Smell Disorders
Our sense of smell can be a source of great pleasure in our lives. We wake up to the smells of bacon and fresh brewed coffee and enjoy the scent of flowers or clean air after a spring rain. Smells can also provide protection by telling us when food is going bad or making us aware of fire through the smell of smoke. So when something impairs our sense of smell, the affects can be emotionally distressing as well as potentially dangerous.
How the Sense of Smell Works
We detect normal smells when odors stimulate specialized sensory cells called the olfactory sensory cells. These olfactory sensory cells are located in a small patch of tissue high up inside the nose. Smells reach these cells in one of two ways. When we inhale through the nose, odors are carried into the nose along with the air that we breathe. This is the way most people recognize when they think about their sense of smell.
The second way smells reach the olfactory sensory cells is through a special passage that goes from the roof of the throat up to the base of the nose. When we eat, odors released from the foods we chew travel through this passage to the olfactory sensory cells. This sense of smell enhances the sense of taste, making our food taste better.
When something goes wrong with the sense of smell, it’s possible to have a diminished ability to smell, known as hyposmia, or to lose the ability to smell all together, which is called anosmia. People with a reduced sense of smell sometimes report that things don’t smell the way they used to, or that things that used to smell good now smell bad. They also sometimes say they smell odors that are not actually present.
Causes of Smell Disorders
Many things can affect the sense of smell. Some of them are temporary, while others may be permanent.
• Sinus infections can cause a temporary loss of the ability to smell. Smell usually comes back when the infection goes away.
• Nasal polyps are growths in the nose that can block air from flowing freely.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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