Loss of taste and smell often go hand in hand, caused by illnesses such as colds, allergies, and changes in taste bud receptors. Smoking, exposure to chemicals, and certain medications can also hinder the sense of smell. Taste buds can be affected by smoking, mouth infections, cancer, vitamin deficiency, and age. Brain damage and neurological disorders can also cause loss of taste and smell.
Many people don’t realize that smell directly affects taste. In fact, loss of taste and smell go hand in hand. When one sense is inhibited, the other is affected. Common causes of these symptoms include ordinary illnesses such as colds, nasal passage congestion, nasal obstruction, breathing problems, allergies, and changes in taste bud receptors.
Nearly every person knows what it’s like to be sick with the common cold, but many people probably don’t realize that a runny nose and congestion that limits your sense of smell might be what makes eating fun and seem unappetizing. , as well as other things , such as side effects of medications. When the nasal passage is congested or blocked, it can become difficult or impossible for odor particles to reach the nerves responsible for smell. Breathing problems have the same effect. When the airways are blocked and an individual is forced to breathe through the mouth, odor particles are impeded and unable to reach the nerves to activate the sense of smell.
Respiratory allergies often cause or worsen breathing problems and cause loss of taste and smell. When the body realizes that airborne allergens have entered the system, the sinuses become irritated and the mucus in the nasal passage sticks to the allergens to prevent transfer to the pulmonary system. As the body tries harder to fight the allergens, more and more mucus is expelled, which causes further irritation and swelling of the sinuses. This swelling often traps mucus and allergens, creating a vicious cycle of pain, swelling, pressure, and other discomforts. As a result, odor particles are prevented from reaching the appropriate nerve receptors and the sense of smell is limited.
Other factors can hinder the sense of smell. Smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke, contact with certain chemicals, and the use of specific medications can increase nasal congestion and obstruction problems by preventing aromas from accessing your nerves. Ironically, frequent use of some nasal decongestants can have the same effect.
Just as smell affects taste, the opposite is often true as well. A variety of conditions can alter an individual’s taste buds, which are the center of taste and, in turn, contribute to the sense of smell. Examples of conditions that affect the taste buds include tobacco smoking addiction, mouth infections, mouth cancer, and vitamin deficiency. Taste buds also change with age, which is why many older people complain that food is bland.
There are many other possible causes of loss of taste and smell. Brain damage and neurological disorders are commonly cited causes. There are also many other diseases that list loss of taste and smell as common side effects.
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