Can you lose your sense of smell and not know it? Disturbing research findings

It's hard to believe, but the COVID-19 pandemic, which has paralyzed the entire world, began less than six years ago. Although we've become accustomed to the disease over time, many of us still don't realize the serious consequences it has had on our bodies. Even seemingly healthy individuals who experience no symptoms may be unaware that the virus has damaged one of their most important senses: smell. Scientists have already conducted research on this topic, and the results are not encouraging.

Typically, various types of coronaviruses (not just the one causing COVID-19) can affect the sense of smell by disrupting the function of cells and receptors in the nasal cavity. As it turns out, our senses don't always recover fully after illness. US scientists have shown in their recent study that a significant number of people may have lost their sense of smell as a result of COVID-19 , without even realizing it. How is this possible?

A study published in JAMA Network Open found that among people who had recovered from COVID-19, as many as 1,393 participants claimed their sense of smell had deteriorated after the illness. The study showed that 80% of this group actually had olfactory impairments. However, the results from the second group were much more interesting. As many as 1,563 people declared they had not noticed any problems with their sense of smell, yet two-thirds of them (66%) were objectively diagnosed with olfactory impairments. This led the researchers to the hypothesis that many people recovering from COVID-19 may have a weakened sense of smell and not even be aware of it.

"Our results confirm that people with a history of COVID-19 may be particularly vulnerable to a weakened sense of smell. This is a problem that is still under-recognized in society," commented internist Leora Horwitz from the Grossman School of Medicine at New York University.

Moreover, researchers conducted tests on individuals who had not had a confirmed COVID-19 infection , and as many as 60% of them were diagnosed with olfactory impairment. According to experts, this group likely had an asymptomatic illness, which could actually be even worse, because even though they didn't experience symptoms, the virus acted in the body just as it did in symptomatic individuals. Therefore, those who don't know they've had COVID-19 may not be fully aware that the disease may have damaged their senses. Experts warn that this situation could affect millions of people, and this could be truly dangerous for society as a whole.

The sense of smell plays a crucial role in the human body. It's not just about experiencing pleasure while eating or choosing perfume at the drugstore. Smell is our warning signal. Thanks to it, we know that something is spoiled and unfit for consumption, or we can detect a hazard like a gas leak. If this sense of smell is impaired, we can unknowingly put ourselves and others at risk.

Experts suggest that all people who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 should receive post-COVID care, including tests to assess their sense of smell, even if the patient claims they have no problem with it. A weakened sense of smell can have devastating consequences not only for physical but also mental health.

According to experts, it's highly likely that damage to the sense of smell is linked to brain damage that limits a person's ability to recognize such a loss. Scientists also confirm that cognitive function and the sense of smell interact, and COVID-19, by affecting these two areas, may also damage them.

Moreover, according to researchers, the body can also "acclimate" to this state if the sense of smell hasn't been completely lost due to illness, for example. The human brain won't signal that 100% of the sense of smell has returned, especially since recovery can be gradual. Therefore, we may not be aware that we're only at 40%, which can be crucial to our overall safety.

Scientists believe that further research is needed into the long-term effects of COVID-19, not only to better understand the disease but also to implement appropriate rehabilitation following its recovery. However, it is currently unknown whether people who have lost their sense of smell will be able to fully recover.