What to do if the sense of smell has disappeared

Why the sense of smell disappeared

The first step is to understand how we smell. In general terms, it happens Loss of smell as follows.

Molecules of an odorous substance enter the nose and nasopharynx. They are picked up by the olfactory receptors. They transmit a signal that encodes the characteristics of scent molecules to the brain. He analyzes the received message, and we realize: it smells like strawberries!

Failure in any of these stages - capturing molecules, transmitting a signal or analyzing it in the brain - leads to the fact that we lose the ability to recognize smells. This is how anosmia arises.

On rare occasions, people are born without a sense of smell. This is called congenital anosmia. What Is Anosmia? …

Anosmia can be temporary or permanent. It depends on which of the stages of odor trapping failed. Here are the most common causes of What Is Anosmia? loss of smell.

COVID-19

Lately, loss of smell has been strongly associated with coronavirus infection. Indeed: this is one of the most popular and most characteristic COVID-19 and anosmia: A review based on up-to-date knowledge of the symptoms of COVID-19.

The sense of smell temporarily disappears in 35-68% of people who become ill with coronavirus.

In fact, every second sick person ceases to distinguish smells. Therefore, if you have a similar symptom, and especially if it happened against the background of a cough and fever, consult a physician as soon as possible. Better to do it over the phone.

Problems with the nasal mucosa

Often, the sense of smell is impaired due to inflammation and swelling of the mucous membrane and the accompanying abundant secretion of mucus (snot). Under such conditions, the molecules of odorous substances simply cannot get to the olfactory receptors. Here are the diseases that most often cause edema:

Acute sinusitis. He is also an acute inflammation of the sinuses. Depending on which sinuses have suffered, there are different types of sinusitis: sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, ethmoiditis.
ARVI.
Flu.
Pollinosis. He's also a hay fever: this is the name of an allergy to pollen. Pollinosis leads to the so-called allergic rhinitis - swelling of the mucous membranes and severe rhinitis.
Non-allergic rhinitis. In this case, we are talking about a chronic rhinitis, which is not associated with allergies.
Smoking. If you smoke a lot, tobacco smoke can cause inflammation of the lining of your nasal passages.

Blockage of the nasal passages

The sense of smell can disappear if there is some obstruction in the nose that prevents odorous substances from reaching the receptors.

Nasal polyps. This is the name for soft benign formations that develop on the mucous membrane of the nose or sinuses due to chronic inflammation. Small polyps are usually not a problem. Large ones can block the flow of air through the nose, making it difficult to breathe and creating a feeling of constant congestion.
Curvature of the nasal septum.
Tumors. Including malignant ones.

Damage to the brain or nerve fibers

It is for this reason, as suggested by COVID-19 and anosmia: A review based on up-to-date knowledge by scientists, that the sense of smell disappears with COVID-19. The aggressive coronavirus affects not only the respiratory system, but also the nervous system. As a result, the olfactory receptors simply cannot transmit the message of the detected odor molecules to the brain. However, nerve fibers can be damaged for other reasons.

Aging.
Dementia This is the name of a pathological process in which brain cells are damaged or destroyed. The most common types of dementia are Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Deterioration of smell is one of the earliest symptoms of incipient brain problems.
Multiple sclerosis. This disease is accompanied by damage to the nervous tissue.
Diabetes. This ailment, among other things, destroys nerve fibers.
Hypothyroidism Taste and smell are sometimes impaired due to inadequate production of thyroid hormones.
Cerebral aneurysms. Aneurysms are bulges that appear on the walls of arteries. One of these formations can damage nearby nerve fibers or obstruct signal transmission.
Burns of the nasal mucosa. For example, caused by inhalation of certain chemicals.
Monotonous meager food. Lack of nutrients in the diet can disrupt the brain.
Taking some medications. Loss of smell antibiotics, high blood pressure medications and antihistamines are sometimes the culprit.
Stroke.
Alcoholism.
Traumatic brain injury or brain surgery.
Brain tumors.

What to do if the sense of smell has disappeared

The universal advice is to see a therapist. And as soon as possible: sometimes the loss of smell speaks of really serious diseases, and the sooner the diagnosis is made, the higher the chances of recovery.

The doctor will ask you about your health and other symptoms, and will conduct an examination. Often this is enough to find out the cause of anosmia - a cold, hay fever, burns of mucous membranes are easily diagnosed. If you can't figure out right away why your sense of smell has disappeared, the doctor will offer you additional examinations:

Take a blood test to rule out problems with hormones or, let's say, lack of nutrients.
Get a CT (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan of the brain to look for possible tumors, problems with blood vessels, or damage to nerve tissue.
Perform nasal endoscopy. During this procedure, the doctor uses a probe to examine the nasal passages and sinuses.

Treatment for anosmia depends on the cause. If the loss of smell is associated with a common cold, hay fever or ARVI (including COVID-19), special therapy is not required: it is enough to recover and the ability to smell will return. Surgical methods sometimes help. For example, your doctor may recommend removing polyps or correcting a deviated nasal septum.

In more serious cases, when the loss of smell is caused by the destruction of nerve tissue, prescription hormonal and other medications will be required. They will no longer be prescribed by a therapist, but by a specialized specialist - a neuropathologist or psychiatrist.

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to cure anosmia. And you also need to be ready for this.