Pomona Valley News

• Sinus infections can lead to a loss of taste and smell.
• Losing the ability to taste and smell can cause a decreased quality of life for the patient.
• Treating the sinus infection can restore the patient's sense of taste and smell.

Dr. Matt Hershcovitch of SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said congestion from sinus issues can lead to other health complications. 

"Unfortunately for our chronic sinusitis suffers, chronic sinusitis has a big effect on multiple other body and organ systems," Hershcovitch told Pomona Valley News. "Humans are obligate nasal breathers; everything we breathe in is primarily through our nose. People with nasal obstruction or chronic sinusitis have more difficulty with that. But if you have diseased sinuses, the air you're breathing in is not being filtered appropriately. The disease and bacteria in the sinuses are often going inward with the breath and causing lung problems. And for those with severe obstruction, you're being forced then to breathe through your mouth, which can lead to all sorts of other health problems."

Many American holiday celebrations feature a traditional meal, with a YouGov survey finding that the most popular foods to have on the table at Thanksgiving and Christmas are roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, turkey, bread rolls and stuffing, Taste of Home reported.

But people suffering from sinus infections may not be able to enjoy their meals this holiday season due to a loss of the senses of smell and taste, Houston ENT reported. Congestion is a common symptom of sinus infections, and a stuffy nose can decrease the ability to taste by blocking access to the part of the brain that processes taste.

People who lose the ability to smell and taste frequently experience decreased appetite and poor nutrition, and they may be more likely to experience depression, according to Mayo Clinic. Some might use excess salt or sugar on food to try to make it taste better, which can exacerbate problems with diabetes or high blood sugar. Fortunately, if the loss of taste and smell is due to a sinus infection or other nasal issue, treating the infection can restore the patient's senses of taste and smell.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinus infections, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.