Have you suddenly lost your sense of smell? Let's learn about Anosmia

Imagine you walk into the kitchen and smell a deliciously cooked meat curry... but you can't smell it? Or your favorite perfume? Have you ever had an experience like this? Sometimes this is a normal part of a cold, but sometimes it can be something to be a little more concerned about. Today we're talking about this condition of losing the sense of smell, medically speaking, anosmia.

Simply put, how do we smell?

This is a very amazing process. Let's understand this simply.

Imagine something that smells like a flower. This creates tiny "scent particles" that are invisible to the eye. When we breathe, these particles go into our nose. At the very top of the nose, there are very special types of cells. We call these ``olfactory sensory neurons.'' These are like little sensors that detect smells.

When these scent molecules connect to those cells, those cells send a signal directly to our brain. "Here comes this smell." Then the brain decides whether it's "this is the smell of flowers," "this is the smell of delicious food," or "this is an unpleasant smell" and tells us. All of this happens in a matter of seconds. Isn't it amazing?

What are the symptoms of loss of smell?

The main feature of this is that it does not smell at all. For some people, this can happen suddenly . For example, you smell great today, but when you wake up tomorrow morning, you don't smell at all.

For others, this may happen gradually . You may first notice that the perfume you use often doesn't smell as strong as it used to. Or you may notice that the smell of food is less noticeable. This could be the first sign.

Why is the smell so bad? What are the reasons?

There is not just one reason for loss of smell, there can be many reasons. Some are very simple, temporary reasons. Some can be symptoms of more serious medical conditions. Let's break these reasons down into two categories.

1. Conditions that block the nose or affect the nose

These are the most common reasons we see. If the odor molecules can't get to the cells that send signals to the brain, we can't smell. It's like a traffic jam.

2. Conditions affecting the olfactory nerves or brain

Sometimes, even if your nose is fine, you may lose your sense of smell if there is damage to the smell cells, the nerve pathways from those cells to the brain, or the brain itself. These are usually less serious conditions.

• Traumatic Brain Injury: If you hit your head in an accident, the nerves related to your sense of smell can be damaged.
• Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease: Loss of smell can be an early symptom of diseases that affect the nervous system.
• Brain Tumors: If a tumor develops in the parts of the brain related to smell, it can interfere with the sense of smell.
• Other medical conditions: Conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and multiple sclerosis (MS) can also cause a loss of sense of smell.

3. Other reasons

• Certain medications: Some medications, such as antibiotics and antihistamines, can cause a loss of smell as a side effect.
• Smoking: People who smoke gradually lose their sense of smell over time.
• Aging: As we reach the age of 50-60, our sense of smell and function naturally begin to decline.
• Congenital Anosmia: Very rarely, some people are born with a loss of smell.

Can a loss of smell be dangerous?

Not being able to smell doesn't just mean not being able to smell a perfume, a flower, or a delicious dish. It's also a sense that's very important for our safety.

• The risk of eating spoiled food: We first know if a food has spoiled by its smell. A person who has no sense of smell is more likely to get food poisoning even after eating spoiled food.
• Inability to detect fire or smoke: If there is a fire in a house, we are only alerted when we smell something burning. If we cannot smell it, it may be too late to recognize the danger.
• Inability to detect a gas leak or chemical: If we smell a gas leak in our home, we take immediate action. Someone who doesn't have a sense of smell may not be able to recognize such a dangerous situation.

How do you find this, Doctor?

If you continue to have trouble smelling, you should definitely see a doctor. Usually, you will be referred to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeon for these conditions.

The doctor will first ask you questions:

• Since when do you not smell?
• Did this happen all at once or gradually?
• Are there any other symptoms (fever, cough, headache)?
• Have you hit your head anywhere recently?

Then, he or she will use a special instrument to examine the inside of your nose to check for any obstructions, such as polyps.

Additionally, you can take odor identification tests . This involves letting you smell the scent of various substances (e.g. coffee, soap, mint) and asking you to identify what they are.

Sometimes, if the problem is suspected to be brain-related, an MRI or CT scan may be recommended.

What are the treatments for this?

Treatment for anosmia depends directly on the cause.

• If it's due to an infection: If it's something like a sinus infection, your sense of smell will return to normal once the infection is cured with antibiotics prescribed by your doctor.
• If it is due to allergies: Antihistamines or nasal sprays can provide relief.
• If it is due to an obstruction such as nasal polyps: Sometimes these can be controlled with medication. If not, a minor surgical procedure can be performed to remove the polyps and restore your sense of smell.
• If it's due to medication: If your doctor determines that your sense of smell is reduced due to a medication you're taking, he or she will prescribe an alternative medication instead.
• If caused by smoking: Quitting smoking can restore your sense of smell to some extent over time.

Some questions you might also be wondering about

Can you taste without smelling?

This is a question that many people have. The answer is, yes, it does taste good to some extent. But not like it used to.

The taste buds on our tongues can detect 5 main tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami). But what we really experience as the "taste" of a food is a combination of the taste we feel on our tongue and the smell we feel in our nose.

Imagine you're eating a piece of vatalappan. Your tongue will taste the sweetness. But if your nose doesn't smell the cardamom and nutmeg, you won't get the full "vatalappan taste" experience. It just tastes like something sweet.

Are `Anosmia` and `Parosmia` two different things?

Yes. Don't get this mixed up.

• Anosmia: is the complete loss of smell.
• Parosmia: This is a distorted sense of smell. That is, a good smell is perceived as bad. For example, the smell of coffee may smell like burnt rubber to you.

If I don't smell, how can I be careful?

Until your sense of smell returns, you need to think especially about your safety.

• Install smoke detectors: Be sure to install these at home and at work, and check their batteries regularly.
• Check expiration dates: When buying and using food, check the expiration date carefully. Don't judge whether it's spoiled by smell.
• Take care of gas appliances: Always check that things like gas stoves and cylinders are working properly. If possible, install a gas leak detector.