Smelling Salts in Sports: Do They Work and Are They Safe?

<p><em><strong>Do smelling salts actually improve athletic performance—and are they safe to use?</strong></em></p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, we answer a listener&#39;s question about smelling salts in sports, from their surprising history to what actually happens in the body when an athlete inhales ammonia. We explain how smelling salts trigger the olfactory and trigeminal nerves and increase sympathetic arousal, then look at what the research suggests about performance.</p><p><br></p><p>We discuss:</p><ul><li><p>Whether smelling salts can improve athletic performance</p></li><li><p>Why they may help with repeated high-intensity efforts but not necessarily a single maximal effort</p></li><li><p>How smelling salts can increase alertness and focus</p></li><li><p>What actually happens in the brain and nervous system when you inhale ammonia</p></li><li><p>Safety considerations, including distance, overuse, and potential side effects</p></li><li><p>Why athletes with asthma or migraines should be cautious</p></li><li><p>Why smelling salts deserve additional consideration in teenage athletes, where research is limited</p><p><br></p></li></ul><p><strong>Check out our </strong><a href="https://hopenotnope.org/smelling-salts-for-athletes-do-they-work-and-are-they-safe/">blog</a><strong> on this topic!</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>-</strong></p><p><br></p><p>If you have a question you want answered, Submit it <a href="https://forms.gle/i647vutEbCCgevB18" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p><br></p><p>Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hopenotnope/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Watch us on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjZmpwutgEwn4wG6Zuc30vA" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>Visit our <a href="https://hopenotnope.org/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p><br></p><p>Want to help share the message of Hope with others? One big way to help is by sharing this episode with friends and leaving a rating and review.</p>