Clin Otolaryngol: what is the experience of losing your sense of smell?

January 24, 2020 / BIOON / -- grassland, fresh bread, memories of childhood, lost relatives, smell of Christmas What if it all disappeared? A new study from the University of East Anglia explores the wide range of emotional and practical effects of odor loss The study found that loss of smell disrupts every aspect of life (image source: www Pixabay Com) the researchers hope their findings will help motivate clinicians to take odor issues more seriously and provide better help and support for patients Professor Carl Philpott, from UEA Norwich School of medicine, said: "dysosmia affects about 5% of the population There are many reasons for loss of smell, including infection, injury, nervous system diseases and side effects of some drugs "Previous studies have shown that people who lose their sense of smell also have a high incidence of depression, anxiety, isolation and interpersonal difficulties So, we want to learn more about how smell loss affects people " The study involved 71 participants aged 31 to 80 who reported their experiences to the clinic Studies have shown that patients' quality of life is affected by a variety of damages, including negative emotional impact, feelings of isolation, impairment of relationship and daily functions, impact on physical health, difficulties in seeking help and economic burden Professor Philpot said: "a very big problem is the perception of harm - the inability to smell food that has gone bad, or the inability to smell gas or smoke This leads to danger "In addition, smell can not only save lives, but also improve lives Because of the loss of smell, many participants are no longer able to enjoy delicious food, resulting in loss of appetite and weight loss Others eat more foods that are low in nutritional value and high in fat, salt and sugar, leading to weight gain "Participants lost interest in cooking, and some said they were unable to provide food for their families and friends, which affected their social life The inability to associate smell with happy memories is also a problem The bonfire party, the smell of Christmas and the smell of perfume disappeared Smells connect us with people, places and emotional experiences People who lose their sense of smell miss all the memories related to smell All these problems lead to a variety of negative emotions, including anger, anxiety, depression, depression, loneliness, loss of confidence, regret and sadness The problem is compounded by a lack of clinicians' knowledge of the disease Duncan Boak, founder and chairman of fifth sense, said: "the results of this study will be of great help to our ongoing efforts to improve the lives of people with anosmia." Source of information: what it's like to live without a sense of smart original source: Sally E Erskine et al, an unmet need: Patients with smart and taste disorders, clinical Otolaryngology (2019) Doi: 10.1111/coa.13484