Smell lost in the face of a cold: what to do?

Sometimes during a runny nose in humans is accompanied by a lack of perception of smells, and even taste sensations. This problem requires the advice of a specialist, a otolaryngologist. Medical examination and recommendations will help in the shortest possible time to eliminate the unpleasant effects of rhinitis.

What are the types of violations of the sense of smell medics

Before prescribing a scheme of medical procedures and medications, the doctor must determine which of the known types of disorders include the lack of perception of smells in the patient who applied. Medicine distinguishes this disorder into the following types:

1. Hyposomy (when the sense of smell is partially preserved, the patient poorly recognizes aromas that are not pronounced sharply).
2. Hypersomia (when the sense of smell is present, but in a sharpened form).
3. Kakosmiya (violation does not go along with respiratory diseases, a rare type of disorder, when a normal smell is unpleasant to a patient).
4. Anosmia (when the sense of smell is absent completely, often occurs on the background of the action of infection, or as a result of a stroke).

The absence or distortion of the sense of smell in a person is the cause of a disruption in the form of a depressive state, increased irritability and similar manifestations.

What are the reasons for smelling together with a runny nose and what to do?

The main reason causing the loss of smell is the inflamed and swollen nasal mucosa. The mucosa is inflamed during the period of a cold, infection of the body with infectious viruses, as a manifestation of an allergic reaction, rhinitis, sinusitis of other diseases of the nose, when there is a functional disturbance of the normal state of the mucous membrane. Neglecting the instructions for use of nasal drops can also cause a loss of smell.

The sense of smell that is usually lost during a runny nose returns to the person within a few days after recovery, during the recovery period. It should be remembered that panic and nerves can slow down the recovery of the body after an illness. If during this time the taste and smell did not return, you should undergo a diagnostic examination in a medical institution.

The traditional method of treating problems with the sense of smell

The treatment regimen is determined by the otolaryngologist doctor after the diagnosis is determined. As a rule, it includes general and local therapy. When the sense of smell has not returned after a cold, medical procedures begin with the elimination of the causes of obstructed nasal breathing. If the swelling of the nasal mucosa is preserved, so-called vasoconstrictive drops are prescribed (for example, the same naphthyzine or similar). The nasal cavity is washed with the most common salt solutions, instilled with protargol (collarol) - silver solutions.

Surgical intervention is indicated when permanent nasal congestion and severe swelling of the mucous membranes are the result of an anatomical defect (in this case we are talking about polyps, adenoids).As practice shows, a cold at the same time only exacerbates the chronically occurring process.

Immunocorrection, included in the treatment regimen, is designed to eliminate the possibility of recurrence of the disease. These are homeopathic remedies, echinacea preparations, imudon, kagocel, and the like.

In some cases, the patient is given a procaine blockade or injections of a suspension of hydrocortisone in the form of endonasal injections. Intake of drugs with valerian, motherwort, bromine is prescribed.

Physiotherapy procedures also give good results in the treatment of lack of smell. Practice the appointment of laser therapy, magnetic therapy, UHF, UV, inhalation, electrophoresis.

The listed drugs and procedures effectively eliminate the causes of impaired smell.

Folk methods in the struggle for the return of the smell

An alternative to official medicine is always folk recipes based on herbs and properties of natural food. For olfactory dysfunction, the following treatments are practiced.

"Horseradish" instillation
Freshly grated horseradish root squeeze juice.Dilute it with water at a ratio of 1:10. The resulting solution is instilled into each nasal passage 2 drops, twice a day. A positive result occurs on the third day of application. If such a concentration of juice causes a burning sensation of the nasal mucosa, the recipe should not be applied.

Inhalation
Therapeutic mixture for inhalation can be based on boiled potatoes, essential oils (lavender, eucalyptus, fir, basil), infusions of medicinal herbs of anti-inflammatory action (calendula, chamomile, pine buds).

Hot vapors are inhaled through the nose for 5-7 minutes. In home procedures, a kitchen pot or a special device for inhalation of a nebulizer, sold in pharmacies, is used. The device has the advantage of having different nozzles for carrying out the procedure, which deliver steam to the exact destination without loss on the way.

Infusions of medicinal raw materials are prepared in advance at the rate of 1 tablespoon of crushed herbs per cup of boiling water. Infusion time is from 20 to 40 minutes. For inhalation using the filtered solution.

Essential oils are added to hot water immediately before the procedure in the amount of 5-7 drops for the recommended portion of water.

Inhalation with lemon and added essential oils
A glass of boiling water should be taken 10 drops of fresh lemon juice and 3 drops of essential oil. Breathe over the pan or nebulizer in sharp breaths. The interval between treatments for at least 24 hours.

Nose drops based on camphor and menthol
The curative effect consists of a very pungent odor, which has a beneficial effect on the stimulation of a weakened sense of smell. The composition is prepared immediately before use and consists of equal parts of menthol and camphor oils. Instill 3 drops in each nasal passage twice a day. The duration of treatment is 7 days, with the onset of improvement, the drops are stopped.

To restore the smell, you can use the pungent smell of other products: garlic, onion, vinegar, ammonia, coffee beans.

Nasal washing with iodine salt solution
Use sea salt in the proportion of 10 grams per 100 ml of water, stir and add iodine in the amount of 4 drops. The solution is well mixed until homogeneous. Twice a day, each nostril is washed with 1 ml of solution. Enter into the nasal passages using a disposable syringe for 2 ml.

Beetroot - Honey Drops
Fresh beet juice is mixed with half a teaspoon of high-quality honey. Buried 3 times a day, 2 to 5 drops in each nasal passage.The tool can be used to treat a cold in children.

Balsam "Star"
The well-known Vietnamese remedy slightly smears the area of ​​the nose, frontal and maxillary sinuses, the wings of the nose. Nose mucosa is not recommended to lubricate. The procedure is repeated for no more than 5 days.

Turunda soaked in therapeutic agent

Turundas are prepared from a sterile bandage in the form of small twisted wicks. Abundantly oiled medical composition "wick" put for 5-15 minutes deep into the nasal passages. At this time, breathing occurs through the mouth. Usually the procedure is carried out at bedtime. As a therapeutic composition used:

• Natural honey liquid consistency (for children mixed with an equal amount of butter).
• Aqueous solution of propolis.
• Aloe juice with water in an arbitrary ratio (so as not to inflate).
• Kalanchoe juice, diluted in half with water.

When observing an allergic reaction, discontinue the use of a therapeutic agent. Suprastin or another similar medicine is recommended to relieve allergy symptoms.

An integrated approach to the restoration of smell

Systemic treatment often gives a faster positive result than individual procedures. The complex of measures for the treatment of anosmia and hyposomy due to colds is as follows:

• Instilling cabbage juice.
• Massage movements in the area of ​​the paranasal sinuses, nose and nose wings.
• Pine aromatherapy (30 minutes daily).
• Inhalation of the smell of smoldering wormwood.
• Tension and relaxation in the nasal passages.
• Swimming.
• Departure to the resort.
• Breathe in the air of coniferous forests, the sea, water bodies with high iodine content.
• Rest for the nervous system.

To overcome the disease is often not enough to use one drug. It is necessary to help the body in eliminating factors predisposing to it. The application of the above methods and means is aimed at solving this problem.

Video: how to restore the sense of smell