Causes of lost or changed sense of smell
a cold or flu. sinusitis (sinus infection) an allergy, like hay fever. growths in your nose (nasal polyps)
~Drug-Induced Distortion of Taste and Smell~
✓ Of those drugs known to cause dysgeusia, ACE-inhibitors > ARBs (Captopril > others) and Statins (atorvastatin > others) are considered to be the top drugs reported to cause taste alteration (see Table 1).
As you know, high blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke, which can permanently alter all the senses, not just taste and smell.
Drugs that can affect both taste and smell: Antibiotics: amoxicillin, azithromycin and ciprofloxacin. Blood pressure medication: amlodipine and enalapril. Statin drugs (lower cholesterol): atorvastatin, lovastatin and pravastatin.
Anosmia may be caused by an infection, such as a cold or flu. It may also be caused by nasal polyps or other blockages. Loss of sense of smell is also a common symptom of COVID-19. In most instances, treating the underlying cause of anosmia can restore your sense of smell.
Smell therapy can help – the process involves smelling different strong scents for at least 20 seconds while thinking about memories and experiences involving the scent. We generally recommend rose, lemon, clove and eucalyptus essential oils because the smells are strong and distinctive.
Do you get weird unexplainable smells often? This can be an indicator of high cholesterol. This condition where an individual hallucinates a weird smell is called phantosmia or phantom odor perception.
Therefore, perhaps a lack of vitamin D leads to neurological decline of the central and peripheral nervous system, including the cranial nerves, leading to reduced olfaction. The issue of reduced olfaction with vitamin D deficiency is not just an issue of mechanistic interest.
What is anosmia? Anosmia is the partial or full loss of smell. Anosmia can be a temporary or permanent condition. You can partially or completely lose your sense of smell when the mucus membranes in your nose are irritated or obstructed such as when you have a severe cold or a sinus infection, for example.
A smell disorder can be an early sign of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, or multiple sclerosis. It can also be related to other medical conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and malnutrition. If you are experiencing a smell disorder, talk with your doctor.
It is important to regain a sense of smell after a cold, as it affects various things in life. Olfactory training involves sniffing the same few odours briefly each day. Be aware of the smell as you inhale, and take several quick, soft sniffs.
Infections of the middle ear can partially damage the sense of taste.
Conclusions: Stroke, angina, congestive heart failure, well-managed high blood pressure, and well-managed high cholesterol are associated with phantom odor perception.
Since estrogen and progesterone protect the olfactory function, changes in their levels in particular physiological states in women (in pregnancy and posmenopause) exert an influence on the ability to feel and recognize smells.
Try sharp tasting foods and drinks, such as citrus fruits, juices, sorbet, jelly, lemon mousse, fruit yoghurt, boiled sweets, mints, lemonade, Marmite, Bovril, or aniseed.
Illness or Infection
Anything that irritates and inflames the inner lining of your nose and makes it feel stuffy, runny, itchy, or drippy can affect your senses of smell and taste. This includes the common cold, sinus infections, allergies, sneezing, congestion, the flu, and COVID-19.
Timothy Smith, ear, nose and throat specialist at Oregon Health & Science University. “We found that probably 80% of those patients who have a loss or distortion of their sense of smell will recover that sense about one to three months after the COVID-19 infection has resolved.
Chronic sinusitis may present with smell loss and no other chronic symptoms, however. In people who date the onset of smell loss to a viral infection, it can be difficult discerning between viral damage and an ongoing process in the nose and/or sinuses as the cause of the loss.
Similar to upper respiratory infections, both allergy related nasal congestion and sinus infections can trigger the loss of your sense of taste and smell due to increased inflammation and mucus in the nasal cavities.
In terms of antidepressants, some people experience a reduced sense of smell (hyposmia) which could potentially impair their ability to properly smell a partner. As sense of smell also plays a significant role in a person's sense of taste, both senses can be affected.