Three misunderstandings to prevent when wearing masks in winter

In order to prevent cold and keep warm, many people have the habit of wearing masks when going out in winter. Chen Jinping, chief physician of Zhengzhou Third People’s Hospital, pointed out that wearing masks for too long, neglecting sterilization and disinfection, and emphasizing appearance over fabric are three common misconceptions in winter, which should be avoided.

First, wearing a mask for a long time may be harmful to health. The doctor reminded that the cold air sucked in through the nose was close to the body temperature when it entered the lungs. This physiological function of the human body is innate, and can be enhanced through exercise, so that people’s cold tolerance can be significantly improved. Wearing a mask artificially prevents the exercise of this physiological function. Over a long period of time, the resistance of nasal mucosa will decline, and it will be easy to catch a cold if you are slightly cold.

Experts suggest wearing a mask on the road, in public places with poor air circulation and possible presence of a large number of pathogenic bacteria, or when going to the hospital for treatment, and it is best to take off the mask at other times, which is beneficial to health.

Second, masks should be cleaned and disinfected every day. Experts said that no matter what type of mask, it should be cleaned and disinfected every day. When cleaning the mask, it should first be scalded in boiling water for a few minutes, cleaned and then dried in the sun, so as to play the role of sterilization and disinfection.

In addition, pay attention to hygiene during daily use. Put the mask into a clean bag after wearing, and do not turn it upside down when wearing it again.

Third, personalized masks with beautiful appearance should be used with caution. In recent years, personalized masks have become popular. Experts said that although such masks have a beautiful appearance, the inner and outer fabrics are likely to contain chemical fiber components, so they do not have the function of filtering and blocking bacteria that masks should have.

In addition, the chemical fiber fabric may also stimulate the bronchus, which is more likely to stimulate the nasal cavity and aggravate the condition of some patients with allergic rhinitis. Therefore, when choosing a mask, we should not only look at the appearance, but also pay attention to the fabric and material.

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