The lethal link between masks, hypoxia, and blood clots

An abnormally low level of oxygen in the blood negatively impacts the body in the form of hypoxia, a potentially deadly condition.

Just a 5% drop in blood oxygenation is considered “abnormal” but a 15% reduction will cause noticeable symptoms. These include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and cognitive impairment. Even surgeons can suffer low O2 and associated symptoms merely from wearing a surgical mask. But can hypoxia have more serious side effects?

Air travelers, mountaineers, and climbers are known to suffer an increase in blood clotting issues, namely venous thromboembolisms (VTE) like pulmonary embolism or deep-vein thrombosis. The cause of VTE at altitude is usually inadequate oxygen. High-altitude travel advisories for mile-high cities abound. And blood clots are not a minor affliction; VTE kills 300,000 people a year.

At sea level the air we breathe is 21% oxygen. High altitude where pilots can suffer ill effects begins at even 5,000 feet. The N95 mask commonly worn eclipses that elevation; it’s well known to cause a 20% reduction in O2, which simulates the 16% O2 of 6,000 feet. But is that dangerous? Could this increase the risk of potentially lethal blood clots?

Two years ago a causation was found– the biological link between hypoxia and blood clotting. The study discovered that hypoxia downregulates expression of the important natural anticoagulant protein S. The level of protein S was found to drop by 50% when O2 levels were at 15%.

As the N95 simulates a similarly low oxygen saturation, this indicates wearing a mask may decrease your natural ability to prevent blood clots by 50%.

This has potentially serious implications. A web search for “blood clot covid” returns many stories about the virus-induced blood clotting and its lethality for those patients. In late June researchers in Utah discovered that platelet hyperreactivity is the cause of COVID-19 clotting.

It’s a simple bit of math: if you’re masked and hypoxic with increased blood clotting, and then you get a virus which causes more blood clots, isn’t that a perfect recipe to die fast?

And this is the thought that has been keeping me up at night: I picture people who’d otherwise survive their COVID-19 case strapping on a mask to “protect others” and essentially killing themselves.

Also worrying me is the common expectation that to not infect others, those with the virus even recovering at home should mask up as often as possible. I strongly suspect that staying masked and hypoxic with increased blood clotting is not conducive to a speedy recovery from COVID-19 clotting issues.

I’m sure you can identify the many problems with intentionally increasing the blood clot risk for the general population through mass compulsory masking. Already millions of people take blood thinners just to stay alive due to excessive clotting. How could it possibly be a good idea to hinder their already diminished natural blood thinning ability?

And what about people who are unaware they have an existing clotting disorder and then wear a mask at work for hours? Especially those most at risk of VTE, who are also the most at-risk for COVID-19?

This information brings up hard questions that demand answers.

Why has this extremely serious and potentially fatal side effect from wearing a mask, especially N95, not been the subject of widespread health alerts?

How could any qualified health official not already know about the well established blood clot dangers of mandatory hypoxia for the masses, especially COVID-19 patients? If they did know, would they do anything?

And, what if they already know?

Note:

On July 6, a message was sent to Oregon Health Authority with a summary of this information, but unfortunately only received an auto-reply, stating “because of the large volume of questions, we cannot directly reply to every email.” A direct reply has not yet been received.