Loss of Smell. (hyposmia-anosmia)

Our sense of smell helps us enjoy life. We delight in the aromas of our favorite foods or the fragrance of flowers. Our sense of smell also is a warning system, alerting us to danger signals such as a gas leak, spoiled food, or a fire. Any loss in our sense of smell can have a negative effect on our quality of life. It also can be a sign of more serious health problems.

Loss of smell (anosmia) can be partial or complete, although a complete loss of smell is fairly rare. Loss of smell can also be temporary or permanent, depending on the cause.

Causes of Anosmia  

Nasal congestion from a cold, allergy, sinus infection, or poor air quality is the most common cause of anosmia. 

Other anosmia causes include:

• Nasal polyps
• Injury to the nose and smell nerves from surgery or head trauma.
• Exposure to toxic chemicals, such as pesticides or solvents.
• Certain medications, including antibiotics, antidepressants, anti-inflammatory medication, heart medications, and others.
• Cocaine abuse.
• Old age. Like vision and hearing, your sense of smell can become weaker as you age. In fact, one's sense of smell is most keen between the ages of 30 and 60 and begins to decline after age 60.
• Certain medical conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, nutritional deficiencies, congenital conditions, and hormonal disturbances.
• Radiation treatment of head and neck cancers.

Diagnosis

It is important to identify and treat the underlying cause of a potential smell disorder. An accurate assessment of a smell disorder will include, among other things,

• a physical examination of the ears, nose, and throat
• a review of your health history, such as exposure to toxic chemicals or injury, and
• a smell test
• a CT scan may be necessary for further information

Treatments
If nasal congestion from a cold or allergy is the cause of anosmia, treatment is usually not needed, and the problem will resolve automatically. Short-term use of decongestants may help free the nasal passages..

If a polyp or growth is present, surgery may be needed to remove the obstruction and regain your sense of smell.

Unfortunately, anosmia is not always treatable, especially if age is the cause.

Smoking can dull your senses, including the sense of smell. So smoking cessation is a key step to regain your sense of smell.

Corticosteroids may also improve the olfaction if deemed necessary.

Nasal Polyps

Nasal Polyps

Nasal polyps are soft, painless, noncancerous growths on the lining of the nasal passages or sinuses. They hang down like teardrops or grapes. They result from chronic inflammation due to asthma, recurring infection, allergies, drug sensitivity or certain immune disorders.

Small nasal polyps may not cause symptoms. Larger growths or groups of nasal polyps can block the nasal passages or lead to breathing problems, a loss of smell, and frequent infections.

Symptoms

Nasal polyps are associated with inflammation of the lining of the nasal passages and sinuses that lasts more than 12 weeks (chronic rhinosinusitis). However, it's possible to have chronic sinusitis without nasal polyps.

Common signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps include:

• A runny nose
• Persistent stuffiness
• Postnasal drip
• Decreased or absent sense of smell
• Loss of sense of taste
• Facial pain or headache
• Pain in your upper teeth
• A sense of pressure on the forehead and face
• Snoring

Cause

Scientists don't yet fully understand what causes nasal polyps. It's not clear why some people develop chronic inflammation or why ongoing inflammation triggers polyp formation in some people and not in others. The inflammation occurs in the fluid-producing lining (mucous membrane) of the nose and sinuses.

There's some evidence that people who develop polyps have a different immune system response and different chemical markers in their mucous membranes than do those who don't develop polyps.

Nasal polyps can form at any age, but they're most common in young and middle-aged adults. Nasal polyps may form anywhere in your sinuses or nasal passages, but they appear most often in an area where sinuses near your eyes, nose and cheekbones all drain through winding passages into your nose (ostiomeatal complex).

Risk factors

Any condition that triggers chronic inflammation in the nasal passages or sinuses, such as infections or allergies, may increase the risk of developing nasal polyps. 

Conditions often associated with nasal polyps include:

• Asthma, a disease that causes overall airway inflammation and constriction
• Aspirin sensitivity may cause some people to be more likely to develop nasal polyps
• Allergic fungal sinusitis, an allergy to airborne fungi
• Cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that results in the production and secretion of abnormally thick, sticky fluids, including thick mucus from nasal and sinus membranes
• Churg-Strauss syndrome, a rare disease that causes the inflammation of blood vessels

Family history also may play a role. There's some evidence that certain genetic variations associated with immune system function make you more likely to develop nasal polyps.

Diagnosis 

A diagnosis is usually made based on the symptoms, a general physical exam and an examination of the nose. Polyps may be visible with the aid of a simple lighted instrument.

Other diagnostic tests include:

Nasal endoscopy. 

A narrow, flexible tube with a lighted magnifying lens or tiny camera (nasal endoscope) enables the doctor to perform a detailed examination inside the nose and sinuses. An endoscope is inserted into a nostril and guided it into the nasal cavity.

Imaging studies. 

Images obtained with computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can pinpoint the size and location of polyps in deeper areas of the sinuses and evaluate the extent of inflammation. These studies may also help rule out the presence of other possible obstructions in the nasal cavity, such as structural abnormalities or another type of cancerous or noncancerous growth.

Treatments and drugs

Chronic sinusitis, with or without polyps, is a challenging condition to eliminate completely.

A long-term treatment plan to manage thesymptoms is needed and to treat factors, such as allergies, that may contribute to chronic inflammation.

The treatment goal for nasal polyps is to reduce their size or eliminate them. Medications are usually the first approach, which include topical nasal sprays and corticosteroids. Surgery may sometimes be needed, but it may not provide a permanent solution because polyps tend to recur.

Surgery

If drug treatment doesn't shrink or eliminate nasal polyps, endoscopic surgery is recommended to remove polyps and to correct problems with the sinuses that make them prone to inflammation and polyp development.

In functional endoscopic surgery (FESS) the surgeon inserts a small tube with a magnifying lens or tiny camera (endoscope) into the nostrils and guides it into the sinus cavities.

After surgery, the use of a saltwater (saline) rinse to promote healing is recommended as well as medication such as a corticosteroid nasal spray to help prevent the recurrence of nasal polyps.

Lose Weight with Acupuncture

Weight loss comes under the topic of "Weight Control". This is a multi-faceted problem, and a good program involves diet, exercise and stress reduction techniques.

Acupuncture is an ADJUNCT therapy. It is not a wonder cure in the treatment of weight control. But, acupuncture is effective in making it easier to lose and maintain that loss if the patient is willing to change their lifestyle. 

This technique is safe, sound and reliable. And, even more exciting, using acupuncture for weight loss helps you lose weight in several different ways.

How Does Acupuncture Help With Weight Loss?

• Acupuncture helps balance hormones. Acupuncture can increase endorphins, which reduce cravings and generally make you feel more positive. This can help reduce binge eating.
• It also decreases the hormones that contribute to weight gain.
• Acupuncture helps with weight loss is by reducing stress. Cortisol, the stress hormone, can affect weight in several ways. It disrupts digestion, contributes to depression and escalates your “fight or flight” response. If you feel overwhelmed, you are more likely to binge for emotional reasons and to assume you have no time to prepare healthy meals.
• Acupuncture can aid digestion. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the spleen is responsible for digestion. Disharmony and imbalance in the spleen can lead to fatigue, slow metabolism, water retention, loose stools, and a feeling of heaviness.

By balancing your organ system, you support weight loss both physically and

psychologically.

What does it involve?

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine, sterile needles at specific body points or "energy pathways" or on specific points on there ear. Electroacupuncture helps to increase the stimulation of these points and therefore increase the metabolism of the fatty tissue. 

Each session lasts 20-25 minutes and for quicker results the therapies are combined  with auricular acupuncture.

How Acupuncture works:

• Creates ideal conditions for weight loss 
• Reduces the volume of the fatty cells
• Increases the metabolism (increased local metabolic activity of adipocytes) 
• Increases local blood flow and improves venous drainage in areas of the body with cellulite.

Acupuncture Treatment for Asthma

Acupuncture for Asthma Is a Breath of Fresh Air.

Asthma is on the World Health Organization’s list of conditions “for which the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been shown but for which further proof is needed.”

Acupuncture has been used safely and effectively for thousands of years to rectify the underlying imbalances that cause asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing.

Asthma can be tackled with acupuncture in a variety of ways. Points are selected according to the patient’s unique combination of symptoms along the most apt meridians in order to evoke the harmonious flow of energy "qi".

Benefits of acupuncture for asthma:

• Reduction of asthma symptoms 
• Can significantly reduce the need inhalant drugs
• Balances chemical imbalances in the body 
• Strengthens the immune system 
• No harmful and dangerous side effects 
• Acupuncture decreases the frequency and severity of asthma attacks
• Long lasting effects

Acupuncture entails the placing of very thin needles into the body and face. A session lasts 20 to 30 minutes normally. The treatments take place twice a week for a duration of three to 6 weeks, depending on the severity of each case. Acupuncture has a cumulative effect and therefore the results are usually evaluated after 4 to 6 sessions.

Auricular acupuncture can also be applied to bring about impressive results. In recent years auricular acupuncture has received international recognition and is taught in many countries. The World Health Organization recognizes it as a therapeutic system with a wide range of applications, good results, safety and ease of implementation.