Buzz
Going without a mask often feels more natural and comfortable than wearing one. Since most people aren’t accustomed to masks, the first experience of wearing one—especially during a summer pandemic—can feel suffocating. However, rest assured: masks do not restrict your breathing. This is a fact.
It’s important to note that while some individuals have medical conditions preventing them from wearing masks, this is unrelated to the misconception that masks limit oxygen intake. Such conditions usually involve: lung issues that make breathing laborious, sensory or anxiety disorders that make wearing fabric intolerable, or other challenges like the inability to remove a mask if necessary (e.g., infants shouldn’t wear masks). Simply disliking the sensation of a mask doesn’t qualify as a medical condition.
When you wear a mask over your mouth and nose, you’re not cutting off your air supply. Instead, you’re trapping warmth, moisture, and even your coffee breath close to your face. This might cause slight sweating or an occasional itch from a stray fiber.
In extreme situations, stress can escalate to a panic attack. A panic attack might involve sensations of breathlessness, and I firmly believe some individuals may have experienced panic attacks due to mask-related anxieties, mistakenly attributing their breathing difficulties to the mask itself.
However, masks do not block oxygen from entering your airways, nor do they cause carbon dioxide buildup in your lungs. This applies to surgical masks, N95s, and the various cloth masks—homemade or store-bought—commonly used. If you’ve crafted or found a mask from unconventional materials like plastic or rubber and feel it restricts breathing, consider switching to a standard cloth or disposable mask.
Take a deep breath—there’s plenty of oxygen
Despite this, some people remain convinced that masks drastically reduce oxygen levels, causing dizziness or confusion. They never seem to question how construction workers can wear N95 masks for hours without issue.
(Blood oxygen saturation is measured by those clip-on finger monitors. A healthy individual typically has a SpO2 level of 95 or higher. Levels significantly below 90 may indicate a need for medical attention.)
Have we overlooked the fact that healthcare professionals routinely wear masks for extended periods? In one instance, pediatrician Daniel Summers shares oxygen level updates during a nine-hour shift. Elsewhere, a nurse mentions working 13-hour shifts in both an N95 and a surgical mask. In another example, physician Maitiu O Tuathail layers six masks and still maintains a 99% oxygen level.
Think about it—if masks truly limited oxygen, modern surgery as we know it wouldn’t be possible.
Despite overwhelming evidence, social media is rife with videos claiming the opposite, but these are often misleading. For instance, Jeff Neff, a Pennsylvania state senate hopeful, used a gas detector (not a pulse oximeter) to argue that masks reduce oxygen levels. However, the device’s manufacturer clarified it’s not designed for such measurements. When Neff later used a pulse oximeter in a follow-up video, his oxygen levels remained consistently in the high 90s.
