Anosmia and the Problems Related to It - Essay Example

Running Head: ABBREVIATED OF YOUR CHOICE (all caps) and Section # of Abstract This is a research paper which discusses the topic of anosmia and the problems that are related to it explaining the basic cause behind it. This paper gives detailed information about how this disease varies with age and its relationship with gender, occupation and habit has also been conferred. A few preventive measures and treatment has also been suggested. Sensation and Perception Psychology The problem that is under study is the disease called anosmia. This disease is basically related to one of the five senses i.e. smelling sense and the patients who suffer from this are discussed in detail. The dangers that occur due to it, its incidence in the population, variation according to age, gender, occupation and habits are the topics that will be focused in the paper. Anosmia Anosmia is a disease in which an individual loses the ability to detect odor, in short it is the loss of smell. The sense of smell is arbitrated by sensory cells that are present in the nasal cavity of the vertebrates and in invertebrates; they are placed in their antennae. If an individual is unable to smell the aroma of food, scents, smoke or other odors, he is said to e suffering from anosmia. The olfactory nerves which are the smell nerves are located behind the eyes and above the nose. Hence it controls both the sense as well as the taste sense. When a person smells something in the air or detects any airborne smell, the olfactory nerves are stimulated which allow him to perceive the smell. For water borne organisms, a certain chemical is present in the water due to which they can detect the smells around them. This sense is normally not given much importance however it is equally essential and like all four senses this plays a vital role too. Imagine what it would be like never to smell food or detect smoke or enjoy the scent of flowers. (Swaab, 2004) Causes of Anosmia There are a number of factors that result in anosmia; they are as stated under: Blockages in the nose which includes: Nasal nodule which normally results from constantly sore mucus membranes and the tumors that can be caused in the nasal they stop the aroma from reaching the smell receptors present in the nose. A constantly blocked nose caused due to the presence of thick mucus. Anosmia occurs in case of irritated nasal cavity due to flu and other allergies. People whose nerves get damaged due to passive smoking are also likely to suffer from anosmia. It can also occur as a side effect of certain medications which include nasal sprays most commonly known as decongestants, nasal steroids and other thyroid medicines. There is a possibility that all these medicines might damage the sense nerves and a person might be subjected to anosmia. If such conditions prevail, the doctor should be contacted immediately. Surgeries related to brain and sinus can also be the reason of anosmia. Serious brain or head injuries can cause anosmia. The deficiency of zinc in an individual can also make him apt to anosmia. (Moncrieff, 2008) Anosmia Leads to Decrease in Safety Imagine a house that is on fire. If the person sleeping in the building is an anosmia patient, he won't be able to detect the smell of the smoke. This situation is indeed very dangerous and is bound to bring about a lot of damage. Apart from the dangers, one would not be able to enjoy the food or might eat rotten food since sense of smell is also closely related to the sense of taste; due to this a person might lose interest in food which will result in the declination of his health. Hence health can be affected adversely. Anosmia patients are more likely to avoid food since they can no longer feel the taste and its aroma. This causes them to lose their appetitive since their taste buds are not tantalized. Moreover a person would not be able to detect in case there is a gas leakage and inhaling too much gas would be harmful for the lungs. Anosmia can also have adverse effects on an individual; often people get frustrated and eat a lot and hence suffering from obesity. Anosmia does not only affect the diet of a person but can also prove to be dangerous in case there is gas leakage, fire or spoilt food. In order to prevent this, every house should be installed with proper safety measures such as fire alarms especially near the fireplace and in the kitchen. It should be assured that houses are equipped with fire extinguishers and electric ovens should be preferred over the gas stoves. There is a possibility that an anosmia patient will eat spoiled and rotten food, for this the leftovers and expired food should be marked, only fresh food should be kept, the rest should be discarded. (Goldfrank, 2006) Occurrence of Anosmia in the Population The data provided below has been collected from the fact sheets that were compiled from the information contributed by the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). In North America, approximately 1 to 2% people below 65 years of age suffer from anosmia or in some cases; they experience loss of smell up to some significant level. According to the research reports one to two more percent of the North American population seems to lose their sense of smell in older age ranging from 65 to 80 years old. Reports show that approximately 200,000 people consult their doctors reporting of smell disorders and other problems that are associated with anosmia. Women are reported to be better than men in detecting odors however this ability might be marred due to smoking in men and women equally. It has been discovered through researchers that only the smell cells and the taste cells can be replaced throughout the life span of human beings. Relationship of Anosmia With Gender Studies and statistics related to anosmia show that there is not a significant difference in the occurrence of this disease in men and women. Both genders are equally prone to suffer from it and there is no universal rule that states that women are more likely to suffer. This research is completely opposite to the ones that were presented earlier. Reports have however concluded that women tend to have much better sense smell than men but both of them are equally apt to catch this disease if the necessary preventive measures are not adopted. Smoking, in this regard should be strictly avoided. Relationship of Anosmia with Occupation The nature of ones occupation can also contribute a lot to anosmia. Individuals whose jobs comprise majorly of working with chemicals often tend to suffer from this disease. The constant use of the chemicals has an adverse affect on the respiratory tract, nasal blockage and other similar problems. Some chemicals such as methyl, sulphide, sulphur etc are very harmful for human beings and should be used under efficient supervision and necessary safety measures should be taken. According to a case study, the patient was a worker who dealt with renovations which also included renovation of washrooms and bathrooms. A lot of paints and chemicals were used during the process and their intensity increased with increasing temperature. All types of chemical solutions and varnishes were utilized and their constant intake affected the employee and he was subjected to anosmia. Reports show that painters also tend to catch this disease because their job nature constantly requires them to use oil paints, varnishes etc. This makes their smell sense weak and the symptoms of anosmia are more prominent in them. Prevention and Treatment of Anosmia Smelling sense is a great blessing which we hardly acknowledge. It is vital to identify and realize its importance and take safety measures to avoid it. However if a person is already suffering form this disease, he should make sure that he stops smoking and also avoid passive smoking as that can be equally dangerous and damaging. It is a common trend that smokers who initially cease smoking tend to develop a new liking for flavors, eat a lot and hence suffer from obesity. Attention should be paid to any kind of nasal problems such as nodules in the nasal cavity, soreness, constant blockage and accumulation of mucus and the doctors should be immediately consulted in case any of these symptoms prevail. The medicines that are too often used for the treatment of nasal diseases should be checked and made sure that they do not contain any side effects. A zinc supplement can be taken to enhance the sense of smell and sense of taste. The nasal sprays should be avoided as much as possible and other alternatives should be used to cure diseases related to nasal tract. Sometimes enhancement in the nose bone can also lead to the problem of anosmia; instant surgery should be done to avoid this and future complications. (Chatton, 2008) Types of Anosmia The types of anosmia are as stated below: Dysosmia Parosmia Phantosmia Dysosmia: Dysosmia is a result of the malfunctioning of the olfactory processing stimuli. In this Disease, sense of smell does not go away completely but diminishes. Hence it is less dangerous than anosmia. Parosmia: In this disease, the patients are mistaken while identifying various odors often mistaking pleasant smells as unpleasant and bitter. It is quite difficult to diagnose Parosmia since its symptoms are not very evident and the doctors are often mistaken. Special methods are adopted for its diagnosis which includes Sniffing Sticks, in which the patient is made to identify a particular odor. Phantosmia: This is quite similar to Parosmia in the sense that the patients do not identify the odors and often report them to be unpleasant. The basic difference is that Parosmia is activated by the presence of other odors whereas Phantosmia is considered to be more random. (Amoore, 2008) Conclusion Anosmia is a disease that is not taken very seriously and is regarded to be of less importance. There is an urgent need to identify its severity and take preventive measures so as to avoid its consequences which can prove to be quite harmful for the patient. The symptoms need to be identified immediately and maximum people need to be provided with appropriate knowledge. This would help people in keeping a check on their activities so that they don't lead to this disease. . References Amoore. J. (2008) Olfaction. Virginia. Springer-Verlag. Chatton. M. (2008) Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment. California. Lange Medical Publications. E. Bruce Goldstein, Sensation and Perception, 8th Edition 2010 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Goldfrank. L. (2006) Goldfrank's Toxicological Emergencies. Moncrieff. R. W. (2008) The Chemical Senses. Michigan. L Hill. Swaab. D. F. (2004) The Human Hypothalamus. Elsevier Health Sciences. Read More