Many people around the world don't have a sense of smell, but olfactory disorders like anosmia aren't as common as hearing or sight loss, according to experts. In fact, some medical professionals may have ignored or overlooked such a condition. In the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, loss of smell is getting a lot of attention as many patients have reported the disorder a symptom.
Loss of smell among those infected by the coronavirus has become all too common that those who suddenly experience olfactory loss are automatically considered COVID-19 positive, even without conducting tests.
But what's it really like not being able to smell? According to a study published in 2019 in the journal Clinical Otolaryngology, anosmia can disrupt almost every aspect of life, from the practical to the emotional.
Losing your sense of smell automatically affects your taste. It's like suddenly living in black and white when you've lived in color all your life. Anosmia can cause a series of problems and can even put your life in danger, like not being able to smell gas leaks or smoke. It can affect personal hygiene, put a strain in relationships, and can diminish sexual intimacy in couples.
"It impacts people's ability to feel safe in their own homes," says Dr. Zara Patel, an associate professor of otolaryngology and director of endoscopic skull base surgery at Stanford University Medical Center.
Several explanations exist as to why COVID-19 patients suddenly lose their sense of smell, but the most logical hypothesis is that the virus attacks non-neural cells in the nasal tissue involved in smell, or the olfactory epithelium.
According to Dr. Patel, one treatment with the highest level of success is called olfactory training. It's essentially teaching and conditioning your brain to have that ability to smell again. There are specific scents that specialists recommend their patients with anosmia such as eucalyptus, lemon, clove, and rose. These scents should be smelled twice a day for about 15 seconds, which should be done every day for six months.
The British Rhinological Society says that the loss of smell caused by viruses accounts for 40% of anosmia cases. It's unclear how many coronavirus-positive patients have the condition or if the disorder is temporary or permanent, but doctors and medical professionals are doing their best to provide proper treatment, relying on extrapolate and anecdotes from anosmia associated with flu and colds.
If you or someone you know suddenly experience loss of smell, seek the help of a medical practitioner immediately.
