Are Oxygen Bars Safe? Know Before You Try

Summit Oxygen specializes in supplying oxygen equipment for medical or recreational purposes, including oxygen bar for hotels, meeting and entertainment venues, corporate or private events.

Our oxygen company has received many questions from potential clients asking about the benefits of an oxygen bar. And, right afterwards: are oxygen bars safe? Many people are thinking about oxygen therapy used in hospital settings, and wondering whether it is alright to try it at a meeting with friends or in a hotel. In this article, we will tell you not only how to calculate the oxygen concentrator power usage, but also how to manage the electricity costs. Over the years, our work with various clients (both individuals and businesses) has allowed us to develop know-how on the way costs related to the use of medical equipment can be mitigated.

This is why we decided to prepare a comprehensive guide on oxygen bars. We will cover aspects such as:

 

  • Oxygen health benefits
  • How oxygen bars work
  • How safe it is to use recreational oxygen bars.

 

We will also touch on the issue of caution for people suffering from certain conditions. Our mission is to shed light on oxygen bar purpose and let both corporate and individual clients make an informed choice.

A Short History of the Oxygen Bar

Oxygen bars are not a new invention. They first appeared as “air stations” in Japan, in the 1980s, in large cities with severe air pollution. Citizens could step into a booth and breathe clean, refreshing air for a few minutes.

 

Inspired by this concept, the first recreational oxygen bar opened in Toronto, Canada in 1996. The concept soon became very popular across the US. By the end of the 1990s, oxygen bars became a staple in restaurants, hotels, night clubs in New York, California, Las Vegas, Florida, and the Rocky Mountains region.

 

The oxygen bar has fallen out of popularity during the 2000s but made a comeback in recent years. People are now more health-conscious and want to try alternative well-being therapies, focused on natural products. And what could be more natural than the oxygen we all need to survive?

How Does an Oxygen Bar Work?

Now that you know the oxygen bar’s purpose and origins, it is time to learn how the equipment works. Understanding its ins and outs will also help you decide for yourself: are oxygen bars safe?

 

The first thing you need to know is that unlike medical equipment, an O2 bar does not deliver oxygen under pressure. Now, let us look at the components of the oxygen bar.

 

The core of this piece of equipment is the oxygen concentrator. Its purpose is to separate nitrogen from environmental air and collect concentrated oxygen. The average concentration for a recreational oxygen bar is 40%.

 

Next, the concentrated oxygen gets into the diffuser, which resembles a bottle and contains water, food-grade particles or aromatic oils. Clients can choose from a very large range of scents for their oxygen bar session, from fruity and flowery to peppermint and cappuccino. Depending on the client’s wishes, the oxygen bar assistant can recommend flavors that promote:

 

  • Relaxation
  • Energy burst
  • Calm
  • Invigoration
  • Euphoria.

 

The client breathes in the scented oxygen through a tube called a cannula inserted in the nostrils. The entire piece of equipment is airtight, with zero chances of contamination from the air around it.

Benefits of Breathing Pure Oxygen

People who use an oxygen bar frequently say that it makes them feel more energetic and get a positive mood boost. Others say that the best effects of going to an O2 bar are:

 

  • Reduced stress after a busy period at work
  • Relief for migraines and headaches
  • Youthful, radiant skin
  • Greater ability to focus and be alert

 

Visitors to our oxygen bar in the Rockies also say that it is the best way of fighting the symptoms of altitude sickness. A sudden change from polluted city air to crisp mountain air can create sudden bouts of tiredness, shortness of breath and nausea. After just a few sessions at the oxygen bar, our visitors are ready to start hiking or practicing mountain sports.

Is Pure Oxygen Good for You?

The term “pure oxygen” is not to be taken literally. As stated above, an oxygen bar delivers oxygen with a concentration of around 40%. This is a safe level for almost everyone, excluding people with certain health conditions. It is only double the concentration of oxygen in the air and will not lead to an oversaturation of the blood.

 

According to the American Lung Association, “there is no evidence that oxygen at the low flow levels used in bars can be dangerous to a normal person’s health.”

Who Should Ask for Medical Advice before Using an Oxygen Bar

As we explained above, most people can enjoy the benefits of pure oxygen in an O2 bar. However, there are certain health conditions that require a doctor’s approval before going to an oxygen bar, such as:

 

Certain types of heart diseaseAsthma

Pulmonary hypertension

Congestive heart failure

 

In general, oxygen bars are not recommended to people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as emphysema.

Conclusion: Are Oxygen Bars Safe?

Going to a professionally equipped and maintained oxygen bar poses absolutely no risk to clients. At Oxygen Summit, we have years of experience and the know-how of our founder, a registered respiratory therapist, allowing us to provide you only with safe and high-quality oxygen equipment.

 

You are invited to try our oxygen bar in Frisco, CO and order one for your venue or private event in our service area covering:

 

  • Breckenridge
  • Keystone
  • Dillon
  • Copper Mountain

 

Take a deep breath of clean air – call us to find out more about oxygen health benefits: 970-468-0142