During the coronavirus disease, many people lose their sense of taste and smell, Report informs, referring to Russian neurologist and neurophysiologist Alexander Budik.
He has revealed a way to restore them faster in an interview with Sputnik radio.
The reasons for the problems with the perception of taste and smell during COVID-19 have not yet been fully established.
There is an assumption that the composition of saliva is disturbed during the infection, so the flavoring substances are destroyed faster and do not have time to reach the taste buds.
According to another theory, the receptors themselves are damaged, which explains the loss of taste and smell, said Budik.
"Sensitive cells that perceive olfactory substances are damaged. It can also be nerves, conductors along which information about the perceived olfactory sensation runs," the doctor explained.
Usually, those who have contracted the coronavirus do not feel smells and tastes at the beginning of the disease, but everything is restored after a couple of weeks.
However, cases when people suffer from these disorders for months, even after recovery, are also quite common.
To regain the sense of smell and taste, Budik advises conducting special training. It is necessary to perceive various smells for 20 seconds several times daily. These should be intense aromas, such as cloves, garlic, cardamom, cinnamon, which will make the necessary organs work actively, the doctor said.
"The body begins to pay increased attention to the organ, which is actively involved in work, and all resources focus on this place to quickly restore its activity. As an additional therapy, you can use nasal drops of a solution of vitamin A, consume omega-3 fats for a week," Budik said.