The absence or impairment of the body's ability to sense and distinguish odors affects not only the mental, but also the physiological state of a person. In addition to being one of the main sources of information about the environment, the sense of smell also affects the functioning of various body systems. So, the smell of food, for example, enhances the production of saliva and digestive juices, unpleasant and pungent odors increase the heartbeat and raise blood pressure, pleasant smells act the other way around - they slow down the pulse and lower the pressure.
The ability to smell is inextricably linked to the functioning of the limbic system, so a violation of the sense of smell can have serious consequences for regulating a person's behavior and emotions.
In addition, disruption of the sense of smell deprives the body of an additional defense mechanism.
As a result, a person loses the ability to respond in a timely manner to such dangerous situations as eating spoiled food, gas leakage, release of toxic fumes, etc.
The mechanism of the human sense of smell
The human olfactory system is a complex mechanism consisting of several structures inextricably linked with each other. The first of these structures is neuroepithelium, which is located in the upper part of the nasal cavity and consists of several types of cells, including sensory receptors of the nasal mucosa. Thus, when entering the nasal passage, the molecules of odorous substances irritate the sensory cells.
At the next stage, the second structure comes into play - the olfactory nerves. Each nerve is made up of sensory cell axons in the form of 15-20 olfactory filaments. Located near the cranial cavity, the olfactory nerves penetrate there through the ethmoid plate and carry information about the smell to the olfactory bulbs. Here is the last structure, from where, through the second neurons of the olfactory analyzer, information first reaches the subcortical, and then to the cortical centers of the brain, where the information about the smell is deciphered.
Causes and Types of Smell Disorders
Disruption of the normal functioning of any of these structures (difficulty in the access of odorous molecules to the neuroepithelium of the nasal cavity, damage to the receptor zone, damage to the central olfactory pathway) leads to the fact that a person loses the acuity of his scent or stops smelling altogether. Among the most common causes of violation of the olfactory mechanism are:
- acute respiratory viral infections;
- sinusitis (frontal sinusitis, sphenoiditis, sinusitis);
- neoplasms (polyps, cysts);
- inhalation of toxic substances;
- cranial trauma;
- congenital diseases.
Most often, acute viral respiratory infections become the cause of partial loss of scent, and advanced sinusitis (especially sinusitis) or their improper treatment can even lead to a complete loss of smell. In this regard, it should be noted that there are 4 types of olfactory disorders in total:
- hyposmia - reduced sensitivity to odors;
- anosmia - the absolute lack of the ability to sense and distinguish odors;
- hyperosmia - increased sensitivity to odors;
- dysosmia - a distorted perception of odors.
The influence of sinusitis on the sense of smell
In most cases, with sinusitis, patients have temporary hyposmia or anosmia. During illness, the nasal mucosa swells and blocks the path of odorous molecules to the receptor cells. In such cases, the sense of smell returns with the retreat of the disease. However, prolonged use of vasoconstrictor drops during treatment can lead to irreversible anosmia, since it provokes a gradual atrophy of the sensory cells of the nasal mucosa. Complete receptor atrophy is not treatable.
In addition, one should be careful about the procedure for rinsing the nose by the Proetz method, which is popularly called the "cuckoo", especially if this rinsing is done at home. It should be remembered that the patient should throw his head back no more than 45 degrees, otherwise the antibiotic can get on the neuroepithelium, as a result of which the receptor cells lose their sensitivity and are destroyed.
As a rule, after the removal of the swelling of the nasal mucosa and the effective treatment of sinusitis in the patient, the normal functioning of the olfactory system is restored. In order to verify this, a special olfactometric test can be performed. The essence of this method is that the patient alternately inhales various odorous substances (it can be alcohol, vinegar, valerian tincture, coffee beans, citrus fruits, onions) and says what he feels.
If a person cannot distinguish some smells or does not feel them at all, then you should immediately consult a doctor.
Smell recovery
There are many tips on how to restore your sense of smell after sinusitis.
If, after recovery, the natural normalization of the scent function is slow, you can try to speed up the process by resorting to physiotherapy.
Heating with a magnet, UFO (ultraviolet irradiation) and UHF (ultra-high-frequency therapy) contribute to the restoration of the nasal mucosa, and at the same time the return of sensitivity to the sensory cells of the neuroepithelium.
If a person has ceased to distinguish smells, one should at least temporarily quit smoking, since tobacco smoke irritates the mucous membrane and reduces the sensitivity of nerve receptors. In addition, it is recommended to regularly massage the wings of the nose.
You can also restore the body's olfactory function using various folk methods. If you are looking to play slots and are a fan of sports betting, then Pinup Casino is the best choice. Follow the link https://igratnadengi.com/casino-online/pinup-casino/ and register at Pinup Casino now!
- Rinsing the nose with warm salted water. For half a liter of boiled water, use one teaspoon of sea salt. With your head tilted, you need to pour the solution into the nostril, without creating high pressure. Water should flow out through the other nostril. For this procedure, you can use a small teapot or syringe without a needle. You can also purchase a special spray can with a ready-made solution.
- Inhalation based on mint or eucalyptus essential oil. Add a tablespoon of lemon juice and 1-2 drops of oil or eucalyptus to a pot of hot water. We breathe the resulting solution with two nostrils for about 10 minutes. It is also recommended to do inhalations based on herbal decoctions (chamomile, lily of the valley, St. John's wort, marjoram).
- Gauze turundas. Mix a teaspoon of propolis with 50 ml of melted butter and 50 ml of vegetable oil (olive, linseed). Soak gauze tampons with this mixture and insert them into the nasal passages for 20 minutes. This method is contraindicated for people who are allergic to bee products.
- Menthol oil is used for application to the mucous membrane or to the wings of the nose. You can also use it in the form of drops.
- A mixture of beet juice (30 ml) and a teaspoon of melted honey is applied to the nasal mucosa with a swab or instilled into the nose.
- Also, a person who has ceased to distinguish odors is advised to drink a glass of warm milk with the addition of 20 g of sage before eating.
