Causes of hyperosmia, people who are more sensitive to smells

Hyperosmia is a smell disorder when a person is too sensitive or sensitive to certain smells. If you do experience it, don't be happy just yet. This is not an ability to be proud of, on the contrary it could be a sign of a health problem. Then, what causes hyperosmia or sensitivity to odors?

Recognizes hyperosmia, when the nose is more sensitive to odors

Not everyone has a sense of smell that works perfectly. There are some who cannot smell at all (anosmia), and some who smell too strong. Well, this condition is called hyperosmia.

People who experience hyperosmia can easily smell perfumes or fragrances from other chemical products. Unfortunately, the smell or smell actually makes them uncomfortable, because they think it's too strong.

Although according to normal people, the smell or smell is normal and not too strong, it is different from people with hyperosmia. This condition can even cause a person to experience anxiety and depression because they are uncomfortable with the smell.

Hyperosmia is sometimes caused by migraines. An estimated 25-50 percent of 50 migraine patients experience some version of hyperosmia during a migraine attack.

Severe cases of increased sense of smell can disrupt your life by causing anxiety and depression, especially if you are not sure what smells might be triggering discomfort.

What are the signs and symptoms of hyperosmia?

People who have increased their ability to smell will usually smell sharper than ordinary people. This will actually cause discomfort, even nausea in the body.

The smell that triggers it can vary from person to person with hyperosmia. The following are examples of smells that commonly trigger discomfort or nausea:

• Chemical odor
• Perfume
• Cleaning products
• Aromatherapy candles

Since the causes of increased sense of smell can vary, each person may experience different additional symptoms.

Cause some people have hyperosmia

Hyperosmia or sensitivity to odors usually co-exists with other conditions. Some of these conditions can cause changes in your sense of smell. Sometimes, however, a change in the sense of smell can exacerbate the underlying problem.

Possible causes of hyperosmia are as follows:

1. Pregnancy

Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause changes in the sense of smell. According to research, the majority of pregnant women experience a high smell in the first trimester of pregnancy.

People who experience hyperosmia during pregnancy may also experience increased nausea and vomiting that is usually associated with hyperemesis gravidarum.

Pregnancy-induced hyperosmia tends to go away after the pregnancy ends and hormone levels return to normal.

2. Autoimmune disorders

Hyperosmia is a common symptom of several autoimmune disorders. It can also occur when the kidneys don't function properly, which can lead to Addison's disease, a disorder of the adrenal glands.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) also affects the sense of smell, mainly because of its impact on the nervous system.

3. Migraine

Migraines can cause and be caused by hyperosmia. A more sensitive sensitivity to odors can occur between migraine episodes. Odor sensitivity can also trigger migraines or make you more prone to experiencing them.

4. Lyme disease

A study from Archives of Neuro-Psychiatry suggests that as many as 50 percent of people who have Lyme disease develop this condition.

Experts still don't know exactly what Lyme disease has to do with the ability to smell. However, this is thought to be because Lyme disease affects the nervous system, so it can have a negative effect on changes in the sense of smell as well.

5. Other neurological conditions

The following neurological conditions are also strongly suspected to be associated with hyperosmia:

• Parkinson's disease
• epilepsy
• Alzheimer's
• multiple sclerosis
• polyps or tumors in the nose or skull

6. Prescribed medications

Many prescription drugs can affect your sense of smell. Most drugs dull the sense of smell, but sometimes prescription medications can make certain smells stronger.

People who experience a change in their sense of smell after starting a new medication should consult their doctor so that they can provide new treatment options that are more suitable.

7. Diabetes

In rare cases, type 1 diabetes can cause hyperosmia. This generally occurs when type 1 diabetes has not been treated or is not well managed.

8. Nutritional deficiencies

Several nutritional deficiencies, including B12 deficiency, can affect your sense of smell. A deficiency in B12 can irritate the nervous system and eventually make the nasal nerves too sensitive to odors.

How to treat hyperosmia?

Treatment will usually focus on the causes behind the hyperosmia itself. However, in most cases, the best form of treatment is to avoid the odor that triggers it.

As explained earlier, each person may have different odors, ranging from food to certain chemicals.

If it's really hard to avoid altogether, you can try chewing mint gum or mint candy to reduce symptoms.

In addition, your doctor can also prescribe medications that can treat the cause of your hyperosmia. For example, in people suffering from migraines, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate migraine medication.

Not only that, the doctor can also change the medication prescription you are taking if hyperosmia is triggered by certain drugs.

In certain cases, this condition can be resolved through surgical or surgical procedures. However, this of course returns to what conditions or causes underlie the increase in your sense of smell.

Therefore, always consult a doctor about the health conditions you are experiencing. Thus, you can get treatment and treatment that best suits your condition.