Chandigarh: Everyone is using masks as shields from the deadly COVID 19 pandemic. But these very masks can be harmful to the health of the user too. This opinion comes from Dr Yashpal Sharma, who is the Head of the Cardiology Department at PGI Chandigarh.
Morning walk in masks causes Oxygen deficiency
Shedding more light on the said danger, Dr Sharma said that since the time the government has relaxed lockdown norms, people have begun to come out of their homes. Many people going for a morning walk or run are wearing their masks. This, according to Mr Sharma, is a mistake.
He revealed that many cases have been reported where walking or running with facial masks led to oxygen shortage. He explained that the body needs more oxygen for its cardiovascular activities. But, he also revealed that wearing masks prevents adequate air and oxygen from reaching the lungs which can have fatal after effects.
He explained that the blood carries oxygen around the body, supplying it to different organs. But when one is involved in strenuous activities that increase the heart rate the body needs a higher quantity of oxygen but is not able to get the required oxygen, in the mornings, but due to the masks the demand is often not fulfilled.
ILL effects of oxygen shortage
The senior doctor told ETV Bharat that oxygen shortage can have lethal effects. For example, it can affect the brain, impair its functioning, or be the cause for a person’s heart failure and harm the lungs.
Vigilant use of masks required
Doctor Yashpal Sharma said that no one should go out of their homes without masks. But even these masks are required to used carefully, for example when one is in the park, it should not be worn during brisk walks and should never be used when running.
Further that when one is in a place where there are not many persons or crowds around and has trees in the immediate surroundings he should take deep breaths (without wearing a mask) so that the deficiency of oxygen in the body is balanced.
" The body does not receive requisite oxygen. Although we don’t feel it, that causes an oxygen shortage in the body. That is why deep breathing must be practised daily," said Doctor Yashpal Sharma.
He further stated that the people need not wear the N-95 masks and we shall be safe in normal surgical masks. This is because the N95 masks decrease the amount of oxygen received by the body even further and that the N 95 masks are only supposed to be used by those persons who come in contact with, or live around patients infected by the virus. For other non-infected patients, the surgical masks too would ensure their safety.
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