Relation of body mass index and waist-to-height ratio to cardiovascular disease risk factors in children and adolescents: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Freedman DS, Kahn HS, Mei Z, Grummer-Strawn LM, Dietz WH, Srinivasan SR, Berenson GS. [PubMed-indexed for MEDLINE].
Smelling salts release ammonia (NH3) gas, which triggers an inhalation reflex (that is, causes the muscles that control breathing to work faster) by irritating the mucous membranes of the nose and lungs. Although these hypothetical mechanisms have been discussed, it is likely that smelling salts are not effective.
How Smelling Salts Work. Smelling salts mostly work by combining the bicarbonate ammonium salt with water which causes the salt to quickly degrade into carbon dioxide and ammonia gas. That ammonia gas is what does the physiological âkick in the pantsâ for our powerlifting friends, quarterbacks, and such. What Smelling Salts Do In Your Body