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What Causes Altered Sense Of Smell And Taste While Having Flu?
Posted on
Mon, 6 Jun 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 6 Jun 2016
Answered on
Mon, 4 Jul 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : I am having some really bizarre symptoms along with the normal ones for seasonal flu. I have lost the ability to taste and smell, even though I can breathe through my nose fairly normally. I'm also having a lot of cognitive problems like being able to react quickly to what people are saying to me, and remember the steps to basic tasks I do every day. I'm also forgetting words a lot worse than normal. Is this related to the flu or something else?
I am also having some really intense dizziness, but I think that's a normal seasonal flu symptom.
I am also having some really intense dizziness, but I think that's a normal seasonal flu symptom.
Brief Answer:
Seems to be due to flu and nothing else.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone through your query and understand your concerns. Let me assure you that I find nothing abnormal about the complaints. Viral infections manifesting with cough and cold (commonly referred to as flu) affect our nasopharynx, thus affecting our sense of smell. A major portion of our taste actually involves smell and therefore your sense of taste is likely to be affected even though you can breathe properly. I would insist you to take steam inhalation. Water in form of vapor reaches deep inside and helps by diluting the mucus and clears out the sense of smell. There is a connecting tube that connects between the inner throat and middle ear. Mucus block of this tube could lead to the dizziness. Steam inhalation would help in reducing it.
About the cognitive problems, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) would help you in dealing with your problems and would thereby provide relief, helping you to better adapt to your situation.
Regards
Seems to be due to flu and nothing else.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have gone through your query and understand your concerns. Let me assure you that I find nothing abnormal about the complaints. Viral infections manifesting with cough and cold (commonly referred to as flu) affect our nasopharynx, thus affecting our sense of smell. A major portion of our taste actually involves smell and therefore your sense of taste is likely to be affected even though you can breathe properly. I would insist you to take steam inhalation. Water in form of vapor reaches deep inside and helps by diluting the mucus and clears out the sense of smell. There is a connecting tube that connects between the inner throat and middle ear. Mucus block of this tube could lead to the dizziness. Steam inhalation would help in reducing it.
About the cognitive problems, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) would help you in dealing with your problems and would thereby provide relief, helping you to better adapt to your situation.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I can feel that my eustation tube is clogged. I can feel the pressure. So what is the best steam inhalation method without getting a vaporizer and leaning over it? And the water I'm my house doesn't get hot enough to make steam.
Brief Answer:
Any source of steam is fine.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Sorry for the inadvertent delay in responding.
The simplest way to make steam is to heat the water till it boils. It can be done anyhow. Using a kettle can limit the exit of the steam and would therefore prolong the duration of release. Using electic vaporizes is another option but that is not mandatory. You can boil water by any means and that should suffice. Thereafter you have to inhale the steam. That it! Do it multiple times a day.
Regards
Any source of steam is fine.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Sorry for the inadvertent delay in responding.
The simplest way to make steam is to heat the water till it boils. It can be done anyhow. Using a kettle can limit the exit of the steam and would therefore prolong the duration of release. Using electic vaporizes is another option but that is not mandatory. You can boil water by any means and that should suffice. Thereafter you have to inhale the steam. That it! Do it multiple times a day.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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