What Are the Effects of an Oxygen Bar?

Oxygen bars are places you can go to breathe purified oxygen for a range of alleged health benefits. Recreational oxygen use was pioneered in countries like Japan and Mexico after concerns about pollution drove people to seek healthier air. Nowadays, oxygen bars in the States have started appearing in clubs, casinos and malls and are part of a growing new health trend. However, many dispute the benefits and say an increased intake of oxygen will have little or no effect in a healthy individual.

FDA Regulations

Oxygen bars are allowed in certain states at the discretion of the FDA.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sees recreational oxygen use a violation of its regulations, as this agency considers a person using any type of oxygen dispensed by another as using a prescription drug. However, the FDA does give individual states the power to regulate recreational oxygen use themselves. This means that some states will allow it, whereas others will heavily regulate it.

Alleged Benefits

Increased oxygen intake is said to benefit athletes.

Even though oxygen bar companies are wary of claiming any actual medical benefits to recreational oxygen use in light of FDA regulation, many outline the possible increased health benefits. For example, users say that oxygen will increase energy and mental agility and reduce stress, headaches and tiredness associated with the effects of modern air-conditioned offices. It is also claimed that oxygen will have beneficial effects on your beauty, maintaining a healthier complexion and clearer looking skin, plus a better immune system. As for benefits in sports, many maintain that taking oxygen before and after physical activity can reduce recovery time and increase performance.

Possible Health Risks

Individuals with health concerns should be cautious about using oxygen bars.

At some oxygen bars you can choose to inhale scented oxygen, which according to the FDA, could be a cause for concern. While some scents are achieved by using safe food-grade particles, others are made by using aroma oils. In the worst case scenario, when inhaled some oil-based substances can lead to an inflammation of the lungs.

According to Mary Purucker, M.D., Ph.D., a pulmonary specialist at the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), those with conditions such as asthma, some types of heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and other conditions that require the regulation of oxygen intake also need to be careful. In some of these cases, increased oxygen inhalation could do the patient harm; you should always talk to your doctor before considering going to an oxygen bar. However, the opinion of the American Lung Association is that for healthy individuals, using oxygen bars will have very little effect. If they do, these effects will wear off almost immediately.