A few weeks ago, I wrote an article that outlined the findings of a Stanford University study regarding the physiological, psychological and medical health problems associated with masking. I decided to do a bit of local “on the ground” research to see if I could more or less corroborate the study findings. Here are the results:
My first effort at research was involved my annual visit to my eye doctor. Both of us were wearing masks so I told her about the Stanford study. She told me that there was a noticeable increase in the number of styes she was treating. Before the mark mandate, it was uncommon for her to treat styes. Now she is seeing a substantial, almost daily, increase in styes and related eye infections.
Next, I read an article on dental problems. Apparently, people tend to breathe through their mouths while wearing a mask. This dries out the saliva that is necessary to combat adverse bacteria in the mouth. The result is an increase in gum disease. (This added to a prior discussion I had with my dentist’s assistant who regularly went outside to catch her breath.)
My wife recently had a hairdresser appointment. Turns out that all the hairdressers had been completely vaccinated but were still required by government regulation to wear masks. To her, this made no sense but they had to mask to stay “legally” open. The hairdresser indicated that one of her associates not only had breathing problems but had developed a stubborn rash around her mouth and chin areas.
I talked to some mothers about having their kids wear masks while exercising. Most were concerned about the adverse effects of masking during situations where strenuous breathing was required. Some commented that masks are dangerous – particularly to kids who had asthma or other breathing problems. “Let the kids be kids” in the great outdoors seemed to be the consensus. (Many of these mothers were aware of the collapse of a masked teenage girl at the end of a long distance competition run.)
My final item of “on the ground” research involved an elderly friend who lived in a senior apartment complex. Throughout most of the pandemic, elevator travel in his building required masking and a two person capacity limitation. Within the past month, those limitations were lifted because everyone had been vaccinated. However, some people were so habituated that they would chide others for not wearing their masks or for overcrowding the elevators. This reaction is somewhat similar to the psychological fear reaction referenced in the Stanford study.
More and more thinking people are beginning to get access to actual facts about masking. They are aware that the current government regulations are no longer necessary and are counterproductive when normal activities are planned or done. Unfortunately, the authoritarians in government are loath to let go of their power to enforce of regulatory hell.
Below is a repeat of Table 1 from the Stanford Study. It is worth a second look because it is quite a condemnation of the requirements to mask up for safety: