by New research published in the European Heart Journal has revealed an intriguing connection between heart failure and the loss of the sense of smell. The study, led by researchers at University College London, found that people with heart failure were more likely to report a decline in their ability to identify various smells compared to those without heart failure.
The team of researchers assessed the sense of smell in 1,121 participants, aged 60 and above, using a test that involved identifying 12 common odors. The results showed that those with heart failure were 1.6 times more likely to have a reduced ability to identify smells compared to those without Heart Failure.
The researchers believe that this link could be due to the fact that the olfactory bulb, the part of the brain responsible for processing smells, is rich in blood vessels and receives a significant amount of blood flow. Heart failure can lead to reduced blood flow to various organs, including the olfactory bulb, which could explain the loss of smell.
Furthermore, the researchers noted that the loss of smell could potentially serve as an early warning sign for heart failure. They plan to conduct further research to explore this potential link and determine if regular screening for smell loss could help identify heart failure at an earlier stage.
The study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that heart health and sense of smell are closely linked. Previous research has shown that people with heart disease are more likely to experience a decline in their sense of smell.
The new study provides evidence that losing your sense of smell could be an indicator of heart failure. The researchers plan to conduct further research to determine if regular screening for smell loss could help identify heart failure at an earlier stage.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
