It is important to wear a mask while in confined areas where you are close to others But what are the important exceptions?
Here in Alberta thanks to our heavy snowfalls doctors are very aware that after each heavy snowfall they are going to receive a larger than normal and probably the largest increases in heart attacks of the year. This is because people who may or may not exercise regularly are shovelling snow. As they lift the shovel filled with snow they hold their breath. This creates what is called the Valsalva maneuver. This action takes place when there is an internal pressure against a closed airway. This is especially dangerous for middle aged people who shovel their own snow. If people exhaled every time they lifted their shovel their heart would experience a natural flow. Like opening up a release valve. But hold your breath and exert and if you are the person with arterial blockages. That might just be more than your heart can take, resulting in a heart attack.
What does that have to do with wearing masks? What’s my point? I’m not an “anti-masker” and I understand the reasoning behind wearing masks. I think it is important to wear a mask while in confined areas where you are close to others. As some municipalities and cities are passing new mandatory mask-wearing legislation we must still be careful. As Neuton originally stated in his third law, “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
Still, how does that relate to wearing masks? For most people, if you are in a grocery store and your heart is near rest or ten beats above your resting heart rate, it isn’t a problem. If you start running however it can be the equivalent of hyperventilating into a brown paper bag. This will put stress on your heart and lungs. You won’t experience the proper gas exchange at the alveoli level that your body is intended to experience. You will be breathing in too much Co2 and not enough O2. You could pass out, you might experience a heart incident, if you have asthma this could stress your respiratory system such that you could have issues with your asthma. There are many problems that this could cause. And what about people who are morbidly obese and they get a great work out just by walking around the grocery store? Yes, we want to protect them and protect ourselves in the process by asking people to mask up, but if their heart rates skyrocket when they are just walking, wearing a mask for them could mean they are at risk of many respiratory-related issues including dangerous strains on their hearts when they wear a mask and just walk at a normal pace.
So, what does all of this mean? This means if you are exercising, I hope you can either exercise outside or in a facility that allows you to be at least ten feet (minimum) away from the nearest person who is working out. I would hope that you stay as far away from others as possible and don’t wear a mask during exercise that makes you breathe heavy. I am hoping your gym has physical barriers in place and great ventilation so that you have access to fresh air so you can still get a good work out.
Yes, I just said it. I’ll say it again because it is important.
Do not wear a mask while performing an exercise that elevates your heart rate such that you have to breathe heavy.
Or masking up is going to put you in the hospital for other reasons. You could pass out and hit your head on the way down, you can have any number of respiratory issues due to wearing a mask while having an increased heart rate. Some people could even have a heart attack. Just be careful. If it is mandated in your area to wear a mask in public spaces, mask up while grocery shopping, but not while exercising. And if your heart rate skyrockets while you are grocery shopping, then ordering your groceries online might be a wise choice for you.
Until next time...
Keep Fit 'N' Well.
Greg
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