IN THIS PODCAST: Sanford Urgent Care Clinic’s Dr. Jeff Hunt answers the burning question, “Why do we lose our sense of smell & taste when we get sick?”.
Dr. Hunt says the swelling of the nose is what causes you to lose your ability to smell & taste during a cold, sinus infection, allergic reaction, etc. But, it should only be temporary.
Also, in this conversation:
Could we lose taste & smell for good?
… The Doctor says it’s very rare for it to be permanent, but our taste & smell senses peak from about 30-60 years old and we slowly lose the our sense of taste & smell after 60 years old.
Could it mean something more than a minor cold?
… The Doctor says, certainly there are medical conditions like Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and other nutritional deficiencies which can result in a loss of your sense of smell. He says if you have a cold and all other symptoms go away, but you remain unable to smell or taste, to reach out to a medical professional.
And, because it’s flu season, why can’t they change the flu shot during it’s peak season to align better with the strains going around?
… The Doctor says, unfortunately, the level of production takes many months and there would be no way to get a new vaccine out in time.
(Jack Sunday & Amy Iler are talk-show hosts at 790 AM KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. “It Takes 2 with Jack & Amy” can be heard weekdays 11am-2pm. Follow Amy on Twitter @AmyKFGO. Follow Jack on Twitter @nodakjack.)
