Recently, I took a trip abroad that meant transferring to different planes and walking through several international airports. I was surprised to see how many passengers were milling around wearing those white paper surgical masks. I couldnt help but wonder whether they really work, especially since I had a case of the sniffles and didnt want to infect fellow travelers.
The answer to whether masks are really effective is -- sort of.
David P. Calfee, chief hospital epidemiologist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, told The New York Times, Several studies have shown that masks can reduce the amount of infectious particles shed into the air while coughing, talking and breathing when someone has an infection of the respiratory tractA few studies have even shown that infection rates between household members are lessened when folks use masks."
But a mask can only do so much. In order to practice complete respiratory protection, Calfee says its equally important to cover your mouth and nose when sneezing, wash your hands frequently and try to stand at least three feet away from others when you can.
And even though masks may indeed protect others from an infected person, its unlikely a mask can fully protect the wearer. Masks help to prevent larger respiratory droplets from making it to the mucus membranes, and that helps if someone near you has an infectious disease like the flu and whooping cough. But for diseases like tuberculosis or measles, which are spread through smaller airborne particles, masks dont do anything because the tiny particles pass right through.
Plus, masks are notoriously uncomfortable to wear for any long period of time. So even though they might help in some instances, the protection is time sensitive.
Robin Westen is ThirdAges medical reporter. Check for her daily updates. She is the author of Relationship Repair.
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