Many residents of Florida have been challenging the face mask mandate of the government saying that face masks restrict oxygen and cause carbon dioxide build-up. However, a group of experts has made it clear that face masks do not cause any oxygen constraint or carbon dioxide build-up. The study has been termed as ‘The Effects of face Masks on Gas Exchange Healthy Persons and Patients with COPD. Residents of Florida have been saying that wearing a protective face mask can restrict normal breathing. This study has been published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. The research has been led by Dr. Michael Campos. He is a pulmonologist at Miami VA Medical Center and the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics.
Experts have looked at the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in healthy individuals before and while wearing surgical face masks. They have observed people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as well. The research has enrolled 15 veterans with acute COPD with lungs functioning under 50 percent and 15 healthy volunteers. All the participants who have been wearing a face mask for 30 minutes have been asked to walk for six minutes while wearing masks. After that, scientists have got their blood tests done and found that there has been no difference in levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The findings of the study have shown that breathing does not get affected by wearing a surgical face mask. People with severe lung injury as well are not impacted by the use of a face mask.
Experts have said that it is important to wear a mask to prevent COVID19 infection. They have said that especially people who are suffering from lung disease require wearing a face mask. Hand hygiene and social distancing as well are important to contain the spread of the virus. Experts have advised that discomfort linked to wearing a mask should not lead to unseen safety issues. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has suggested that people should wear masks in public and when they are around those people who do not live in the same household. Surgical face masks prevent respiratory droplets, which are formed when somebody sneezes and coughs and later cause COVID19 infection.
