Sinusitis can be a complex issue to deal with. It can be caused by a wide variety of factors and can produce a diverse range of symptoms. Sinusitis can be caused by the common cold, allergic reactions, nasal polyps, or respiratory infections. Depending on the severity of the sinusitis, symptoms can include inflammation, nasal discharge, postnasal drip, pain around your face, ear pain, and even bad breath.

One common symptom you might not expect to be a result of sinusitis is a loss of smell. This article will go into detail about what sinusitis is, how it can affect your sense of smell, and some ways that you can treat it.

What is Sinusitis?

At its most simple, sinusitis is the inflammation of the tissues lining the sinuses. Your sinuses are cavities near your nose that are filled with air. They help to humidify the air that you breathe, and they also help with the production of nitric oxide which increases oxygen absorption in the lungs.

Sinusitis can be acute, subacute, chronic, or recurrent. That is, symptoms can occur for just a few weeks, or they can last for over two months and reoccur frequently. Sinusitis is diagnosed by taking culture samples from the nose, sinus X-rays, CT scans, or blood tests.

Sinusitis and Smell

Because sinusitis can be caused by a number of factors, it can also affect your smell in several ways. The inflammation caused by sinusitis can cause our olfactory receptors to be affected and impaired. This can in turn affect your sense of taste. This inflammation can also cause a stuffy nose which is another way it can affect your sense of smell.

Additionally, sinusitis can lead to foul-smelling discharge coming from your nose and sinuses. This can cause bad breath and can also affect your sense of smell. If you are having issues with your sense of smell it might be worth it to consult a medical professional and get tested for sinusitis.

What You Can Do

Sinusitis can lead to major discomfort for people who suffer from it, so it is important to try and get it under control quickly. While sinusitis treatments will differ for each patient based on age, other medical conditions, and the initial cause of the sinusitis, some treatments include pain medication, nose drops, antibiotics, or even surgery in some severe cases.

It is important to ensure that you are well informed about your condition and that you get the right tests done to ensure that your recovery is quick and smooth.

If you have been dealing with sinusitis or loss of smell lately, it might be time to book an appointment with a sinus specialist like Dr. Thomas S. Higgins. Dr. Higgins is a fellowship-trained sinus surgeon and rhinologist who runs the premier sinus clinic in Louisville, Kentucky. You can call him at 502-894-8441 or contact him online!

Thomas S. Higgins, MD, MSPH

Father. Husband. Sinusitis Nerd.