The Impact of Smell Loss on Health: Breathing Patterns, Mental Health, and Hope for Recovery

The sense of smell is often overlooked, but recent research highlights its surprising impact on health and well-being, especially for people who have experienced smell loss due to Covid. Loss of smell, or anosmia, has been linked to mental health challenges, social isolation, and even changes in breathing patterns. Here, we’ll explore a recent study that sheds light on these connections and discuss practical steps, such as smell training, which can help those affected begin their journey to recovery.

Understanding the Connection Between Smell and Breathing Patterns

A study published in Nature Communications reveals that people with a normal sense of smell unconsciously take small “sniffs” during each breath, helping their brains process and respond to odours. These micro-inhalations, or “sniff responses,” are integral to how we experience and react to the world around us. For example, the sniff response can deepen your breath in response to the scent of fresh pastries in a bakery or the smell of flowers in a field. In people with anosmia, however, these “sniff spikes” are noticeably absent.

The researchers monitored the breathing patterns of 52 volunteers over a 24-hour period, revealing significant differences between those who could smell and those who couldn’t. Lead researcher Lior Gorodisky, a Ph.D. candidate at the Weizmann Institute of Science, stated, “We are now able to identify lifelong anosmia just based on the respiratory pattern.” This finding has sparked new discussions on the importance of our olfactory sense in daily life, challenging the traditional view that smell is a secondary sense.

Smell Loss and Mental Health

Anosmia can affect mental health in profound ways. Studies have long associated smell loss with dulled emotions, depression, and social isolation. The connection between smell and memory means that losing the ability to detect odours can strip away the emotional layer tied to specific memories. Simple pleasures, such as the smell of favourite foods or fresh air on a walk, may be diminished, leaving people feeling disconnected from their experiences.

Losing one’s sense of smell can also lead to practical challenges. For instance, people with anosmia may not detect dangerous odours, such as smoke or gas leaks, potentially putting their safety at risk. This heightened vulnerability has even been linked to a shortened lifespan in some studies.

The Lasting Effects of Covid on Smell

While anosmia can be congenital (present from birth), a significant number of people have lost their sense of smell due to Covid infections. According to a 2023 report, more than 60% of people diagnosed with Covid experienced smell loss. Thankfully, most people—around 72%—regained their sense of smell fully, and a further 24% reported partial recovery. However, about 4% of people continued to experience anosmia even years after infection.

For those in this group, hope is not lost. Experts note that some people recover their sense of smell up to three years after losing it, suggesting that with time and persistence, further improvement is possible. This optimism is backed by the effectiveness of interventions like smell training, a simple, self-led practice that has shown to be beneficial for those with smell loss.

What is Smell Training, and How Can It Help?

Smell training is a technique that encourages the brain to re-establish its connection to the olfactory system. By repeatedly smelling specific scents over a period of time, participants stimulate the brain’s olfactory pathways, which may help regenerate the sense of smell. Smell training generally involves four distinct scents, such as rose, lemon, eucalyptus, and clove, each selected to represent a different aspect of the smell spectrum.

Our Scent Recover smell training kits are specially designed for this purpose, offering a selection of scents scientifically chosen to help those with smell loss. For those beginning their recovery journey, our kits provide a convenient and effective way to reintroduce a range of smells into daily life. You can explore how smell training works here , and take a look at our kits here, where we provide options tailored to suit different preferences and needs.

The Importance of Testing and Treatment

The study reinforces the need for medical providers to pay more attention to anosmia. Dr. Jonathan Overdevest, an otolaryngologist at Columbia University, highlights that anosmia can be an early sign of neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The olfactory system is one of the brain regions affected early on in these diseases, underscoring the importance of olfactory health as a barometer for overall well-being.

Currently, anosmia is often underdiagnosed, in part because healthcare providers may not routinely test for it. Valentina Parma, assistant director at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, stresses the need for wider awareness and testing, pointing out that Covid brought the importance of smell into the mainstream. Increased testing, awareness, and understanding are vital steps towards helping people affected by anosmia receive timely support.

Moving Forward: Embracing Smell Recovery

While anosmia presents unique challenges, it is also a field of study that has gained momentum in recent years. Researchers continue to explore ways to help those affected regain this precious sense. Smell training remains one of the most accessible and affordable methods for those wanting to actively work on smell recovery.

If you or a loved one is experiencing smell loss, taking steps to engage in smell training can be a practical and empowering part of your daily routine. Whether the cause is Covid or another factor, don’t lose hope—regaining your sense of smell is often possible, and resources are available to support your journey.