Experiment:

Does a Face Mask Affect Oxygen Saturation Levels?

The COVID 19 pandemic has become a lifestyle for the past few months. Many indoor sports have been stopped to prevent the spread of the virus. Ballroom dancing is one of the communities that has taken an enormous hit, since it is a sport that requires the partners to interact within no more than three feet. Therefore, wearing masks and washing hands might be the only solution for the dancers to minimize the chance of viral spreading. However, the most common complaint of masking is shortness of breath and dizziness. Most of the students choose not to wear the masks during their practicing with the coaches. From my point of view, the ballroom community is on the fire. My experiment explores whether wearing mask actually decreases the oxygen saturation. It might be able to figure out the complaint of dizziness and breathlessness is physical or psychological. My hypothesis was after 45 minutes of dancing Latin and Standard while wearing a mask, oxygen saturation will be lower.

COVID-19 Experiment: Image

Methodology:

My pulse and oxygen saturation were measured by Fingertip Pulse Oximeter before and after 45 minutes Latin or Standard training with a disposable medical mask on, respectively. Data was collected for 24 days (12 for Latin and 12 for Standard) and analyzed with a t-test in Excel.

Results:

In Standard, the oxygen saturation is not significantly different before and after (p value= 0.096 The pulse increased significantly after the training (p value=0.0013
In Latin, the oxygen saturation is not significantly different before and after (p value= 0.133. The pulse increased significantly after the training (p value =5.7493E-05
In both Standard and Latin, the oxygen saturation was similar before and after the training (p value=0.096; p value=0.133. Both >0.05).
In both Standard and Latin, the heart rate increased significantly after the training (p value=0.0013; p value =5.7493E-05

Discussion:

The original hypothesis of mask-wearing causing lower oxygen saturation is disproved. When the body undergoes physical stress such as exercise, oxygen consumption increases, which causes the increase of heart rate to maintain the oxygen saturation and complies with the mechanism of compensation.

Conclusion:

Wearing a mask while dancing has no effect on oxygen saturation. Symptoms such as dizziness should not be prevalent while dancing. The main limitation of this experiment is the small sample size. This experiment needs to be repeated multiple times with people of various age groups and races. If COVID-19 continues to spread, the ballroom community will be forced to wear masks. In the future, in addition to the dresses, suits and jewelry, masks may also be a part of the look. Customized and glamourized masks may be the new trending business.

COVID-19 Experiment: Text

Experiment:

Methodology:

My pulse and oxygen saturation were measured by Fingertip Pulse Oximeter before and after 45 minutes Latin or Standard training with a disposable medical mask on, respectively. Data was collected for 24 days (12 for Latin and 12 for Standard) and analyzed with a t-test in Excel.

Results:

In Standard, the oxygen saturation is not significantly different before and after (p value= 0.096 The pulse increased significantly after the training (p value=0.0013

In Latin, the oxygen saturation is not significantly different before and after (p value= 0.133. The pulse increased significantly after the training (p value =5.7493E-05

In both Standard and Latin, the oxygen saturation was similar before and after the training (p value=0.096; p value=0.133. Both >0.05).

In both Standard and Latin, the heart rate increased significantly after the training (p value=0.0013; p value =5.7493E-05

Discussion:

The original hypothesis of mask-wearing causing lower oxygen saturation is disproved. When the body undergoes physical stress such as exercise, oxygen consumption increases, which causes the increase of heart rate to maintain the oxygen saturation and complies with the mechanism of compensation.

Conclusion: