Face Masks: What Does the Science Say?

Larry A. Law

Dr. Russell Blaylock is a renown neurosurgeon and author of several books and research papers. He recently published an article in Technocracy News & Trends highlighting what the science says about wearing a facial mask. This is especially important information during a pandemic like the one we are experiencing with COVID-19.  Dr. Blaylock concludes that face masks do not protect healthy people from getting sick. He observes that wearing a mask can actually aggravate and cause serious health problems. Those who choose to wear a mask are probably not aware of these significant concerns. Many businesses are requiring their employees and even customers to wear masks. In some areas, local government has mandated that anyone who comes outside of their home must wear a mask.  It is not only an affront to personal liberty, but there is no science to validate this draconian measure.

In a review of scientific literature (17 studies), researchers concluded, "None of the studies established a conclusive relationship between mask/respirator use and protection against influenza infection." Until COVID-19, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) never recommended wearing a face mask for the general public. The only time a face mask was recommended was when a person was known to be infected with something like tuberculosis. Then, only the infected individual wore the mask and not the entire population. Never has the CDC used masks to contain a viral pandemic. Bottom line: there is no science to support wearing a mask to protect the general population from COVID-19.

There are dangers with wearing a mask. A number of studies found serious problems ranging from headaches, increased airway resistance, carbon monoxide accumulation, hypoxia (lack of oxygen reaching your cells and tissues), and burst lung. People with preexisting disease (like COPD, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and lung cancer) can suffer severe lung damage. Running and exercising with a mask can also be problematic. Lack of oxygen impairs the immune system: "...hypoxia can inhibit the type of main immune cells used to fight viral infections called the CD4+ T-lymphocyte." The mask can decrease the strength of your immune system to fight the virus. Cancers grow in an environment of low oxygen. Repeated periods of low oxygen lead to inflammation and the spread of cancer.  

Another danger of wearing a mask for those who are infected with the virus is that you rebreathe the virus. Every breath into the mask expels some of the virus from your lungs and concentrates it in the nasal airways. This can cause an increased inflammatory response from your immune system (a cytokine storm). In addition, these nasal passageways lead directly into the brain and problems can occur there. "The fact that this virus is a relatively benign infection for the vast majority of the population and that most of the at-risk group also survive, from an infectious disease and epidemiological standpoint, by letting the virus spread through the healthier population we will reach a herd immunity level rather quickly that will end this pandemic quickly and prevent a return next winter." Choosing not to wear a mask seems like the safest and most logical approach to long-term health. To read Dr. Blaylock's complete article, click here.