Regaining Smell After COVID-19: What Can You Do?
Medically reviewed by Reza Samad, MD
A loss of smell (anosmia) is a common COVID-19 symptom, and researchers are just starting to understand why COVID-19 causes a loss of smell and when and how this sensation returns. The data support theories that loss of smell results from an immune response, inflammation, and a disruption of nerve signals.
As many as 86% of people with mild or moderate COVID-19 experienced this symptom. However, as newer COVID-19 variants like Omicron emerged, some reports found loss of smell to be far less common.
This article reviews some of the factors behind a loss of smell and what steps you can take to restore your sense of smell after recovering from COVID-19.
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Ways to Regain Smell After COVID-19
There are still a lot of unanswered questions about COVID-19. As new variants of the coronavirus emerge and researchers collect more data about the infection, the virus's short- and long-term effects become more apparent. While the topic is still under review, the following recommendations have emerged as ways to help people regain their sense of smell following a COVID-19 infection.
Give It Time
Time is a great healer for many ailments, and COVID-19 is no exception. In many cases of COVID-19, where smell or taste is affected, senses return to normal within weeks to months. A 2022 report found that 88% of people who lost their sense of smell during a COVID-19 infection regained it within two years.
Retrain Your Sense of Smell
Olfactory training is one way to treat anosmia. With this therapy, you use daily exposure to common odors to help retrain your sense of smell.
The key with this treatment is to breathe in certain scents twice daily for 10 to 20 seconds at a time, focusing only on the scent in front of you. You can use multiple scents, but pause for a few clear breaths between each.
According to experts at the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, you may have to try this treatment for as long as three months before noticing improvement.
Scents to Consider in Olfactory Training
Some of the best scents to use to retrain your sense of smell include:
Rose
Lemon
Cloves
Eucalyptus
You can use the natural object for your scent testing, but many people prefer to use essential oils.
You can also use various strong-smelling items or scents tied to pleasant memories. One expert suggests that because smell is so closely linked to memory, scents like peanut butter or peppermint candies, which often are prominent in childhood, are especially useful in helping to regain some strength of smell.
Restore Nerve Function
When inflammation and other conditions damage the neurons that power your sense of smell, it takes time for them to recover and return to their pre-illness state. Neurons regenerate very slowly, but researchers are studying additional therapies—perhaps even stem cell therapies—that could help expedite the process.
Consider Medications
Some medications that reduce inflammation in your nasal passages may help restore some of your sense of smell. One study showed that glucocorticoids (steroid medications) like Nasacort Allergy 24HR (triamcinolone) and Flonase (fluticasone) nasal spray help significantly improve the sense of smell for people recovering from COVID-19. Some study participants reported a restored sense of smell within a week.
Try Flushing Your Nasal Passages
Nasal hygiene is another method that may help you restore your sense of smell. Often recommended as part of the treatment strategy for allergies and other forms of nasal irritation, daily nasal lavage—or rinsing—with saline or an added steroid may offer relief.
Treat Underlying Issues
More research is needed to determine the best way to treat anosmia related to COVID-19. However, if you notice a loss of smell after COVID-19, schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider to ensure no underlying problems contribute to your loss of smell.
Conditions such as nasal polyps or allergic rhinitis can diminish the sense of smell and require additional or separate treatment from your COVID-related issues.
Read Next: Overview and Causes of Olfactory Disorders
Timeline of COVID Loss of Smell
The onset and duration of the loss of smell can vary from one person to another, but research suggests it's an early and short-term symptom for most people. In one report from 2021, loss of smell and taste happened about four to five days after the onset of other symptoms at the start of a COVID-19 infection. The same study revealed that smell and taste usually returned within seven to 14 days.
However, a newer report, from 2023, found that a loss of taste or smell could last nine months or more after a COVID-19 infection.
The Importance of Smell
Your ability to smell may not seem like the most important function of your body—at least until it's gone—but a sense of smell contributes to quality of life and helps you appreciate the tastes and scents of the world around you.
In some professions, like cooking, a sense of smell is crucial. In others—such as firefighters or emergency responders—a sense of smell is needed to detect dangerous situations or conditions.
Still Can’t Smell After COVID: Next Steps
See a healthcare provider if olfactory training and other simple at-home methods aren't working after several months. They may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist (otolaryngologist) for additional treatment.
There is still a lot of ongoing research on COVID-19-related anosmia, but a specialist can guide you toward prescription medications, additional testing, or other therapies that may help.
Related: Your Sense of Smell Can Return After COVID—But It Can Get Weird
Summary
Loss of smell has been highlighted as one of the most noticeable symptoms of COVID-19—and one that takes quite a bit of time for some people to recover from. No single therapy or treatment alone is proven to restore your sense of smell after a COVID-19 infection. Still, you can try various at-home therapies and seek advice from a qualified healthcare provider.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
