Can Vicks VapoRub cause breathing problems?

New research suggests that Vicks VapoRub, a popular menthol compound used to relieve symptoms of cough and congestion, may instead create respiratory distress in infants and small children.

Does Vicks cause breathing problems?

Vicks VapoRub, the cold ointment often dabbed under noses or rubbed on the soles of feet, may cause potentially dangerous breathing problems in very young children, researchers said.

Does Vicks help with difficulty breathing?

Does Vicks VapoRub help with breathing? Vicks VapoRub releases vapors of menthol, eucalyptus, and camphor that can soothe nasal passages. This can trigger receptors in your brain that make you think you are breathing more clearly.

What are the side effects of Vicks Vapor Rub?

Can you put on too much Vicks VapoRub?

A: For cough suppression, Vicks VapoRub may be used up to 3 times daily or as directed by your doctor. Simply rub a thick layer on your chest and throat. For muscle/joint minor aches and pains, Vicks VapoRub may be applied to the affected area not more than 3 to 4 times daily.

Vicks VapoRub Can Cause Severe Respiratory Problems Use This Instead!

Does Vicks cause asthma?

Rubin and colleagues suggest that Vicks VapoRub may stimulate the production of mucus and inflame the airways, which can severely affect breathing in infants and toddlers because their airways are narrow.

Who should not use Vicks VapoRub?

It's unsafe for any use in children under 2 years old. In adults and children age 2 and older, use it only on the neck and chest. Swallowing a few teaspoons of camphor — one of the main ingredients in VapoRub and other topical medications, such as Campho-Phenique and Bengay — can cause deadly poisoning in toddlers.

Can Vicks cause pneumonia?

Unfortunately, besides being extremely uncomfortable, using VapoRub in your nostrils puts you at risk of developing an extremely ominous-sounding illness called exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP), which results from the aspiration or inhalation of fat-like material of animal, vegetable or mineral origin.

Is Vicks good for asthma?

Answer. Vicks Vaporub is a topical medicine designed to relieve cough in cases of the flu and colds. It is considered safe for kids age 2 years and older, provided you follow the package directions carefully. However, Vicks will not relieve an asthma cough in a child with asthma.

Can you put VapoRub under your nose?

Is it safe to use Vicks VapoRub in your nose? The short answer is no. It's not safe to use VVR inside or around your nose. If you do, it could be absorbed into your body through the mucus membranes lining your nostrils.

Can menthol cause shortness of breath?

All menthol products, including Vicks, can cause breathing problems, eye and lung inflammation, liver damage, airway constriction and allergic reactions in some infants and children.

Where do you put Vicks when you can't breathe?

The manufacturer recommends rubbing it on your chest or throat to relieve congestion from colds. While medical studies have tested this use of Vicks VapoRub for colds, there are no studies about using it on your feet to relieve cold symptoms.

What are the symptoms of lung congestion?

Can menthol trigger asthma?

In addition to direct cold stimulation, inhalation of the vapors of menthol or peppermint oil can rapidly trigger airway constriction and asthma in some people [37, 38] .

What triggers asthma attacks at night?

Triggers - you may find asthma triggers in the bedroom. For example, dust mites in your mattress, pillows and blankets, and pet hair and mould. If you are affected by hay fever, you may find pollen affects you at night because pollen levels are highest in the early morning and early evening.

How can you tell if wheezing is from your lungs or throat?

Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound made while breathing. It's often associated with difficulty breathing. Wheezing may occur during breathing out (expiration) or breathing in (inspiration). Inflammation and narrowing of the airway in any location, from your throat out into your lungs, can result in wheezing.

Why does putting Vicks on your feet stop coughing?

Given that feet contains lots of nerves, Graedon speculates that sensory nerves in the soles of the feet may respond to stimulation with Vicks VapoRub: The [brain's] cough center is right next to the spinal cord.

Is Vicks VapoRub toxic?

It contains camphor which is toxic if swallowed or absorbed into the body and the manufacturers do in fact warn that VapoRub should not be applied in or near the nostrils and not used on children under 2 years of age.

Why can't you put Vicks VapoRub in your nostrils?

Topical camphor absorbed through mucous membranes or broken skin also can be toxic. That's why you should never put VapoRub in or around the nostrils — especially a small child's nostrils. And if VapoRub gets in your eye, it can injure your cornea.

What happens if you inhale too much Vicks inhaler?

“Excessive amounts of camphor can cause irritation in the mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Agitation and seizures have also been described as a sign of menthol and camphor poisoning,” he said.

What causes shortness of breath?

Most cases of shortness of breath are due to heart or lung conditions. Your heart and lungs are involved in transporting oxygen to your tissues and removing carbon dioxide, and problems with either of these processes affect your breathing.

Do you have chest congestion with Covid?

Some people call it a chest cold. It's usually caused by the same viruses that cause colds and the flu. But it can also be a symptom of COVID-19.

Why is it hard for me to breathe?

Many conditions can make you feel short of breath: Lung conditions such as asthma, emphysema, or pneumonia. Problems with your trachea or bronchi, which are part of your airway system. Heart disease can make you feel breathless if your heart cannot pump enough blood to supply oxygen to your body.

Is Vicks VapoRub good for pneumonia?

The doctor was surprised and maybe amused when I mentioned this home remedy. A. We are impressed that Vicks VapoRub on the soles of the feet actually helped a serious cough that signaled pneumonia. We do NOT recommend toughing it out with a home remedy as long as your hubby did.

Does Vicks on your feet help you sleep?

One study in the journal Pediatrics examined the effects of Vicks in 138 children between the ages of 2 and 11 years. The researchers found that in comparison with petroleum jelly or no treatment at all, Vicks helped relieve symptoms at night and, thus, improved sleep quality.