A process that involves the cells of your tongue and nasal passages causes the smell of food to affect taste. The conjunction of the senses of smell and taste allows your brain to define a food’s flavor. Certain lifestyle choices, vitamin...
A salty taste in the mouth isn't usually a cause for alarm. Changes in taste can often occur as a result of medications, sinus infections, strep throat and even dental disorders, such as gingivitis. When this salty taste is a result of diet and...
Zinc is a type of mineral that your body needs in order to function; therefore, you should eat foods or take supplements that contain sufficient levels of zinc. Foods that are good sources of zinc include most types of meat, fish and dairy...
A metallic taste in the mouth can seem alarming at first, but it's common and can be caused by various factors. According to MayoClinic.com, a metallic taste in the mouth can be caused by certain medications such as some antibiotics, prenatal...
There are several types of hereditary neuropathies, which can affect the motor, sensory or autonomic nerves, or a combination of different nerve types. Symptoms depend on the type of nerve affected. The severity of symptoms vary greatly between...
The mouth can be involved in several neurological disorders. The nerves that innervate the muscles of the mouth can be affected by a variety of processes, occurring anywhere along their paths, or in the motor control centers in the brain. Diseases...
While you may know some of the most significant health-related threats of smoking---such as lung cancer or emphysema---you may not know other long-term effects, such as a reduced sense of smell, according to American Academy of Otolaryngology....
Zinc is an essential mineral, as it aids in several critical functions in the body including cell division, growth and development. Most commonly known as an immune system booster, zinc plays a critical role in helping to support the health of...
Zinc is a mineral that your body uses to help maintain healthy bones, skin, hair and teeth. This vital mineral is found in a number of food sources, including cheese, milk, beef, chicken, nuts and beans. If you are an adult who is unable to...
Bell's palsy is a temporary paralysis of one of the facial nerves. It usually affects one side of the face and can strike at any age. Bell's palsy is thought to be the result of a virus or trauma to the nerve. It comes on quickly and usually...
Your facial nerve, which is also referred to as cranial nerve VII, is responsible for controlling the movement of the muscles within your face. Facial nerve damage, a condition sometimes called facial nerve palsy, can occur as the result of a...
The facial nerve is the seventh of 12 nerves that exit directly through openings in the skull. These are known as cranial nerves. The facial nerve has several functions. It supplies motor impulses to the muscles of facial expression, allows the...
Alzheimer's disease causes a decline in memory, thinking and orientation, comprehension, language and judgement. If you have Alzheimer's disease you may forget how to shop for foods, prepare foods and forget to eat. The cognitive decline in these...
One-third of all adults in the United States are obese, and children and adolescents between ages 2 and 19 are quickly catching up: 17 percent of them are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each year, billions of...
A dry mouth and sore throat often provoke secondary symptoms, which may cause additional distress and discomfort. The causes of a dry mouth and sore throat vary widely in severity, from the common cold to permanent malfunction of the...
The lure of chocolate has a long, rich history. The Aztec believed that the god Quetzalcoatl brought the cacao seeds from heaven -- if you're a chocolate lover, you can likely appreciate that belief. Whether in squares, in the shape of a bunny or...
Medications can be life-saving for some medical conditions. Unfortunately, medications may come with a price – side effects. Side effects are medication effects that are not related to the reason the medication is prescribed. Side effects...
Pravastatin is a prescription drug that lowers levels of blood cholesterol and other lipid compounds, such as triglycerides and low density lipoproteins, also called LDL cholesterol. Pravastatin was developed by Bristol Myers Squibb and marketed...
The facial nerve, which is cranial nerve VII, controls facial expression with 7 thousand individual nerve fibers to the facial muscles. Many disorders, conditions and diseases can interrupt the function of the nerve fibers and cause numbness in...
Each year, approximately 40,000 people in the United States experience the side effects of Bell's palsy, a condition characterized by paralysis of the facial nerves, reports UpToDate, a peer-reviewed medical information website for patients....
Sensory disorders can be an indication, symptom or cause of a nutritional deficiency, toxicity or sensitivity and vice-versa. For example, chemosensory disorders involving smell or taste can impact nutritional status, while nutritional status can...
Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, is a common allergy caused by pollen or other allergens in the air. This condition, although it rarely causes severe medical problems, can cause significant discomfort, particularly in the event of nasal...
The common side effects of a stroke depend greatly on the location of the brain affected by the stroke. Side effects are not always immediately apparent with some manifesting weeks or months after the attack. Most effects are neurologic in nature,...
Traumatic brain injury is brain damage resulting from the head being subjected to forceful sudden impact or a foreign object forced into the skull. Traumatic brain injury can be mild, moderate or severe. Symptoms and treatments vary depending on...
Lisinopril is a prescription medication available as an oral tablet. It is sold generically and under the brand names of Prinivil and Zestril. It is an angiotension-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor that reduces blood pressure. Lisinopril is...
Zinc is an essential trace element, assisting with the body's catabolic, structural and regulatory functions. Zinc is necessary for survival. If, for some reason, you desire to limit or reduce your zinc intake, there are low-zinc as well as...
Cymbalta is a prescription drug available as a delayed-release capsule. The manufacturer states that the drug, known generically as duloxetine hydrochloride, is indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety...
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), marijuana is the most commonly abused illegal drug in the United States. Marijuana, which is also referred to as pot, is the dried form of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. The chemical...
The varicella-zoster virus is responsible for causing chickenpox. Once the immune system has fought off the virus, however, it stays dormant in the body. If the virus gets reactivated, it can cause a disorder known as herpes zoster, which is...
