As many as 34-46 percent of Covid survivors experience a clinical decrease in the sense of smell
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, Johan N Lundström, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Neuroscience at the Karolinska Institutet describes six ways to lose your sense of smell due to COVID-19 or anosmia can affect human life.
At the start of the pandemic, several studies showed about half of people with COVID-19 had lost their sense of smell, known as anosmia. While another 20 percent to 35 percent experience a clinical decline in their ability to smell (hyposmia).
For most people, this is just a temporary loss of function. But there are also those who experience long-term loss of smell. Recent studies have shown that 12 to 18 months after the initial Covid-19 diagnosis, 34 percent to 46 percent of people still experience a clinical decline in their sense of smell. However, most of these people are not aware of this.
Reported by page Readers Digest.co.uk, mA related issue is parosmia, in which a person’s perception of smell changes, often becoming more unpleasant. Research shows that up to 47 percent of people who have Covid-19 can be affected.
Covid-19 isn’t the only condition that can cause a loss of smell. For example, it can also be caused by a virus or other infection, head trauma, or various neurodegenerative diseases. While evidence of post-Covid-19 loss of smell is still emerging, data from other types of olfactory dysfunction give us an idea of some of the effects long-term loss of smell can have on daily life.
1. Food safety
People with olfactory disorders tend to swallow spoiled food because they are not aware of the smell.
2. Race
Apart from the core taste sensations (sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami), almost everything we experience as taste is produced by odors reaching the odor receptors in the nose through the nasal-mouth passages at the back of the throat.
Unfortunately, without the sense of smell, most of what you eat will taste little or no taste. Losing the ability to sense smells will make apples taste like potatoes if you close your eyes.
3. Appetite
In addition to giving pleasure when eating, the smell of food also triggers our appetite. This means that when you can’t smell dinner cooking in the oven, you may be less likely to feel hungry.
4. Weight fluctuation
The combination of loss of appetite and pleasure from eating means that most people with olfactory disorders are able to lose weight.
However, it is also possible that people with olfactory disorders quickly begin to seek pleasure from other sensory stimuli while eating, such as texture, such as the crunch of fried foods. And instead of waiting until they are hungry, many will eat more often.
These unconscious changes in eating behavior often result in weight gain, which can lead to long-term heart problems and other health problems.
5. Relationship
There are some consequences of losing smell that you may not immediately think of. Take for example the fact that someone who cannot smell will not be able to monitor their own body odor. It can be a source of self-consciousness and insecurity in social situations.
Several studies have shown that a poor sense of smell is associated with decreased reported social interactions, number of friends, and sexual pleasure. The latter could also be related to their loss of ability to sense a partner’s scent.
6. Mental health
One-third of people who seek treatment for their odor problems report a decrease in their quality of life and general well-being, compared to before they experienced the problem. This may be due to a combination of the factors outlined above.
People with olfactory dysfunction often report symptoms of depression, and it’s not uncommon for them to attribute it to their smell problems.
