What loss of taste can talk about and what to do about it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The coronavirus isn't always to blame.

Human language can perceive Taste - impaired / U. S. The National Library of Medicine has five flavors: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and savory. They are complemented by the smell. When a person eats or drinks something, molecules are released from the food or liquid, which then stimulate sensory cells, or taste buds.

They are grouped in taste buds on the tongue, soft palate, and throat. These cells then transmit a signal along three nerves to the brain. And already there the sensations are identified. If one of the stages fails, the taste is lost or changed. We have collected all the possible reasons for this.

Age changes

At the birth of Taste Disorders / National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, a person has about 10,000 taste buds on the tongue. But after 50-60 years, their number gradually decreases. In addition, in old age, Aging changes in the senses / U. S. The National Library of Medicine has less saliva, which results in a dry mouth. It also reduces sensitivity. At the same time, the sense of smell worsens due to the loss of nerve endings and a decrease in the amount of mucus in the nose.

What to do

Although the problem cannot be solved, the person should be told about the loss of taste to their doctor. It is possible that the process is accelerated by the medications the patient is taking. Then he will have to change the drugs.

It is also advised to use various spices during cooking. They will help enhance the flavor of the dish.

Smoking

Because of this bad habit, the taste buds in the mouth, as well as the sense of smell, also suffer. Therefore, a person is worse Is loss of taste and smell normal with aging? / Mayo Clinic senses tastes and smells.

What to do

Quit smoking. Then the sensitivity will gradually recover.

Burns of the tongue

Hot food and drinks can destroy the taste buds. This process is accompanied by pain and redness.

What to do

If it is a light burn from food, nothing needs to be done. The mucous membrane of the mouth itself will recover in a few days, and along with this, the taste will return. In case of serious burns, an urgent need to consult a doctor.

Trauma

If a person receives a bruise or concussion, the affected area may be damaged in the areas in which taste signals are analyzed. Therefore, the sensitivity will decrease or disappear altogether. Sometimes these symptoms are Taste - impaired / U. S. National Library of Medicine can occur after injury or ear surgery. In this case, the swelling of the nerve, which transmits impulses from the tongue to the brain, will be to blame.

What to do

After surgery or an injury to the head, nose, or ear, follow up with a doctor. Treatment is usually given to help relieve pain and swelling. The taste will gradually recover.

The action of chemicals

Taste sensations can be affected by insecticides Taste Disorders / National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, which are used to control insects. A person can constantly contact with such substances at work, or, conversely, inhale them by accident.

What to do

If, after contact with insecticides, the taste has deteriorated, you need to tell your doctor about it.

The action of drugs

Sensitivity becomes lower with certain medications. This could be the Overview of Smell and Taste Disorders / The Merck Manual:

• antibiotics;
• anticonvulsants;
• antihistamines;
• antidepressants;
• some chemotherapy drugs;
• diuretics;
• arthritis medications;
• thyroid medications.

What to do

Report this to your doctor.

Radiation therapy

The Overview of Smell and Taste Disorders / The Merck Manual treating head or neck cancer with radiation can cause loss of taste. All due to the fact that under the influence of radiation, epithelial cells located on the mucous membrane die.

What to do

Usually, after a while, everything is restored by itself, so nothing needs to be done.

Vitamin B-12 deficiency

A lack of it can damage the nerves, including those that transmit impulses from the papillae of the mouth. But this is not the only symptom of vitamin B-12 deficiency. In addition to changing Taste - impaired / U. S. National Library of Medicine taste symptoms such as Vitamin B-12 / Mayo Clinic may be observed:

• anemia;
• fatigue;
• muscle weakness;
• bowel problems;
• mood swings.

What to do

You need to contact a therapist and talk about your problems. The doctor will examine and prescribe Vitamin B-12 / Mayo Clinic vitamin B-12 in the form of injections or nasal spray.

Zinc deficiency

This condition is very rare, as most people have enough Zinc / Mayo Clinic zinc in their diets. If it is not enough, a person's immunity decreases, wounds heal worse, maybe Taste - impaired / U. S. National Library of Medicine experience loss of taste.

What to do

Increase the proportion of foods rich in zinc. Alternatively, take it in the form of various supplements. The daily Zinc / Mayo Clinic dose is 11 mg for men and 8 mg for women.

Tooth decay and other dental problems

If a person rarely brushes his teeth, does not monitor their health, he may develop caries, as well as inflammation of the gums, or gingivitis. This will cause Taste Disorders / National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders to lose some of the flavor.

What to do

Visit the dentist twice a year, treat carious teeth on time, as well as eliminate other oral problems.

Respiratory tract and middle ear infections

A person with a cold Taste - impaired / U. S. National Library of Medicine or influenza may have decreased taste. And for COVID-19, the loss of Unusual coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms: What are they? / The Mayo Clinic of taste and smell is generally a specific early symptom. The same thing happens with middle ear infections.

What to do

With coronavirus, sensations are usually restored by Unusual coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms: What are they? / Mayo Clinic after 30 days from the onset of the disease, although some disorders can persist for up to two months or more. And this process cannot be influenced in any way.

If you have a cold or middle ear infection, you need to fight the infection. After recovery, feelings will also recover.

Polyps in the nose

This is the name of the soft saccular formations on the nasal mucosa. No one knows exactly why they appear, but doctors suggest that it is due to the following factors Nasal polyps / U. S. National Library of Medicine:

• hypersensitivity to aspirin;
• asthma;
• chronic sinus infections;
• cystic fibrosis;
• hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis, which usually occurs during flowering.

Polyps are benign growths, but they can be problematic. A person often complains of nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, snoring, headache, loss of taste and smell.

What to do

When these symptoms appear, you need to contact the ENT. He will conduct an examination. If a specialist finds polyps, he will write out Nasal polyps / U. S. National Library of Medicine nasal drops or spray, hormone pills, allergy medications. Sometimes only surgery to remove polyps helps.

Chronic sinusitis

This is the name of the inflammation of the sinuses, or sinuses, located in the bones of the skull on the face. With this disease, a person notices the following symptoms of Chronic sinusitis / Mayo Clinic:

• runny nose and congestion;
• thick, colorless nasal discharge;
• a feeling of mucus running down the side of the throat;
• pain and swelling around the eyes, on the forehead, on the sides of the nose;
• loss of taste and smell;
• pain in the ears, upper jaw, and teeth;
• cough or sore throat;
• bad breath;
• feeling tired.

What to do

Chronic sinusitis / Mayo Clinic should be contacted by an ENT or physician. The specialist will prescribe antibiotics, hormonal preparations in the form of a spray, tablets or injections, immunological agents. If the medications don't work, you will need surgery. Your doctor will make drainage holes in your sinuses so that the contents can drain into the nasal cavity.

Salivary gland infections

Disease-causing viruses and bacteria can enter the glands and cause inflammation. Factors such as Salivary gland infections / U. S. National Library of Medicine:

• blockage of the salivary ducts with a stone;
• poor oral hygiene;
• dehydration;
• smoking;
• chronic diseases;
• autoimmune diseases.

In addition to the loss of taste, dry mouth occurs, body temperature rises, and the jaws do not open well. The face on the sides turns red and swells. Pain appears, which is especially severe when eating.

What to do

You need to see a therapist or dentist. The doctor will conduct an examination and prescribe treatment. It could be Salivary gland infections / U. S. National Library of Medicine:

• Antibiotics, if bacteria have caused inflammation.
• Operation if an abscess has formed.
• Endoscopic dissection of the gland with a video camera and small surgical instruments in the tube.

To speed up recovery, doctors advise to carefully observe oral hygiene, rinse it with warm salt water (3 g of salt per 240 ml of water), quit smoking, drink plenty of fluids and do a warm massage of the damaged gland or apply compresses.

Bell's palsy

Because of it, weakness and paralysis of the muscles that are controlled by the facial nerve develop. Why this happens is not known exactly. It has been speculated that the condition may be associated with herpes, HIV, Lyme disease, middle ear infections, or sarcoidosis. Recognize Bell's palsy Bell palsy / U. S. National Library of Medicine can be on the following grounds:

• one eye is difficult to close;
• problems with eating and drinking, food falling out of the mouth;
• saliva spontaneously flows out;
• the face is asymmetrical, one side is down, for example, the corner of the mouth or the eyelid;
• it is difficult for a person to smile, sometimes a grimace appears instead of a smile;
• facial muscles twitch;
• dry mouth and eyes;
• headache;
• loss of taste;
• increased sensitivity to sounds in one ear.

What to do

With such symptoms, you need to see a therapist or neurologist. Usually special treatment Bell palsy / U. S. There is no National Library of Medicine, and the disease goes away on its own. But in some cases, hormonal drugs are prescribed to reduce swelling. If it is known that the paralysis is caused by herpes, then antiviral drugs are prescribed.

Sjogren's Syndrome

With this inflammatory Sjogren Syndrome / Medscape disease, a person develops dry mouth, so the taste can be severely weakened. In addition, other symptoms are observed:

• enlarged parotid glands;
• dries eyes;
• muscles and joints hurt;
• arthritis develops;
• digestive problems appear;
• anemia occurs.

What to do

This disease is difficult to treat. But the doctor can prescribe Sjogren Syndrome Treatment & Management / Medscape cytostatics to reduce inflammation in the body. And to get rid of dry mouth, you need to drink more often in small sips. Then the mucous membrane of the mouth will be moisturized, and the taste is preserved.