Question: I am a 75-year-old female, and I am losing my sense of smell. I have had sinus and allergy problems all my life, and I always have a tissue with me. In the past 4—5 years I have lost about 95% of my ability to smell. Taste is fine. Since I live alone, losing the sense of smell can be a real hazard. I miss this sense very much. I tried zinc. Nothing happened. Is there anything new that might bring back my ability to smell?? Thank you so much.
Answer:
Finally, there may be something new…
The loss of the sense of smell can be a devastating problem. Smell is important not just for the enjoyment of food and activities of life, but for safety – avoiding fire and spoiled foods. A person’s sense of smell becomes limited because of nasal congestion- in that case, air does not reach the smell fibers, or due to damage to the fibers themselves. Damage can occur after trauma, an upper respiratory infection, or for reasons unknown. We all do lose some sense of smell as we age.
The loss of the sense of smell should, however, get evaluated. One needs to be sure that there is no growth obstructing the smell fibers or damaging them directly. The nasal cavity should be evaluated to make sure there is no unusual congestion (polyps, chronic infection). Most otolaryngologists (ear nose and throat doctors) can do the appropriate evaluations and recommend therapy if indicated.
When these causes have been ruled out, treatment for persistent loss of smell depends on the underlying cause. Today, regenerative treatment options are also available for selected patients with nerve-related smell loss.
PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) therapy uses concentrated platelets from the patient’s own blood to support tissue repair and may help promote recovery of olfactory nerve function. Patients interested in current treatment options should undergo an evaluation to determine whether PRP therapy is appropriate for their particular cause of smell loss.
Smell therapy may also be recommended as part of a comprehensive treatment program.
Please call us for an appointment if you would be interested.
Robert Pincus MD
Co-director NY Sinus Center
Frequently Asked Questions
Loss of smell can result from nasal congestion preventing air from reaching smell fibers, damage to the olfactory nerves due to trauma or infections, growths like polyps obstructing the nasal cavity, or simply aging. It is important to evaluate these causes to determine the appropriate treatment.
Evaluation is crucial to rule out serious issues such as nasal growths or chronic infections that may obstruct or damage the olfactory nerves. Proper diagnosis by an otolaryngologist ensures that any treatable conditions are identified and managed effectively.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause. For nasal congestion or polyps, medical or surgical interventions may help. For nerve-related smell loss, newer regenerative therapies like Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy can support nerve repair. Smell therapy may also be recommended as part of a comprehensive approach.
PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) therapy involves using concentrated platelets from the patient's own blood to promote tissue repair and potentially aid recovery of olfactory nerve function. It is a newer regenerative treatment option for selected patients with nerve-related smell loss.
While zinc has been tried by some patients, it has not shown consistent effectiveness in restoring the sense of smell. Newer treatments like PRP therapy may offer more promising results for certain types of smell loss.
Some decline in the sense of smell is common as people age, but significant loss should be evaluated to rule out other causes. Persistent or severe smell loss is not considered a normal part of aging and may require medical attention.
Loss of smell can pose safety risks such as inability to detect smoke, gas leaks, or spoiled food. This makes it especially important for individuals living alone to seek evaluation and treatment to mitigate these hazards.
