Tomorrow is National Sense of Smell Day! From the warm aroma of that first morning coffee to the delightful fragrance of spring lilacs, the sense of smell brings many pleasures. It’s also an important warning system for dangers such as fire or spoiled food.

During the peak of COVID-19, millions of people lost their sense of smell due to the virus. Some gained it back completely, but others never fully recovered. Why did this happen?

The olfactory nerves in the upper nasal cavity are responsible for the sense of smell: They detect molecules released by your surroundings and send signals to the brain to interpret smells. When those nerves are affected by a virus, aging or other factors such as smoking or hormonal disturbances, your sense of smell can suffer, diminishing your quality of life and possibly even putting you in danger.

When a person cannot smell anything, the condition is called anosmia. Hyposmia is the decreased ability to detect odors through your nose. If you are experiencing either condition, see your healthcare provider to identify the underlying cause so that it can be treated.

Originally developed by Dr. Thomas Hummel at the University of Dresden, Smell Retraining Therapy (SRT) has been used to help stimulate the olfactory system for people experiencing anosmia or hyposmia after COVID-19 or other damage to the olfactory nerves, said Allison Lipely, MSEP, TTS, exercise physiologist and pulmonary rehabilitation lead at Aultman Deuble Heart and Vascular Hospital.

“SRT involves repeated exposure to different smells through the nose, which will establish a memory of that smell,” Lipely says. “The goal of SRT is to allow olfactory nerves to regrow while also encouraging better brain connectivity.”

Aultman begins SRT with four different essential oils – one each from the floral, fruity, spicy and resinous fragrance families. “Patients in SRT take small sniffs of each for 10-20 seconds at least once per day,” Lipely says. “It’s important during that 10-20 seconds to stay focused, concentrating on your memory of that smell.”

In one study of patients with olfactory dysfunction such as anosmia or hyposmia caused by a virus or other infection, 71% improved after one year of training. Only 37% of patients saw improvement without training.

A referral from your provider is needed to participate in pulmonary rehabilitation. If you are looking for a primary care provider, visit AultmanDocs.com to find a provider near you.