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Suggest Treatment For Loss In Sense Of Smell
Question: About eight years ago I noticed that my sense of smell wasn't as good as it used to be. I am now a 71 year old very healthy female, living in a rural environment, with a good lifestyle, but having read an article in the New York Times yesterday that loss of the sense of smell is an indicator for death within 5 years, I am now concerned and wondering if there are any ways I can recover my full sense of smell that the medical profession is aware of?
Brief Answer:
Considerations
Detailed Answer:
hello and thank you for sending the question.
This is a very good question. I am not aware of any data which has been studied in a large randomized clinical trial that supports the claim of the article which you have referenced.
in your case I think it is very important that you explore the possible causes of loss of sense of smell. This can be done in multiple ways including sophisticated imaging studies.
this might include MRI of the brain or brainstem. Also this might include a consultation with a neurologist or endocrinologist.
Again when we have symptoms it is important to try to understand the cause instead of trying to deal with the actual symptoms.
Again I am not aware of any data that supports the claim that loss of sense of smell is some type of indicator of death within five years.
I would recommend that you obtain a neurology consultation from your primary care doctor. This might include some type of referral. The neurologist can decide if you need imaging studies which can then be performed at your local hospital. If your local hospital is not capable of dealing with this type of thing that I recommend you seek referral to a university center.
thank you again for sending the question. Please let us know if you have any additional specific concerns.
Sincerely,
Dr. Galamaga
Considerations
Detailed Answer:
hello and thank you for sending the question.
This is a very good question. I am not aware of any data which has been studied in a large randomized clinical trial that supports the claim of the article which you have referenced.
in your case I think it is very important that you explore the possible causes of loss of sense of smell. This can be done in multiple ways including sophisticated imaging studies.
this might include MRI of the brain or brainstem. Also this might include a consultation with a neurologist or endocrinologist.
Again when we have symptoms it is important to try to understand the cause instead of trying to deal with the actual symptoms.
Again I am not aware of any data that supports the claim that loss of sense of smell is some type of indicator of death within five years.
I would recommend that you obtain a neurology consultation from your primary care doctor. This might include some type of referral. The neurologist can decide if you need imaging studies which can then be performed at your local hospital. If your local hospital is not capable of dealing with this type of thing that I recommend you seek referral to a university center.
thank you again for sending the question. Please let us know if you have any additional specific concerns.
Sincerely,
Dr. Galamaga
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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