People without a sense of smell breathe differently than people who can smell. The latter have extra peaks with each inhale – but only if there is something to smell. In an odorless room that peak is not there. That Israeli researchers wrote on Tuesday Nature Communications. The changes in breathing patterns could contribute to the physical and mental problems common in people without a sense of smell, the authors think.
No longer being able to smell anything, anosmia, has a major impact on the quality of life. Depression and emotional blunting are more common in people with anosmia. It also leads to eating problems and social difficulties, and people no longer pick up alarm signals such as smoke or gas smells. All this even leads to reduced life expectancy among elderly people with anosmia.
A blow to the head
The inability to smell can be congenital or acquired. For example, it can occur after an infection with a respiratory virus such as influenza or the coronavirus. And smell disorders can also occur after nose surgery, when using certain medications, after a blow to the head and with diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and psychiatric disorders. It is often due to damage to the olfactory epithelium in the nose or damage to nerve cells, such as the connection between the olfactory organ and the brain.
It was already known that breathing patterns are influenced by odors, even while sleeping. People inhale more deeply when they smell nice smells, a so-called ‘sniff reaction’, while when they smell bad smells, they breathe in less deeply. That is why the researchers wanted to find out whether breathing is different in people with anosmia.
The study included 31 people with congenital anosmia and 21 people who could smell. For 24 hours, they were given a portable device that measured the air flow through a so-called oxygen cannula, a transparent tube with two protruding tubes in the nostrils. The researchers monitored the breathing patterns of their participants during their daytime activities and while they slept.
Additional inhalation peaks
On average, all subjects breathed at the same frequency, approximately once every four seconds. But people who could smell had one or two extra inhalation peaks with each breath – together accounting for 240 extra inhalation peaks per hour during the day. The extra peaks were not present when the smelling participants were in an odorless room. These peaks indicate a sniffing reaction that occurs unconsciously. There were also differences in the breathing pattern between smellers and non-smellers at night.
Breathing patterns influence brain activity, memory and emotions, previous studies show. The authors therefore suggest that it is not only the loss of the sense of smell that contributes to the health problems that people with anosmia can have, but also the changed way of breathing.
The contribution of breathing through the mouth is still open. And this study does not show whether the changed breathing pattern also occurs with acquired anosmia, such as after a coronavirus infection.
Share Email the editor
Breath of Fresh Air: The Smelly Truth About Anosmia
So, let’s talk about this fascinating study that’s as pungent as a week-old fish left on a sun-soaked windowsill. According to some enterprising Israeli boffins, people without a sense of smell breathe quite differently than those of us who can actually enjoy a good whiff of freshly baked bread (or, you know, the smell of your neighbor’s burnt toast). Apparently, when you don’t have a nose for it, you miss out on those delightful ‘extra peaks’ in your breathing – which sounds a bit like a breathy parody of a DJ mixing tracks in an odorless club.
When Breathing Gets Funky
Here’s the kicker: those gratuitous extra inhalation peaks – yes, the ones that happen when there’s something aromatic to sniff – are absent in those poor souls stranded in the realm of anosmia. If you’re stuck in an odorless room, you’re just a lonely, peak-less pedestrian struggling to breathe deeply. Now, who knew that breathing could be as varied and colorful as a… well, a fresh bouquet of flowers or a trash can in July?
And speaking of trash, let’s chat about the impact of anosmia. It’s not just about losing your ability to enjoy the sweet perfume of life. We’re talking serious issues like depression and emotional blunting. If you can’t smell, you might miss out on the olfactory cues that often indicate danger (who’s setting off the smoke alarms? The neighbor trying to impress us with their ‘cooking’?), which is somewhat concerning. It’s a little like living your life in a bubble where you only hear the faintest whispers of the world while everyone else is enjoying a full opera.
The Nitty Gritty of the Nose
Now, let’s get down to the science of it all – because if anything screams classic British observational humor, it’s taking a scientific approach. The study involved a clever little gadget that measured the airflow through an oxygen cannula slapped across the participants’ noses (a fancy way of saying, “Hey, smell this!”). They monitored how they breathed, both during the day and while they were snoozing. Turns out, we all breathe about once every four seconds – but if you can smell? That’s when the extra peaks make their grand appearance like an uninvited guest at a very dull dinner party.
The Breathing Connection
The big reveal here is that our breathing patterns aren’t just about sucking in air and blowing it out like a cartoon character. They might be tied to our mental state, memory, and emotions. So, what the researchers are insinuating is that these extra lil’ peaks in breathing might not just be for show; they could actually be bolstering your brain power or emotional well-being. Talk about a high-stakes breathing game! It’s quite possible that they’re linked to cognitive function as well – your brain saying, ‘Yes, I am indeed alive in the aromatic world!’
In Conclusion: A Breath of Fresh Air?
In conclusion, if losing your sense of smell doesn’t quite smell right, believe it! The research implies it’s not just your nose that suffers – it’s the very air you breathe that could impact your overall health. But let’s not entirely dismiss the mouth-breathing alternative; it definitely could use a little more investigation. So, for those who might be wondering, ‘What about those who lost their smell from a recent bout with COVID?’ The jury’s still out on that one. Grab your oxygen cannula, because the quest for the magical link between smell, breathe, and everything in between continues! You know, this kind of deep breathing exercise might just bring your sense of humor back!
Remember, keep sniffing and breathing deeply – you never know what delightful (or horrendous) scents await you!
