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Comment by Raidion | Hacker News Reader

You already see this. Google "NFL oxygen masks". I'm sort of surprised I haven't heard about it in the context of shorter physical sports: I'd wonder what effect it would have on an 100m/200m/400m time or shotput distance to oxygen saturate like free divers do.

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Elsewhere in the thread, someone claims that oxygen has a similar narcotic effect. Does the NFL use a helium-oxygen mixture, or pure oxygen?

I think an NFL lineup would be significantly less intimidating with their lungs full of helium. It's a pretty funny thing to imagine. (referring to the effect of helium on voices)

You don't see NFL players using oxygen masks much anymore. Some people used to believe that it accelerated recovery from hard exertion but experiments have shown that it makes no significant difference. It's a placebo effect if anything.

Disc: Generally speaking, not spesific to the oxygen mask thing.

> Some people believe it but experiments have shown that it makes no significant difference. It's a placebo effect.

I cannot count the amount of times I heard this on medicines and treatments. A too high percentage of them turn out to be not plasebo after a short amount of time. I believe “the experiments shown <anecdatolly working and commonly practised treatment> is plasebo” is the the first line of defense of the medical status quo against change.

It is not uncommon for drivers to take supplemental oxygen for the pike's peak hill climb event.

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