{"id":3402,"date":"2020-08-06T20:45:25","date_gmt":"2020-08-06T20:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pdxent.com\/?p=3402"},"modified":"2020-08-06T20:45:25","modified_gmt":"2020-08-06T20:45:25","slug":"understanding-smell-disorders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pdxent.com\/understanding-smell-disorders\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Smell Disorders"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your sense of smell allows you to enjoy the aromas of nature and your favorite foods. It can also serve as a warning system, alerting you to spoiled food, a gas leak or smoke from a fire. If you have a smell disorder, it can disrupt your quality of life. It is estimated that one to two percent of North Americans have a smell disorder, most commonly men in their 60s, although anyone can be affected.<\/p>\n

How Does Your Sense of Smell Work? \"Woman<\/h2>\n

Before learning about smell disorders<\/a>, it is important to understand how the sense of smell works.<\/p>\n

Your sense of smell, along with taste, is part of your chemosensory system (chemical senses). Within the tissues high in the nose are olfactory sensory neurons. These cells connect directly to the brain, and each one has its own odor receptor. When a substance \u2013 like a cup of coffee \u2013 releases microscopic molecules, it stimulates these receptors. This information is then passed on to the brain, where the smell is identified.<\/p>\n

There are more smells in your environment than there are receptors in your nose, and any given molecule can stimulate a combination of receptors. This creates a unique representation of a scent in your brain that can be recognized as a particular smell.<\/p>\n

What Are the Different Smell Disorders?<\/h2>\n

A smell disorder describes a decrease in ability to smell or changes<\/a> in the way odors are perceived. Common smell disorders include:<\/p>\n