The Effects of Exercising With A Mask On
If you’ve still found yourself working out over the last few months wearing a mask may have done more good than you realize! Recent studies have shown that while working out with a mask on you are more likely to focus on your breathing. According to Mashable.com, we should always focus on breathing through our nose while exercising.
This will increase the amount of carbon dioxide you receive and will help your body absorb more oxygen. Wearing a mask helps people to remember that they should be breathing through their nose instead of their mouth. With more oxygen going to your muscles it will lower your levels of lactic acid, which is what makes our muscles feel like they’re in pain while we exercise. While at times a mask may feel suffocating especially when doing heavy exercise those are only sensory perceptions. According to Susan Hopkins of UC San Diego, that does not mean they actually affect the cardiopulmonary functions of people who are healthy.
A study conducted in November shows that there is no evidence that age or sex will directly contribute to your body’s response to exercising while wearing a mask. Of course it is still important to ask your doctor if you should be exercising based on your personal health conditions.