Lack of odor might point out most cancers, others, specialists say

Otolaryngologists and neurologists have advised anyone who experiences loss of smell (Anosmia) beyond two weeks to seek medical care, warning that it could be an indication of serious health problems like cancer, tumours, or trauma.

The experts said loss of smell can occur as a result of damage to the olfactory system, which is responsible for detecting and interpreting smells.

They noted that there are many possible causes of anosmia, which include head trauma, neurological disorders, viral infections, and exposure to certain chemicals or toxins.

According to a health website, Healthline, the five senses of the body are sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch, noting that the five senses of humans are perceived through the use of sensory organs.

These sensory organs include eyes for sight, ears for sound, nose for smell, tongue and nose for taste, and skin for touch.

Healthline, however, noted that living with a reduced or total loss of smell can greatly affect people’s health, happiness, and general quality of life.

Speaking exclusively with According Healthwise, the experts stressed that loss of smell might not always be a sign of something serious, and can sometimes be due to a minor illness, or a temporary condition.

They noted that losing the sense of smell for more than two weeks may be an indication or presence of a more severe underlying condition, such as a sinus infection, or another neurological disorder.

A professor of Ear, Nose, and Throat, Titus Ibekwe said people can experience a selected, partial, or permanent loss of smell, stressing that the temporary loss should not last more than two weeks.

The specialist, who is a consultant ENT surgeon at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, noted that there are some people born without the full development of their sensory organs that test for smell.

He explained that tumours, which could be cancerous or not, can also block the sensory receptors, adding that when they cluster in the nose, the person will not be able to smell.

“The common growth in the nose includes what we call nasal polyps. It’s a benign tumour, not cancer. But when it clusters in the nose, the person will be unable to smell.

“So any other tumour in the nose, be it cancer or not, is capable of also leading to loss of smell. This will persist until such a tumour is removed. When it is completely removed from the nose, the person can smell it again.

“The other one is from trauma. Trauma is injury. People who have accidents that affect their head seriously and similar to it is anything that affects the olfactory lobe of the brain,” he explained.

On why people with loss of smell need to be worried, the ENT surgeon stated, “If a sense of smell persists beyond two weeks, then the individuals should be worried because it is expected that the temporary ones due to simple infections and common cold should resolve within two weeks. But if it stays longer than two weeks, it becomes a problem.

“But it is also said that what is not tasted in life, you don’t lose. It’s only when you have tasted something you love that you start longing to have more. Isn’t it? So, for those who have not smelled at all in life, well, you just advise them to carry on with their normal life as much as possible.

“But for those whose sense of smell impacts their taste loss, it is a red flag that must attract immediate presentation to an ENT surgeon who will help to investigate why the loss of smell took place in the first place, and why it lingered that long.”

When asked about the importance of smell, the physician said it serves as a preventive measure that helps identify poisonous and dangerous gases.

“There are certain senses in humans that we call ‘special senses’. We have smell as number three, it is a special sense that adds to the quality of life of every human, even animals also have a sense of smell.

“With smell, you identify certain poisonous and dangerous gas around you and you can run away from such a place so that you don’t inhale too much. So, this is a preventive measure.

“The sense of taste is also connected to smell. You realize that someone who has a common cold and can’t smell well will not be able to savour food well and the taste will tend to be lost,” he stated.

On how best to treat it, the otolaryngologist added, “There is no common way to treat it, the best thing is to visit the surgeon. But like I said, those temporary ones tend to resolve on their own and the sense of smell will return within two weeks.

“So to speed up the resolution in the temporary ones, things like steam inhalation tend to help. Remember, during COVID-19, one of the remedies for people was steam inhalation to keep warm, and to drink a lot of warm water. But once it exists longer than necessary, as we have earlier said, the best thing is to visit a surgeon.”

On his part, a neurologist at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, Dr John Alao said the loss of smell is often overlooked by people and warned that it can be a key indicator of serious health issues.

While noting that it is not always easy to determine the cause, the physician said it is crucial to have any unexplained loss of smell investigated by a doctor.

He emphasised that in some cases, anosmia may be an early sign of a more serious underlying condition, such as cancer or a brain injury.

According to him, anosmia can indicate neurological, respiratory, or even malignant conditions, so it is best not to ignore it.

“The loss of smell has been linked to the development of certain types of cancer, such as lung cancer, sinus cancer, and brain tumours.

“It is also associated with certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, individuals who experience loss of smell should seek medical attention to determine the underlying cause and to receive appropriate treatment.

“Losing one’s sense of smell can be a serious health issue, even though it is sometimes overlooked by individuals who experience it. While it can be caused by a range of conditions, some of which are relatively minor, some potentially life-threatening conditions can present with anosmia as a symptom.

“As such, it is important for individuals who experience the loss of smell to see a doctor to determine the cause and receive the appropriate treatment. Even though the loss of smell may sometimes be temporary or innocuous, it is best to err on the side of caution and seek medical advice,” he advised.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, anosmia is when you can’t detect odours. It’s usually a temporary side effect from a cold or sinus infection that goes away when the infection clears. But sometimes, anosmia may be a symptom of other more serious medical issues like diabetes or traumatic brain injury.

Cleveland Clinic listed Alzheimer’s disease, brain tumours, multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure, Kallmann syndrome, and Parkinson’s disease, among others as conditions that affect receptors in the nose.