Masks Are Damaging Mental and Physical Health

Mask Mandates are Damaging the Mental and Physical Health of Adults and Children

Many studies have been carried-out to identify possible health risks from mask use, both on medical professionals and due to the universal masking of adults and children during the COVID-19 era. The harms discovered from these studies show palpable and potentially long-term negative effects, both physical and psychological. At this point there can be no question that universal masking harms people and society, without any detectable benefit.

Mandatory masks in school are a ‘major threat’ to children’s development, doctors warn.
The face mask requirement at school is bad for children’s general well-being and should be abolished, 70 doctors wrote in an open letter to Flemish Education Minister Ben Weyts.
“In recent months, the general well-being of children and young people has come under severe pressure,” the letter’s authors said. “We see in our practices an increasing number of children and young people with complaints due to the rules of conduct that have been imposed on them.”

The doctors mentioned anxiety and sleep problems as well as behavioural disorders and germaphobia, which is a pathological fear of germs. They are also seeing an increase in domestic violence, isolation and deprivation.

“Mandatory face masks in schools are a major threat to their development. It ignores the essential needs of the growing child. The well-being of children and young people is highly dependent on emotional attachment to others,” they wrote.

According to them, “the face mask requirement makes school a threatening and unsafe environment, where emotional closeness becomes difficult.”

Moreover, “there is no large-scale evidence that wearing face masks in a non-professional environment has any positive effect on the spread of viruses, let alone on general health. Nor is there any legal basis for implementing this requirement.”

“Meanwhile, it is clear that healthy children living through Covid-19 heal without complications as standard and that they subsequently contribute to the protection of their fellow human beings by increasing group immunity”³⁹
Effect of a surgical mask on six minute walking distance
[A study] To evaluate the effect of wearing a surgical mask during 6MWT in healthy subjects.

Material and method: It is a prospective study on 44 healthy subjects. After a first 6MWT for training, they performed randomly two 6MWT: with or without a surgical mask. Distance and dyspnea [shortness of breath/difficulty breathing], heart rate and saturation variations were recorded.

Results: Distance was not modified by the mask (P=0.99). Dyspnea [shortness of breath/difficulty breathing] variation was significantly higher with surgical mask (+5.6 vs. +4.6; P<0.001) and the difference was clinically relevant. No difference was found for the variation of other parameters.

Conclusion: Wearing a surgical mask modifies significantly and clinically dyspnea without influencing walked distance.⁴⁰
Dr. Vainshelboim “Facemasks in the COVID-19 era: A health hypothesis”
Dr. Baruch Vainshelboim is affiliated to Pulmonary Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel and has authored and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed scientific papers and presented works at many national and International conferences.

“Long-term practice of wearing facemasks has strong potential for devastating health consequences. Prolonged hypoxic-hypercapnic state compromises normal physiological and psychological balance, deteriorating health and promotes the developing and progression of existing chronic diseases.

Conclusion: … Wearing facemasks has been demonstrated to have substantial adverse physiological and psychological effects. These include hypoxia, hypercapnia, shortness of breath, increased acidity and toxicity, activation of fear and stress response, rise in stress hormones, immunosuppression, fatigue, headaches, decline in cognitive performance, predisposition for viral and infectious illnesses, chronic stress, anxiety and depression. Long-term consequences of wearing facemask can cause health deterioration, developing and progression of chronic diseases and premature death.”⁴¹

Press release of the University Hospital Leipzig (Leipzig, 2020–translated in english)
“The data show that the so-called cardiopulmonary performance is significantly reduced by both mask types. The masks affect breathing, especially the volume and the highest possible speed of the air when exhaled. The maximum possible force on the bicycle ergometer was significantly reduced. A faster acidification of the blood during exertion was registered in the metabolism (lactate).” The study was limited to a mere 3 x 3 min of exertion with a 10 min break in each case.⁴²

Quote from interview with Dr. Christian Zilz (Zilz, 2020, translated in english)
“Mainly the increased airway resistance leads to an increase in work of breathing. In relevant pre-existing conditions such as heart, lung and muscle diseases, but also in cases of severe overweight, the respiratory muscles can be overstrained. This can then lead to an increased carbon dioxide content in the blood and also to respiratory acidosis (acidification of the blood because too little CO2 is breathed out, editor’s note). The increase in CO2 in the blood can lead to fatigue and even to carbon dioxide anaesthesia.”and “Depending on the material of an MNC or the class of an FFP mask used, the breathing effort is higher”.⁴³

Adverse Effects of Prolonged Mask Use among Healthcare Professionals during COVID-19
A total of 343 healthcare professionals, primarily located in New York City, who worked in the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic participated in a study to understand side effects from prolonged use of N95 masks. 314 respondents reported adverse effects from prolonged mask use with headaches being the most common complaint (n = 245). Skin breakdown was experienced by 175 respondents, and acne was reported in 182 respondents. Impaired cognition was reported in 81 respondents. Previous history of headaches (n = 98), skin sensitivity (n = 164), and acne (n = 121) were found in some respondents. Some respondents experienced resolved side effects once masks were removed, while others required physical or medical intervention.⁴⁴

For many more studies related to the dangers of mark use please see https://childrenshealthdefense.org/the-science-of-masks/

While Covid Rarely Seriously Affects Children, Mask Mandates Do

Perhaps the saddest and most damaging effects of mask use are on our children, who are also least-likely to contract or suffer from covid-19. In children and young adults from age birth to 19, the survival rate of COVID-19 is 99.997%.^46,47 In most cases, symptoms are mild or nonexistent. Among children who were hospitalized, 0.19% of children died from COVID-19, with researchers concluding in a 2021 study, “Hospitalization and in-hospital death are rare in children diagnosed with COVID-19.”⁴⁸In June 2020, the Children’s Sick Kids Hospital, perhaps the most prestigious hospital in Canada, advised that children, by and large almost completely unaffected by the virus, should not wear masks and added that physical interaction and play was essential for their well-being. The hospital further reported that 1500 asymptomatic children were tested, and none tested positive.

“We have suggested that masks not be required when children return to school.”
Michelle Science MD, MSc, FRCPC, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Hospital for Sick Children, Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto

“Close interaction such as playing and socializing is really central to child development and should not be discouraged…Overall we think it’s not realistic or in children’s best interests to completely avoid all close interaction and play.”
Dr Daphne Korczak, Pediatrics, Psychiatry

“For children and adolescents, masks are an absolute no-no. Children and adolescents have an extremely active and adaptive immune system and they need a constant interaction with the microbiome of the Earth. Their brain is also incredibly active, as it is has so much to learn. The child’s brain, or the youth’s brain, is thirsting for oxygen. The more metabolically active the organ is, the more oxygen it requires. In children and adolescents every organ is metabolically active.”
Dr. Margarite Griesz-Brisson MD, PhD , Consultant Neurologist and Neurophysiologist

A new study, involving over 25,000 school-aged children in Germany shows that masks are harming schoolchildren physically, psychologically, and behaviorally. Results show 17,854 recorded complaints from parents on the adverse effects of wearing masks. Wearing masks affected children’s behavior, focus, and learning. The study recorded these manifestations among children who are forced to wear masks for 4-4.5 hours a day.

Based on the data gathered last October 20, 2020, children experienced irritability (60%), headache (53%), difficulty concentrating (50%) and less happiness (49%). There were also reports on reluctance to go to school/kindergarten (44%), malaise (42%) impaired learning (38%) and drowsiness or fatigue (37%). Some children had shortness of breath, (26.4%) experienced dizziness, and children feeling weak after wearing masks.⁴⁵