To wear flu masks when I leave the house?

[Kukumbr]

I have asthma. Quite severe, have had 3 admissions to hospital already this year with it, as well as needing steroids on multiple other occasions to bring it back under control. I am on strong preventer inhalers and I do what I can to avoid triggers but a big trigger seems to be when I catch a cold or a chest infection. With that being said, is it entirely unreasonable to leave the house wearing flu masks to try and avoid catching germs? It’s really impacting on my life and I’ve had far too much time off work in recent months because of it.

Masks work for less than 15 minutes so probably useless x

They’re more useful to prevent you spreading your germs outwards, rather than the other way round

You need to wash your hands more often and very thoroughly. I'm not trying to be funny. I'm quite serious. My SIL works in infection control and she says that is the one thing that is CONSTANTLY drummed into them.

Can't comment on its effectiveness, but would a scarf work? Certainly softer.

I work in healthcare and wash my hands thoroughly, regularly throughout the day using soap and hot water and then alcohol gel. Colds and flu viruses are spread through airborne droplets so I thought possibly wearing a flu mask could help to stop the infected airborne droplets getting into my system

I was under the impression that a flu mask, unless changed 3/4 times an hour were more likely to make you ill, as if someone sneezed on you it could harbour the bacteria.

Oh really? That’s a bit rubbish then. There’s no point really then is there. I just can’t think of any other ways to stop myself catching quite so many bugs!

I could be entirely wrong. That's only what I've heard. Not via a reputable source may I add!

Some people wear Cambridge masks for that reason, vogmasks are fashionable among ill young people but vogmask states it doesn’t filter virus or bacteria

Thanks for the info. Looking at a Cambridge mask! It seems overdramatic but I cannot go on like this!

Hi Kukumbr,

I think it depends on the type of mask as to whether it would prevent you catching an infection. A neck gaiter pulled up over your nose and mouth might be as effective as a flimsy mask.

Also 70% cold and flu type viruses are caught by people touching the droplets (e.g. someone else sneezes or coughs onto their hands then touches a door handle and then you go to touch it straight afterwards and without realising you rub your eyes) and only 30% are caught by directly breathing in someone else's sneeze/cough droplets so washing your hands immediately after returning to your house from being outside might actually be more effective. Carrying an 'Antiviral' hand sanitizer or wet wipes would provide added protection. Obviously if someone coughs or sneezes directly on to you then that would be difficult to avoid.

Also just to say that Vitamin D but not Vitamin C can be helpful for preventing colds or reducing the duration.

Thank you! Some great advice there. I will invest in some hand sanitiser to keep with me whilst out and about. I do take a daily vitamin D tablet, as a couple of years back I had a test and there was virtually no vitamin D detected in the test, and that led to a bout of pneumonia and life threatening asthma attack. I have twice been on GP prescribed vitamin D replacement courses which is why I take the daily OTC tablet, to try and keep my levels up even in the absence of sunlight!

In addition to pp suggestions can you do other things to boost your immunity? 30 mins of daylight per day, zinc, antiinflammatories like garlic, ginger, turmeric, cumin.?

Allicin max garlic tablets are supposed to help immunity. I doubt there are any proper clinical trials proving this, but as it's just a garlic extract it's unlikely to do you any harm and taking one per day only costs about £5 a month (£15 for 90 capsule pack).

I have also read advice similar to the above about most colds and flu being transferred from touching things that infected people have touched, so washing hands regularly, avoid touching your face or food when out and about etc more likely to be effective than wearing a mask? In Asia I think many people wear masks when ill so as to avoid infecting other people rather than people wearing them to avoid getting ill themselves?

Have you got allergic asthma? Have you investigated treatment like Omalizumab or mepolizumab or similar?

If you work in health care with patients, that must be a higher exposure to germs than whatever you get in public spaces. I presume OP didn't mean wear the mask to work, anyway.

No idea, but

No point anyway. Airborne shit can get in through your eyes as well apparently.

Could you try some immune booster vitamins, plenty of vitamin C, hand wash use an anti bac gel.
I often think of wearing one, when walking in the evening. I'd probably look like a loon, the fumes in the air are a killer, I usually hold my breath passing the main traffic.

I'm a registered nurse and a former severe asthmatic- xolair injections every four weeks changed my life-I cannot recall when I needed steroids last-and I had ARDS and needed ventilator support in my past medical history. Xolair therapy is based on Ige levels your body weight. I was constantly using my rescue inhaler and nebulizer

Oh also just to say that antibacterial hand gel might not be as effective as anti-viral sanitizer. I use Boots own anti-viral.

I’m not sure if it’s allergic asthma or not. It always seems to come on when I get a cold or chest infection, which is fairly regularly now that my little one is in nursery. I will look at buying antiviral gel specifically and some supplements!

All that will do is stop you spreading your germs to others

As a PP mentioned, there is some research on turmeric and immune support. However, check with your doctor and look into the absorption of your turmeric. For exampele, a form that is hydro-soluble absorbs better.