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I suffer everyday with Phantosmia I can not express enough how annoying this condition is. The worst one is the cigarette smells,I used to be a smoker and even then the smoke bothered Me,its way worse now. I dont know if anyone else has this..I can tell you if you do,My heart goes out to ya! Phantosmia is the medical word used by doctors when a person smells something that is not actually there. Phantosmia is also called a phantom smell or an olfactory hallucination. The smells vary from person to person but are usually unpleasant, such as burnt toast, metallic, or chemical smells. Problems with the nose, such as sinusitis, or conditions of the nervous system or brain, including migraine, stroke, or schizophrenia can cause phantosmia. What is phantosmia? Phantosmia A person with phantosmia may smell something that is not there. Phantosmia is a disorder linked to a person's sense of smell. It happens when a person can smell something that is not there. The smell may only appear on one side of the nose, or it may affect both nostrils. Phantosmia is relatively uncommon. It makes up around 10 to 20 percent of disorders related to the sense of smell. In most cases, phantosmia is not a cause for concern and will go away on its own. However, phantosmia can be a sign of a serious underlying condition, so people should always discuss this symptom with their doctor. Some phantom smells are pleasant, but people with phantosmia more often describe unpleasant, foul, or disgusting odors. These may include: burnt toast burning rubber cigarette smoke a chemical or metallic smell a spoiled or rotting smell a stale or moldy smell People are often unable to identify the specific smell, or it may be a smell that they have never encountered before. Phantosmia can feel distressing and may get in the way of daily life. It can influence a person's sense of taste, leading to a reduced appetite and weight loss. Causes of phantosmia People may experience phantom smells for many reasons. They may be related to the nose, when the condition is known as peripheral phantosmia, or to the brain, which is called central phantosmia. Problems with the nose or nasal cavity are the most common causes of smell-related disorders such as phantosmia. These include: nasal polyps tumors chronic sinus infections hay fever or allergic rhinitis non-allergic rhinitis Otherwise, phantom smells can arise because of problems with how the brain understands smells. These include: epilepsy or seizures head trauma migraines, where phantosmia can be an aura Parkinson's disease schizophrenia depression a stroke certain medications When phantosmia is related to nose problems, people may notice a stronger smell in one nostril than the other. Saline rinses and anesthetic pads can often help reduce the smell. When phantosmia is related to the brain or central nervous system, the smells are often more persistent. They can be noticeable during the day and night, and both nostrils rather than only one experience the same smell. Is it really a phantom smell? Phantosmia may be amplified by a change in deodrant A person may think they are noticing a phantom smell if they have changed hygiene products. In some cases, people may believe they are noticing a phantom smell, when they may instead be noticing a real but unexpected smell. Possible sources of unexpected smells include: recent changes in deodorant or other hygiene products new materials, products, or packaging a new air-conditioning unit, heater, or air filter, which may still contain chemicals from the factory Phantosmia vs. parosmia Phantosmia is often confused with parosmia, which is a distorted sense of smell. People with parosmia are smelling real-life smells, but they are distorted. For instance, the smell of flowers could trigger a smell of chemicals instead. Many people with parosmia also describe the distorted smells as unpleasant. According to a 20 review, phantosmia and parosmia often happen at the same time, and parosmia is more common than phantosmia. Parosmia can be disturbing, and symptoms can range from mild to severe. Severe parosmia may be debilitating. People with severe parosmia may struggle to deal with their symptoms, even temporarily. |
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