Today’s post is a short one about face coverings, because of our ‘COVID-19’ pandemic (2020).

I think it’s quite clear to most people now, that for the average person who is not working in a hospital’s care unit, face masks (aka coverings) are every bit as useful for anyone as they are for the professionals in the medical care setting.

Scientifically, any suitable barrier that serves to block an exhale or an inhale, is obviously going to prevent droplets or mist that are in the air from being inadvertently consumed or transmitted. But, is it healthy to wear any kind of face mask which covers your mouth and nose?

There are some differences in the ability of a face covering to do just that; prevent air-born disease transmission. And, if we experience future air born diseases like ‘COVID-19’, face masks unfortunately are not likely to be entirely discarded in certain appropriate settings for some time.

Common materials for the masks are cloth and nylon. Each has a varied ability to protect the wearer and others around him from communicable transmission.

Surgical masks are not flush to the mouth, onto the face, and they make breathing easier regardless of tight seam. They’re also seemingly the most effective and preferred type of mask when countering ‘COVID-19’ transmissions. But they’re less practical than a cloth mask is, for general population, which can be washed regularly and conveniently.

A thick home-made cloth face covering might be the most uncomfortable for the elderly especially. That is because cloth makes it difficult to breath. For the elderly, that’s of most concern.

When exercising, it is not advised that an elderly person wear a thick cloth face mask!

Cloth can trap the exhaled carbon dioxide – or at least delay the required time that is necessary for adequate body’s respiration process. The oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange process is adversely impacted when using a cloth face covering… known from my personal experience.

When you add exercise to wearing such a type of mask, your ability to expel CO2 is significantly restricted. Your body does not receive the adequate levels of oxygen as you are in activity. That is true, when talking about any age of person. But, it’s most of concern to the elderly; and the otherwise frail or less healthy.