Smoking can cause cancer, heart disease and lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Although smoking has several negative health consequences, it can also harm your sense of taste. If you are struggling with the decision to continue or stop smoking, knowing why smoking is harmful to your taste buds might be helpful. Your sense of taste will also return if you stop smoking.
About Taste
Your senses of smell and taste are linked, and the loss of one is often related to the loss of the other. Gustatory cells, or taste nerve cells, are found in the taste buds of your mouth and throat. They react to food or drinks mixed with saliva. A lot of the small bumps on your tongue contain taste buds, and these surface cells send information to nearby nerves, which in turn send information to your brain.
Reasons for Loss of Taste
If you smoke and have lost your ability to taste, there is an explanation. According to a study conducted by researchers at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki reported on Coffeechemistry.com, 85 percent of study subjects who smoked performed worse on taste tests than non-smoking study subjects. In addition, the smoking study subjects had taste buds with a flatter shape and a significantly reduced blood supply than those of the non-smoking group. It is believed that these physical changes to the tongue can change the way smokers detect taste.
Why Quit
When you stop smoking, there are both immediate and long-term improvements in your health and benefits in other areas. Roughly 20 minutes after you quit smoking, the air is less polluted, your blood pressure and pulse decrease, and the temperature of your hands and feet increases because of improved circulation. After just 48 hours, your sense of taste and smell begin to return. An improved sense of taste and smell can act as a motivator to stay away from tobacco products.
How to Quit
If you are serious about wanting to stop smoking and improve your health in addition to your sense of taste, ask for support from family, friends and coworkers; have a specific plan; set a quit date; make your home smoke-free by removing all tobacco products; ask your doctor about medications that may help; and seek advice from an addiction counselor.
