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Nose Health: What It Says About You!

Aside from picking up odours and smelling things, our nose knows a few things about our health. It has been linked to good health, mental illness and even early death. Our olfactory senses are sharpened when our nose is working efficiently. It can detect more than a billion different smells. Below are some ways in which your nose knows about your health. Learn the nuances of your nose health and what it says about you…

1. Discoloured Nasal Membranes

A healthy individual has pink nasal membranes. But if they are blue, pale or swollen, you could be suffering from a nasal allergic reaction. Red nasal membranes point towards bacterial or viral infection.

2. Runny Nose

A runny nose could indicate a cold or a flu infection. Drink lots of fluids and rest to get through the disease.

3. Nosebleeds

Dry sinuses lead to nosebleeds. Don’t ignore the condition as it could mean blood pressure or allergy problems even. Cracked sinuses that cause nosebleeds can lead to more severe lung and nasal infections. Using a humidifier helps with dry sinuses.

4. Polyps

Polyps are harmless growths in the nose. They lead to a reduced sense of smell. If medications don’t help, then surgery is done to remove them.

5. Diabetes

Elevated glucose levels in the body lead to nerve and blood vessels damage. This could affect a person’s sense of smell. Diabetes also affects the endocrine system so which could also lead to a reduced olfactory response.

6. Alzheimer’s

Going slow while identifying odours? This could mean the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s affects the motor neurons and therefore, could change the sense of smell. Other conditions like Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease could also be the culprit.

7. Stroke

Many people have a keen sense of smell, but if someone is smelling things that aren’t around, it could mean they are about to suffer from an epileptic seizure or even a stroke. These are called olfactory hallucinations. They also point towards brain tumours or head injuries.

8. Sinus Infection

Infection of the sinuses could lead to someone complaining of phantom smells. If the smell is persistent, try washing off the sinuses with saltwater. The problem resolves itself on its own once the infection clears off.

9. Rosacea

In this condition, the nose becomes red and over a period may thicken and become permanently red. In more severe cases, it can cause breathing troubles and change the shape of your nose.

10. Discoloured Snot

Mucous in a healthy individual is clear. When the person is suffering from some viral or bacterial infection or some allergy, the snot could get discoloured. In cases of cold and flu, it becomes yellow as the white blood cells rush to fight off the infections. After about a week to ten days, it may turn green. A course of antibiotics will clear it up again.

The most important factor to consider is that our nose says a lot about our health. However, unfortunately, we often ignore our nose health. If you have noticed any of these symptoms, consult your doctor.

Also Read: What are Adenoids? A Comprehensive Overview of Their Function and Importance

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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