Effects and Implications of Wearing a Face Mask on Cardiopulmonary Performance During Exercise

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has prompted the use of a face mask (FM) to minimize the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19. The use of an FM being an accepted precautionary measure to reduce viral transmission, there is a need for examining the physiological effects of wearing an FM, specifically during exercise. PURPOSE: To assess the impact of wearing a surgical FM on cardiopulmonary parameters and exercise performance. METHODS: Nine males and 9 females (age = 21.6 ± 2.5 yrs; BMI = 24.4 ± 3.1 kg/m2) participated in 2 laboratory visits where they completed a graded maximal exercise test using a modified Bruce Protocol. Participants were randomized to which laboratory visit they would complete first, with face mask (WFM) or without face mask (WOFM), which were performed at least 48 hours apart. Expired gases, blood pressure, heart rate, blood O2 saturation including perfusion index, and the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) were measured and compared between the WFM and WOFM trials at 6 different intensities (rest, 40%, 55%, 70%, 80%, and 100% VO2max), using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in VO2 (p = 0.001 and n2 = 0.73) between the WFM (38.5 ± 6.8 mL/kg/min) and WOFM (44.3 ± 7.4 mL/kg/min) trials only at the 100% VO2max intensity, where significantly lower values were also found during the WFM trial for respiratory rate (40.0 ± 6.8 vs 47.8 ± 8.9 bpm, p = 0.001, n2 = 0.62), respiratory exchange ratio (1.07 ± 0.08 vs 1.14 ± 0.64, p = 0.001, n2 = 0.52), and the partial pressure of expired oxygen (125.7 ± 3.5 vs 129.4 ± 3.1 mmHg, p = 0.0001, n2 = 0.54). In contrast, the partial pressure of expired carbon dioxide (32.8 ± 3.1 vs 30.8 ± 3.3 mmHg, p = 0.01, n2 = 0.33) was significantly higher during the WFM trial only at 100% VO2max intensity. No other parameters significantly differed at any of the intensities. CONCLUSION: Oxygen consumption was lower with face masks only as participants advanced from 80% to maximal effort. Notably, participants had a slower respiratory rate and exhaled a higher concentration of carbon dioxide with face masks. This result suggests that expired carbon dioxide accumulated under the face masks and participants subsequently rebreathed this expired carbon dioxide. There is no evidence that suggests exercise below 80% of VO2max while wearing face masks will cause any concerning changes in cardiopulmonary parameters. However, it is recommended that future studies examine how different types of face masks may affect cardiopulmonary function during exercise in a variety of subject populations

LION’S MANE AND ITS EFFECT ON COGNITIVE FUNCTION OVER EXTENDED USE

BACKGROUND: Lion’s Mane mushroom is found in supplements purporting to enhance cognition. The purpose of this study is to determine whether Lion’s Mane enhances cognitive brain functions such as memory, reaction time, or thought process speed. METHODS: 20 college-aged student-athletes (10 male, 10 female) were recruited for this study. Subjects were randomized into either a control group (CT) or supplementation group (LM). The LM group was given 1,000 mg of Lion’s Mane per day for three weeks, while the CT group did not receive any supplementation. Two computerized assessments were used to determine whether cognitive brain function improved. The Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Test (CCAT) was used to evaluate different styles of cognitive function, including but not limited to; Numerical Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning, and Attention to Detail. The second assessment was a digital Reaction Time Test performed on the computer, in which subjects waited for the screen to turn green before pressing a button. Subjects were tested with the CCAT and the Reaction Test three times in total; one familiarization test during the consent process, a pre-test at least 2 days after familiarization but before supplementation, and a post-test at the end of the 3-week supplementation period. Data were analyzed with SPSS® software to determine within and between group significance using repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between groups for CCAT (p = 0.075) or reaction time (p = 0.846). Within groups, the LM group improved CCAT scores from pre- to post-testing (0.40 ± 0.14 to 0.5200 ± 0.14924; p = 0.007). Reaction time in the LM group improved between familiarization and post-testing (318.60 ± 45.24 to 286.70 ± 27.72; p = 0.012) but did not reach significance for pre- to post-testing (307.80 ± 62.46 to 286.70 ± 27.72; p = 0.176). The CT group improved CCAT scores from familiarization to pre-test (0.18 ± 0.10 to 0.30 ± 0.07; p = 0.022) and post-test (0.18 ± 0.10 to 0.40 ± 0.12; p = 0.006), but not from pre- to post-test (0.30 ± 0.07 to 0.40 ± 0.12; p = 0.156). No significant improvements were found in CT reaction time scores for any time points. CONCLUSION: There is not sufficient evidence to either prove or disprove that Lion’s Mane influences Cognitive Performance, Reaction Time and Thought Process Speed. Even though the Lion’s Mane demonstrated greater improvement through both tests, the disparity between the two Groups was not significant enough to show a definite result