The loss of sense of smell is a temporary inconvenience for most people, caused by a deeply stuffy nose from a cold, but the loss of a sense of smell may persist for some people including many elderly people. Anosmia can also be a sign of a more serious medical condition and should be checked by our GP in Fuengirola for loss of sense of smell.
Is it anosmia?
If you lose your sense of smell, there's more to miss than a range of scents and you may find that food tastes bland and will have difficulties telling different foods apart. Depending on the cause, odor loss can be partial (hyposmia) or complete (anosmia), and may be temporary or permanent.
Only a partial lack of smell may cause you to lose interest in eating, which could lead to weight loss, poor diet, or even depression in severe cases. It may also lead you to add more salt to bland foods, which can be a problem if you have high blood pressure or kidney disease. Also, your sense of smell is crucial to warning you about potential hazards such as smoke or spoiled food.
If you have anosmia you will have a loss of smell or find that the way things smell is changing. For instance, familiar things begin to lose a sense of smell.
When to call our GP in Fuengirola for loss of sense of smell
Odor loss due to colds, allergies or sinus infections typically clears up on its own within a couple of days. If this doesn't happen, consult our GP so that he or she can rule out more-serious conditions.
Our doctor may give you an antibiotic to treat a bacterial infection, or remove anything that blocks your passage through the nasal. But in some cases, loss of smell can be permanent.
Diagnosis of anosmia
If you experience a loss of smell that you can't attribute to an allergy or a cold and doesn't get better after a week or two, tell our GP in Fuengirola for loss of sense of smell. Through a special tool, our doctor will take a look inside your nose to see whether a polyp or growth impairs your smelling capacity or whether there is an infection. In order to determine the cause of anosmia, further testing by a doctor who specializes in nose and sinus problems — an ear, nose , and throat doctor (ENT, or otolaryngologist)— might be needed A CT scan may be necessary so that the doctor can get a better look of the area.