Skip to main content
mayologo1
  • Patient Online Services
  • Pay Bill Online
  • Request an Appointment
    • Services
    • Providers
    • Locations

      Minnesota

      • Adams
      • Albert Lea
      • Austin
      • Belle Plaine
      • Blooming Prairie
      • Butterfield
      • Caledonia
      • Cannon Falls
      • Fairmont
      • Faribault
      • Janesville
      • Kenyon
      • Lake City
      • Le Sueur
      • Mankato
      • Montgomery
      • New Prague
      • New Richland
      • Northfield
      • Owatonna
      • Plainview
      • Red Wing
      • Sherburn
      • St. James
      • St. Peter
      • Waseca
      • Waterville
      • Wells
      • Zumbrota

      Wisconsin

      • Arcadia
      • Barron
      • Bloomer
      • Chetek
      • Chippewa Falls
      • Eau Claire
      • Ellsworth
      • Glenwood City
      • Holmen
      • La Crosse
      • Menomonie
      • Mondovi
      • Onalaska
      • Osseo
      • Prairie du Chien
      • Rice Lake
      • Sparta
      • Tomah

      Iowa

      • Decorah
      • Lake Mills

      View map
    • Classes/Events
    • Blog
    • Wellness
    • Referrals
    • COVID-19

    Recent Posts

    • Person's hand holding plaid blanket close to their body
      Speaking of Health
      Don't blame your thyroid
      March 30, 2023
    • Person wearing cancer cap smiling at another person
      Speaking of Health
      How blood donations help patients with cancer
      March 29, 2023
    • Scrambled eggs on toast
      Speaking of Health
      Assessing protein needs for performance
      March 29, 2023
    Featured Topics
    • Behavioral Health
    • Cancer
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)
    • COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Vaccine
    • Exercise and Fitness
    • Heart Health
    • Men's Health
    • Neurosurgery
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Orthopedic Health
    • Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery
    • Women's Health
    Join our email newsletter
    Speaking of Health
    Friday, July 10, 2020

    Debunked myths about face masks

    Topics in this Post
    • Hot topics
    • COVID-19
    Person wearing a mask

    Wearing face masks, combined with other preventive measures, such as frequent hand-washing and social distancing, can help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone over the age of 2 wear a mask while in public settings. However, there has been much debate about wearing masks, and misinformation has spread online.

    Here are 4 debunked myths:

    1. Myth: I'm not sick so I don't need to wear a mask.

    Simply put, wearing a cloth mask helps decrease the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Research now has shown that a significant number of people with COVID-19 lack symptoms. These people do not know they are transmitting the virus to others when they talk, sneeze, cough or raise their voice (e.g., singing or shouting). Wearing a mask helps to lower the transmission of respiratory droplets to other people around you. You should wear a mask to protect others, and they should wear masks to protect you.

    2. Myth: Wearing a cloth mask does not protect you from getting COVID-19.

    A cloth mask is worn to help protect others in case you have the virus. Countries that required face masks, testing, isolation and social distancing early in the pandemic seem to have had some success slowing the disease's spread. Common sense also suggests that some protection is better than none.

    Cloth masks reduce the number of respiratory droplets a person releases into the air when talking, sneezing or coughing. The overall number of droplets in the air is reduced when more people wear masks, and this reduces the risk of being exposed to COVID-19.

    3. Myth: Wearing a mask will increase the amount of carbon dioxide I breathe and will make me sick.

    For many years, health care providers have worn masks for extended periods of time with no adverse health reactions. The CDC recommends wearing cloth masks while in public, and this option is very breathable. There is no risk of hypoxia, which is lower oxygen levels, in healthy adults. Carbon dioxide will freely diffuse through your mask as you breathe.

    If you feel uncomfortable in your mask, try to limit your talking and breathe through your nose. That will reduce the humidity level in your mask.

    4. Myth: If I'm wearing a mask, I don't need to practice social distancing.

    Wearing a mask is one step in slowing the spread of COVID-19. In addition to wearing a mask, everyone should continue to practice recommended behaviors to such as:

    • Keep your physical distance: 6 feet or about two arms’ lengths apart from other people.
    • Limit in-person meetings.
    • Wash your hands often with soap.
    • Stay home if you do not feel well.
    • Get a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms. Call your local health care provider to schedule a test.
    • Self-isolate if you have been around someone who is sick or tested positive.

    Kimberly Frodl, M.D., is a Family Medicine physician in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.


    Learn more about face masks:

    • Find out how to wear and care for your cloth mask.
    • Read a Q&A about how to wear a cloth face covering.
    • Learn about masking options.

    For the safety of our patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a non-patient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
    Topics in this Post
    • Hot topics
    • COVID-19

    Related Posts

    Masked people inside and outside car Continue to wear a mask, practice social distancing after COVID-19 vaccination
    Laughing woman on sofa with laptop Maintaining human connection in time of physical distancing
    Pregnant women hand on belly COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy: 4 common Q&A

    Stay Connected

    • Contact Us
    • Notice of Nondiscrimination
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • For Patients & Visitors
    • Financial Assistance
    • Community Resources
    • Mayo Clinic Connect
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Press Room
    • Mayo Clinic
    • Home
    © 2018 - 2023 Mayo Clinic Health System