Manatee Review

• Sinus infections can lead to a loss of taste and smell.
• Losing the ability to taste and smell can cause a decreased quality of life for the patient.
• Treating the sinus infection can restore the patient's sense of taste and smell.

Dr. Mariah Pate of Tampa Bay Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said that when people are treated for sinus problems, sometimes they haven't even realized how much their quality of life was being affected before treatment. 

"I love being able to do procedures and give people treatment plans so they can feel better, quicker," Pate told Manatee Review. "The coolest thing is when they realize how good they feel now, compared to before. I don't think a lot of people realize how bad they really were feeling. Some people have never breathed through their nose before, which is crazy to me. But it happens. Once you help them with that problem, it's life changing and it's really great. They're able to live their life, have fun, be with their family and feel connected."

Many American holiday celebrations feature a traditional meal, with a YouGov survey finding that the most popular foods to have on the table at Thanksgiving and Christmas are roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, turkey, bread rolls, and stuffing, Taste of Home reported.

But people suffering from sinus infections may not be able to enjoy their meals this holiday season due to a loss of the senses of smell and taste, Houston ENT reported. Congestion is a common symptom of sinus infections, and a stuffy nose can decrease your ability to taste by blocking access to the part of your brain that processes taste.

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

To learn more about the symptoms of sinus infections, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.