Thursday, April 28, 2022

Should You Take Your Mask Off on a Plane?

I'll be wearing an N95 mask on the plane this weekend to protect both myself and others.
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By Paola de Varona, News Editor
I'll be wearing an N95 mask on the plane this weekend to protect both myself and others. After two years in a pandemic, what're a few more months of masks?
Today's Top Story
How Risky Is Traveling Maskless?
Mask mandates for public transit have been lifted. But does that mean you're safe if you decide not to wear one?
 
Let's take planes, for example. Experts say being on a plane is one of the less risky indoor situations you can be in. Air is exchanged frequently and high-quality filters help reduce any COVID particles in the air. That air filtration is typically turned on once the plane has taken off. So all that time during the boarding process and at the airport, you're less protected.
 
Experts say if someone sitting around you has COVID—whether they're two seats behind, in front, or to the side of you—you're at a pretty high risk of getting it, too.
Know More
Buses, trains, and subways have fewer protections. These modes of transportation typically have no air filtering and tend to be crowded. The more people present, say on a crowded train car around rush hour, the higher likelihood someone has COVID.
Feel Better
The data is clear: Masks protect you. One study showed that people who reported wearing N95 masks while indoors were 83% less likely to test positive for COVID-19 compared to people who never wore a mask inside. It's as simple as slipping one on when you're entering the airport or train station.
READ MORE
What Is Omicron's Incubation Period?
The incubation period of a virus is the time it takes for someone who's been infected to show symptoms. For COVID-19, this can reach up to 14 days after virus exposure and it's been getting shorter in each new variant. Data from December suggests that Omicron's average incubation period is around two to four days, meaning symptoms typically develop quickly after exposure.
READ MORE
Eating More Cereal Fiber May Fight Chronic Inflammation
Eating enough fiber is important for your health. But are some forms of fiber better than others? Researchers found that fiber consumption was consistently associated with lower inflammation and lower development of heart disease. And cereal fiber—not fruit or vegetable fiber—was linked to reduced inflammation. The researchers said that the findings suggest that cereal fiber might be more effective at lowering levels of systemic inflammation than other kinds of fiber. You can find this kind of fiber in oats, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, and more.
READ MORE
 
If you and your family plan on traveling soon, Christopher Scuderi, DO, a family physician at the University of Florida Health in Jacksonville, stresses the importance of preparing a COVID plan beforehand.
It's also important to prepare for the unexpected. Educate your children on any current surges and how to best approach your travels as a team. Set a contingency plan for what would happen if you got sick while you were away.
Christopher Scuderi, DO
Family physician at the University of Florida Health in Jacksonville
 
Keep Reading
  Why Do Carbs Give Me Headaches? The New York Times
 
  Pfizer Asks FDA to Authorize Boosters for Kids Ages 5 Through 11. NPR
 
  Extreme Heat Is a Disease for Cities. Treat It That Way. Wired
More From Verywell
The Best Face Masks to Protect You From Omicron
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4 Best Fiber Supplements
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What Vitamins Can Help With Inflammation?
READ MORE
 
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