Sudden preference for spicier foods; desire to add more salt or more sugar to meals; difficulty identifying odors or flavors; change in the taste of the food consumed. These are all classic symptoms of someone with “smell loss”. In other words, those who have a reduced ability to smell, which directly interferes with our taste and can also bring other health risks.
According to otorhinolaryngologist Gilberto Ulson Pizarro, from Hospital Paulista – a reference in ear, nose and throat health –, the dysfunction is more common after the age of 60 and patients rarely have this perception. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to our family’s habits at the table.
“If you notice, for example, that the food is already salty enough, but even so, your father, mother or other companion tends to add more salt, this could already be evidence. The loss of smell affects the taste of food, which depends on the texture of the food, the bitter, sweet, salty taste and to refine the smell of the food”, explains the doctor. “To compensate for this deficiency, people tend to increase the dose of spices, salt and sugar – which is already worrying and an indication of olfactory loss.”
Gilberto Ulson Pizarro explains that the dysfunction can be temporary or even permanent, depending on the origin of the problem. But, in any case, it is always important to investigate.
“The causes of olfactory loss can be very varied. It can result from a simple nasal obstruction due to rhinitis or a deviated septum, it can be an indication of diabetes, a consequence of a natural aging process or even the existence of a tumor. Therefore, medical evaluation is essential”, he warns.
In addition to the issue related to good nutrition – which requires a moderate consumption of salt, sugar and condiments –, Gilberto Ulson Pizarro remembers that the loss of smell can lead to the risk of serious accidents, precisely because it compromises a vital sense for human beings.
“Organically, the function of smell is to protect us against the ingestion of spoiled food, as well as dangerous situations, such as fire, smoke, or even poisoning, as occurs with chemical products, such as chlorine, cooking gas etc. All of this can pose serious risks to life.”
The doctor reports the case of a patient who had an explosion at home, precisely because she could not smell the cooking gas in the room. “Her granddaughter had opened the hose device, but she couldn’t smell the smell, and when she turned on the kitchen light, there was a huge explosion.”
Another very common problem is neglect of personal hygiene, as the person does not smell sweat, urine and feces. “This is more common among the elderly and the main risk is in relation to possible infections. Therefore, it is something that also always needs to be observed, especially after the age of 60”, he highlights.
Diagnosis and treatment
The good news is that technology allows quick identification of possible causes that lead to olfactory loss. At the olfactory clinic at Hospital Paulista, for example, through an initial test it is possible to identify whether the cause is conductive (related to an obstruction in the nose); neurosensory (when there is involvement of specific cells or nerves that carry smell information to the brain); or mixed (resulting from both problems).
Treatments vary depending on the diagnosis. “A very common treatment that also serves as a preventive method is the so-called ‘olfactory training’, which consists of using essential oils or products with very characteristic smells to train the patient’s sense.”
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Tags: Olfactory loss compromises taste quality life safety suffering problem
