Wearing a mask?

I`m lucky to have had covid and flu,
jabs but I`ve been wearing a mask since the autumn. I have asthma. I shall continue until I feel safer. I live with my partner and I need to be responsible for him too, as his lungs are asbestos compromised

If you wear a well fitting FFP mask they are effective. I wear one in badly ventilated and crowded places. I’m not particularly vulnerable and probably won’t die if I get an infection, but coughing doesn’t do my pelvic floor any favours

Only today doctors were saying that the reason so many people are going down with more and longer lasting coughs, colds and viruses this year is the result of the immune system not having had enough challenges from run-of-the-mill viruses over the last few years.

So the best protection against infection is to expose yourself to it, so that the immune system can keep up with everything unpleasant doing the rounds, so that if you get a serious invasion of viruses, your body is best able to fight them off.

I am not wearing a mask for the sake of my health.

I am not sure the science for that is quite sound MOnica and needs more research.
Clearly it is true for children whose immune systems are immature and still evolving.

here is the link, Farzanah

www.msn.com/en-gb/health/medical/why-your-cough-has-lasted-so-long-this-winter/ar-AA16tuPU?ocid=winp2fptaskbarhover&cvid=b339ba1c57ce41a3bf9fb9a5f08f30d1

Farzanah
They don’t appear to be stopping the virus in China.
These aren’t the true figures. The WHO have asked for the exact figures as once again the Chinese are being economical with the truth.

Forgot the link.

www.reuters.com/world/china/china-covid-deaths-accelerate-9000-day-uk-research-firm-airfinity-2022-12-29/

So the best protection against infection is to expose yourself to it, so that the immune system can keep up with everything unpleasant doing the rounds, so that if you get a serious invasion of viruses, your body is best able to fight them off.

Monica, unfortunately for those who are immunocompromised, exposing ourselves to colds etc, can have serious consequences.

I quite agree Marydoll. This is the dichotomy. Some people are so vulnerable that they must protect themselves from infection, whatever the down side.

But circumstances like yours are few and far between and for those who are not as immuncompromised as you are, although with a few problems, then they have got to try and decide what is the bstthing to do to protect themselves.

DH had a heart attack and bypass surgery in late 2020. He picked up aan infection in the hospital that nearly killed him and left him with a damaged lung and other problems. Since he cannot wear a mask, he has simply continued life normally. But had all his innoculations. When he went down with COVID, it lasted 2 days with no long COVID. he has had few coughs and colds this last winter, in fact not any. I have done worse because I mix with fewer people on a daily basis.

Monica despite having all my inoculations, I caught Covid from my asymptomatic GD and had to go into hospital for an infusion of antivirals.
My Covid didn't last just a few days.

Also having multiple comorbidities, including heart failure and COPD, to name but a few, makes wearing a mask extremely difficult, but I will attempt to wear one, whenever possible. The acute discomfort outweighs the risks.
Knowing a mask isn't enough protection, means I will do everything it takes to lessen the odds of being ill.

BTW, for those who think I have been brainwashed into being constantly fearful, that is not the case. I constantly look at the research and latest information to inform and amend how I behave.
I am strong mentally, stoic and resilient

You would be surprised at how many on GN are in a similar situation to me. We are not few and far between.

No, not on GN, but in the wider population. But, as I say, everyone must choose and people need to know the latest information, as you so rightly say and the information publsihed today, suggests that for many taking the risk of mixing and not wearing masks may be safer for them than protecting themselves. But each has to way the risks up aand make their own decision.

Marydoll you are doing the right thing. I wear an FFP2 or 3 mask whenever I think it to be appropriate ie crowded shops, trains, etc. I had Covid and it didn’t only last a couple of days, I was hospitalised and extremely ill with it. I regard myself as lucky to still be here. I’m not deemed to be extremely vulnerable either, I just have asthma.

M0nica

Only today doctors were saying that the reason so many people are going down with more and longer lasting coughs, colds and viruses this year is the result of the immune system not having had enough challenges from run-of-the-mill viruses over the last few years.

So the best protection against infection is to expose yourself to it, so that the immune system can keep up with everything unpleasant doing the rounds, so that if you get a serious invasion of viruses, your body is best able to fight them off.

I am not wearing a mask for the sake of my health.

Which doctors?

This is the article I read growstuff
news.sky.com/story/why-your-cough-has-lasted-so-long-this-winter-gps-reveal-what-might-be-behind-lingering-infections-12789310

The link, growstuff is on this page (p4) 10 posts up.

Comes from the chair of the Royal College of GP.s

I have worn a FFP2 mask this autumn and winter. Having been very poorly with covid and flu this summer, I thought I would give my body a break, although I seem to have caught throat and cough from DH, who in turn caught it from someone with cough etc. at a party we attended.

I’ve still not entirely got over the effects of the last lot of viruses.

Yes Wearing an FFP2 mask again in very crowded places . Never parked the sanitiser. Noticed an increase recently in mask wearing

Jaxjacky

This is the article I read growstuff
news.sky.com/story/why-your-cough-has-lasted-so-long-this-winter-gps-reveal-what-might-be-behind-lingering-infections-12789310

Thanks. Prof Hawthorne seems a bit vague and can't be sure.

Surely the point is that people would have caught these viruses a year or so ago, if they hadn't been wearing masks and/or socially distancing. However, they've all come at once because people are more relaxed about socialising. Increases are expected in winter anyway and some winters are worse than others. It's not that people's immune systems have been "destroyed".

Apparently, I am at high risk of severe effects if I catch Covid because I've had radiotherapy. The NHS has sent me a box of LFTs and I have to report the results of any tests (including negative). If positive, they'll send me anti-viral medication. I have no idea if the system or the medication works because I haven't had any symptoms of Covid.

I still have loads of FFP2 masks and wear one in crowded indoor spaces. I would be foolish not to try and mitigate risk.

We’ve just had Covid. I’ve not been out since just after Christmas. Tomorrow, I have an optician appointment and I will be wearing my mask.
I wouldn’t wish this Covid on anybody. We are usually both fit and healthy but this has really brought us down. We are now negative but have post viral fatigue and the cough remains. It is awful but I just thank heavens we have managed it at home and not gone into hospital.
So, as I’ve said previously, if a mask helps protect me I shall be wearing mine for as long as necessary and I am also an asthmatic, like others on here.

Thank you for the link MOnica.
I think, from what I was taught, it is very hard to generalise about the immune system, because individuals vary immensely in their ability to withstand infection.
A healthy adult immune system is exposed to millions of viruses and bacteria each day, just by living, unless in a sterile bubble.

General health physical and mental, diet, gut health (microbiome) smoking, drinking, so many factors play a part.
Some individuals are very vulnerable to infection because of illness, drugs and so on.

It makes sense to me to mitigate against unnecessary exposure to multiple circulating infections just now, including covid, which may put me in bed for a couple of weeks, by wearing FFP mask in crowded situations such as supermarkets.

This doesn’t restrict my life, because I am still mixing and socialising, and I believe my immune system is having plenty of challenges, but can’t work as efficiently now I am older. Best defence against harmful pathogens is vaccination if possible, not exposure.

I never quit wearing a mask, doubt I will. Out yesterday, I saw triple more masked people than just before Christmas. Good, let's stay healthy!

It’s simple enough to do. At this time of the year it was usual to have to put up with coughs around us when on a bus. Always wondering if you were going to take it home along with the shopping. So when Covid struck I vowed to continue wearing masks as I would have liked to have done in the flu season.

Just read this on The Conversation website. “Does covid really damage your immune system?”
I found it very good.

I quite enjoy wearing a mask and have come to feel safer with a good one on my face when I am sitting in the Dr's waiting room surrounded by bare faced younger strangers. I may also wear a see -through face shield and have some in a drawer in the hall.