Anyone who has asthma is aware of how difficult it can be to breathe from day to day under normal circumstances. That is why experts have recently advised that these patients not wear a facial mask, or at least be granted an exemption, during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Experts warn that when asthmas sufferers wear a facial mask, they are experiencing a 12% increase in difficulty in breathing, according to a study conducted in Britain.
Mandates have been put into place in many states within the US legally requiring the donning of facial masks when outside the home, when in businesses, when on public transport, or when the six food social distancing mandate cannot be maintained.
This is not to say that facial masks are in no way to be a trade-off for good physical hygiene. Residents are still highly suggested to wash their hands thoroughly several times a day, as this is still the best ongoing defense against the virus.
When it comes to those individuals with chronic respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, wearing a facial mask has been determined to make breathing that much more difficult. As such, if you are one of those individuals who are having problems breathing when wearing a face mask—then, according to the government, you are exempt from the mandates.
There are other groups that are exempt from facial masks as well:
- Children under the age of 2Any individual who has trouble breathing before applying a facial maskAnyone who, for whatever reason, is unable to remove the mask themselves.
In many cases, it has been found that homemade masks do not necessarily inhibit the flow of air but are more uncomfortable than anything. However, if you find that you are not able to wear a facial mask due to a breathing condition, there are other methods of protecting yourself from COVIE-19:
- Try to stay home as much as possible.Ask friends, family, and neighbors to run errands for those items you need, or possibly call upon a delivery service.Make sure, when out in public, that you maintain the required six-foot social distancing from others.Avoid or limit physical contact with individuals and make sure to wash your hands as often as possible.Do not go out in crowds unless absolutely necessary.Avoid unnecessary travel.
Does the inability to wear a facial mask pose a higher risk for people living with asthma?