What does it mean if I lost my sense of smell?

Question

Accepted Answer

Lost smell - anosmia - is usually about a blocked or inflamed nose. Colds, sinus infections, nasal polyps, and allergies are the everyday causes, and smell returns as the congestion clears. COVID changed the public awareness of this symptom: it can knock out smell without any congestion at all, sometimes for weeks or months, and NIDCD notes most people recover within weeks to months even then.

Less common causes worth knowing: head injuries can damage the smell nerves, and a gradual, unexplained smell loss in an older adult can be an early sign of Parkinson or Alzheimer disease - that version shows up slowly, years before other symptoms, and is worth mentioning at a checkup.

What to do depends on the pattern. Smell gone during a cold: wait it out, usually two to three weeks. Smell gone with a clear nose: test for COVID. Smell that does not return within about a month of the illness clearing: see a doctor - an ENT can check for polyps and other fixable causes, and smell training, which is literally sniffing familiar scents twice daily, has real evidence behind it for recovery. Safety note while smell is gone: check your smoke detectors and date your leftovers, because you just lost your spoilage alarm.

Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text. Describe when and how you lost it, and it can help you map the likely cause.

What does it mean if I lost my sense of smell?

Lost your sense of smell? Ask Pymander free, 24/7.

What to do

Related questions

Sources