San Diego City Wire

• Loss of taste and smell can occur naturally as we age, especially after age 60, but sinus issues can be another major contributing factor. 
• Sinusitis is a condition where the sinuses, the spaces inside your nose and head, become inflamed and swollen. 
• Chronic sinusitis affects 28.9 million American adults, or 11% of the adult population. 

Chronic sinusitis can affect people in many ways, including loss of smell and taste, according to ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialists. According to Dr. Paul Shalch Lepe of SoCal Breathe Free, the loss of senses can deeply impact a patient’s quality of life. 

"When you have sinus infections, it takes a lot out of you," Dr. Shalch Lepe told the San Diego City Wire. "You don’t feel well, you don’t have any energy, and your sense of smell might be compromised, so eating has no pleasure. And that affects your quality of life."

Physical symptoms of chronic sinusitis can include nasal inflammation, runny nose, postnasal drainage, congestion, pain or swelling in the face, headaches, loss of smell and taste, a sore throat, bad breath, or fatigue, according to Mayo Clinic.

People who lose the ability to smell and taste frequently experience decreased appetite and poor nutrition and may be more likely to experience depression, according to Mayo Clinic. Some of these individuals might resort to using excess salt or sugar on food to try to make its taste stronger, which can exacerbate problems with diabetes or high blood sugar. Fortunately, if the issue is due to a sinus infection or other nasal issue, treating the infection will restore the senses of taste and smell.

According to NHS Inform, people experiencing symptoms that haven't improved for more than a week should consult a physician. An ENT specialist might recommend a saline solution or over-the-counter medication, and if those don't help symptoms improve, they might prescribe antibiotics, a corticosteroid spray, or even recommend a sinus surgery procedure.

If chronic congestion has affected your sense of smell or taste, a surgical procedure might help restore those senses while also improving nasal breathing, according to WebMD.

According to SoCal Breathe Free's website, Dr. Schalch Lepe is an otolaryngologist and ENT doctor in San Diego who specializes in sinus, allergy, and sleep treatments. He completed his residency in otolaryngology at the UC Irvine Medical Center at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. He also earned his medical degree at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico School of Medicine in Mexico City.