Sinus problems can cause a decrease in taste. You need your nose to taste food just as much as you need your taste buds.
You may have a sinus infection or blockage. Let your doctor check it out.
2007-01-28 16:03:44
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answer #1
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answered by Steph 5
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ENT: Sudden loss of taste and smell
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D. FAULDEN, MD, of Edmonton, Alta., would like some feedback on the following case: "A woman in her sixties has suddenly lost her sense of taste and smell. She now finds that everything tastes salty; she has to force herself to eat and has lost five kilograms. Her usual medications are glyburide, digoxin, levothyroxine, conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone. Could you suggest some tests and treatment?"
Many people who complain of olfactory loss also feel their sense of taste is either gone or distorted. Most of these people, when tested, actually have normal thresholds for taste, and the distortion they experience is related to the loss of the sense of smell. Of paramount importance is to determine whether the problem is neural (involving some loss of the olfactory pathways), or mechanical (a blockage in the sensory cells in the roof of the nose). Since the leading causes of olfactory problems are head trauma and viral infections, the history may provide the answer. The second step is a physical examination of the upper respiratory tract, head and neck, with special emphasis on the nose. This exam should include endoscopic evaluation of the nasal cavity to rule out polyps or pathology at this site. X-rays may be necessary. The clinical exam should also include olfactory threshold testing by such tests as scratch and sniff paradigm to distinguish between partial and complete loss of smell (anosmia). Although medications, hypothyroidism, and diabetes can contribute to a loss of the sense of smell, they rarely cause it suddenly. Unfortunately, there is no effective therapy for olfactory loss caused by neural disorders. If the problem is in the transport system, treatment is directed at the cause, which could be rhinitis, polyps, or possible neoplasms.
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2007-01-28 16:21:06
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answer #3
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answered by HDMOM77 3
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