Some loss of taste and smell is natural with aging, especially after age 60. But other factors can contribute to loss of taste and smell, including: Show
Loss of taste and smell can have a significant impact on quality of life. It often leads to decreased appetite and poor nutrition. It can sometimes contribute to depression. Loss of taste and smell also might tempt you to use excess salt or sugar on your food to enhance the taste. This could be a problem if you have high blood pressure or diabetes. If you're experiencing loss of taste and smell, see your health care provider. Some causes of impaired taste and smell are treatable. For example, your health care provider might adjust your medications if they're contributing to the problem. Many nasal and sinus conditions and dental problems can be treated as well. If you smoke, quitting can help restore your sense of smell. Most people who have loss of taste and smell associated with COVID-19 disease report seeing improvements in their symptoms in a few weeks. However, for some, loss of taste and smell may linger for months. If your symptoms don't improve after treating the cause of your loss of taste and smell, your health care provider may recommend smell training therapy. This therapy involves smelling four different scents for about 10 to 20 seconds twice a day for at least three months. Your health care provider might also recommend strategies to help you cope with loss of taste and smell. If necessary, your health care provider might recommend consulting an allergist, an ear, nose and throat specialist (otolaryngologist), a neurologist, or other specialist. Sign up for free, and stay up
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. If you’re having trouble detecting strong odors or scents, or you’re struggling to distinguish between different flavors when eating, you may be experiencing anosmia (loss of smell) or hyposmia (partial loss of smell). Similarly, if you can’t taste flavorful foods, or you notice that some foods taste different or metallic, you may be experiencing ageusia (loss of taste) or hypogeusia (partial loss of taste). Often, the loss of taste and smell go hand-in-hand, as there is a strong link between the two senses. Odor receptors in your nose and upper throat work together with the taste receptors on your tongue to create the experience of flavor. This is why when you have a stuffy nose, you may notice that foods don’t taste as flavorful. The sudden loss of taste or smell can be a temporary symptom of common illnesses like the cold or flu, or a long-lasting symptom of a serious injury or chronic condition that disrupts your brain’s ability to process scent and flavor. What Is Anosmia (Loss of Smell)?Your sense of smell comes from olfactory sensory neurons, found inside your nasal tissue. Each of these neurons has an odor receptor—when odors are released around you, these receptors detect the smell and send a message to your brain, which interprets and identifies the scent. When any part of this process is interrupted, your sense of smell may be impaired. This sensory process may be interrupted in three main ways:
If you are suffering from anosmia or hyposmia, you may notice that traditionally strong scents seem muted to you, or you can’t smell odors that others around you can easily detect. You may also notice that your sense of taste is dulled or absent, or that you have trouble distinguishing between different flavors, because your odor receptors play a role in your ability to taste. Chat with a doctor and get taste or smell loss treatment for just $35 Get started What Is Ageusia (Loss of Taste)?When you taste something, you’re actually experiencing a two-step chemical reaction involving the mouth, throat, and nose. Your body combines the senses of smell and taste to process the flavor of foods and beverages. When you consume food, your odor receptors can usually smell the substance before you even put it in your mouth. As you eat or drink, the substance mixes with saliva in your mouth, transporting the taste around the tongue and activating your taste buds. This then sends signals to your brain, and combining both smell and taste, your brain interprets the flavor. People with ageusia (complete loss of taste) cannot taste sweet, salty, sour, or bitter flavors. People with hypogeusia (reduced sense of taste) can generally taste these flavors, but may not be able to distinguish easily between them. With either ageusia or hypogeusia, you may also experience a metallic sensation in your mouth. What Causes Loss of Smell and Taste?There are several factors that might contribute to your loss of smell. AgingOne of the most common causes for a gradual reduction in smell and taste is aging. As many as 75% of people over the age of 80 have an impaired sense of smell. A diminished sense of taste is also quite common because after age 50, our taste buds start to lose their sensitivity and ability to regenerate. Stuffy NoseAny viral or bacterial infection that causes a stuffy or runny nose—such as a sinus infection (sinusitis), the common cold, or flu (influenza)—can block odor receptors, resulting in a temporary reduction of smell and taste. This is why food often tastes less flavorful when you have a cold. When caused by an infection, hyposmia and hypogeusia are usually temporary symptoms; once the infection has cleared, the senses of smell and taste return. Other causes that can produce a stuffy nose and temporarily and sporadically impact smell and taste include:
ObstructionsObstructions to the nasal passages can interrupt the process by which odor and taste receptors send messages to the brain. Your nasal passages may be obstructed due to:
In many cases, the loss of taste and smell is temporary and will be recovered if the obstruction is removed. In more serious cases, damage to the nasal cavity or olfactory nerves due to a head injury or traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in long term or permanent loss or reduction of smell and taste. Other CausesMore extreme or sudden loss of taste and smell can be caused by other illnesses and conditions that impact the inner lining of the nose, the nasal passage, or the brain. An impaired sense of smell or taste can be a symptom of:
Diagnosis and TestingTo test for anosmia or hyposmia, your doctor may hold a fragrant substance (such as soap or coffee) under your nostrils and ask you to identify the smell. If this informal sniff test shows an impaired sense of smell, your doctor may then use a standardized smell test kit for a more complete assessment. The kit may include scratch-and-sniff scent samples that you’ll be asked to identify, or samples of a strongly scented chemical that your doctor will dilute in stages to find the threshold where you can no longer smell the substance. If the loss of taste and smell is more severe and your doctor has ruled out viral and bacterial infections, your doctor may order an MRI or CT scan to look for any structural issues including a tumor, fracture, or abscess. Treatment for Loss of Smell and TasteThe primary approach to treating loss of taste and smell is to treat the underlying cause of the issue. There is no direct cure for anosmia and ageusia, though in most cases, treating the cause will return all or part of your sense of smell and taste. A stuffy or runny nose due to allergies or a viral infection (such as cold and flu) can be treated with over-the-counter medications including decongestants, antihistamines, or steroids to ease inflammation. Easing the stuffiness may help increase your sense of taste and smell in the short term. Once the body has recovered from the cold or other infection, your senses of smell and taste will fully return. Bacterial sinusitis and throat infections are generally treated with antibiotics. If you are suffering from a sinus infection, treatment may also include steam inhalation to clear the nostrils and ease pressure. For regular smokers, quitting the habit of smoking tobacco products can result in regaining a sense of taste. If hyposmia or hypogeusia is the result of aging, a chronic condition, brain trauma, or another cause that permanently alters the senses, there is no treatment to fully regain these senses. In these cases, patients are encouraged to:
When to See a DoctorIf you are experiencing a diminished sense of smell or taste, take note of any recent health issues or changes in your routine, as well as any accompanying symptoms to determine how soon to speak with a doctor. You should see your doctor immediately if you have recently experienced a serious head injury, started a new medication, or are undergoing radiation therapy. You should also see your doctor if you experience loss of taste or smell in conjunction with the following symptoms:
If you are worried that you may have coronavirus, chat with a K Health doctor today. Chat with a doctor and get taste or smell loss treatment for just $35 Get started How K Health Can HelpDid you know you can get affordable primary care with the K Health app? Download K to check your symptoms, explore conditions and treatments, and if needed text with a doctor in minutes. K Health’s AI-powered app is HIPAA compliant and based on 20 years of clinical data. K Health articles are all written and reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, or PharmDs and are for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute and should not be relied on for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. |