Do you also experience a loss of taste in food? Let's talk about this hypogeusia!

Have you ever thought, "Oh my, this food doesn't taste good at all"? Or have you ever found that something you used to enjoy doesn't taste so good anymore? If that's the case for you, then you might want to know about this condition. Today we're going to talk about a loss of taste, or in medical terms, a condition called hypogeusia .

What is Hypogeusia?

Simply put, hypogeusia is a loss of your ability to taste. A person with this condition may not be able to distinguish between certain tastes. For example, it may be difficult to tell whether something is sweet or salty. You may also be unable to taste certain tastes, such as only sweet or only salty.

This condition, called hypogeusia, can be very mild for some people, and can be very severe for others. It can also develop gradually or come on suddenly.

Importantly, this hypogeusia is not the same as dysgeusia, which is a distorted sense of taste (that is, something sweet tastes bitter), or ageusia , which is a complete loss of taste. It is simply a reduction in the sense of taste.

Do you also have these symptoms?

Symptoms of hypogeusia can vary from person to person. You may experience things like:

• You may notice a loss of overall taste . If foods that used to be delicious now taste "bitter," that's a sign.
• You may not be able to taste certain specific tastes . For example, you may feel that the food is not salty enough, but the rest of the family has enough salt.
• It can be difficult to distinguish between tastes . That is, not being able to accurately distinguish whether something is sweet, sour, salty, or bitter.

The connection between Hypogeusia and COVID-19

You may recall that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people lost their sense of taste and smell. Yes, COVID-19 can cause a condition called hypogeusia. Sometimes, this loss of taste can occur before other symptoms such as fever and cough appear. Since the sense of taste and smell are closely linked, many people also experience a condition called hyposmia, which is a loss of smell.

However, don't always worry that a loss of taste is due to COVID-19. However, if your sense of taste suddenly decreases, it's always wise to let a doctor know .

Why do we develop hypogeusia? What are the causes?

Hypogeusia can have a variety of causes. Some health conditions, environmental factors, and nervous system problems can contribute to it. Sometimes, a reduced sense of taste can also be a side effect of a condition called hyposmia, which is a loss of the sense of smell.

Now let's see what these reasons are.

Due to some diseases

Hypogeusia can be caused by the following conditions:

• Allergies: Some people may experience nasal congestion and a loss of taste when they are allergic to things like dust and pollen.
• Nasal polyps: These growths inside the nose can also interfere with the sense of taste.
• Viral infections: Viral infections such as the flu, common cold, and COVID-19 often cause a temporary loss of taste.
• Bacterial infections: Bacterial infections such as throat infections (e.g., strep throat) and sinusitis can also cause this.
• Dental problems: Oral health problems like tooth decay and gum disease can also affect the sense of taste.
• Diabetes Mellitus: People with diabetes can sometimes experience changes in their sense of taste.
• Thyroid disease: Imbalances in thyroid hormones are one of the causes of this.
• Liver disease and kidney disease: Changes in taste may occur when these organs are not functioning properly.
• Vitamin B12 deficiency: A deficiency in this vitamin can also affect the sense of taste.

Due to environmental factors and our habits

Hypogeusia can also be caused by:

• Smoking: It is common for smokers to experience a loss of taste over time.
• Poor oral hygiene: Not brushing your teeth properly and not keeping your mouth clean can also affect your sense of taste.
• Certain medications: Some medications you take (e.g. carbamazepine for epilepsy, diltiazem for high blood pressure, levodopa for Parkinson's disease) can also cause a loss of taste as a side effect.
• Exposure to certain chemicals and toxins: For example, exposure to certain acids or heavy metals.
• Head and neck radiation therapy: Radiation therapy to this area for diseases such as cancer can damage the taste buds and reduce the sense of taste.
• Aging: As we age, our sense of taste naturally decreases. This is something that is seen in many older people.

Due to nervous system problems

These nervous system problems can also cause hypogeusia:

• Head trauma:When the head is hit hard, the sense of taste can be lost or reduced due to the effects on the brain.
• Bell's palsy: This condition, in which the muscles on one side of the face are paralyzed, can also affect the sense of taste.
• Stroke: The sense of taste can also change in cases of stroke , which is caused by a disruption in the blood supply to a part of the brain.
• Multiple sclerosis (MS): This is a disease that affects the nervous system.
• Parkinson's disease: People with this disease may also experience taste problems.
• Alzheimer's disease: Changes in taste can also be seen in this memory-related disease.

What are the complications of loss of taste?

A loss of taste can have a major impact on your happiness and quality of life . Imagine what it would be like if you could no longer enjoy the foods you used to enjoy? This can lead to a loss of appetite and even malnutrition .

Not only that, our sense of taste is something that helps us identify spoiled food. Sometimes, it can also help us identify something that you are allergic to. For example, if you are allergic to peanuts, you will stop eating that food as soon as you taste it. When your sense of taste is reduced, you can avoid things like this.

How do doctors diagnose this?

When you report a loss of taste, you will usually be examined by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor . He or she will ask you about your symptoms and take your medical history. In addition, some tests may be done to look for things like:

• We're seeing how well you can identify flavors.
• I'm seeing if you can tell the difference between each flavor.
• We're seeing if we can distinguish between sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami (this is the savory, meaty flavor in food, and the taste that comes from things like MSG).
• You can also see if your sense of taste improves when you increase the concentration of a flavoring substance.

What are the treatments for this? (Treatment)

When treating hypogeusia, the most important thing is to find the underlying cause and treat it. Sometimes, the condition can get better on its own without any treatment.

There are several main treatment methods:

• Lifestyle changes.
• Medicines.
• Surgery (this is not necessary in most cases).

Lifestyle changes

Depending on the cause of your loss of taste, you can try to improve your taste by making these lifestyle changes:

• If you smoke, stop: This is one of the best things you can do.
• Improving oral hygiene: Things like brushing your teeth twice a day and cleaning your tongue.
• Wearing protective equipment if working with harmful chemicals.
• Talk to your doctor about a medication that you think is affecting your sense of taste and see if you can change it.

Medication

Hypogeusia can be caused by certain medical conditions, especially those that also affect the sense of smell (such as allergies, nasal congestion, sinus infections). Because the senses of taste and smell are closely linked, treating these underlying conditions can improve both taste and smell. In these cases, these medications may help:

• Antibiotics: If it is a bacterial infection.
• Medicines that reduce nasal congestion (Decongestants).
• Antihistamines: For allergies.
• Corticosteroids: Reduce inflammation.

Surgery - This is a little less common.

Hypogeusia alone usually does not require surgery. However, if you have a condition that also affects your sense of smell (such as a deviated septum or a deviated nasal septum), treating that condition may also improve your sense of taste. In these cases, the following surgeries may be helpful:

• Surgery to remove nasal polyps.
• Sinus surgery for chronic sinus infections.
• Septoplasty is a surgery to straighten the wall between the nostrils.

What can you do to improve your taste at home?

You can try to improve your sense of taste by doing these things at home:

• Use different types of spices, herbs, and seasonings to prepare your food. But, isn't it better to avoid adding too much salt and sugar? Instead, use other flavorings (like curry powder, cumin, ginger, garlic, and pepper).
• Try different food textures. Some are crunchy, some are soft, some are liquid. Add variety like this.
• Stay away from "combo dishes" like casseroles, as they can make it difficult to distinguish the individual flavors and can overwhelm the flavors.

How long can this condition of hypogeusia last?

In most cases, hypogeusia will improve once the underlying condition that caused it improves. For example, if you have a cold or sinus infection that caused your sense of taste to decrease, your sense of taste will return once the illness has resolved. However , the loss of taste caused by COVID-19 can sometimes last for weeks or even months.

Very rarely, this condition can last for years. Some people may never fully regain their sense of taste. This is especially true for people with neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

Can hypogeusia be prevented?

Sometimes we can't prevent the causes of hypogeusia. Therefore, it's not always possible to prevent this condition. However, there are things you can do to reduce your risk. For example, avoid smoking, eat a balanced diet, and manage any health conditions you may have (such as diabetes).

When should I see a doctor?

It's normal for your sense of taste to change when you have a cold or other infection. However, these changes usually go away once you recover from the illness. However, if your loss of taste persists for more than two weeks, or if you suddenly lose your sense of taste, be sure to tell a doctor.

What questions should you ask the doctor?

If you think you have a loss of taste, you can ask your doctor questions like these:

• "Why, Doctor/Miss, did my sense of taste change so suddenly?"
• "What could be the real reason for this?"
• "Will I need to do any special tests for this?"
• "Do I have any underlying medical condition that could be causing this loss of taste?"

Finally, take-home message:

Our sense of taste is what connects us to the human experience. Eating is an important part of many social rituals, such as celebrating birthdays and gatherings with friends. So, changes in your sense of taste can negatively affect your happiness and quality of life, especially if symptoms have been present for a long time. You may feel like you're missing out on a lot, or that you can't get any pleasure out of eating.

If you think you may have hypogeusia, please see a doctor. He or she can diagnose the cause and recommend treatments that can help you. Remember, the sooner you find the cause, the sooner you can get relief.

` Hypogeusia, taste disorder, loss of taste