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 It's hot. You are sweating. If you are still conscious of the coronavirus, then you wear a mask.

It's not that the summer humidity makes it easier.

You may have an urge to wear a mask until autumn. No, says Anne Limoen, professor of epidemiology at UCLA and director of the university’s Center for Global and Immigrant Health.

She said: “Wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing is important,” she cited a study published earlier this month that found that these two strategies are the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. "All these layers are protective measures."

It is especially important to continue to do these two things now-there has been a surge in coronavirus cases in at least 19 states recently.

Therefore, if you have difficulty breathing through the mask, or the sweat on your cheeks makes wearing uncomfortable, please read on-you can survive the hot summer and stay away from the coronavirus.

Dr. Richard Wenzel, a professor in the Department of Infectious Diseases at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, said that if you feel suffocated under a mask, it may be because it traps heat inside.

"A key issue is that when we breathe, we get cooler, so wearing a mask that (gets hot) quickly will cause the temperature to rise at extreme high temperatures, especially in humid conditions," Wenzel said .

In other words, if you cannot breathe easily through the mask and wear it outside, you may overheat.

Wenzel recommends that if you find it difficult to breathe, take off your mask — just make sure you can keep at least six feet away from others — sit in the shade and drink some water.

He said that if you feel dizzy or have a fast heartbeat, you need to remove the mask, stay away from the high temperature and seek medical attention. This may be a sign of heat stroke.

Wenzel also made recommendations for thousands of Americans: continue to wear masks when walking through crowds, hydrate them frequently, and stay away from the heat when possible. He said that putting a cold wet towel on the face and neck regularly would help.

Rimoin said that if you are traveling outdoors, you can wait until the weather is cold before going.

"If you have to go outside, you may want to avoid going out when it's hot," she said.

In extremely hot and humid environments, breathing through a mask may be more difficult. Rimoin recommends that if you must go outdoors, it is best to go in the morning or late in the evening, before the heat continues. If you can wait, choose an adventure on a cool day.

Some of your breathing problems may be caused by your mask material.

"The ability to breathe through a material is as important as its ability to stop the spread of disease," Rimoin said.

She said that cotton masks are favored by many people because of their "breathability" and comfort. Masks with cotton outer layer and flannel inner layer are also very useful.

She said that the ideal cloth mask should fit your face "closely but comfortably", and you should be able to wash and dry it without damaging its shape.

If you have difficulty breathing through the mask, make sure you wear it correctly before discarding it completely.

Rimoin said that your mask should cover your nose and mouth, close to the sides of your face, but placed loosely inside so that your breathing will not be obstructed.

She said that if you need to take off your mask, only take off your mask when you are at least 6 feet away from others.

A wet mask may stick to your face and block your breathing in different ways. If you find yourself sweating through your face mask, please bring extras.

Wenzel said he recommends putting spare masks in plastic sandwich bags. If you carry it this way, it is more likely to remain relatively clean.

Outdoors, the risk of coronavirus is usually low, where the wind can blow away the virus and you can (hopefully) keep your distance from others.

Swimming pools and beaches are also generally safe because it is believed that water does not harbor viruses. Keep your distance from other people in and out of the water, because respiratory droplets can still spread when you are outside.

Rimoin said that wearing a mask in the water is impractical, but you should still wear it when you leave it, especially if you cannot maintain the necessary distance from others.

If the calories are not enough, breathing problems can also hinder your breathing. Wenzel said that if you suffer from asthma, chronic lung disease or other respiratory diseases, please pay attention to the changes in your breathing ability at high temperatures. If the situation gets worse, stay away from high temperatures as much as possible.

If you need to take off your mask on the beach, only take off your mask when you are at least 6 feet away from others. (APU GOMES/AFP via Getty Images)

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