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Tag: Smell

  • Six warning signs of dementia

    Six warning signs of dementia

    Dana Smith reports for the New York Times on six warning signs of dementia, memory loss included. Keep in mind that each of these signs alone should not cause concern. But, taken together, they are cause for visiting the doctor. To read more about signs of dementia on JustCare, click here.

    Financial problems: People with dementia can experience problems handling their finances long before losing their memory. In many cases, they struggle to stay on top of their bills and can’t manage their expenses. Some will spend money excessively or give money away without appreciating what they’re doing.

    Sleep problems: Again, lots of adults have sleep issues. But, people with dementia might have a change to their circadian rhythm and need to sleep at odd hours and be awake in the very early morning when it’s still dark. Some people with dementia will act out their dreams while they sleep, physically moving and talking. It’s not normal sleep walking or sleep talking; it’s more hitting and screaming.

    Changes in personality: People with dementia might withdraw from social activities, stay home more,  and become less agreeable and conscientious before they show other signs of mental decline. For example, hey might struggle to finish projects. They will continue to be disagreeable and less trusting of others as their dementia progresses.

    Challenges driving: Driving  requires the driver to perform multiple mental tasks at once. When driving becomes a challenge, it’s a sign that the driver is suffering from dementia. The driver might not see a stop sign or nearly miss hitting another car or otherwise not follow the rules of driving. If that’s the case, you might want to take action to prevent the person from driving.

    Loss of smell: People with dementia often lose their ability to smell long before they experience other symptoms. Dementia can cause loss of smell.

    In addition, people with dementia might struggle for words, might misplace things, or become confused more easily.

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  • Coronavirus: Have you lost your sense of smell?

    Coronavirus: Have you lost your sense of smell?

    By now, you’ve likely heard hundreds of times that fever, dry cough and shortness of breath as well as body aches, are typical symptoms of the novel coronavirus; and, some people have gastrointestinal issues or colds. The Washington Post reports that a team of British doctors has found that many people with the novel coronavirus, even people with no other symptoms, lose their sense of smell. Have you lost your sense of smell?

    If you have lost your sense of smell, you could be carrying COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus. You should self-isolate to protect your community. That said, the World Health Organization has not confirmed that loss of smell is a symptom. It continues to weigh the evidence.

    Around the world, patients with COVID-19 often have either lost their sense of smell–anosmia–or have a reduced ability to smell–hyposmia. In fact, two in three Germans with COVID-19 had anosmia. In South Korea, three in ten patients with COVID-19 have had anosmia.

    In the US, one doctor reports that nine of his patients had lost their sense of smell. Most were under 40. No one understood–no one told them–that they should self-isolate. It’s critical to self-isolate in order to prevent the spread of the disease.

    However, if you’ve never had a strong sense of smell, you should not assume you now have COVID-19. Do not panic. Many people have anosmia and do not have COVID-19.

    Please know that if you have lost your sense of smell because of COVID-19, you should get it back when your body recovers. Interestingly, loss of sense of smell has long been an indicator of an upper-respiratory infection.

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