Face masks unlikely to cause overexposure to carbon dioxide, new study finds
Houston:
Face masks are unlikely to cause overexposure to carbon dioxide, even in patients with lung disease, according to a new study that contradicts claims linking mask wearing to poisoning from exhaled gas.
While several governments around the world have made the wearing of face masks mandatory during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers, including those at the University of Miami in the United States, noted that some people discouraged its use, saying that this could be a health risk.
The study, published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society, assessed the problems associated with changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in healthy people, as well as in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD ) before and during the use of surgical masks.
Scientists say people with COPD “have to work harder to breathe, which can lead to shortness of breath and / or feeling tired.”
“We show that the effects are minimal, at best, even in people with very severe lung failure,” said study co-author Michael Campos of the University of Miami.
As for the feeling of shortness of breath that some healthy people may experience, Campos said, the dyspnea – or the feeling of shortness of breath – experienced by some while wearing masks is not synonymous with impaired gas exchange.
“This is probably happening due to the restriction of airflow with the mask, especially when higher ventilation is required (on exertion),” he explained.
“If you walk quickly on a slope, for example, you may experience shortness of breath. A mask that is too tight can also increase the feeling of shortness of breath,” the scientists noted in a statement.
They said the solution was to slow down or remove the mask if you are at a safe distance from other people.
Campos stressed the importance of wearing a face mask to prevent infection with COVID-19.
If a surgical mask is not available, the researchers said a fabric mask with at least two layers is recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
They said patients with lung disease, in particular, should avoid infection and wear a face mask, which, along with hand washing and social distancing, can reduce the risk of COVID infection. 19.
“We recognize that our observations may be limited by sample size, but our population provides a clear signal that surgical masks have no effect on relevant physiological changes in gas exchange under routine circumstances (prolonged rest, short walk), ”the scientists wrote in the study.
They believe it is important to educate the public that the discomfort associated with using the mask should not lead to unfounded safety concerns, as it could mitigate the application of a proven practice to improve health. public health.
“The public should not believe that masks kill,” Campos added.
(This story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
