One of the things that frustrates me the most as a doctor is that amount of misinformation that circulates when it comes to health and wellbeing. This has been a long standing and ever increasing problem as the world has become more connected. It was hard to imagine that it could get any worse but since COVID has come along, the extent of damage that misinformation can cause has become apparent and frankly very frightening.

Everyone has a theory these days and with instant accessibility to information, especially online, people have a tendency to hit “share” without qualifying or verifying the facts. It is easy to share that which strikes a chord, and whilst that’s great if it’s a recipe, a fashion trend or a feel good story, it’s dangerous if it’s outdated, unfounded or false information that could seriously endanger another person’s life.

In fact, it is such a bizarre place right now that those of us who live by and practice evidence based science, are struggling to get the facts across because we are up against a growing generation of pseudo-scientists and conspiracy theorists who doubt our every move. From dettol drinking to stockpiling bog roll, we have seen the most outrageous of human behaviours. It’s easy to see why people are getting fatigued and generally mistrusting of everything that’s coming at them at such a fast pace but we must pause, take stock and reconnect with the experts. We must take back control, be rational and become better at sifting through the nonsense and start listening to the voices who have no other agenda but to help reduce the spread of this deadly virus to help save lives. This starts with not bashing the experts who are simply trying their best. We - the doctors - want this to be over too because we too are finding this very hard.

So it came as a surprise to me when earlier this week I got some personal backlash on social media after I spoke about the importance of wearing face coverings, even if you have health conditions. On This Morning, I was discussing the management of asthma this winter. My main concerns are for asthma sufferers to ensure they have enough of their medications, they know how to use them, know to avoid their triggers and know how to protect themselves. I also clarified that wearing face coverings, alongside hand washing and practising social distancing, remains the most effective measures in preventing contracting COVID, which for anyone with pre-existing chest conditions, could prove to be fatal. Prevention, as much as possible, is key. I have no hidden agenda.

As doctors and health care professionals, we have worn face masks, sometimes for hours on end during complex surgeries and procedures. We have not dropped our oxygen levels, nor have we experienced any ill health as a result. Absolutely, they are not comfortable to wear, especially for prolonged periods and they can be claustrophobic, but they serve their purpose to help protect us. In terms of why the general public has to wear them right now? It is because COVID - which is spread via air droplets - can transfer from one person to another through coughing/sneezing/talking. If worn correctly, they are effective but they work with other measures to reduce transmission. The face coverings we are asking the public to wear do not reduce oxygen levels, they do not cause carbon dioxide to build up and therefore, in most cases, should not impact your breathing. We wouldn’t ever ask the public to do anything that could cause them harm. Some people are exempt and if you find yourself unable to tolerate a face covering due to your medical condition, then please speak to your GP but please do not put yourself at risk out of fear mongering from people who do not know or understand the facts and reasoning. For those who are exempt, please ensure you’re following all other measures and my plea is that everyone takes this virus seriously.

I would never advise anything that I’m not following myself or doing for my own family. The only thing that matters right now is for all of us to get through this pandemic in as healthy a way as possible. We want to protect the vulnerable and each other with the best measures we know how. This is constantly evolving because that is what science is all about. We learn new things every day and we, the public, need to be more accepting and adapting to the changes as we learn them. There is no conspiracy here.

If you read something online or in the papers that really evokes a strong emotion, then take a pause before you react and share it. Try and fact find to verify if it’s true and take care before you share. The United Nations this week launched a global initiative to reduce the spread of misinformation and this couldn’t have happened at a better time. We all have a role to do the right thing by one another.