BEAUTY AND FASHION
The Science of Scent:
Understanding Smell Disorders
Article from BPT Website
(BPT) - Your sense of smell is more important than you think. It does more than just let you enjoy the aromas of your favorite foods or flowers. It can also serve as a warning system-alerting you to dangers such as a gas leak, spoiled food, or a fire.
Many adults experience changes to their sense of smell. Twelve to 13 percent of Americans over age 40-about 13.3 million people-have problems with their ability to smell. These problems-known as "smell disorders,"-are more common in men than women. The risk of having a smell disorder also increases with age; nearly 25 percent of men ages 60 to 69 have a smell disorder.
People with a smell disorder either have trouble smelling odors, or they experience odors differently than most people do. There are four types of smell disorders:
* Hyposmia - you have trouble detecting odors
* Anosmia - you can't detect odors at all
* Parosmia - the way you perceive odors changes; for example, something that normally smells pleasant now smells foul
* Phantosmia - you perceive an odor that isn't there
Smell disorders have many causes besides aging. Other causes are:
* Viruses
* Sinus inflammation and other upper-respiratory infections
* Smoking
* Head injuries
* Hormonal disturbances
* Dental problems