Recognizing the sense of smell and how to protect it

The sense of smell is one of the five senses that humans have. As part of the human sensory system, the sense of smell plays a role in detecting odors or aromas. The ability to smell can be disrupted if the sense of smell is not properly maintained. Every object, food, or gas around us has a unique chemical structure. When chemicals from these objects are inhaled or smelled, special sensory nerve cells in the nose called olfactory cells will detect them. After that, nerve cells in the nose will transmit odor stimulation signals to the brain for interpretation. Through this process we can smell something.

Interference with the sense of smell

The sense of smell allows us to distinguish various kinds of scents or odors, for example the aroma of coffee, chocolate, perfume, flowers, to spices. However, our sense of smell can sometimes decrease or even disappear altogether. The following are some types of disorders that can occur in the sense of smell:

• Hyposmia, which decreases the ability to detect odors.
• Anosmia, a condition when the sense of smell loses its ability to smell completely.
• Parosmia, which is a condition when the sense of smell experiences a change in perception about smell, for example perfume that smells good can turn into something that smells foul.
• Fantosmia, which is when someone smells a specific scent that is not there. Usually this is caused by hallucinations.

This sense of smell can be caused by various factors, such as aging, frequent smoking, head or nose injuries, hormonal changes, side effects of drugs, to certain diseases, such as colds, allergies, sinusitis, rhinitis, and disorders of the nervous system and brain.

Various Ways to Maintain the sense of smell

If the sense of smell is disturbed, various health problems will appear. Starting from the difficulty or can not enjoy the delicious food, to not be able to detect the presence of certain harmful gases or substances. Therefore, the health of the sense of smell is important to maintain. There are several ways you can do to maintain the health of the sense of smell, namely:

1. Avoid allergy triggers

When there is an allergic reaction in the nose, the nasal cavity will become inflamed and swollen. If your nose is allergic too often, over time the function of the sense of smell will be disrupted. So, if you have allergies, try to avoid things that can trigger your allergies. If you want to travel outside the house or to a dirty place, use a mask to protect the nose. You are also advised to always prepare medicines to deal with allergic symptoms that can appear at any time.

2. Clean the house regularly

Clean all parts of the house, especially the bedroom and bathroom, at least once a week with a broom, vacuum cleaner, or clean cloth. Clean the curtains, bed linen, pillowcases, and toys regularly. Don't forget to always use a mask and gloves, especially if you use a cleanser that contains chemicals. If you have pets, bathe at least once a week with warm water and an animal shampoo. Also clean the cage, where to eat, and where to drink regularly.

3. Maintain air quality

Air quality in the house needs to be maintained so as not to cause health problems for you and your family. Dirty air can cause nasal irritation or infection. If this happens often, this can increase the risk of causing interference with the sense of smell. To maintain air quality in the room, create good air circulation, avoid smoking indoors, or use a scented cleaning liquid. If necessary, you can use an air purifier to help remove dust and dirt in the air, or an air humidifier so that the air in the room is not too dry.

4. Clean the nose regularly

You often pry your nose to clean it from dirt? From now on, try not to do it again, yes. Frequently picking your nose or picking your nose too hard can make the nose hurt and get infected, and cause nosebleeds. To avoid this, you can try to clean the nose with saline or sterile saline solution. The trick is as follows:

• Boil 2 cups of water for 15 minutes, then add 1 teaspoon of salt without iodine and let it stand at room temperature.
• Enter the salt solution into the net pot that has been cleaned and dried.
• Tilt your head and gently insert the tip of the neti pot into your nose.
• Lift the net pot until the saline solution flows from one nostril to another.
• Repeat with the other nostril.

Do the ways above to maintain the health of your sense of smell. If there is a complaint on the nose or a disturbance in your sense of smell, consult your ENT doctor immediately to get the right treatment.