Ashford Clinic Blog
Can a Sinus Infection Make You Lose Sense of Taste
A sinus infection can make you miserable, and that’s not a surprise at all. But when foods that you would normally enjoy seem tasteless, it’s even more miserable. So why does this happen?
Whether you realize it or not, your sense of taste is linked to your sense of smell. In fact, much of what you “taste” is actually what you smell. When you have a sinus infection, the congestion that causes the infection can actually block your sense of smell. This is why you can seem to lose your sense of taste during a sinus infection.
Symptoms of a Sinus Infection can vary from person to person, but they often include at least a few of the following:
- Congestion
- Excess mucus
- Fever and chills
- Nasal inflammation
- Ear infections
- Sinus headaches and facial pressure
- Sore throat and cough
- Dental pain
While some sinus infections may require antibiotics or prescription medications, many times there are ways that you can treat the symptoms of your sinus infection at home.
- Stay hydrated
- Use a humidifier
- Over the counter medications
- Hot, steamy showers to help loosen mucus
- A Neti pot or saline spray
Treating your symptoms as early as you can is important because if left untreated sinus infections can have a lasting or even permanent impact on your health.
When it comes to your sense of taste, once the sinus infection clears up your sense of taste typically returns along with your sense of smell. If it doesn’t, then this could indicate other underlying conditions and you should seek medical attention. Your doctor can diagnose the cause of your infection, and prescribe a suitable treatment. This could range from medications to simple procedures such as balloon sinuplasty. In any case, you can always trust the Ashford Clinic to help you get to the root of your sinus issues so that you can feel like yourself again.
