Should people who have asthma, or allergies use masks?

For 65 million asthma and allergy sufferers hearing that you must wear a mask can be stressful since breathing is already difficult.

But the Kenneth Mendez, CEO, and President of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, said, "Wearing a mask is recommended to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Plus, wearing a mask can help reduce asthma triggers when air quality is bad, and hot temperatures cause pollutants to stay trapped in the air. If you have trouble breathing through that mask, then you really need to stay home or indoors and use a HEPA filter indoors to try and maintain your asthma and allergies."

The foundation's website has information about multiple layered material masks that may make it easier to breathe, along with controlling asthma, which is the cause of about ten deaths a day across our country. The website for information is www.aafa.org.

A Mercy Health family physician emphasized for some people wearing a mask can be dangerous or pose a suffocation hazard, Including people malformations of the mouth, and babies.

Dr. Viktoria Hasselhof said, "Everybody, if they are able when they are out in public, should be wearing a mask. Especially for patients who are asthmatic, the bottom line most important message is to have their asthma be the best controlled as it can possibly be. If it's well-controlled, that will make it less likely they are going to have a hard time breathing. When it comes to wearing masks, there are several designs from medical-grade to homemade. Often, asthma is triggered by a certain thing for many people that might be dust, or it might be certain smells. If they are using a homemade variety mask, they want to make sure they keep it clean, and they are not dusty if dust is one of their triggers. Looking at the way masks are made, some have a little more space. Some are duck-billed, so that leaves just a little more area in front of the nose and mouth that makes it a little easier for them to breathe.