Sinuses do connect to the brain as the sinuses exist in the dura of your brain which includes the superior sagittal, straight and sigmoid.
The dural venous sinuses functions as the brain's venous system.
Smells trigger emotions because the odors and smells take a direct route to your limbic system which includes the amygdala and the hippocampus which are the regions that are related to your memory and emotion.
Your olfactory signals very quickly get to your limbic system.
Some smells can stay in your nose because of lifestyle habits, drinks, certain foods, mouth infections or even sinusitis.
Another reason you may smell things and have a smell that stays in your nose is because of phantosmia that involves smelling odors which are not present but instead they are entirely created by the nose and brain.
Sometimes cleaning out your nose can get rid of smells that stay in your nose.
You can't smell when you have a stuffy nose because the stuffy nose is blocking the inside of your nose and the nerves from getting the smell into the nose.
When you smell you are smelling the molecules that enter your nose and when your nose is stuffy the molecules cannot reach your nose so you can't physically pick up the smell.
The reason holding your nose stops you from tasting is because the nose and your taste buds are actually closely linked.
The taste buds of your tongue identify the taste and the nerves in your nose identify the smell.
Both these sensations are communicated to your brain and then it integrates the information so that the flavors can be recognized and appreciated.
The perception of taste is an integration of signals from the taste receptors on the tongue and smell receptors the nose.
Plugging the nose keeps the aromas from entering the nose, dulling the taste.
Losing your sense of smell does affect your taste.
Your ability to smell also helps you with your ability to taste.
Drugs and medicines that can cause a loss of smell and taste include Intranasal zinc products, decongestant nose sprays, and certain oral drugs, such as nifedipine and phenothiazines.
In some cases you can regain your sense of smell.
But it depends on what caused your loss of sense of smell on whether or not you can regain the sense of smell.
One type of treatment that has shown promise is smell retraining therapy.
It involves exposing the person to different strong scents for several minutes at a time for three months.
It is a simple concept, but has shown evidence of significantly improving smell over time.
Anosmia cannot be cured.
However sometimes treatments for the anosmia can help you regain your sense of smell.
Some of the treatments for Anosmia include decongestants · antihistamines · steroid nasal sprays · antibiotics, for bacterial infections · reducing exposure to nasal irritants
Anosmia is the loss of the sense of smell, either total or partial. It may be caused by head injury, infection, or blockage of the nose.
Anosmia is the partial or full loss of smell. Anosmia can be a temporary or permanent condition.
You can partially or completely lose your sense of smell when the mucus membranes in your nose are irritated or obstructed such as when you have a severe cold or a sinus infection, for example.
But if the inability to smell isn’t related to a cold or sinus infection, or it doesn’t return after congestion clears, you should see a doctor. It could be a symptom of another issue.
The sense of smell is important to overall health and nutrition since diminished sensations can lead to poor appetite and malnutrition, especially in the elderly.
An altered sense of smell may pose other health-related problems.
People with anosmia may accidentally consume soured or rancid foods because they are unable to detect odors that signal spoilage.
Those with anosmia may also be unaware when they are breathing toxic, polluted or smoke-filled air.
Although rare, some people are born without the sense of smell, which is a condition called congenital anosmia.
This occurs when there is either an inherited genetic disorder or abnormal development of the olfactory system (the body’s sensory system for smell) occurring before birth.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for congenital anosmia.
Anosmia may be caused by an infection, such as a cold or flu.
It may also be caused by nasal polyps or other blockages.
Loss of sense of smell is also a common symptom of COVID-19.
In most instances, treating the underlying cause of anosmia can restore your sense of smell.