Montgomery News

• Chronic sinusitis affects 28.9 million American adults, or 11% of the adult population. 
• For sinus patients, early intervention not only enhances their immediate quality of life but also provides lasting relief and reduces long-term healthcare costs.
• Experts recommend that patients consult a healthcare provider if sinusitis symptoms persist for more than 10 days.

The loss of taste and smell are two of the most noticeable symptoms that can come from chronic sinusitis. According to Dr. Manish Khanna of Capitol Breathe Free, sinusitis can cause dryness of the mouth, potentially leading to a loss of taste.

“By not using our nasal passages, we just start to mouth breathe, because we can't or don't know how to use our noses,” Dr. Khanna told the Montgomery News. “This causes things to dry up more, as the saliva dries up quicker and that can lead to more issues with dental caries and problems in the oral cavity as well. This can affect the sense of taste because of the dryness from all the mouth breathing that we're doing.”

Physical symptoms of chronic sinusitis can include nasal inflammation, a runny nose, postnasal drainage, congestion, pain or swelling in the face, headaches, loss of smell and taste, a sore throat, bad breath, or fatigue, according to Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Manish Khanna | Capitol Breathe Free

Conditions that can affect someone’s sense of taste and smell include nasal and sinus problems, such as allergies, sinusitis or nasal polyps. Other conditions include the common cold, the flu, COVID-19, certain medications, and dental problems.

People who lose the ability to smell and taste frequently experience decreased appetite and poor nutrition and may be more likely to experience depression, according to Mayo Clinic. Some might use excess salt or sugar on food to try to make its taste stronger, which can make problems with diabetes or high blood sugar worse. Fortunately, if the loss of taste and smell is due to a sinus infection or other nasal issue, treating the infection will restore the senses of taste and smell.

If a patient’s sense of smell and/or taste don’t improve after treating sinus issues, a doctor may recommend smell training therapy. One of these strategies would consist of smelling four different scents for about 10 to 20 seconds twice a day for at least three months.

According to Capitol Breathe Free's website, Dr. Manish Khanna earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The following year, he completed postgraduate research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In 2002, he obtained his medical degree from Albany Medical College. Dr. Khanna then entered the otolaryngology residency program at Albany Medical Center, where he completed both his surgical internship and residency, serving as chief resident until 2007. After his residency, he pursued a fellowship in rhinology, specializing in advanced endoscopic sinus surgery, at the California Sinus Institute in Palo Alto, California. He completed this fellowship and achieved board certification in otolaryngology—head and neck surgery in 2008 before returning to the D.C. metro area.