Should I Make My Germ Berm Perm?
June 13, 2022 11:42 AM Subscribe
Should I be thinking about NOT wearing a mask indefinitely so that I'm exposed to more germs in order to keep my immune system strong?
I've been diligently wearing N95 masks because although I'm vaccinated and boosted, I'm of an age where I'm vulnerable to more serious Covid outcomes, and furthermore not only do I not like getting sick but there are people (family and colleagues) who also rely on me being healthy. Additionally, I have enjoyed not having colds and flus. So I feel like I wouldn't mind continuing with this practice for who knows how long.
But would I be putting myself at risk of weakening my immune system by underexposing myself long term to various and sundry quotidian pathogens? Does the hygiene hypothesis about exposure to germs being necessary for optimal immune system robustness only apply to young children with developing immune systems and is no longer relevant in adulthood?
(Notes: I definitely was exposed to plenty of germs as a kid, I don't have any allergies, and my health is generally good - normal blood pressure, no diabetes, not obese, etc.)
I've been diligently wearing N95 masks because although I'm vaccinated and boosted, I'm of an age where I'm vulnerable to more serious Covid outcomes, and furthermore not only do I not like getting sick but there are people (family and colleagues) who also rely on me being healthy. Additionally, I have enjoyed not having colds and flus. So I feel like I wouldn't mind continuing with this practice for who knows how long.
But would I be putting myself at risk of weakening my immune system by underexposing myself long term to various and sundry quotidian pathogens? Does the hygiene hypothesis about exposure to germs being necessary for optimal immune system robustness only apply to young children with developing immune systems and is no longer relevant in adulthood?
(Notes: I definitely was exposed to plenty of germs as a kid, I don't have any allergies, and my health is generally good - normal blood pressure, no diabetes, not obese, etc.)
You are exposed to plenty of germs even wearing a high-filtration mask. Germs spread in more ways than just by inhalation - it just happens that COVID is primarily airborne/aerosolized so masking is a pretty good line of defense. But you are constantly, for example, touching germs and then spreading them to your mucous membranes when your remove your mask.
Also I don't believe that immune systems get weaker if adults are exposed to fewer diseases. I don't think it needs to be exercised like muscles. If you are exposed to fewer germs then your immune system will have fewer memories of antibodies, and it's possible that some antibody to a weaker virus would have prevented serious infection with a stronger virus. But it also possible that by masking you can prevent infection from both the weaker and stronger virus.
posted by muddgirl at 12:18 PM on June 13, 2022 [14 favorites]
Also I don't believe that immune systems get weaker if adults are exposed to fewer diseases. I don't think it needs to be exercised like muscles. If you are exposed to fewer germs then your immune system will have fewer memories of antibodies, and it's possible that some antibody to a weaker virus would have prevented serious infection with a stronger virus. But it also possible that by masking you can prevent infection from both the weaker and stronger virus.
posted by muddgirl at 12:18 PM on June 13, 2022 [14 favorites]
I'm keeping my mask on. I'm supporting my immune system by eating lots of fermented foods and making sure my gut biome is healthy and also concentrating on moderate activity and good sleep. For me, the stakes are way to high for me to risk the permanent damage and immune system dysregulation that can come with COVID.
posted by quince at 12:24 PM on June 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by quince at 12:24 PM on June 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
To expose yourself to novel antigens, get a dog and go for walks in the woods.
posted by rockindata at 12:32 PM on June 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by rockindata at 12:32 PM on June 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
Should I be thinking about NOT wearing a mask indefinitely so that I'm exposed to more germs in order to keep my immune system strong?
No.
Sincerely,
- Everyone around you.
posted by mhoye at 12:48 PM on June 13, 2022 [29 favorites]
No.
Sincerely,
- Everyone around you.
posted by mhoye at 12:48 PM on June 13, 2022 [29 favorites]
Pretty sure the hygiene hypothesis is for kids only, sadly you can't roll around in the dirt for your health anymore!
posted by kingdead at 1:33 PM on June 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by kingdead at 1:33 PM on June 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
In the last 125 years or so, humans became globally mobile, which likely enabled the 1918 flu Pandemic. You are likely to be exposed many viruses, and we don't know if that's good for your immune system. Viruses are suspected of causing all manner of conditions in addition to the known ones.
The idea that being exposed to lots of germs is good for your immune system is an interesting and unproven theory. Microbes in dirt do seem to provide some benefit; eat garden vegetables and fermented foods.
Masking has greatly improved my health and kept me covid-free. It's excellent.
posted by theora55 at 1:46 PM on June 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
The idea that being exposed to lots of germs is good for your immune system is an interesting and unproven theory. Microbes in dirt do seem to provide some benefit; eat garden vegetables and fermented foods.
Masking has greatly improved my health and kept me covid-free. It's excellent.
posted by theora55 at 1:46 PM on June 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
No.
I'm an epidemiologist. You and your immune system come into contact with all manner of pathogens regardless of your protective measures. Masking reduces risk for yourself and others stochastically, in that you are part of a very large and interactive web of organisms who exchange biological stuff via a stunning array of avenues. Masking does not remove you, an individual, from that sea of stuff and avenues.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 2:22 PM on June 13, 2022 [33 favorites]
I'm an epidemiologist. You and your immune system come into contact with all manner of pathogens regardless of your protective measures. Masking reduces risk for yourself and others stochastically, in that you are part of a very large and interactive web of organisms who exchange biological stuff via a stunning array of avenues. Masking does not remove you, an individual, from that sea of stuff and avenues.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 2:22 PM on June 13, 2022 [33 favorites]
I listen to a lot of immunology podcasts because I love science, and they've been in unanimous agreement: Your immune system gets plenty of a work out just from eating, brushing your teeth, using the restroom, being alive generally. AND even if you somehow managed to live a germ free life (not possible, they live inside you!) we have no evidence that it would harm your ability to react to pathogens. In fact, one of the risk factors for bad outcomes is having a stressed out immune system so making sure it isn't dealing with fighting off a bunch of little illnesses is actually good for you.
posted by Bottlecap at 3:19 PM on June 13, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by Bottlecap at 3:19 PM on June 13, 2022 [5 favorites]
Keep masking; don't intentionally seek greater exposure to airborne or droplet infection, is my advice. I agree 100% with the previous posters. (Me: ancient paramedic, sometime infection control officer and - before Covid - a lecturer on pandemics)
BUT, honesty compels me to offer a contrasting viewpoint, or at least some information that shows that your thinking isn't totally off the wall.
An article in today's Washington Post is titled "Covid is Making Flu and Other Common Viruses Act in Unfamiliar Ways." I don't think it's paywalled.
The gist of the article is that colds, flu and RSV are increasingly being seen outside their usual seasons. One suggested explanation is that Covid-caused isolation and masking have allowed many to avoid these other viruses long enough for any immunity from previous exposures to wear off. Thus they are more vulnerable in what is usually an "off" season. This is still theory!
Personally - though I think it's important to know - I do NOT consider it adequate reason to seek more pathogen exposure to somehow "strengthen" your immune system. It doesn't work that way.
posted by wjm at 4:30 PM on June 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
BUT, honesty compels me to offer a contrasting viewpoint, or at least some information that shows that your thinking isn't totally off the wall.
An article in today's Washington Post is titled "Covid is Making Flu and Other Common Viruses Act in Unfamiliar Ways." I don't think it's paywalled.
The gist of the article is that colds, flu and RSV are increasingly being seen outside their usual seasons. One suggested explanation is that Covid-caused isolation and masking have allowed many to avoid these other viruses long enough for any immunity from previous exposures to wear off. Thus they are more vulnerable in what is usually an "off" season. This is still theory!
Personally - though I think it's important to know - I do NOT consider it adequate reason to seek more pathogen exposure to somehow "strengthen" your immune system. It doesn't work that way.
posted by wjm at 4:30 PM on June 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
You know, I have been masking with everyone and everywhere except with my young child, who attends daycare. The results? I have been sick almost CONSTANTLY this year, burning through my sick time and feeling completely miserable for months on end. I've had colds, I've had RSV, I've had every unidentifiable respiratory virus that little kids can spread. Maybe it's doing my immune system some good but gosh it would be nice to be able to breathe properly again - I'd rather just eat some sauerkraut.
It doesn't work that way, and all that would happen is you'd get sick and get other people sick.
posted by epanalepsis at 5:09 PM on June 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
It doesn't work that way, and all that would happen is you'd get sick and get other people sick.
posted by epanalepsis at 5:09 PM on June 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
I was always hygiene-hypothesis-curious but earlier in the pandemic one of the hosts of TWiV (I'm almost certain it was Brianne Barker) made the counter-argument incredibly vividly and convincingly, which I will attempt to paraphrase:
1. Your immune system is constantly challenged by a vast variety of microbes
2. We know this because, at some time, you will die, at which point your immune system will stop working
3. ... and basically immediately after that you will ROT, an outcome only held at bay by your excellent and constantly-functioning immune system
This was in the context of explaining that most immunologists were somewhere between amused and horrified by the concept of challenging your immune system on purpose, on the grounds that if you only knew how challenged you were constantly, you would realize that anything you might add to it on purpose would be a drop in the bucket.
posted by range at 6:10 PM on June 13, 2022 [12 favorites]
1. Your immune system is constantly challenged by a vast variety of microbes
2. We know this because, at some time, you will die, at which point your immune system will stop working
3. ... and basically immediately after that you will ROT, an outcome only held at bay by your excellent and constantly-functioning immune system
This was in the context of explaining that most immunologists were somewhere between amused and horrified by the concept of challenging your immune system on purpose, on the grounds that if you only knew how challenged you were constantly, you would realize that anything you might add to it on purpose would be a drop in the bucket.
posted by range at 6:10 PM on June 13, 2022 [12 favorites]
There are far sounder ways of dealing with this.
* Take a D3 / K2 supplement daily and get as much sun as you can.
* Make sure your nutrition is good. That means lots of leafy greens and veg/fruit with bioflavonoid. I am not your nutritionist!
* Stay fit. Bodyweight exercise, energetic team sports, weights, whatever.
Keep your mask on in public, please.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 6:29 AM on June 14, 2022
* Take a D3 / K2 supplement daily and get as much sun as you can.
* Make sure your nutrition is good. That means lots of leafy greens and veg/fruit with bioflavonoid. I am not your nutritionist!
* Stay fit. Bodyweight exercise, energetic team sports, weights, whatever.
Keep your mask on in public, please.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 6:29 AM on June 14, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by bile and syntax at 12:09 PM on June 13, 2022 [26 favorites]