Illness symptoms can affect everyone differently. In recent years, losing your sense of smell has been a hot topic of debate due to COVID-19 causing some to lose their sense of smell completely. Congestion can affect your inner sinuses, which connect your mouth, nose and even ears to each other. Learn about whether congestion can affect your sense of taste, and when to be concerned about illness symptoms like congestion.

Why Does Congestion Happen?

Congestion occurs when your body over produces mucus. Our bodies naturally produce mucus as a form of defense against pathogens like viruses and bacteria. The mucus traps the pathogen, and carries it out of the body and away from the lungs where it could cause an infection. In the case that something irritates your nasal passage or you have an infection, your sinuses can become swollen and trap the mucus in your sinus which creates a breeding ground for bacteria.

There are many different illnesses that can cause you to become congested. Most commonly, viral infections that affect the upper respiratory tract are the culprits of congestion. However, environmental irritants can also cause you to become congested. Being outdoors when its cold or super dry can irritate your airways and cause you to feel congested. So can exposure to smoke or dust, as well as allergens. In the case of environmental irritants, congestion should resolve after a few hours away from the irritant that caused you to become congested.

Can Congestion Affect Your Ability to Taste?

Your mouth and nose are closely connected. When you are super congested, you may lose your sense of smell because of the swelling in your nose and clogged sinuses. Because of the close proximity between your nose and your mouth, you may notice that you lose some of your sense of taste when you are very sick. This is normal, and will resolve once your congestion is gone. Some people completely lose their sense of smell and taste, while others may just be able to smell or taste less than usual. It can take a while for congestion to clear up, meaning that it can take weeks to get your full sense of smell and ability to taste back.

Does Congestion Require Medical Treatment?

Congestion is typically caused by a viral infection that affects your upper respiratory system. While congestion alone is not a cause for concern in most cases, the illness that is causing you to feel congested could cause other more severe symptoms that do require medical treatment. If you are congested for more than a couple of days, it is a good idea to seek medical care for a diagnosis of your symptoms and treatment if necessary.

Congestion is harmless in the majority of cases. However, there are cases where congestion can lead to an infection in your sinuses. Sinus infections occur when too much mucus gets trapped for too long. Mucus that is trapped deep in your sinuses and unable to move is a breeding ground for bacteria. Sinus infections often occur in people with deviated septums or other medical conditions that make it difficult to breathe through your nose. Sinus infections often require medical treatment with prescription antibiotics.

Walk Into AFC Urgent Care Lyndhurst for Same-Day Congestion Treatment

If you’re sick and having trouble smelling or tasting, it could be a symptom of your congestion. Congestion can block your sinuses and lead to a decreased ability to taste or smell. To get rapid symptom relief, visit AFC Urgent Care Lyndhurst today. Our walk-in clinic offers same-day illness symptom diagnosis and treatment without the need to book an appointment in advance.

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Our board-certified medical staff is trained to expertly identify common illness symptoms and provide a customized treatment plan for each patient they see. Using our on-site lab, we can perform advanced illness diagnostic testing at the time of your visit and get the results quickly. Our clinic offers rapid healthcare for the whole family. Simply walk into the clinic. We accept most medical insurance plans and offer affordable care for patients who are paying out of pocket for their medical care. To learn more, call the clinic directly at (201) 345-3839.