Losing a sense of smell can be a threat

LOSING your sense of smell or having it “disturbed” is not as rare as you might think: one in 20 people experience it at some point in their lives.

It can happen as a result of chronic sinusitis, damage caused by cold viruses, or even a head injury. It is sometimes also a precursor of nervous system diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. But compared with hearing and sight loss, it receives little research or attention.

We wanted to better understand the issues people with smell disorders face, so we analysed written, personal accounts of anosmia (loss of sense of smell) by 71 sufferers. The texts revealed several themes, including feelings of isolation, relationship difficulties, impact on physical health and the difficulty and cost of seeking help. Many people also commented on the negative attitude from doctors about smell loss and how they found it difficult to get advice and treatment for their condition.

Smell loss leaves sufferers vulnerable to environmental hazards, such as spoiled food and gas leaks. It also has a negative effect on a range of activities and experiences, potentially causing significant harm.

In reality, perhaps this is not surprising given the extra dimension that smell gives to the enjoyment of food, exploration of our environment and bringing back memories. So our sense of smell is both a life-saving and life-enhancing sense.

Our research showed that anosmia led to physical concerns that included diet and appetite.

Many participants described a profound effect on their relationships as a result of their smell disorder. These range from not enjoying eating together to more intimate relationships – particularly sex. |