Are There Any Dangers to Wearing a Face Mask for a Prolonged Period?

Like in many other parts of the world, wearing a face mask while in public or crowded places has become mandatory in Kenya since the onset of Covid 19 in the country in March 2020.

Masks are used as part of the strategy of measures to reduce transmissions and save lives. Although it’s not absolute protection against covid-19, prevention remains key to slow it down.

Many Kenyans are probably not aware of this but there might be dangers of using face masks for a prolonged period. Wearing a mask for long could be causing more harm than good to the people.

A retired neurosurgeon Dr. Russell Blaylock wrote in an article published by Technocracy News that prolonged wearing of a mask can vary from headaches, to increased airway resistance, carbon dioxide accumulation to hypoxia, and serious life-threatening complications. The longer the duration of wearing the mask, the greater the fall in oxygen levels.

ALSO READ: Suspend 16% value-added tax on cooking gas, says petitioner

Even if one has to wear the face mask, it should be used for a limited time especially when you’re alone at home. Other cases where you can avoid the use of a face mask include when you’re not in public or close contact with one or more persons while isolating yourself most times.

Furthermore, do not use one face mask over and over again like most Kenyans now do. It’s not healthy to put a dirty face mask on your mouth and nose because you’ll not be taking in clean air. Remember that sweat pours out from the tiny pores on your skin and that includes your face. The sweat is dirty and when you close it in with the mask then it means the air you take in is polluted.

Nevertheless, stay safe and safeguard the health of those around you by wearing a face mask and practicing all the other safety measures put in place by the Ministry of Health such as keeping a meter distance and washing your hands thoroughly with running water. If you can, stay at home.

In case you’ve already tested positive for covid 19 then you don’t need to worry because there are high chances of you fighting the virus, but only if you take action by going to the hospital immediately you realize you have the symptoms.

Remember the symptoms are similar to those of other diseases, the reason why you must not assume. Go to a nearby health center and confirm.

ALSO READ: Kenya Tea Growers Shift to Other Crops as Climate Change Bites

Simple indications of the covid-19 virus include itchy throat, dry throat, dry cough, high temperatures, shortness of breath, and loss of smell.

The country has been registering a rapid increase in the number of covid 19 cases across the different counties since March 2020, which has threatened almost every sector of the economy.

The medicine used for those who are isolated either at home or in their homes include,

1. Vitamin C – 1000
2. Vitamin E (E)
3. Sitting in the sun for 15-20 minutes
4. Egg meal
5. A minimum of 7-8 hours’ sleep
6. Taking warm meals

All this is done to strengthen the immune system. Note that the Ph of coronavirus varies from 5.5 to 8.5, therefore, to eliminate the virus then one should consume more alkaline food above the acidity level of the virus. Such foods include:

1. Fruits such as green lemon 9.9PH, yellow lemon 8.2pH avocado 15.6pH, mango 8.7pH, pineapple s12.7pH, oranges 9.2pH
2. Tangerine 8.5pH
3. Watercress 22.7pH
4. Garlic 13.2pH

Lemon, ginger, and garlic mixed with warm water eliminate the virus at the beginning stages.

ALSO READ: Facebook Partners with Liquid Technologies to Extend Network Reach in Africa

Let’s learn to be responsible when it comes to the use of the mask because this pandemic is still here with us. Otherwise, the narration will turn from the effects of the covid 19 pandemics to the effects of using a face mask which could be more dangerous.