Surgical Masks – When To Let Go Of Your Face Mask
A surgical face mask, sometimes called a facial mask, is designed to be worn by medical professionals during certain medical procedures in order to avoid airborne transmission of dangerous infections in patients. Surgeons use surgical masks during open heart surgery to stop the spread of infection to the lungs. Cardiac surgeons use similar masks during open heart surgery to avoid the transmission of infection to the heart. Plastic surgeons may also use surgical masks in their surgical practices. The term “surgical mask” can also refer loosely to any type of protective covering used to protect the face from exposure to anesthesia.
Masks are made of various materials, including cloth, latex, vinyl, silicone, polypropylene, and plastic. The face mask must be comfortable for the wearer. Cloth surgical masks can be either attached to the patients’ face or worn on the head itself. Latex and vinyl are the most commonly used types of cloth surgical masks.
The purpose of a surgical mask is to keep the surgeon from breathing in or out through the nose while operating on the patient. The nose may become swollen or blocked while operating on a patient and the mask must provide adequate air ventilation to prevent this from happening. Face masks are usually worn during procedures that involve breathing in or out of the mouth (throat surgery, or rhinoplasty), nose surgery (to remove nasal polyps or tumor adenoids), the eyes (eye surgery), or genitourinary (urinary) surgery (genito-urinary Procedures). Face masks are often required to prevent blood from getting to the eyes. The nose should be cleaned frequently and patients are encouraged to observe good hygiene habits to prevent the risk of infection or other serious medical problems.
Many viruses are transmitted through contact with an infected patient’s bodily secretions such as tears, saliva, and other secretions. To protect themselves from getting ill, doctors recommend the wearing of face masks when these bodily fluids come into contact with one another. In fact, many doctors encourage their patients to put on a face mask at the first sign of a bout of cough or colds as they can act as an effective shield against these illnesses.
The nose is another area that is vulnerable to bacteria and viruses. A common cause of nosebleeds is the presence of foreign bodies or objects inside the nose such as foreign wax, dirt, hair, or debris. The nose is also a prominent location for ear infections and the presence of ear plugs can cause a build-up of pressure and lead to nosebleeds. If patients continually wear a cloth mask at the ear ends or over the nose while sleeping, the build-up of pressure can lead to serious ear infections that can lead to permanent damage to the ears and even hearing loss.
Although wearing surgical masks is commonly recommended for health reasons, researchers have shown that the general public may be at risk as well through indirect exposure. During the flu season, many people forget to wash their hands and this allows the spread of flu-causing bacteria and viruses. Likewise, during the seasonal Black Death, many people used brooms, rakes, mops, and shovels to clean their homes, which allowed the spread of plague-like bacteria from one house to another. In both of these situations, public exposure to infection is unnecessary and may increase the risk of serious illness. If you have recently been to a health emergency or are concerned about the health of your family, consider removing your face mask and using your hand to wipe your nose and hands.