PHX Reporter

• 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. John Stewart of Arizona Breathe Free, the complications from untreated sinusitis can lead to serious quality of life issues.

"A study by the National Institute of Health showed that over a one-year period, there were up to 73 million restricted-activity days related to sinusitis and total direct medical costs of almost $2.4 billion, not including surgery or radiographic imaging," Dr. Stewart told the PHX Reporter. "Unresolved sinusitis becomes a quality of life issue, taking people away from their jobs, family, friends, and obligations."

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 Arizona Breathe Free's website, Dr. Stewart earned his bachelor's degree in biology, graduating with summa cum laude honors, from Grand Canyon University. He went to medical school at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency training in otorhinolaryngology/facial plastic surgery at the Freeman Hospital & Health System in Joplin, Missouri.