What are oxygen bars and do they really increase your energy and vitality?
An oxygen bar is a place where healthy people pay about a dollar a minute to breathe 99 percent pure oxygen for an average of 15 to 20 minutes.
Oxygen bars--ranging in design from spas to bar-like environments--are becoming very trendy in major U.S. cities, including Denver.
The oxygen bar concept grew out of concerns about pollution in the environment and first appeared in Japan, Mexico and South America.
A hand-held canister dispenses oxygen via plastic tubing hooked to a person's nose. Users claim to feel more energized, less stressed and more productive after inhaling the oxygen.
But there is no solid, scientific evidence to date that supports the idea that healthy people can improve vitality by inhaling oxygen. Any burst of energy attributed to inhaling an enriched oxygen mixture is unlikely to last for more than a few minutes. The lungs can only transfer a limited amount of an enriched oxygen mixture to the blood and the rest is simply exhaled.
Too much oxygen, in fact, can cause severe problems. Excessive oxygen can hinder brain, heart, lung, muscle and memory function. Too much oxygen increases production of oxygen radicals, which can damage tissue and kill cells. Complications can include pulmonary edema, or "fluid on the lungs," a dangerous health condition.
Until there is a controlled medical trial with objective measurements, there is no solid evidence to support any beneficial claims. My belief is that if a controlled study were to be conducted, with normal healthy volunteers, there will be no substantial difference between people breathing room air and pure oxygen. The power of suggestion is very strong; the positive gains purported to date are very subjective.
The best ways to reduce stress and feel energized are still the tried and true methods: rest, exercise and proper diet. Meditation, which focuses on breathing and muscle relaxation, also may be beneficial for relieving stress.
Ron Balkissoon, MD, treats people with environmental and occupational lung diseases at National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A patient should consult his or her personal physician before changing or considering any medical treatments.
