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what does smelling salt do to you

Smelling salts give you a short, sharp jolt of alertness by irritating your nose and lungs with ammonia gas, but they can also irritate your airways and carry some safety risks if misused.

What Does Smelling Salt Do to You? (Quick Scoop)

What smelling salts actually are

Smelling salts are usually a mix of ammonium carbonate (or another ammonia source) and perfume or other additives.

When you crack or open the container, they release ammonia gas with a very strong, acrid odor.

You’ll see them:

  • In sports (especially powerlifting, football, hockey) as a pre-lift or pre-play “wake up” tool.
  • Historically, in first-aid kits to revive people who fainted.

How they work in your body

When you take a whiff:

  • The ammonia gas hits your nose and upper airways and irritates the lining (mucous membranes).
  • That irritation triggers a reflex inhale and speeds up your breathing (respiratory rate goes up).
  • Faster breathing brings a quick increase in oxygen delivery and usually a brief rise in heart rate and blood pressure.
  • The overall effect: you feel suddenly more awake, focused, and “shocked” into alertness, a bit like a mini fight‑or‑flight response.

This is why they were used to help revive people who fainted: that abrupt inhalation and cardiovascular jolt can pull someone back toward consciousness.

What it feels like (subjective experience)

People commonly describe:

  • A burning or stinging sensation in the nose.
  • Watering eyes and a “whoa” moment of strong discomfort.
  • A sudden deep inhale, sometimes followed by coughing or sneezing.
  • A rush of alertness, sometimes with feeling “amped up,” slightly panicky, or super focused for a short window.

For many athletes, this becomes a ritual: quick sniff → sting and shock → brief surge of focus before a lift or play.

Short-term effects on your body

In the short term, smelling salts can:

  • Increase breathing rate and depth.
  • Slightly raise heart rate and blood pressure.
  • Increase alertness and the feeling of being “switched on.”
  • Help a fainted person regain consciousness more quickly (in controlled medical-type situations).

However:

  • Research does not clearly show that smelling salts actually increase muscle strength or physical performance; the benefit seems more mental/psychological than true power gain.

Risks and side effects (important)

Even though they’re popular in gyms and locker rooms, they are not risk‑free. Possible side effects include:

  • Airway and lung irritation
    • Coughing, burning in the throat, and trouble catching your breath, especially if you have asthma or other lung issues.
* They can worsen conditions like asthma or bronchitis.
  • Chemical irritation and burns
    • Ammonia can cause chemical burns to the skin, nose, or inside the nasal passages with repeated or close use.
* If it gets too close to your eyes, it can irritate or potentially damage them.
  • Neck and spine strain
    • The sudden, involuntary jerk of the head when you inhale can cause a “whiplash” effect.
* This is especially risky if you already have neck, back, or spine injuries.

Because of these issues, many medical and sports medicine sources caution against casual, frequent use—especially outside supervised settings or if you have any respiratory or neck problems.

Are smelling salts safe to use regularly?

From current medical guidance:

  • Occasional use in a controlled setting may be low risk for healthy people, but it still isn’t harmless.
  • Regular or heavy use can damage nasal passages and irritate lungs over time.
  • They should not be treated as a fun “party trick” or a daily performance booster.

Sports and health experts generally recommend:

  • Avoid using them as your main way to get “hyped” or stay awake.
  • Do not use them if you have asthma, COPD, bronchitis, or other breathing problems, or if you have neck/back injuries, unless specifically cleared by a professional.

Why they’re trending again

Recently, smelling salts have become more visible:

  • Viral locker-room clips and gym videos show athletes cracking capsules before big lifts or hits.
  • They’re marketed online as “focus” or “performance” enhancers for lifters and gamers.

But medical sources emphasize that they’re more of a tradition/ritual plus a shock‑to‑the-system tool rather than a scientifically solid performance booster.

Quick TL;DR

  • Smelling salts release ammonia gas that irritates your nose and lungs. This makes you breathe faster and briefly raises alertness and heart rate.
  • You feel a burning sting, a sudden inhale, maybe some coughing, and a short burst of focus.
  • They can cause irritation, chemical burns, and neck/airway problems, especially with repeated or careless use or if you already have breathing or spine issues.
  • They’re not a magic strength booster, and regular casual use isn’t recommended by medical professionals.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.