How to restore your sense of smell after coronavirus

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

The occurrence of anosmia, that is, a lack of smell, depends on complications from COVID-19. Basically, the problem is observed for another 1-2 weeks. Learn how to recover your sense of smell after coronavirus, what you can do at home.

Coronavirus and body protection

Loss of smell and taste is one of the most common signs of the presence of coronavirus. This symptom is noted in almost 80% of people who have had SARS-CoV-2. The sense of smell in patients is impaired on the 3-5th day of the disease, it is considered one of the first signs of the disease.

When a patient is hospitalized with a severe course of COVID-19, doctors pay most attention to the treatment of lung damage, and the loss of smell is considered not such a serious complication. However, it is this symptom that can remain with a person for a long time, cause him a lot of trouble.

Doctors can determine how long anosmia will last after coronavirus by the severity of the disease. Olfactory receptors take the brunt of SARS-CoV-2, showing a protective response.

To prevent the coronavirus from entering the brain, olfactory receptors stand up to protect the body. The loss of the ability to smell is not only a symptom of the disease, but also a normal reaction to the penetration of the virus.

Olfactory receptors tend to regenerate. This is given to us by nature, it is considered a natural process, but it all depends on the immunity of each person.

In 25% of cases, anosmia stops 14 days after complete recovery. In some patients, the sense of smell returned during the illness. But there is a risk that anosmia can remain in a person who has recovered forever.

There are a number of methods on how to restore your sense of smell after coronavirus.

Self-restoration of the ability to distinguish odors

To prevent anosmia from becoming chronic, you should take care of the nasal mucosa already during the course of the disease, get rid of edema, use anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, hormonal sprays, rinse your nose with a solution of sea salt.

For this purpose, doctors prescribe medications, physiotherapy procedures, and breathing exercises. Eliminate inflammation in the airways will help:

• Kagocel is an antiviral drug;
• Chlorhexidine is an antiseptic;
• Sanorin - relieves inflammation in the nasopharynx;
• Paracetamol is an analgesic, taken on symptoms.

An important and effective way to alleviate the condition is rinsing the nasal passages with disinfectants, rinsing the larynx. It is recommended to use purified sea water, which allows:

• eliminate swelling of the mucous membrane;
• reduce the activity of the virus, stop its reproduction in the respiratory organs;
• to remove the waste products of the pathogen that cause irritation of the mucous membranes.

For best results, rinsing or spraying is recommended every 3 hours. How long anosmia lasts after coronavirus depends on the regularity of the procedures.

Specialists have developed special breathing exercises to restore the sense of smell. The basis of gymnastics is to “remember” familiar and familiar smells. To do this, you need to often inhale your favorite aromas: perfume, coffee, smoked chicken.

It is important to master the feedback when you need to imagine the same chicken, remember its taste, smell. Such simple exercises awaken the cells of the organs of smell, restore their functions.

We list the methods and means to help restore the sense of smell:

1. Lubrication of temples, nose bridge with menthol oil.
2. Using aroma lamps.
3. Massage the bridge of the nose, wrists, legs with aromatic oils. Points associated with the airways are located in these places. Healing oils penetrate the skin through the bloodstream, strengthen the immune system. But it is important to use non-allergenic oils.
4. Strengthening the immune system with warm sage milk. You need to take 1 tbsp. l. herbs in a glass of milk, heat on the stove or in the microwave. Let it brew. A fresh portion is prepared each time.
5. Using freshly squeezed celandine juice, which should be instilled 1 drop into each nostril 3 times a day.
6. Instillation of the nose with fresh cabbage juice. It can be mixed with a drop of honey.
7. Applying garlic juice. It must be diluted in a ratio of 1:20 with water, with decoctions of medicinal plants and instilled into each nostril.
8. Inhalation of herbal aromas. Experts recommend making mixtures of chamomile, mint, caraway seeds, lily of the valley. Dried herbs must be crushed to a powdery state, sifted through cheesecloth, inhaled, each nostril in turn.
9. Inhalation using medicinal plants (those listed above). Plants are mixed in equal proportions, crushed, 2 tbsp. l. pour 2 glasses of boiling water, keep for 10 minutes on low heat. After incomplete cooling, the broth is filtered, poured into an inhaler. The procedure lasts 15-20 minutes and is done within a week. Then take a break. After a week (if necessary or to consolidate the effect), you can repeat the weekly course of inhalations.

Beekeeping products - propolis, honey are well suited for massage, drops, aroma lamps. Mixtures are prepared with them: 1 tsp. propolis, 3 tsp. melted butter, 3 tsp. vegetable oil.

The components are mixed until smooth, the tampons are moistened in the resulting mixture, put into the nose in the morning and in the evening for 15-20 minutes. It is important that you are not allergic to honey.

The described methods can be easily used at home, they bring an effective result in the restoration of the sense of smell.

Summarize

1. Anosmia is a consequence of the body's natural defenses against coronavirus.
2. You can restore the sense of smell at home in different ways, there are many of them, everyone can choose the most suitable and affordable remedy for themselves.
3. Independent home procedures can be started when swelling of the nasal mucous membranes appears, without waiting for the loss of smell.
4. Anosmia can become chronic and manifest with subsequent colds.