Sudden loss of your sense of smell: 4 causes of anosmia

These 4 reasons can trigger anosmia

viral respiratory infection

One of the most common causes of transient anosmia is respiratory infection. Even a simple cold can damage the olfactory cells in the roof of the nose so much that signals are no longer sent to the brain. Also, when you have a cold, the mucous membrane of your nose swells. It is difficult for us to breathe because the narrow nasal airways are blocked. If fresh air no longer reaches the olfactory cells, they certainly cannot pass on any olfactory information.

Loss of smell is especially common with COVID-19 infection. Anosmia is now considered one of the major symptoms of the disease. Viruses cause severe inflammation of the olfactory cells and supporting cells in the roof of the nose. Sometimes cells die and cannot reproduce. Then there is severe limitation of the sense of smell or complete loss of smell sometimes permanent.

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parkinson’s

In diseases of the central nervous system, nerve cells in the brain die. In addition to the effect on the motor function of the muscles, one of the more common symptoms of the disease is a lack of smell until complete loss of smell. really researchers foundthat the loss of the sense of smell in many Parkinson’s sufferers preceded the typical symptoms of the disease. On closer examination, it was found that the olfactory bulb in the brain of people affected by the neurological disorder was only half the size of those who did not have Parkinson’s disease.

nasal polyps

Nasal polyps are benign growths of the nasal mucosa. They exit the mucosa in turbinates in the form of droplets and are attached to the mucosa by a tissue stalk. Depending on how large a polyp becomes or how many such polyps grow in the paranasal sinuses, nasal breathing can be severely restricted. Less fresh air in the olfactory cells also means a loss of the sense of smell. Nasal polyps also often cause headaches and a feeling of pressure in the middle.

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Toxic environmental substances and pollutants

The olfactory cells of our olfactory system are so sensitive that certain environmental toxins or pollutants from the environment can damage them. We all know about the “odor” in the nose, for example from certain cleaning agents. Such strong chemical irritants can damage the sensitive cells of our olfactory mucosa so badly that they die and cannot regenerate. It can affect our sense of smell. If the olfactory mucosa is disturbed by such substances for a long time, there is a risk of nasal sensory loss. Formaldehyde and pesticides are especially harmful. But tobacco smoke is also pure poison for our nose.