Smoking affects more than your lungs, according to The Ultimate Quit Smoking Guide. Over time, smoking can affect almost every part of your body, including the nerves that control your sense of taste. If you begin to notice tastes being less sharp to your palate, this could be one of the first signs that your nerves are becoming damaged.
Significance
Over time, smoking damages olfactory nerves located in the nose, according to Reader's Digest. These nerves are responsible for both smell and taste. When they become damaged, the senses are dulled, and foods that once had a distinctive taste may no longer retain the same sharpness. Although you may be able to regain some of your sense of taste by quitting smoking, it is difficult to completely reverse this damage, according to the American Rhinologic Society.
Prevalence
An estimated two million Americans have some form of a taste or smell disorder, according to the American Rhinologic Society. Loss of smell caused by irritants, such as smoking cigarettes, is one of the most common reasons a person may lose his sense of smell.
Effects
Lost sense of smell from smoking can cause you to change your eating habits, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. You may find that you eat less or that you eat more in an effort to try to taste your food. Additionally, a lost sense of taste and smell can cause you to lose a valuable defense mechanism--you may not be able to taste that a food is spoiled.
Detection
If you smoke and suspect you may have lost some of your sense of smell because of smoking, a physician can evaluate your condition, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. She may examine your nose and in some instances recommend an imaging test, such as a computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan. This can help to determine the extent of your nerve damage to determine appropriate treatment methods.
Solution
If you are a long-term smoker, taking steps to stop smoking can help to reverse some of the nerve damage, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. If you have been smoking for some time, using a stop-smoking aid, such as nicotine replacement gum or a nicotine patch, may help you to quit more successfully. A physician may prescribe corticosteroids designed to reduce inflammation in your nasal passages. Your doctor can also recommend adaptive solutions, such as flavoring foods more strongly, so you can enjoy more flavorful-tasting foods.
