Specialists assured Al-Youm that wearing a surgical mask or a cloth mask does not affect the level of oxygen or carbon dioxide in the body.
They pointed out the importance of wearing it. To reduce the spread of infection and viral diseases, and to preserve the health and safety of everyone, stressing that it does not harm breathing.
saliva droplets
The Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Preventive Health, Dr. Abdullah Asiri: “Many studies concluded that the muzzle did not affect breathing at rest or physical activity, meaning that the feeling of shortness of breath is not due to a lack of oxygen, nor an increase in carbon dioxide in the blood, and it goes away with habit.”
He pointed out that respiratory viruses are often not transmitted individually, but rather in large numbers in droplets of saliva and mucus emerging from the respiratory tract of the infected person, and the mask retains these droplets on the outer surface.
negative impact
Family medicine consultant, Dr. Wijdan Al-Juhani: With the onset of the seasonal influenza season, the Ministry of Health reaffirmed the need to wear a mask, to limit the spread of viruses, especially in gathering places and health facilities.
And she added: The question returns again on social media about the negative impact on breathing, which may result from wearing a mask. Some rumors have been raised claiming that wearing a mask may lead to an increase in carbon dioxide and a lack of oxygen in the body.
And she continued: “In this regard, many scientific studies and experiments were conducted to test the effect of wearing a mask on the ability to exchange oxygen gas and carbon dioxide, and on the possibility of its effect on the performance of sports activities, and I found that in healthy people wearing a mask does not affect any of the above, with There is a limited effect during high-intensity sports.”
She pointed out that studies have shown the effect of the psychological factor on the feeling of difficulty breathing while wearing a mask, saying, “Hence we return to stressing the important role of masks in preventing the spread of respiratory diseases, and not being carried away by rumors.”
Confronting the pandemic
The emergency medicine consultant, Dr. Basem Al-Bahrani: The most important measures that were issued to confront the pandemic is the recommendation to wear masks, as local and international recommendations were issued to wear masks to reduce the spread of the Corona virus.
He added, “The masks have contributed and are still contributing to reducing the chances of infection spreading, in addition to the fact that many studies that have been issued confirm that wearing a surgical mask or a cloth mask does not affect the level of oxygen or carbon dioxide in the body, and confirms the safety of the masks.”
He pointed out that many doctors and surgeons around the world wear surgical masks daily, for long hours for many years, and this did not affect their respiratory system, and the advice still exists to wear masks, especially if you suffer from respiratory symptoms; To reduce the spread of respiratory diseases, as well as wearing masks in closed and crowded places.
Preventive measures
Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Dr. Ghada bint Fouad Al-Youssef: The best way to prevent influenza is to take preventive measures, such as washing hands regularly, avoiding contact with patients, taking the seasonal flu vaccine, in addition to wearing masks.
And it showed that known influenza viruses such as A and B are transmitted through airborne droplets, when the infected person sneezes, speaks or coughs, and individuals may inhale them, which makes wearing a mask one of the reasons affecting infection or not.
Vital Signs
Respiratory care specialist Khaled bin Dhaher Al-Enezi said: According to recent studies, there is no effect on vital signs when wearing a mask, even if there was an effect.
He explained that the benefits of wearing a mask outweigh its harms, especially in this period when seasonal influenza infection is frequent, as the mask is certain to inhale the droplets flying in the air from the infected, and I also recommend taking the seasonal flu vaccine.
Flying spray
The pediatrician, Dr. Amira Al-Shammari: Many recent studies have found that there is no lack of oxygen or shortness of breath with wearing a mask, and it is a live experience for us that by wearing a mask we measure oxygen, it reaches the normal limit, above 94%, and without it, the measurement of oxygen is also normal 100%.
And she recommended wearing a mask in crowded places, and in the event that there is an infected person who prevents us from flying droplets that transmit viruses to us, may God protect us and you.
Viral enemy
The internal medicine specialist, Dr. Turki Mubarak Al-Enezi: Wearing masks has been associated with epidemics, as if they embody fear of an invisible viral enemy, waiting for the opportunity to enter your body. Some have mastered the manufacture of alternatives to masks, some of them used scarves, and some of them put a shirt over their mouth.
The importance of wearing masks in public places is due to the fact that between 6 and 18% of infected people may not show any symptoms of the disease, although they are able to spread the infection, not to mention that the incubation period of the virus may reach 14 days before symptoms appear.
A study conducted by scientists from the University of Arizona indicated that the death rate in New York could be reduced by 17 to 45% over two months, if 80% of people wore masks of average efficiency.