Risks associated to wearing masks for long hours - do they exist?

[Guest]

If you do not wear masks because you have asthma or mental health issues such as claustrophobic feelings this post is not for you and you should skip it.

I am interested in understanding what people make of various advice we are given about the risks connected with wearing masks for long hours.

Do masks worn for long hours cause headache and other problems?

Is it safe or unsafe to use masks while doing yoga or gym exercises?

I have decided for myself that wearing a FFP2 or FFP3 mask is amazing to prevent lots of issues I have been suffered from in recent years, including repeated staphylococcus infections (so my use of antibiotics went down during the last year), laryngitis and tracheitis and reduce symptoms of chronic keroconjunctivitis.

However somebody pointed to me the other day that I am "inhaling CO2" and I should not wearing a mask while doing physical exercises such as the treadmill at the Gym, riding the bike or hoovering with vigour.

Of course I accept and acknowledge that it is a bit unpleasant and claustrophobic to wear a mask at all times, but I stick with the evidence that to me wearing masks while wandering around or risking to bump into others has been only beneficial so far, and well beyond the initial reason for it (prevention of Covid transmission).

Here are some useful info sources in case somebody wants to follow up.

1) FFP Standards explaining differencing betweeb the various FFP1, 2 and 3 and the KN95 alternatives and more recent improvements. FFP2 and KN95 are equivalent

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FFP_standards

2) Recent articles from clinical literature on the issue can be retrieved from Pubmed using this search:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=Mask+CO2+gas+exercise

In particular I had a look at:

2.1) Side Effects in Everyday Use and Free of Potential Hazards?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8072811/

2.2) Face Masks and the Cardiorespiratory Response to Physical Activity in Health and Disease

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7426537/

[this article contains interesting comparison of different types of masks' effectiveness]

2.3) An overview of filtration efficiency through the masks: Mechanisms of the aerosols penetration

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7426537/

2.4) Effects of wearing a cloth face mask on performance, physiological and perceptual responses during a graded treadmill running exercise test

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8050876/

Many thanks

[AylwardS]

There have been various claims about face masks / the Covid vaccine that have been looked at and dismissed. There may be some concerns but overall wearing a mask, if you are not exempt, is a minor inconvenience and I see not wearing one if you can as a sign of disregard for other people. I don?t wear one to protect me but to protect others. I?m not the only person going into that shop / getting on that bus that day - how many people will that member of staff come into contact with?

I wear a face mask for 5 hours at a time twice a week and it may not be something I?d choose to do but it?s ok. I stopped wearing a mask and visor when the choice was given to wear one or the other not both as we were previously. As a glasses wearer and needing to have my hair in a ponytail both were doable but I judged that the mask gave better protection and for me was the best option. There are between 10 and 20 people each wearing masks for between 5 and 7 hours at a time and it?s the gloves we need to wear not the masks that are more of an issue.

Re the OP?s specific questions

I?ve never had, or heard anyone say they?ve got, a headache.

I can?t say about wearing a mask at the gym as brisk walking is the most energetic I get. Yoga I would say should be fine - I?ve worn a mask for an hour?s walk with no issue. I?ve seen people running and cycling in masks.

The OP gave links to websites that were a bit medical for me and from the US. The BBC did an article about some of the claims masks were deadly. The verdict was there was no evidence for the claims. If you want to read the BBC article you can find it here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/53108405

[NewWave]

I have to wear a mask all day at work-my shifts this month are 9am-7.30pm (next month they return to a normal 9.30-6.30pm) but factoring in my commute I have been wearing a mask for 12 hours a day since March 2020 (we worked through lockdown).

The only obvious side effect is in my skin.

I have pimples and open pores following the area that is covered by the mask and have developed rosacea and been prescribed a cream by my GP to wear under the mask which has helped a bit.

bear in mind I work in a windowless environment so even with air conditioning my face can get very hot no matter what mask I wear.

[alex_b]

Don?t forget that medical professionals have been wearing masks for extended periods of time for decades without reported ill effects. Mask wearing by the public in Asia was commonplace even pre-pandemic - again without ill effects.