Should You Wear a Face Mask While Exercising?

Due to the ongoing 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, wearing a face mask has become an integral part of the normal lives of human beings and that, wearing a face mask whenever one has to necessarily go outside has become mandatory.

With the pandemic causing sports to go on an indefinite hiatus while also forcing gyms to close, many who are conscious about their fitness are left without a choice but to do their fitness activities at home. Or worse, some are even apprehended for jogging around during the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the Philippines. While many have been able to do their exercise regimen at home, there are some who still prefer to jog around while wearing a face mask.

This begs the question: is it safe to wear a face mask when exercising?

First and foremost, not everyone is comfortable wearing a face mask as it makes it even difficult for the wearer to breathe. And since exercising such as jogging requires one to be able to breathe freely, wearing a mask while jogging has its dangers which could even cause one to die. It makes your lungs work harder for them to provide the oxygen that you need whenever you're exercising. Not only that, breathing freely allows oxygen to be provided to the brain and anything that hampers that free-flowing of oxygen is a health hazard. And, the consequences are fatal. 

In Wuhan, China where COVID-19 first erupted, a 26-year old male was rushed to the hospital after complaining of experiencing chest pains upon returning home from a four-kilometer jog. According to the doctors, the patient's left lung collapsed by 90% but fortunately, the patient is said to be in stable condition after undergoing a successful operation but that raises the question of the safety in exercising while wearing a face mask.

There's also the case of two teenage boys, in China, who died after collapsing while completing an examination as part of their physical education class.  It was reported that one of the victims was wearing a surgical mask while the other was wearing an N95 respirator. The reported cause of death is cardiac arrest.

These incidents are proof that wearing a mask while doing any exercise regimen is more of a safety concern rather than being a protection against the virus. While most cities in the Philippines have more relaxed ECQ protocols and have allowed joggers, it's still safer to do your fitness activities at home rather than taking a jog with a mask. It may protect you from the virus but wearing a mask while jogging can cause more harm than good. 

Photo is from France 24