Going to beach

Posted by ansley @ansley, Jul 14, 2023

Is it necessary to wear a mask when sitting on the beach ? going in beach water?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

You might like to read this discussion about lakes: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/water-at-freshwater-lake/
I go to the lake all the time with my family, and I have never even considered a mask, even while I was being treated for MAC. I don't put my face in the water unless I fall off the paddleboard. We paddleboard or canoe, so we are not stirring up and inhaling a lot of spray or mist, and we go only to quiet lakes so others are not stirring things up around us. Remember all that fresh air really dilutes anything you might breathe in...
If you are going to the ocean, you can relax even more, the salt water in oceans doesn't support the growth of MAC.
I am maybe a little less stringent than some other members, but I have lived safely without reinfection for over 3 years by being cautious in high risk situations (hot tubs, indoor pools) and less so in lower risk. You must decide what works for you.
Sue

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Thank you, Sue. Your advice is so practical for me. It helps me to have a balanced life with my Bronchiectisis.

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I agree with not wearing a mask when at the sea-side; but mask wearing has proven vital for me for the past 10 years. My infection rate changed dramatically from 3 to 4 a year to once a year.
Now with the wild mask debates during covid, unfortunately, a mask looks like some sort of political statement... but one must do what works. With increase in pollution levels and the PM2.5 levels from all the wildfires, I wear my mask every time I leave my place.
Enjoy your trips to the beach!

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@thisoldewe

I agree with not wearing a mask when at the sea-side; but mask wearing has proven vital for me for the past 10 years. My infection rate changed dramatically from 3 to 4 a year to once a year.
Now with the wild mask debates during covid, unfortunately, a mask looks like some sort of political statement... but one must do what works. With increase in pollution levels and the PM2.5 levels from all the wildfires, I wear my mask every time I leave my place.
Enjoy your trips to the beach!

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Ah yes- masks! I'm not looking to reignite the great mask debate, simply to agree with Christine that those of us with bad lungs need to protect them whenever we can.

I do wear my mask when air pollution particulates or pollen is high, and when working with soil or mulch. Unfortunately, the mask doesn't help with the ozone component of pollution, but any little bit helps.
We flew twice this week (first time since 2019) and we wore masks, as did a few others. On one flight, our young flight attendant was also masked, and in the airports a number of employees also wore them - imagine the thousands of people they are exposed to every day! Nobody looked at us the least bit strangely. I think by now, it is accepted that some people need to mask.
Sue

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@sueinmn

You might like to read this discussion about lakes: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/water-at-freshwater-lake/
I go to the lake all the time with my family, and I have never even considered a mask, even while I was being treated for MAC. I don't put my face in the water unless I fall off the paddleboard. We paddleboard or canoe, so we are not stirring up and inhaling a lot of spray or mist, and we go only to quiet lakes so others are not stirring things up around us. Remember all that fresh air really dilutes anything you might breathe in...
If you are going to the ocean, you can relax even more, the salt water in oceans doesn't support the growth of MAC.
I am maybe a little less stringent than some other members, but I have lived safely without reinfection for over 3 years by being cautious in high risk situations (hot tubs, indoor pools) and less so in lower risk. You must decide what works for you.
Sue

Jump to this post

Thank you, Sue!
Your comments always mean so much to me.

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Thank you, Sue!
Always good comments—-

Sylvia

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I live near Atlantic Ocean and walk on the beach everyday with my Goldendoodle, Murphy. Feel the salt spray is beneficial. Not big on swimming in it. I do water aerobics 3x a week.

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