It’s easy to find examples of health care workers complaining about masks interfering with their breathing[1]. That was just the first example I looked at there are plenty more.
[1] https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/trouble-breathing-i...
[1] https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/trouble-breathing-i...
But let's look at actual data - there's no measurable impact on blood oxygen saturation when wearing masks:
https://twitter.com/MurseWordsworth/status/12767990206738882...
https://twitter.com/AlisonKabaroff/status/127738060548793958...
https://twitter.com/DrRobDavidson/status/1277565585568784385
You'd have to rule out confounding variables like panic attacks, nervousness, etc. - especially in first-time medical workers - and obtain actual evidence of impact on oxygen saturation for those anecdotes to be useful.
I'm not entirely convinced by the test shown though. Doing a similar test while doing light exercise would be more convincing.
Another important factor to consider is that people breathe differently. Some people breathe more through their nose, others through their mouth. Maybe this can have an effect? Then there's also the fact that some people can take much stronger breaths (pulmonologists are always disappointed by my spirometry test results).
Mask wearing is important, but it doesn't feel right to just dismiss the reports that some people have more difficulty breathing with masks just because it doesn't happen to me.
I'm guessing the issues people face is less about the masks and more about the sensation of wearing a mask which spikes anxiety levels and causes the sensation of being unable to breath. If Japan can reach near ubiquitous levels of mask wearing without issues especially given their larger elderly population, I'm sure they'll be fine.
Otherwise if they have an actual medical issue that prevents wearing a mask then by all means.
"It works for me" or whichever other anecdote is given to dismiss a valid complaint has never held any water and never will.
> If Japan can reach near ubiquitous levels of mask wearing without issues especially given their larger elderly population, I'm sure they'll be fine.
Masks aren't fun to wear, I was out in one yesterday in Japan and my wife, who is Japanese and has worn a mask long before this pandemic was a glint in a bat's eye, was complaining about being out of breath and uncomfortable.
They're well known for being uncomfortable even in the winter, and they have plenty of negatives beyond that.
Besides, if you saw the way people wore masks in Japan you'd never use it in an argument.