Everyone needs a pick-me-up every once in a while. Some people use energy drinks, some use coffee.
Athletes, like hockey players, love to use smelling salts.
If the camera scans to a bench right before the start of an NHL game, or even during the contest, there’s a good chance you can see players getting a whiff of the good stuff before going out for their next shift.
He scored a goal right after smelling salts 😂 @BR_OpenIce pic.twitter.com/2so2wdpiFU
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 18, 2023
Sometimes, the smelling salts even snap back. Just ask Wild forward Ryan Reaves.
Ryan Reaves vs. smelling salts
😅 pic.twitter.com/L2VX1UsUsB— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 25, 2023
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Smelling salts are seen constantly at sporting games, but what exactly do they do? The Sporting News has the reason why hockey players use smelling salts.
What are smelling salts?
According to MedicineNet.com, smelling salts are considered restorative stimulants. They are a mixture of ammonium carbonate and perfume, although diluted ammonia mixed with water and alcohol are more common in smelling salts today.
When the ammonium carbonate and water mix, the reaction causes fumes that rise from the salts, with ammonia going up in the air. That is what the players are smelling, which irritates the nose and lung membranes.
The result is “that the person inhales involuntarily and begins to breathe more quickly, which sends more oxygen to the brain.”
Why do hockey players use smelling salts?
Smelling salts are like the equivalent to a slap in the face. The salts offer a temporary sort of wake-me-up for the player inhaling them.
In the article on MedicineNet.com, it stated that smelling salts “trigger a sharp inhalation reflex, bringing in more air and oxygen.”
This allows players to see an improvement in alertness and awareness. However, the effects of smelling salts do not last long. The impact lasts only for a few minutes before wearing off.
Is it healthy to use smelling salts?
According to an article from Healthline, there are some dangers to using smelling salts.
“At the end of the day, ammonia is a toxic substance,” the article stated. “It’s diluted in smelling salts, but using them too frequently or holding them too close to your nose can put you at risk for severe irritation of the nose and lungs or, in very rare cases, asphyxiation and death.”
While there are concerns from medical professionals, there has not been much evidence to suggest that smelling salts have long-term effects when used properly.