Written by Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : August 23, 2016 4:50 PM IST
Loss of smell usually occurs with advancing age. This in turn results in poor appetite, nutritional deficiencies and lack of energy. Loss of smell could also indicate neurological, viral and endocrinal conditions. Read more on what it can indicate about your health.
Head injury: One of the most common but highly ignored causes of loss of smell is head trauma. Any injury to the back of the head is five times more likely to cause anosmia (loss of smell) than injury to the forehead. Also, tumour of the brain or meningitis (inflammation of the brain tissue) can lead to loss of smell [1].
Viral infection: A 2007 study in The Laryngoscope has revealed that viral infection can cause olfactory dysfunction [2]. If the infection is caused by rhinovirus,which in most cases is seasonal, the severity of the infection is very high. The exact action mechanism is not known but loss of smell is more than nasal obstruction as it can lead to upper respiratory tract infection and sinus infection as well.
Vitamin D deficiency: Numerous studies have shown a connect between lack of vitamin D and loss of smell. Improving the nutritional status of vitamin D in the body has helped in regaining the sense of smell [3]. Not just this, lack of vitamin D can lead to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and cancer.
Hypothyroidism: A study published in The American Journal of Medicine showed that taste and smell defects are common clinical abnormalities in people suffering from primary hypothyroidism. Moreover, it also suggested that loss of smell can contribute to anorexia and less appetite. [4].
Alzheimer’s disease: One of the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, loss of smell is attributed to the contusion of important olfactory areas of the brain [5]. Other common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are mood swings, dementia and confusion.
Stroke: Did you know that olfactory dysfunction is reported in patient following stroke? The symptoms reported by these patients include hyposmia (diminished sense of smell) and anosmia (complete loss of smell). In some cases, it also reported weight loss, lack of energy and strength, mainly due to poor nutrition following loss of smell [6].
Parkinson’s disease: Just like Alzheimer’s disease, loss of smell is also a common symptom in people with Parkinson’s disease [7]. This symptom precedes the motor-related symptoms like tremor, muscle stiffness and difficulty in movement. Although the exact cause is unknown, it is assumed to be due to change in the central brain structures.
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