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What Causes Ammonia Smell On Breath?
Question: I have been able to smell amonia for about a week 24/7 I can't get it to go away! I can't smell anything else & have house dust, pet & pollen allergies but take histamines. I did highlight my hair a couple of weeks ago, at first I thought it was this.i have been around cats more lately helping my friend with her kittens. What can I do to get rid of smelling amonia all the time? It's driving me round the twist! I get nausea some days but already had that before the amonia.
Brief Answer:
Healthy diet is important
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,welcome to healthcare magic.I understand your concern.
In my opinion bad body odour is of many types. Among them ammonia smell from body is routinely seen.
Usually body depends on carbohydrates for major source of energy. When there are no enough carbohydrates body starts depending on proteins. The end product of this metabolism is ammonia. Ammonia usually gets excreted through urine but sometimes also come out through sweat and other body fluids leading to ammonia odour.
It might be due to many causes like maintenance of poor hygiene, unhealthy diet and certain medical conditions.
The following things might give some relief like:-
1) Take high carbohydrate diet and 20% of proteins.
2) Avoid some spices like cumin, garlic and take cinnamon.
3) Avoid red meat and eggs.
4) Take fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains which help in detoxification of body.
5) Adequate fluids upto 2 to 3 litres per day.
6) Bath twicely preferably with warm water and use antibacterial or deodorant soap.
7) keep axillary and pubic hair to short length to avoid sweat accumulation.
8) Use antiperspirants over underarms. And deodorant over body.
If still the smell doesn't subside consult doctor to rule out conditions causing ammonia smell like diabetes, any fever, UTI (urinary tract infection) etc.
Don't worry. It will subside.
Hope this satisfies your query.
Feel free to discuss furthur.
Best regards...Dr srilatha
Healthy diet is important
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,welcome to healthcare magic.I understand your concern.
In my opinion bad body odour is of many types. Among them ammonia smell from body is routinely seen.
Usually body depends on carbohydrates for major source of energy. When there are no enough carbohydrates body starts depending on proteins. The end product of this metabolism is ammonia. Ammonia usually gets excreted through urine but sometimes also come out through sweat and other body fluids leading to ammonia odour.
It might be due to many causes like maintenance of poor hygiene, unhealthy diet and certain medical conditions.
The following things might give some relief like:-
1) Take high carbohydrate diet and 20% of proteins.
2) Avoid some spices like cumin, garlic and take cinnamon.
3) Avoid red meat and eggs.
4) Take fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains which help in detoxification of body.
5) Adequate fluids upto 2 to 3 litres per day.
6) Bath twicely preferably with warm water and use antibacterial or deodorant soap.
7) keep axillary and pubic hair to short length to avoid sweat accumulation.
8) Use antiperspirants over underarms. And deodorant over body.
If still the smell doesn't subside consult doctor to rule out conditions causing ammonia smell like diabetes, any fever, UTI (urinary tract infection) etc.
Don't worry. It will subside.
Hope this satisfies your query.
Feel free to discuss furthur.
Best regards...Dr srilatha
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thankyou for your help. I have a shower once a day & use deodorant It's not in my body odor the smell of ammonia, just in my nose. I checked with my friends I don't give off ammonia odor, only I can smell it!
I have a high protein vegan diet,I don't eat carbohydrates except in crisps & some vegetables & fruits.
I have a sore spot under my nostril that looks a bit like a cold sore, could this be to do with it?
I have a high protein vegan diet,I don't eat carbohydrates except in crisps & some vegetables & fruits.
I have a sore spot under my nostril that looks a bit like a cold sore, could this be to do with it?
Brief Answer:
it might be dysosmia
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,I got your query.I understand your concern.
In my opinion your condition might suggest dysosmia where in unpleasant smell is felt.
Dysosmia might be due to many causes like:-
1)Nasal polyps
2)Upper respiratory tract infections.
3)Sinusitis.
4)nutrient deficiency.
5)Smoking,alcohol intake.
6)Diabetes and head injury etc.
So cold sore can also might be the cause for it.
But definitive diagnosis might be possible after examination by ear,nose and throat(ENT) specialist.He will examine your sense of smell to different odours .
Dont worry mostly the dysosmia might be treatable once the cause is removed.
Hope this satisfies your query.
Feel free to discuss furthur.
Best regards..Dr srilatha
it might be dysosmia
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,I got your query.I understand your concern.
In my opinion your condition might suggest dysosmia where in unpleasant smell is felt.
Dysosmia might be due to many causes like:-
1)Nasal polyps
2)Upper respiratory tract infections.
3)Sinusitis.
4)nutrient deficiency.
5)Smoking,alcohol intake.
6)Diabetes and head injury etc.
So cold sore can also might be the cause for it.
But definitive diagnosis might be possible after examination by ear,nose and throat(ENT) specialist.He will examine your sense of smell to different odours .
Dont worry mostly the dysosmia might be treatable once the cause is removed.
Hope this satisfies your query.
Feel free to discuss furthur.
Best regards..Dr srilatha
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Hi again,
Thankyou I appreciate both your replies because you have given me a good starting point to go my gp with In the meantime I can try & eat more carbohydrates & variety.and things to detoxify I still get a lot of hot sweats(I'm post menopause) for a while I struggled to cure bad breath too even though I go to the hygienist & eat healthily!
I cut out alcohol over a year ago
Thankyou I appreciate both your replies because you have given me a good starting point to go my gp with In the meantime I can try & eat more carbohydrates & variety.and things to detoxify I still get a lot of hot sweats(I'm post menopause) for a while I struggled to cure bad breath too even though I go to the hygienist & eat healthily!
I cut out alcohol over a year ago
Brief Answer:
it might be seen in menopause
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,I got your query .I understand your concern.
In my opinion hot flushes are usually seen in menopausal woman due to hormonal imbalance.Some may experience it for short time and some have for many days or throughout life.
Avoid tight clothes,smoking,alcohol,spicy food and excess coffee.
Take multivitamin or vitamin E capsule once daily.
Hormone replacement therapy(HRT) for short term is used to treat hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms like vaginal dryness and mood disorders.
But HRT might be associated with sideeffects like blood clotting,carcinomas etc.
So HRT will be prescribed by the doctor after physical examination and when benefits outweigh the risks.
Hope this satisfies your query .
Feel free to discuss furthur.
Best regards...Dr srilatha
it might be seen in menopause
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,I got your query .I understand your concern.
In my opinion hot flushes are usually seen in menopausal woman due to hormonal imbalance.Some may experience it for short time and some have for many days or throughout life.
Avoid tight clothes,smoking,alcohol,spicy food and excess coffee.
Take multivitamin or vitamin E capsule once daily.
Hormone replacement therapy(HRT) for short term is used to treat hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms like vaginal dryness and mood disorders.
But HRT might be associated with sideeffects like blood clotting,carcinomas etc.
So HRT will be prescribed by the doctor after physical examination and when benefits outweigh the risks.
Hope this satisfies your query .
Feel free to discuss furthur.
Best regards...Dr srilatha
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
Thankyou, all of your replies I am finding very helpful. I don't have HRT , the doctor advised me not to take it. I am post menopause for 4 years in XXXXXXX
The amonia I can smell is improved this morning, I tried eating a bit more carbohydrate & not so spicy food for dinner & my nose feels sore r but the amonia smell is reducing.
The amonia I can smell is improved this morning, I tried eating a bit more carbohydrate & not so spicy food for dinner & my nose feels sore r but the amonia smell is reducing.
Brief Answer:
Take healthy nutritional diet
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,I got your query.I understand your concern.
In my opinion alteration of diet and taking good healthy nutritional food might be very helpful.
Continue that and take a opinion of ENT specialist for more good results.
It is good that you are not on HRT.Walking or exercise daily also might help in reducing the hot flushes.
Hope this satisfies your query.
Feel free to discuss furthur.
Take healthy nutritional diet
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,I got your query.I understand your concern.
In my opinion alteration of diet and taking good healthy nutritional food might be very helpful.
Continue that and take a opinion of ENT specialist for more good results.
It is good that you are not on HRT.Walking or exercise daily also might help in reducing the hot flushes.
Hope this satisfies your query.
Feel free to discuss furthur.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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