Study of Breathing-Related Metrics During Light Physical Activity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14738/bjhmr.102.14343Keywords:
breathing force, breathing frequency, heart rate, oxygen level, COVID-19, physical activityAbstract
The worldwide outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has changed many social aspects of human behaviors. This new situation gave high significance to the concerning question and the everlasting debate about the influence of wearing facial masks on critical vital signs. This study aimed to non-invasively explore the effect of wearing of the N95 facemask on physiological breathing-related measurements during daily activities. Short physical exercise protocols were developed to mimic daily activities (i.e., walking, climbing stairs, etc.) in terms of exercise intensity and duration in a consistent and controlled manner. The effect of wearing the N95 on breathing force and frequency, SPO2 and heart rates were measured at rest and during physical activities (i.e., pedaling on a stationary bicycle). Thirty-two subjects performed a total of four experimental setups to investigate the effect of two factors: N95 mask and physical activity. The main finding of this study is the significant increase in peak-to-peak breathing force (i.e., Differential Breathing Force (DBF)) exerted by chest muscles in response to wearing an N95 mask at rest and during physical activity (p < 0.003 and p < 0.0003, respectively). Moreover, a significant slight SPO2 decrease was recorded during physical activity with N95 compared to non-mask (p < 0.0003). The proposed method of quantitatively measuring breathing forces via a breathing belt was a noninvasive, reliable way of confirming the negative impact of using N95 masks on breathing, especially during physical activities.
References
Sohrabi, C., et al., World Health Organization declares global emergency: A review of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Int J Surg, 2020. 76, 71–76 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.02.034 .
Coclite, D., et al., Face mask use in the community for reducing the spread of COVID-19: a systematic review. Front Med, 2020. 7, 594269 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2020.594269 .
Ahmad, M.F., et al., A novel perspective approach to explore pros and cons of face mask in prevention the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens. Saudi Pharma J, 2021. 29, 121–133 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2020.12.014 .
Bartoszko, J.J., Farooqi, M.A.M., Alhazzani, W. and Loeb, M. Medical masks vs N95 respirators for preventing COVID‐19 in healthcare workers: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized trials.Influenza Other Respir Viruses,2020. 14, 365–373 https://doi.org/10.1111/irv.12745 .
Chu, M., et.al., 2019. Respiration rate and volume measurements using wearable strain sensors. NPJ Digit. Med, 2019, 2, 1–9 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-019-0083-3 .
Scarano, A., Inchingolo, F. and Lorusso, F., 2020. Facial skin temperature and discomfort when wearing protective face masks: thermal infrared imaging evaluation and hands moving the mask.Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020, 17, 4624 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17134624 .
Kim, J.H., Roberge, R.J. and Powell, J.B., Effect of external airflow resistive load on postural and exerciseassociated cardiovascular and pulmonary responses in pregnancy: a case control study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 2015, 15, 45 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-015-0474-7 .
Shenal, Brian V., et al. Discomfort and exertion associated with prolonged wear of respiratory protection in a health care setting. J Ocup Environ Hyg, 2012, 9, 59–64 https://doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2012.635133 .
Li, Y., Tokura, H., Guo, Y.P., Wong, A.S.W., Wong, T., Chung, J. and Newton, E., 2005. Effects of wearing N95 and surgical facemasks on heart rate, thermal stress and subjective sensations. Int Arch Occup Environ Health, 2005, 78, 501–509 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-004-0584-4 .
Roberge, Raymond J., et al. Physiological impact of the N95 filtering facepiece respirator on healthcare workers. Respir Care, 2010, 55, 569–577 https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/respcare/55/5/569.full-text.pdf .
Dacha, Sauwaluk, et al. Effects of wearing different facial masks on respiratory symptoms, oxygen saturation, and functional capacity during six-minute walk test in healthy subjects. Can J Respir Ther, 2022, 58, 85–90, doi: 10.29390/cjrt-2022-014 . 177
Tong, Pearl Shuang Ye, et al. Respiratory consequences of N95–type mask usage in pregnant healthcare workers—a controlled clinical study. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control 4.1 (2015): 1–10 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-015-0086-z .
do Prado, Danilo Marcelo Leite, et al. The effect of the protective face mask on cardiorespiratory response during aerobic exercise. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol, 2022, 49, 453–461 https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1681.13624 .
Hopkins, Susan R., et al. Face masks and the cardiorespiratory response to physical activity in health and disease. Annals of the American Thoracic Society 18.3 (2021): 399–407 https://doi.org/10.1513/AnnalsATS.202008-990CME .
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Adham Aleid
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
