Everything Anosmia 1

Alma Ramirez

4/ 11/ 2023

Dr. Jason Dew

ENGL 1302-280: English Composition I

Everything Anosmia

Most of us take our sense of smell for granted, but have you ever thought about what it

would be like not to be able to smell something? The complete loss of smell is called anosmia.

This disease for most people is temporary in some cases it can be permanent. Without the sense

of smell, food can taste different. It could be caused by a stuffy nose from a cold or sinus

infection. Nasal congestion from a cold, allergy, sinus infection, or poor air quality is the most

common cause of anosmia. The symptoms are just the lacking of odor.

In addition, anatomy and physiology affect homeostasis in different ways for example not

smelling well complicates the appetite as well may cause improper eating which can lead to

depression in the immune system. An overall problem of depression on the immune system

getting sick is more propensity. The anatomy and physiology that affect homeostasis is the

balance our body tries to make. In different ways for example not smelling well complicates the

appetite as well may cause improper eating which can lead to depression in the immune system.

An overall problem of depression on the immune system getting sick is more propensity. Also,
 Everything Anosmia 2

the imbalance that leads to this disease is Olfactory nerve damage known as Cranial Nerve 1 part

of the cranial nerves are in charge of sending sensory information to the brain can lead to the

lack of sense of smell. Anosmia is the loss of sense of smell either partial or total. Nasal cavities

around the nasal passage become inflamed, or a good example of a Sinus infection is one short-

term. Permanent damage may also be a side effect of head & nerve injury.

At the same time, the loss of olfactory function risk increases with age; it begins to

decline after the age of sixty. Anosmia can affect different systems like the olfactory system.

Also, the gustatory system is affected; smell and taste are often referred to as a pair because they

are closely interlinked. This being said what we think is our taste sensation is actually from our

sense of smell. On another side, the symptoms of anosmia are difficulty falling asleep at night,

waking up too early, daytime tiredness or sleepiness, irritability, depression or anxiety, difficulty

paying attention, focusing on tasks or remembering, and these are just some examples of the

symptoms of anosmia.

The diagnosis of anosmia is when the doctor asks for important associated symptoms

like nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, or both. The nature of nasal discharge in rhinorrhea is

important. The relation of anosmia to any upper respiratory infections or head injury is deeply

excavated. A physical examination is done to identify swelling, inflammation, discharge, and

polyps. Making the patient breathe through each nostril separately helps to identify the

obstruction.
 Everything Anosmia 3

Additionally, anosmia can change the quality of life of persons with this disease because

they can not perceive life as ours. Inclusively, they lose an important sense that helps us to be

alert to what happens around us. For example, if something is burning we can smell the smoke

and make something to control the situation or preventing. Moreover, the causes of anosmia are

nasal congestion, allergies, drug abuse, sinus infection, and poor air quality. Other causes are

nasal polyps, small cancer, growths in the nose, injury to the nose, head trauma or smell can be

compromised nerves damaged by surgery. The most common symptom of anosmia is the loss of

smell and the least common is nasal discharge.

To make the diagnosis of anosmia the doctor first must know the patient's history which

is what the patients tell the doctor. An example is how long the patient has been suffering the

loss of smell or if the cause was an allergy, drug abuse, trauma, or if the patient went through

some surgery. Once the history gives a fair amount of information, the doctor can start with a

nasal endoscopy to rule out any obstructive cause of the impaired smell. This is how most

doctors can see for the impairment if it is correctable, but unfortunately, a few of them are not.

In conclusion, anosmia is a disease that causes the lack of odor and may affect also your

taste of food, the symptoms are detected by noticing a change in your sense of smell and the

most common diagnosis is nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, or both. The correct way to treat it is to

take antibiotics and follow the instructions of your doctor. Anosmia is a terrible disease that

changes the lives of people with this disease in some cases, it has a cure and a treatment but in
 Everything Anosmia 4

most cases, it does not have any of these. New evidence from research studies mentions that even

complex B vitamins may help repair or assimilate nerve connections.

 Everything Anosmia 5

Works Cited

Boesveldt, Sanne, et al. “Anosmia-A Clinical Review | Chemical Senses | Oxford Academic.”

OUP Academic, Oxford University Press, 22 May 2017,

academic.oup.com/chemse/article/42/7/513/3844730.

Leopold, Donald. “Disorders of Taste and Smell .” Disorders of Taste and Smell: Introduction

and Background, Anatomy and Physiology, Etiology of Smell and Taste Disorders, 24 May

2018, emedicine.medscape.com/article/861242-overview.

Staff. “Anosmia.” U.S.Pharmacist, 2011, www.uspharmacist.com/.

Yousem, D M, et al. “MR Evaluation of Patients with Congenital Hyposmia or Anosmia. :

American Journal of Roentgenology : Vol. 166, No. 2 (AJR).” AJR. American Journal of

Roentgenology, 1996, www.ajronline.org/doi/abs/10.2214/ajr.166.2.8553963.