RICHMOND, Virginia – A new study shows that those who sniff essential oils are more likely to regain their sense of smell and taste after contracting COVID-19, especially if they are under 40 years old. According to researchers, the common COVID symptom usually lasts for up to six months in four out of five patients.
The study also shows that younger coronavirus patients are more likely than older people to regain these senses. In an ongoing COVID survey of odor and taste loss that collected data from 798 survivors, researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) found that participants under 40 years of age regained their senses faster than older adults.
“In our cohort, we’ve seen a recovery rate of around 80% over a period of six months or more. However, 20% is still a lot of people considering that COVID-19 affects millions, ”says Professor Evan Reiter, the medical director of the Center for Odor and Taste Disorders at VCU Health and a co-investigator for the Study, in a university announcement.
Pre-existing conditions can make things worse
The professor, who works in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at the VCU School of Medicine, adds that understanding the different types of symptoms and whether patients have pre-existing conditions is critical insight into can give their prognosis for recovery. Those with a history of head injuries were less likely to recover their olfactory senses. In addition, those who experienced shortness of breath while fighting the virus were even less likely to recover quickly to their senses.
However, those struggling with a stuffy nose were more likely to regain their sense of smell.
“The increased likelihood of odor recovering in those with nasal congestion is simply because you can lose your sense of smell because you are severely congested and smells cannot get into your nose. Certainly a subgroup of people who are constipated may only have lost their sense of smell because they were severely constipated and not, as in other cases, due to nerve damage caused by the virus, ”explains Prof. Reiter.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are more than 230 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide. If the survey reflects the global population, more than 20 million people could experience persistent loss of smell or taste after being diagnosed with COVID.
Since April 2020, as reports of patient loss of taste and smell became more common, VCU researchers have worked hard to determine how long symptoms would last in order to identify treatments for those who have lost their senses .
The loss of the sense of smell reduces the quality of life
To date, nearly 3,000 people in the United States have taken the survey, which tracks symptoms over time. The results have proven that sensory loss can be devastating for those who experience it. In an earlier survey published in April 2021, 43 percent of respondents said they felt depressed and 56 percent experienced a decline in the joie de vivre while experiencing a loss of smell or taste.
Unsurprisingly, those who lost their sense of smell or taste found it difficult to enjoy food. 87 percent of the participants stated that cooking and eating had become a quality of life issue. Inability to smell smoke was ranked as the most common safety risk, with nearly half of all patients reporting this problem.
“Inability to smell smoke was the most common safety risk, cited by 45% of respondents. Loss of appetite [present in 55% of sufferers] and unwanted weight loss [in 37%] continue to pose challenges for patients. The more we learn from those affected, the better we can advise their health care providers and even the individual on how to deal with these symptoms. Through this study, we continue to gain a clearer picture of the risks COVID-19 poses to quality of life, safety, and long-term health and wellbeing as we seek treatment answers, ”says Dr. Daniel Coelho, the head of the study author.
How Can Essential Oils Help?
According to scientists, odor training with strong essential oils can help restore the lost senses.
“I recommend that to my patients. It’s inexpensive and low-risk, ”says Prof. Reiter.
The Clinical Olfactory Working Group, made up of an international group of doctors with a strong research interest in the sense of smell, recommended essential oils as a treatment option earlier this year. The group found that smelling essential oils can promote recovery of damaged nerves when a person loses their sense of smell (olfactory dysfunction).
“I would also say that it might get people a little more attuned to the remaining functional level so that they are more sensitive and better able to use the remaining sensors and neurons that are working,” adds Reiter.
For those who fear losing their senses, Prof. Reiter confirmed that the best possible prevention method is to start sniffing essential oils.
“What the CDC and WHO have said – get vaccinated, wear a mask, hand hygiene – all of the seemingly simple things that are fortunately readily available, at least here in the United States, are important. To prevent these long-term effects, you really need to minimize your chances of getting the disease in the first place, because once it does happen we have no way of influencing its course or severity at the moment. Prevention is worth a thousand pounds of cure in this case because there is no cure, ”concludes the professor.
Can an implant restore your smell?
There is more hope, however, as Dr. Coelho together with his colleague from the study, Dr. Richard Costanzo, professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at VCU, developed an implant to restore people’s sense of smell. The two are optimistic that once it is operational it could be a source of hope for those living with permanent odor loss.
The results appear in the American Journal of Otolaryngology.
South West News Service writer Georgia Lambert contributed to this report.
