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Does The Use Of Respirators Cause Any Breathing Issues?

Posted on Tue, 31 Oct 2017

Question: I'm living in a toxic mold environment right now that I am not able to presently evacuate. I hence wear a 3M half-mask respirator that has the highest grade charcoal + HEPA respiration technology available on non-military bases. Visually it looks like one of those bug masks - with the large cartridges lateral to the breathing piece. Would wearing respirators like this virtually around the clock cause any oxygen and carbon dioxide balance or other breathing problems? Scrolling down the following OSHA website just a bit shows images of what the half-mask respirator I wear looks like:https://www.yyyy.yyy/yyyyyyyyyyyyy/002-yyy-yyyyyyyyyy.yyyy

(Any doctors except Dr. XXXXXXX xxxxx please.)

Answered by Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
using respirators will not affect oxygen levels

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for trusting HCM

Using a respirator round the clock will not affect oxygen levels in the body or release of carbon dioxide under normal atmospheric conditions. It will not cause any breathing problems.
The respirator does not affect the passage of air and prevents only small particulate matter in the air .

Hope this answers your question
Please address further questions here
Regards
Dr.Lekshmi

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (3 days later)

Thank you Dr. Lekshmi.

Sometimes it feels like I am getting less oxygen when I breathe through the respirator. Is it possible there is air flow resistance using respirators which makes it feel like you are getting less oxygen and air?

Answered by Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up answer

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,

No, the respiratory will not affect the passage of air.
However, of the respiratory is not fitting your face appropriately, you can still inhale mold particles, which can cause bronchospasm leading to feeling to breathing difficulty/decreased oxygen.
Ensure that the respiratory is fitting you correctly.

Regards
Dr.Lekshmi

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng