In modern medical practice, complete or partial loss of taste is often found. All these cases are associated with various failures that occurred in the human body. But most often they are found in otolaryngology. It is at the appointment with this specialist that patients often ask: “What should I do if I stop feeling the taste of food?” After reading today's article, you will understand why such a pathology arises.
Causes of the problem
Oddly enough, but most often this pathology develops as a result of neurosis. This is a kind of reaction of the human body to the stress and nervous overload. In these cases, the patient can hear not only the phrase “I don’t feel the taste of food”, but also complaints about malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract, a jump in blood pressure, loss of appetite and a rapid heartbeat.
Infectious diseases of the oral cavity or the presence of a decaying dental nerve are considered to be a no less common cause of this problem. In this case, an inflammatory process begins in the human body that affects the taste buds.
Also, a similar pathology may be the result of malfunctioning of the thyroid gland. Even minimal deviations can lead to serious changes in many systems of the human body.
Doctors often hear the phrase “I don’t feel the taste of food” from those who have been diagnosed with a brain tumor. In this case, this symptom may alternate with a sensation of an unpleasant odor. So, a well-prepared dish of quality products suddenly begins to seem stale.
Which specialists should I contact with this problem?
Before you come to the doctor’s office and voice your complaint “I don’t feel the taste of food” (the reasons why this pathology occurs were discussed above), you need to understand which specific doctor you need to contact. In this situation, a lot depends on what accompanying symptoms this pathology is accompanied by.
If, in addition to loss of taste, the patient complains of a deterioration in appetite, a rapid heartbeat and a jump in blood pressure, then he must definitely consult a neurologist.
In cases where the pathology is accompanied by dizziness, weakness, vomiting, impaired hearing and coordination of movements, you should first make an appointment with an oncologist.
If a person pronouncing the phrase “I don’t feel the taste of food” complains of nausea, vomiting, heartburn and acute pain in the epigastric region, then it is likely that he needs to examine the gastrointestinal tract.
If the usual foods seem bitter, and each meal is accompanied by the appearance of pain in the right hypochondrium, then you need to visit a hepatologist. It is possible that the loss of sensitivity of taste buds, accompanied by flatulence, impaired bowel movements, insomnia and irritability, is a consequence of cholecystitis.
Diagnostic Methods
A person who seeks medical help and voices the phrase “I don’t feel the taste of food” will need to undergo several additional studies. They will allow to establish the exact cause that provoked the development of pathology, and prescribe adequate treatment.
First of all, the specialist must determine the threshold for the manifestation of sensitivity. For this, the patient is alternately offered to determine the taste of quinine hypochloride, sugar, sodium chloride and citric acid. The results of the study allow us to create an accurate clinical picture and the extent of the problem. To determine the qualitative threshold of sensations, several drops of a special solution are applied to individual sections of the oral cavity.
In addition, modern physicians have the opportunity to conduct an electrometric study. Also, the patient is prescribed a number of laboratory tests. They are needed to exclude endocrine diseases. In most cases, the patient is sent for computed tomography.
What is the danger of such a pathology?
It should be noted that it can cause serious health problems. A person who began to wonder: “Why do not I taste the food?”, In the absence of proper treatment, they can subsequently be diagnosed with diabetes, cardiovascular and other diseases.
Disruption of the receptors may result in a person consuming too much salt or sugar. These attempts to improve the taste of food can turn into serious problems. Often they lead to depression, hypertension and diabetes.
What to do if you do not feel the taste of food?
First of all, you need to make an appointment with the doctor and go through all the studies recommended by him. This will establish the root cause of the problem and prescribe the correct treatment.
So, if the problem was triggered by a neurosis, the patient will be advised to take an individual course, consisting of auto-training, water and magnetotherapy. He will also be prescribed sedative herbal preparations, and in more serious cases, tranquilizers or bromides. If the reason lies in the disruption of the thyroid gland, then endocrinologists usually prescribe drugs to make up for iodine deficiency.
General recommendations
To increase the taste sensitivity you need to quit smoking. Often it is this bad habit that causes such problems. Also, taste sensations may become dull while taking certain medications, including strong antibiotics. In this case, you need to see a doctor to recommend other medications that do not have such side effects.
In addition, care should be taken to ensure that your body receives a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals. To do this, you need to introduce more fresh vegetables and fruits into your diet. In case of loss of taste, spices should not be abused. Otherwise, you risk earning a burn to your mouth.