Do Pollution Air Masks Cause Breathing Problems? If you live in a place with high air pollution levels, you’re probably familiar with all of the ways to cope with this major public health issue. You can invest in an air purifier, clean regularly, stay inside, and wear a mask if you have to go out. But if you’re an athlete or a person who likes the outdoors, staying inside can keep you from doing what you love. So what is the solution for athletes and people who like to enjoy the outdoors? Before we get to that, let’s take a look at the common concerns of people who live in places with high pollution. Concerns about wearing pollution air masks One of the biggest worries people have about wearing a pollution air mask is that we won’t be able to breathe. The thought of covering our noses and mouths seems like it may be uncomfortable or cause shortness of breath. Dr. Evelyn Lewin and many other doctors have done research that addresses our concerns. In an article she published in October 2020 she explains that face masks don’t affect gas exchange, which basically means we still get the air we need while wearing a mask. This is good news. However, that doesn’t make them any easier to wear. This is not so good news. In hot weather, they can get too hot. In the cold weather, the moisture from your breath can freeze, making the mask uncomfortable and less effective. They are sealed on all sides of the face, which can make you feel smothered. Or alternatively, improperly sealed masks can send warm air up into your eyes. In general, they just seem quite uncomfortable and not worth wearing despite heavy pollution. What the experts say about wearing pollution air masks Our worries about wearing masks are real concerns. These concerns inspired doctors and research experts all over the world to research and explain how wearing masks can affect our breathing and our lives. Even though doctors have found that masks allow us to get the air we need, they are still uncomfortable, which can cause us anxiety. Canada-based lung specialist Christpher Ewing tells us that when we feel discomfort, the way we breathe can change. He says that it is important to give ourselves time to get used to wearing pollution air masks. It’s like taking time to get used to a new pair of glasses. How do pollution masks work? Pollution masks can stop pollution from entering your lungs and affecting your entire body in several ways. Fabric choice: Different kinds of fabrics can filter pollutants with varying effectiveness. Most pollution masks use a combination of fabrics to create an effective filter. Fabric thickness and layering: The thicker the fabric, the more effective the filter. Combined with layering of fabrics, this makes for an effective mask. Stitching choice: Pollution masks should be tightly stitched or else they are not effective at all. The choice of stitching is key to a good pollution mask. Mask fit: How a mask fits may be the single most crucial aspect of a pollution mask. If it does not seal tightly to your face, pollution can get in. A good pollution mask creates a seal from your nose, to your cheeks, to your chin. No unfiltered air should get in. Copper: Some masks have begun to include copper as a filtration aid as it has native antimicrobial properties, making the masks not only effective against pollution, but bacteria as well. Using the methods above, an effective pollution mask should filter pollutants of at least 2.5 microns in size in order to truly be an anti-pollution mask. But can pollution masks really protect us as athletes? Short answer: Yes. The longer answer is dependent on if the mask is well constructed and even better fitted. Tight stitching is paramount as well as the layering of the fabric. If the mask doesn’t fit properly, it is essentially useless against pollution. Masks should also be tested by accredited third party institutions to be sure that they can filter pollutants at least as small as 2.5 microns in size. That is the size of many of the most harmful particles that need to be functionally trapped by a good pollution mask. If they can, then you have found a good pollution mask. A key point in a pollution mask for an athlete is comfort. This is also protection as an uncomfortable mask we don’t want to wear is not protection at all. A good mask for our outdoor adventures needs to be comfortable. What does NAROO have to do with it? NAROO knows what athletes need: a breathable, functional pollution mask that will let them exercise safely. With that in mind, we created the F Series, which is a set of filtering masks that address the concerns of mask wearers, and of sports people wanting to head outdoors. Are the masks breathable? Yes. This is the one quality that sets this line apart from other pollution masks and makes it especially suited for sports people. Our masks are easy to breathe in. Do they have testing certifications? Yes, we have certifications proving their effectiveness as pollution masks. Do they create a seal? The masks seal against the face and shield it from pollutants. The bendable nose wire allows it to fit to the nose and under eye area snugly while the stitching of the knit fabric hugs the cheeks and chin to seal it. What size particles do they filter? They filter particles as small as 1.7 microns, catching not only normal pollutants but ultrafine particles. Do they use tight stitching? Our masks are made with a special knit that allow them to be both breathable and stitched tightly enough to catch pollutants. What about discomfort in the heat and the cold? The F Series have many different masks that are suited for use in hot and cold weather. Moisture-wicking fabric allows for any perspiration or condensation
What’s the Difference Between a Sports Face Shield and a Workout Face Shield? From defense to disease prevention, masks are one of the most commonly used products today. Sports, in particular, require frequent usage of masks for a multitude of reasons. Be it for managing uncomfortable weather conditions, protecting the face from injury or just breathing less polluted air, masks have always been the answer. However, amateur sports enthusiasts may often confuse sports masks with a workout face shield, or vice-versa. Since each category of masks is manufactured to meet a specific purpose, anyone taking sports seriously needs to know the difference. Donning the wrong mask at the wrong time for the wrong reason can cause injury, discomfort, inconvenience, and compromised performance. So, let’s start with the obvious questions. Workout Face Shield? Essentially, training masks (also known as altitude masks or elevation training masks) are used to simulate high altitude conditions by stressing the body while exercising in lower altitudes. It is used to make breathing as hard as it would be in higher altitudes, so as to prepare the wearer for an environment in which breathing would be more difficult for them. Training masks limit the amount of air the wearer can inhale. Through repeated usage while training, it strengthens respiratory muscles by making them work harder. It helps accelerate physical performance, improve endurance, and prepare the body to function optimally in challenging respiratory conditions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NAROO MASK | Official (@naroomask_global) What are Sports Face Shields? Sports Face Shields are specifically designed to handle sports activities. They are primarily meant to protect the wearer’s respiratory system from environmental factors while in the midst of strenuous activity. For example, a sports mask can be useful when you are running in a city with high smog levels, as it would protect you from inhaling polluted particles from the air and protect your lungs from too much damage as you inhale more oxygen more frequently during exercise. Of course, sports masks come in multiple variants to help protect the body while performing different activities or while operating in diverse environments. A few of these include: • Balaclavas: Headgear designed to cover most of the face, except the eyes and mouth. It is especially useful while motorcycling or engaging in winter sports, especially in snow climes. Their most basic functions are to protect from the wind, cold, and dust. Face masks/Face Covers: Masks or facial covers are equipped with filters that prevent the wearer from breathing in pollutants, pollen, or dust particles. These are useful when athletes have to train or perform in dusty locations or areas with high levels of pollution. Of course, there are also masks without filters that are made to provide protection from elements such as UV rays, strongs winds, jarring cold, flying insects, etc.Tubular masks/neck gaiters: Often made of materials meant to provide warmth (fleece, wool, etc.), it is shaped as a closed tube that one can slip over the head. This face covering also protects the neck, and can be pulled over the mouth and nose to protect against wind, debris, fumes, and other irritants.Driven by a desire to help athletes and sports enthusiasts deliver optimal performance, NAROO provides a catalogue of industry-best sports masks. We offer a variety of sports masks (running masks, cycling masks, masks for winter sports, and more) , each designed to align with the requirements of specific sports, weather conditions and the athlete’s performance level. For us, comfort, breathability and protection are the priority. Sport masks vs. Training masks – How are They Different? Simply put, one protects while the other strengthens. Sports masks are worn to ensure that the wearer does not inhale undesirable elements (fine dust, pollutants, insects, pollen, etc.). It is also meant to protect much of the face, including nose and mouth from inhospitable weather (cold temperature, strong wind, harsh sun, etc.). On the other hand, training masks restrict air flow to the wearer’s nose and lungs. This is done to strengthen their respiratory system by making it work harder in stressful conditions. Primarily, training masks are used to simulate high-altitude breathing conditions while training in lower altitudes. Since there is less oxygen and breathing naturally becomes more laboured when higher up, a training mask is a great way to acclimatize the body to these conditions without actually having to go to those heights. This is especially useful when preparing for strenuous treks or other physically challenging activities in challenging mountainous terrain. Benefits of Sports Masks Protect your airways: The right sports mask will make breathing infinitely easier during physical exertion than other face covers. While training, breathing quickens and you wouldn’t be able to consciously focus on avoiding dust or insects. But a mask equipped with filters can take care of that. It prevents dust, pollen, sand, bugs, and much more from being inhaled and tainting the airways and lungs. Enables greater focus: With breathing woes in control, the athlete can focus on nothing but their performance. They won’t have to deal with irritants like smog and dust. Additionally, adequately equipped masks will keep them wealthier in the long run, by preventing the inhalation of undesirable air particles. Protect your skin: Between UV rays and airborne irritants, your skin is exposed to a lot while you exercise. A great sports mask that protects your airways will also protect your skin from the same irritants. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NAROO MASK | Official (@naroo_global) Homemade Solutions – How Effective are They? Many athletes choose to wear a scarf, neck warmer, face bandana, balaclava mask or ski mask around their mouth and nose when training in the cold. However, while this does trap the warm, moist air they exhale, these items are quite uncomfortable, especially during intensive training sessions. Additionally, goggles get fogged up, causing visibility issues hence cutting down on performance capability. They are also not easy to breathe through, adding further deterrents to performance. NAROO’s breathable sports masks have been inspected and certified