This flu season has been extremely mild. Health experts think that masks and had-washing that we do for Covid has drastically dropped the amount of flu this year, which makes sense. But there is a mask reason which lowers the flu that is a surprise to the medical field.
If the only change was masks and hand-washing, the flu should still be a bit higher than where it really is. But the have also found a secondary benefit of mask wearing, which is a pain in my ass, but apparently helpful for our health. Masks, particularly in cold weather, raise the humidity in the mouth area anywhere from 50% - 300% (based on actual humidity and weather).
So what, you say. That just means more chances to break out. Actually that isn't true. It turns out that our first line of defense is the mucus membranes of our mouth and nose (you know, snot). Traditionally winter brings less humidity, and heating reduces it further. With our mucus membranes dried out, more bacteria and virus can enter. But masks raise humidity save our mucus and, it turns out, that helps raise our resistance to the flu and other illnesses.
Internesting, yes?
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