Tag Archive for: mask

Fighting the Mutants Among Us

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Unless you’ve been avoiding all information about COVID-19, you know that there are now variants or mutations of the original virus. The first mutation was identified in the United Kingdom; soon after, another was identified in South Africa, and finally, another in Brazil. Will there be more? Undoubtedly. Is it a big deal? Maybe.

If a variant doesn’t respond to current treatments or one of the current vaccines, that’s a problem. If we’ve had the virus and it doesn’t respond to the antibodies we’ve developed, we have to start over again. We don’t know if those problems will show up; at this point, we just don’t have enough data.

But there’s one thing that we can do. We can try to avoid catching the COVID-19 virus in the first place, no matter which variant we get. While we may get a mild form of the original or variant viruses, the longer the virus stays in our body, the more it replicates. And every time it replicates, it gets a chance to try something new: to mutate. With an increase in replication comes an increase in the odds of another successful mutation. The virus can learn how our bodies attack it and, simply by wildly reproducing itself, increase the odds a variant will survive. We spew the variant virus without knowing it, and voila, another mutant gets a chance to spread.

We are each part of the first line of defense: if we deny the virus a host, we remove its chance to replicate and mutate.

You personally could be the one person who stops the next deadlier mutation by not giving it a place to do its dirty work. That’s why we need to deny the virus a chance to get inside our noses and mouths; even if you’ve been fully vaccinated, do everything you can to keep the virus out of your body. Double up on masks, social distance, wash your hands—you know the drill. Apply the Swiss Cheese COVID Protection approach. In this case, we’re trying not to catch it, not to give it a chance to replicate and mutate, and not to spread it.

Be a hero: don’t give the virus a chance to invade and mutate.

The Bottom Line

I know if we had our druthers, we wouldn’t bother with masks and so on, but the overwhelming feeling I get is that we just want this to be over. Let’s all work to that end by doing what we have to do to stop the virus in its tracks.

The title of tomorrow’s Super Bowl Webinar is Aging with a Vengeance. Dealing with viruses and other health challenges is a part of that.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Double-Up for Safety

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This is Super Bowl week so let’s lead with a football analogy in the fight against the COVID-19 virus. “The best offense is a great defense” has been used as a way to deal with teams who have a great offense: if you stop them from keeping the ball, they can’t do much scoring. That appears to be a good strategy used to keep from getting COVID-19, especially as new strains appear.

The CDC does not recommend wearing two masks because there’s no science to support it, and I haven’t found a single study on double-masking. But it does make sense from this perspective: if wearing one mask is 50% effective, which it appears to be, wearing two may increase it to 75% effective. Remember the Swiss Cheese COVID Protection approach to reducing infection? No single approach works perfectly but put all of them together, and they can significantly reduce the risk of catching the virus.

I’ll take it one step further. Wear two masks when you’re going to be in one place for a long time. I double-mask when I work out: a cloth mask over a surgical mask. With restaurants opening in more states, it’s probably a good idea there as well. With shopping, if you’re standing talking with someone, yes. If you’re picking up and buying something like restaurant takeout, maybe yes and maybe no because you still may have to wait in line. Remember: respect, not fear.

Super Bowl Webinar

My 11th Annual Super Bowl Webinar is Sunday at 3 p.m. ET; Aging with a Vengeance is the theme. I’m going to provide attendees strategies on four aspects of aging and specific ideas on how to address each issue, all in about an hour. Join me Sunday afternoon, but if you can’t, I’ll have a replay available for viewing later. Sign up today. Members and Insiders: remember to sign in to drchet.com first to get your discount.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Another Year of Wearing Masks?

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“What do you think? Will we be wearing masks another year?” That’s the question that someone asked me at the health club. I shrugged and said “Maybe. But you know in reality, it isn’t all that bad. My grandson’s kindergarten class wears masks all day, and they seem to manage just fine.” He agreed it wasn’t a problem.

He then went on: “I think it makes you pay more attention. One thing I’ve noticed is that there doesn’t seem to be as much flu this year so far.”

He went on to say, “You know, I clean the machines before I work out and again after I work out. In the past, we were supposed to clean them when we were done, which I did. But I’m just taking the extra step like they ask and clean it before I use it. I bet that makes a difference.” I told him I agree.

I’ve thought about it for a couple of days, but I’m not clairvoyant so I have no idea how much longer we’ll be wearing masks. I don’t think it would be all that bad if we got into the habit of using masks in public, social distancing a little, washing our hands, and cleaning public surfaces before touching them. We would reduce the risk of catching all infectious diseases. The following years’ flu seasons would be easier, and you can’t spread it if you don’t get it.

Just like the guy in the health club said, I think changing our habits would really make a difference. If we did, we just might find that stay-at-home mandates are a thing of the past. How great would that be?

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Research Update: COVID-19 on Surfaces

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There are hundreds of papers published every day on the COVID-19 virus. The range of topics borders on the incredible, so I decided to provide two updates based on a couple questions that I’ve gotten. The first is a simple one. How long does the virus live on surfaces? When does it become unable to infect us?

Using standardized procedures that exposed the surfaces to identical amounts of viable COVID-19 virus, researchers tested surfaces under a standard temperature of 68 degrees F and 35-40% humidity. They found the virus was detectable up to seven days on nitrile gloves, four days on chemical-resistant gloves, 21 days on plastic face shields and N95/N100 particulate respirators, and 14 days on stainless steel. All very nice, but how about what appears to be argued about most of the time: cotton masks? The viability of the virus on cotton was reduced within four hours of drying and by 24 hours, was not detectable at all. For a full explanation on the facts behind masks, check out the free Health Info on drchet.com: Cloth Masks: What the Research Says.

The researchers want to check out other materials used in personal protection devices, but the masks are most relevant to you and me. If we can’t wash them between uses, which will kill the virus, letting them dry completely overnight renders the virus unable to infect us. They will continue to protect others as long as we wear them. Respect.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2020.10.006

The Bottom Line on Masks

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To satisfy my own curiosity, I wanted to do a run/walk to see how wearing a mask might impact my performance. This is tricky for someone with a scientific background; trying to duplicate everything with the exception of the one variable, the mask, is difficult when you’re outdoors. But the weather has been pretty stable: overnight lows in the mid 60s, rising to 90 degrees almost every day with little humidity.

I decided to run the half-mile loop in my neighborhood six times just like I normally do. Five days before I ran it with the mask, I had run it faster than I had in a couple of years; I’m not setting any speed records here, but my knee appears to be getting stronger and I’m able to open the jets a little bit. I ran the same six laps at the same time of day and at the approximate same temperature. The only variable was the mask.

Before I tell you the results, I have to say that I spent way too much time thinking about the mask instead of just running or walking. At this point, I’m running for one minute, and walking for 90 seconds. I maintained that with no real problems once I stopped thinking about the mask. I also must say then I decided to bulk up the day before by over-eating some great tasting pasta I made. I was four pounds heavier than last week. Five days before, I ran the six laps in 40:52. This time I ran it in 41:20—28 seconds slower.

Did I have any trouble breathing? Not really other than thinking about it too much. Did it affect my ability to run? I don’t think so. I intentionally tried not to make it a race, but just to go out and run/walk the best that I could. I didn’t feel like I was breathing any harder while walking or running. My recovery from the run seemed about the same. So I would have to overall say that wearing a two-layer, cloth mask (just like in the picture) didn’t have any impact on my ability to exercise.

Should Everyone Wear a Cloth Mask?

No. The Centers for Disease Control does not recommend cloth masks for:

  • Children younger than two years old.
  • Anyone who has trouble breathing.
  • Anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance.

They also list some pragmatic concerns for those who must travel in populated areas but cannot wear a mask. They do not qualify what “trouble breathing” means, but certainly respiratory issues as well as cardiac issues would probably be included. Of course, if you have heart trouble or respiratory problems, taking chances with your health doesn’t seem like a smart choice; I’d recommend staying home as much as you can.

The Size of a Pea or the Size of a House?

For those of you who think size matters, let’s talk about the relative sizes of the various items under discussion when we talk about masks.

Viruses are so small they’re measured in nanometers; a nanometer is one millionth of a millimeter. There are about 25 millimeters in an inch, so take one twenty-fifth of an inch and divide it into a million: that’s a nanometer. A human hair is around 75,000 nanometers. So here’s what you need to know:

Oxygen molecules are one-third of a nanometer; carbon dioxide is a carbon molecule with oxygen molecules on its right and left, so it measures about one-third of a nanometer by one nanometer.

Coronaviruses are 125 nanometers.

Droplets vary from 2,000 nanometers to 100,000 nanometers.

By definition, an N95 mask blocks 95% of particles of 300 nanometers.

Cloth varies so much it’s hard to determine the size of the comparative spaces between fibers, so it was hard to find any info at all. The best I could find is that it’s in roughly the same size range as the droplets; used, folded, tightly woven cotton has about 20,000 nanometers between fibers.

It’s hard to visualize the comparative sizes when we’re talking about a unit of measure that’s so incredibly small. Let’s transform everything into familiar sizes by changing nanometers to inches:

Oxygen would be about the size of a pea, and carbon dioxide would be three peas pushed together.

A coronavirus would be 10.5 feet tall, so it probably wouldn’t fit in your house.

An N95 mask blocks particles equivalent to 25 feet or more.

Droplets start at the size of a 12-story building (167 feet) up to almost 600 stories (over 8,000 feet).

So you can see how a cloth mask that stops droplets from getting through would allow plenty of oxygen and carbon dioxide to pass freely.

But how does a mask stop a 125-nanometer coronavirus if it filters out particles of 300 nanometers? It’s important to know the virus isn’t floating around by itself—it’s hitching a ride on the droplets of moisture we breathe out, and a mask definitely stops those.

Final Research Paper

Here’s a quote from the 2013 paper I used as a basis for the effectiveness of cloth masks:

“In the questionnaire on mask use during a pandemic, six participants said they would wear a mask some of the time, six said they would never wear a mask, and nine either did not know or were undecided. None of the participants said that they would wear a mask all of the time. With one exception, all participants reported that their face mask was comfortable.”

That seems to be where we are today during this pandemic, seven years after that study was published. Only today it’s reality, not answers to a questionnaire.

The Difference in Lives

If none of that convinces you to wear a mask, maybe this will: a new model by the University of Washington predicts more than 208,000 Americans will die from COVID-19 by November.

But if 95% of the population wears a mask in public from now until then, that number would drop to 162,808—a difference of more than 45,000 lives. Let’s bring that home. The U.S. has 3,141 counties; would you wear a mask to protect 14 people in your county?

The Bottom Line

This week I’ve reviewed some of the major objections that people have to avoid wearing a cloth mask, and the research doesn’t support the objections.

The final objection is that people are willing to take their chances that they will get only a mild version of the virus; it seems their freedom to enjoy life supersedes the safety of those around them. Maybe like Gus in Lonesome Dove, they’ll take their chances with an infection and die with their boots on. I challenge those people to do some research on long-term consequences of COVID-19.

It’s no longer a safe assumption that your local hospital will make everything okay if you get ill. Every area with a COVID-19 spike has seen hospitals at capacity, healthcare workers at or beyond the breaking point, and the necessary supplies running short, including PPE. All respect to healthcare workers, but they’re human and at some point mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion sets in and they’re not going to be able to give their best. Maybe you could wear a mask for the sake of the people you know in healthcare, like our daughter-in-law.

What are you prepared to do today? Wear the damn mask!

        Dr. Chet

References:
1. https://bit.ly/3gvDH0J
2. Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;7:413-418.

Facts About Masks: Which Material?

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If one considers the elemental purpose of a mask, it’s to provide a barrier to reduce the spread of exhaled, potentially virus-containing, droplets. Many opinions on social media cover the size of the viruses, droplets, and the fabric density of masks. I’m not going to do that because it’s the wrong argument. Instead, I’m going to review studies that have examined the potential blocking ability of various types of manufactured and home-made masks.

In a study published in 2013, researchers tested different masks in a series of experiments using a bacteria and a virus. The surgical mask was by far the best choice blocking up to 90% of the virus with the least drop in breathability. Home-made cloth masks made up of single layer of cotton blend were 70% effective against viral transmission.

In a study published in April of this year, researchers tested a variety of masks for blocking ability of an avian flu virus. The N95 mask was best at 99.98%, the surgical mask was second with 97.14%, and a double-layer cloth mask was 95.15%.

In a study that’s currently in the peer-review process, researchers tested 10 different fabrics compared to the typical surgical mask for blockage and breathability. The surgical mask blocked 96.3% with the best breathability. Single-layer, cotton and polyester blend fabrics blocked 90.1% with a comparable breathability (in the photo above, my mask is the least effective). A used dish-cloth blocked 97.9% with acceptable breathability. They also found that doubling and tripling the cloth fabric increased the amounts blocked and still allowed for good breathability, so Paula and Riley are better prepared than I am.

Masks, even those made of cloth that can be found in most homes, can be effective in reducing the amount of droplets spread. What about wearing a mask during exercise? I’ll give you my results and wrap this up on Saturday.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

References:
1. Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;7:413-418.
2. DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25805.
3. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.19.20071779v1.full.pdf

Info on Our Masks
• Riley’s mask is available from Cincinnati Zoo in several breeds (he chose the hippo); proceeds help support the zoo
• Paula’s mask is made by Humans In Action, which provides work for displaced garment workers in Guatemala; many colors available with ties instead of earloops
• Dr. Chet’s mask is from Sports Fan Island, which also sells other types of face masks for sports fans

The Facts About Masks

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When I finished last week’s Friday Memo with “Wear the damn mask!” I knew it wouldn’t be the last of it. I spent the weekend reading the research about what masks could and could not do to limit our exposure to the COVID-19 virus. The primary goal of wearing a mask is to prevent you from spreading the virus to others. If everyone were to wear a mask, that could reduce our potential exposure in social settings.

Before I cover that, two things that seem to travel social media. First, people avoid masks because they don’t want to continually re-infect themselves. This took no research at all: if you’re infected with COVID-19 or any other respiratory virus, you’re infected. Period. You can avoid spreading it to others by wearing a mask, but you can’t reduce any hazard to yourself because you already have the infection. If you aren’t carrying the virus, you can’t infect yourself by breathing into your own mask. That should be pretty clear.

Second, people are concerned that the carbon dioxide levels building up in the mask, but it’s not as simple as oxygen in and carbon dioxide out. The air you breathe in is 21% oxygen and 0.4% CO2 and what you breathe out is 16% oxygen and about 4% CO2. The rest is nitrogen. Due to the proximity of your nose and mouth to the mask, there’s limited exposure to CO2; if there were a significant amount of room for the carbon dioxide to build up with no air flow within the mask, that could be an issue. In a human breathing normally, the air will constantly change to high oxygen and low carbon dioxide.

We’ll take a look at mask materials on Thursday; what is best?

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet