The internet sensation… face coverings can cause headaches due to lack of Oxygen (Truth or Fiction?)

If you have not seen it yet, just wait and one of your anti-mask friends will be sure to share it with you.  My phone blew up this weekend from e-mails, texts, and FB messengers from friends concerned with what they saw before their very eyes.  I tried to explain what they were seeing, but to respond to each inquiry has become too much so I thought this video deserved a rebuttal. I am NOT trying to convince you to wear a mask/covering; I am merely explaining what you are seeing in this viral video.  Here is the video that is causing all the stir:

First, what you are seeing in the video is real.  It is NOT a trick; however, he did MANIPULATE his demonstration in order to get the results he wanted you to see while wearing the mask.  I’ll explain what he did, purposely or by mistake is for you to decide. 

I do the same thing, without a mask on, in my PRCS Supervisor training courses when I am teaching them the limitations of their direct-reading atmospheric meters.  Although I have to admit, I do my training without an “OSHA Approved” meter (bad joke for my safety colleagues). What we are witnessing in his video is BASIC SCIENCE; in fact, if the results of his demonstration were any different then he would be in serious medical trouble!

This is how it works and how he was able to show you that wearing a mask causes headaches, dizziness, and some have even claimed it can kill you.

The air we breathe (normal atmosphere) is by volume 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and trace amounts of other gasses.  Our bodies need oxygen to survive and our bodies are very efficient at taking that 21% O2 and putting it into our bloodstream. When we exhale, we are pushing out the oxygen we did not use and the bad gases that we did not need and that our body has generated during the act of breathing and exercising/moving/living.  Our EXHALED BREATH is comprised of:

• 78% nitrogen
• 13–16% oxygen
• 4.0–5% carbon dioxide
• 1% argon
• trace compounds/elements

But in a nutshell, we consume about 5-6% of the O2 we inhaled in each breath and we exhale the rest; which is EXACTLY what his meter showed us (16% Oxygen).  And since the meter is set up to alarm at 19.5% Oxygen, the alarm went off.

Had he breathed in again, we would have seen the meter readings go back up to normal and then back down when he exhaled.  Do this normally with a face mask on, it is difficult to set off the alarm.  What he did that was not genuine in his demonstration is that he exhaled into the mask and waited for the meter to sample his exhalation breath and he was delayed in taking his next breath.  And once he did, we see the levels within the mask climb back to normal levels.  We can not see this in the video, but you can use your own calibrated meter and do your own test to see how this works.  I can promise anyone who wishes to listen that a face-covering like the one he used will NOT cause headaches, dizziness, or death in a HEALTHY PERSON.  If you have serious respiratory or cardiac issues SEEK ADVICE from your doctor!