Vicks Vaporub and football, the latest viral trend that can be dangerous

If you are a soccer fan, you will have verified that for a couple of months the elite players have opted for a new fashion: spreading themselves with Vicks Vaporub before each game.. This is not because they have a cold or, as that girl told her mother in the popular ad, “I can't breathe.”. It is a new trend that consists of applying it in the nostrils or next to the neck of the shirt, and how could it be otherwise, the little ones are already imitating them to the concern of some parents.

Why do footballers smear it on their shirts?

They do so convinced that breathing the vapors of this popular ointment will help these elite players to breathe better during matches, and that would increase their physical performance on the field.

If a few years ago the fashion was to stick some strips on the nose to open the nostrils, in 2023 the fashion is to apply Vicks Vaporub. But I am afraid that both actions have the same little effectiveness.

What does science say?

If we review the scientific literature to assess the effectiveness of this product when it comes to making us breathe better or decongesting our nose, we will not find anything to support it.

Both a 2009 study from Wake Forest University and another from 2016 published in a scientific journal of respiratory diseases, agree that those who use it have a subjective feeling of relief from congestion and improvement in breathing, but not it's about something real.

Does this ointment fool our brain?

One could say, Yes. The strong menthol smell that it possesses makes us feel that we are breathing without any type of obstruction, it tricks the brain into believing that this sensation of freshness is due to the fact that a greater flow of air is entering our lungs.. It's not going to help us breathe better, but it can make us feel better.

Is it dangerous for children to imitate the players?

The answer will depend on your age and where it is applied.. In the case of children under 2 years of age, the application of Vicks Vaporub is dangerous and can have serious consequences for their health.. One of the main ingredients is camphor, and camphor can cause serious poisoning in young children.

From 2 years of age and in adults, its use is only safe if we apply it to the neck, back or chest.. What we should never do is apply it in or around the nostrils.

Can I apply it in the nostrils?

emphatically not. Despite the fact that on occasion we have seen more than one elite player do it, ingesting Vicks VapoRub or applying it under or inside the nose or mouth is dangerous for our health.. There is sufficient scientific evidence to ensure that applying it in this way can cause exogenous lipoid pneumonia, a very serious disease consisting of the accumulation of lipids in the lungs due to the oils contained in this product.

Can it be considered doping?

Not at all. Vicks VapoRub is not a doping substance. It is an ointment that contains ingredients such as camphor, eucalyptus oil, menthol or turpentine. Its real effects on physical performance are not supported by science and none of these substances are classified as doping.