through meds, breathing physio/huffing, nasal rinsing and nebulising, it'd be daft in my head to walk amongst sneezing 🤕 coughing people and just hope not to catch the germs 🤷♀️Do what feels comfortable to you, but please don't not do something because of the opinions of others, keeping yourself as well as possible should definitely be your priority x
Thankyou for this. And I agree. I have had COVID in Oct that I was off work for 2 weeks with, and now had a chest infection (not flu/COVID) that has took me out for another 2 weeks.Had flare up of asthma symptoms, and generally took me longer to bounce back than someone without asthma.
Id do anything at the moment to avoid catching something. I really like the idea of having my own shopping basket at the shops too, as saves putting into bags and really easy to do. The supermarkets have stopped their trolley cleaning facilities now post COVID and rarely have any hand sanitiser available.
Absolutely, I wear mine outside the wind is cold, avoids the inflammation that comes from simply breathing in cold air that then sets off the wheeze that needs the steroids, and round again i go in that circle 🤦♀️ it's all a complete nuisance, but it helps keep me well so I keep doing it x
I've brought a mask to wear in the colder air too. Got one I thought had a nice design on it so would feel more secure wearing it. Going to take some getting used to, but soon I think I'll do it without even thinking
Definitely do as much as you want to, are comfortable with to help protect yourself, the winter is definitely no fun with asthma, into my 3rd winter and finally under the amazing care of the severe asthma clinic at addenbrookes, I know all my precautions help keep me well and are endorsed and encouraged by my consultantTake care, stay well 🤞
I wear it without thinking now, first week of Oct I feel awkward and obvious, but by this time of the year I'm in my mask wearing swing 🤣 honestly I have such a strong fear of being seriously ill again, if wearing a mask for a few months helps keep me out of hospital or off the damned damaging steroids it's a no brainer for me, but definitely you do you, people can become very opinionated on masks, at the end of the day it's your choice to work out if it helps you Stewiecat x
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Covid vaccine Update
Long covid 
asthma and clothing
Random info re long covid and asthma - bedtime reading if anyone interested, take what you like from it or not 🙂. 
New here looking for some help!
