My husband lost his sense of smell about two years ago and, as far as we know, has not had Covid. He has tried unsuccessfully to train his sense of smell. Can you give us any advice on possible treatment or cause?
Anosmia or loss of sense of smell is on everyone’s lips as a symptom of Covid. It was particularly common early in the pandemic – some experts believe it was less likely with later variants of the virus.
However, it can be caused by almost any virus or upper respiratory infection, such as a cold, which damages the nerves that send smell signals to the brain. It can also be due to nerve degeneration or brain injury, for example after a head trauma or stroke.
Short-term anosmia can occur when the nose is blocked by a cold. However, a long-term cause can be nasal polyps – fleshy growths in the nasal cavity – or chronic nasal congestion related to allergies or smoking.
If loss of smell persists, it would be a good idea to see a GP and possibly a referral to an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) to check for polyps. If found, they can be treated surgically or with sprays.
Anosmia or loss of sense of smell is on everyone’s lips as a symptom of Covid. It was particularly common early in the pandemic – some experts believe it was less likely with later variants of the virus
The condition is serious because it risks leaving you unable to smell dangerous things like gas or fire, and because it also takes away the joy of eating and drinking, it can be quite miserable to endure.
It’s worth sticking with smell training kits – these involve actively sniffing the same scents for about 20 seconds every day.
There are two charities that offer excellent advice to people with loss of smell: AbScent (abscent.org) and Fifth Sense (fifthsense.org.uk).
Our 16-year-old grandson is doing very poorly, suffering from nausea, fatigue, rushing to the toilet, extreme anxiety and severe cramps under his ribs. He also looks jaundiced.
He was diagnosed with Gilbert’s syndrome. We were told there was no treatment and he would just have to live with it. Before that he was a fit young man. Do you know who we can contact? He has barely attended school this year. You are our last hope.
Gilbert’s syndrome is considered harmless and is not usually even referred to as a disease. Most people don’t even know when they have it, and it’s usually discovered accidentally when someone has a liver function test.
It does not cause anxiety, cramps, nausea, fatigue and stomach pain. If this occurs in a teenager, other causes must be looked for.
Gilbert’s syndrome is thought to affect about four percent of the population and often runs in families. It leads to high levels of bilirubin – a waste product of red blood cells – and can lead to jaundice. This can occur in people who are stressed, sick, or dehydrated.
The British Liver Trust (britishlivertrust.org.uk) offers good advice on the syndrome.
For a teenager with such significant problems, I would suggest that testing for inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or colitis, celiac disease, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) should be done. Further testing may be needed, including repeat blood tests, screening for infections, and a very specific stool analysis to look for inflammation.
It may also be worthwhile for them to have the opportunity to speak with their doctor alone if there are concerns that they cannot discuss with the family.
At this age, people also begin to suffer from psychological problems, which may initially manifest themselves in physical symptoms.
My husband was diagnosed with BPPV. He has been suffering from dizziness and nausea for weeks and is becoming increasingly unsteady on his feet. No one was able to suggest any treatment other than the so-called Epley maneuver, which his osteopath performed without success. Are there any medications that can be taken for this problem?
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a problem in the ear and dizziness often occurs when the patient is in certain positions, turning their head, or rolling over in bed.
The tiny components of the inner ear control our sense of balance, which is why inner ear problems can cause these symptoms.
BPPV is surprisingly common, especially in people over 50, and can be very distressing. In older people, it causes falls and makes normal life much more difficult.
It can be reassuring to know that recovery often occurs spontaneously over several weeks without treatment. It can be helpful to be aware of the triggering movements.
The Epley maneuver, in which the head is slowly moved into different positions, is intended to shift fluid and debris in the inner ear. This could be offered along with Brandt-Daroff exercises, which are similar and can be done at home.
If the Epley maneuver did not work, it can be tried again.
Most commonly, dizziness is caused by problems in the ear and rarely in the brain.
If the situation doesn’t improve or continues to worsen (BPPV can come and go), it’s worth speaking to a doctor about an alternative diagnosis.
Can anyone seriously argue against a smoking ban?
When I was growing up, you could smoke in restaurants, on public transportation, and even on planes.
When I told my teenagers this, they couldn’t believe it, even though it wasn’t that long ago. In fact, they find the concept completely bizarre, and that makes me really happy.
Progress in smoking prevention in our society has been great, but I believe we can do more. I welcome the Government’s plan to raise the legal age to buy cigarettes by one year every year, meaning younger teenagers will virtually never be old enough to buy cigarettes.
Raising the smoking age from 16 to 18 in 2007 helped reduce the number of teenagers who started smoking by about 30 percent. So we know that these measures work.
I just can’t understand why anyone would argue against it, although I’ve seen some on social media trying. There is no value in allowing a child to buy cigarettes other than money for tobacco companies.
No time off because of “man-opause”
Does menopause exist? I am in doubt. And even more, I question whether middle-aged men need time off from work to deal with things like hot flashes and the emotional changes that some claim are similar to what many women experience during menopause.
Apparently this is happening in some NHS trusts, which I find hard to believe. I’ve certainly never come across this before.
The fight for the recognition of menopause in women is hard-fought and absolutely justified, since menopause is physiologically proven due to the significant decline in the natural production of female hormones.
The same does not apply to the so-called mannopause. I often test men’s testosterone levels – mostly when they suffer from erectile dysfunction – and very, very few have abnormal levels.
Menopause symptoms in men are far more likely to be due to obvious things: lack of exercise, weight gain, depression and failed relationships, for example.
Let’s not make this a thing if it isn’t.