Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York.
Sports Health. 2024 Sep-Oct;16(5):706-710. doi: 10.1177/19417381231217341. Epub 2023 Dec 26.
Ammonia inhalants, also known as smelling salts, are preparations of ammonia designed to treat fainting but more commonly used by athletes to boost awareness and arousal during competition. Despite their widespread use, the physiological and performance-enhancing effects of ammonia inhalants remain poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to review the current literature surrounding the benefits, risks, and physiological effects of ammonia inhalants.
An extensive literature review of articles pertaining to ammonia inhalants was performed through MEDLINE and Google Scholar. The search terms "smelling salts," "ammonia inhalants," "strength," "performance," "head injury," and "concussion" were used.
Clinical review.
Level 4.
The physiological response to acute ammonia inhalation includes cerebral vasodilation and heart rate elevation without change in blood pressure. The existing evidence demonstrates an ergogenic benefit to ammonia inhalant use only during repeated bouts of high-intensity exercise; in these subjects, ammonia inhalation was associated with increased power as measured by the Wingate anaerobic test. In contrast, there is no performance benefit to ammonia inhalants in a short burst of maximal effort despite elevated arousal and an associated perception of performance enhancement. Importantly, ammonia inhalants have no role in medical management of head injuries, as they have the potential to exacerbate an underlying brain injury due to the involuntary withdrawal reflex associated with ammonia inhalation. Furthermore, the signs and symptoms of a concussion or more threatening head injury may be masked by ammonia inhalation and lead to continued participation in competition, causing additional harm.
Ammonia inhalants have no role in medical management of head injuries and have limited benefit with regards to sports performance.
B.
氨吸入剂，也被称为嗅盐，是为治疗昏厥而设计的氨制剂，但更常被运动员用于在比赛中提高警觉和兴奋度。尽管它们被广泛使用，但氨吸入剂的生理和性能增强作用仍知之甚少。本研究旨在综述氨吸入剂的益处、风险和生理效应的现有文献。
通过 MEDLINE 和 Google Scholar 对有关氨吸入剂的文章进行了广泛的文献综述。使用的搜索词为“嗅盐”、“氨吸入剂”、“强度”、“性能”、“头部损伤”和“脑震荡”。
临床综述。
4 级。
急性氨吸入的生理反应包括脑血管扩张和心率升高，而血压不变。现有证据表明，氨吸入剂的使用仅在高强度运动的重复回合中具有生能效益；在这些受试者中，氨吸入与通过测功计无氧试验测量的功率增加有关。相比之下，尽管氨吸入引起了唤醒和相关的表现增强的感知，但在短时间的最大努力爆发中，氨吸入剂对表现没有好处。重要的是，氨吸入剂在头部损伤的医疗管理中没有作用，因为它们由于与氨吸入相关的不自主退缩反射有潜在加重潜在脑损伤的风险。此外，脑震荡或更严重的头部损伤的迹象和症状可能会被氨吸入所掩盖，并导致继续参加比赛，造成进一步的伤害。
氨吸入剂在头部损伤的医疗管理中没有作用，对运动表现的益处有限。
B。
