• Sinus infections can lead to a loss of taste and smell.
• Losing the ability to taste and smell can cause a decreased quality of life for the patient.
• Treating the sinus infection can restore the patient’s sense of taste and smell.
Dr. Manish Khanna of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers says congestion caused by sinus issues can lead to the loss of taste, as well as other complications, partially because sinus problems cause people to stop breathing through their nose.
“By not using our nasal passages, we just start to mouth-breathe because we can’t or don’t know how to use our noses,” Khanna told the Gateway Reporter. “Because it’s stuffy all the time, it’s inflamed all the time, it’s not a good environment for our oral health. Things tend to dry up more, get a lot of dryness in our throat area, the saliva dries up quicker and that can lead to more issues in the oral cavity as well. This can sometimes affect the sense of taste.”
A survey conducted by Taste of Home found that the most popular foods found at a holiday dinner table are roast or mashed potatoes, turkey, bread rolls and stuffing.
Those who suffer from sinus infections, however, might not be able to enjoy their meals this holiday season because of a loss of smell and taste, according to the Houston ENT website. Congestion is a common symptom of sinus infections, and a stuffy nose can contribute to the loss of a sense of taste by blocking access to the part of the brain that processes flavors.
Those who lose their ability to smell and taste often experience a loss of appetite, which leads to poor nutrition, which could then lead to depression, according to Mayo Clinic. Adding excess salt or sugar to food to try to make it taste better could exacerbate problems with diabetes or high blood sugar.
Fortunately, if a sinus infection or other nasal issue is the cause of the problem, treating the infection can restore the patient’s senses of taste and smell.
To learn more about the symptoms of sinus infections, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.
