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36 WWW.UNWLA.ORG “НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ВЕРЕСЕНЬ 2018 SMELL: THE UNAPPRECIATED FIFTH SENSE by Ihor Magun, MD, FACP One powerful tool in the human body is the sense of smell. To properly explain this tool and its func- tions, it is helpful to start with some basic physiol- ogy of the nose. When we smell something, here’s how it happens. Molecules flow through the air into our nasal passages. Once the molecules are there, special neurons are in contact with the air and these trigger another physical response: Hair - like projections (cilia) bind to activate the neurons, and this causes you to smell something. Humans can distinguish over 10,000 dif- ferent smells. This happens because there are hun- d reds of different receptors encoded by different genes. If your DNA is damaged or missing in parts, you may be unable to detect a particular smell. This is a very common occurrence and most of us have seen when one person can smell something but the person sitting or standing right next to that indi- vidual cannot. The smell s originating from flowers or fruits come from organic molecules referred to as esters. Esters are chemical compounds that may be artificially reproduced in a laboratory. An example is th e lemon scent, which is used in cooking and even in cleaning products. Such pleasant scents provide us with a hint of the beauty of nature when we are in need of them. So why is this fifth sense so under appreci- ated? One obvious reason is that we are not always aware of all the smells in the environment. There are often too many of them at the same place at the same time, and it is simply more difficult to focus on smells than it is to focus on sights and sounds. When we smell an undifferentiated mixture o f all scents around us, it is literally the olfactory equiv- alent of peripheral vision with nothing in the cen- ter of focus. You may find some additional interesting facts about smell interesting and even intriguing: • Women outperform men on all tests of smelling ability. • Smell can affect your productivity. Certain smells, for example the smell of lemons, increase alertness and this can translate into greater productivity and can boost your alertness without caffeine. • Lavender scent is used extensivel y for sleep in- duction and a calming effect. • Scent is very close ly linked to memory. The smells we experience are closely associated with memories or places. What person who grew up in a Ukrainian community, for example, has not at some time recalled th e smell of freshly baked Easter paska or babka and been reminded of care- free childhood days. Such “scent” memories re- main in your brain and can be easily tapped into years later. The emotional recollection it produces is as powerful as the other senses. • Smell is highly emotive. The perfume industry banks on this feature. • Fragrances convey a vast spectrum of emotions from desire to power, from vitality to relaxation. Many people, in fact, have different perceptions of the same scent. Some are extremely attracted to it and others have the direct opposite response and are repelled. Smell also plays into our stored mem- ories. You may associate a particular fragrance with the memory of a particular individual or place. These memories may be quite pleasant and can evoke emotional feelings. • Smell is a crucial factor in experiencing taste. The human tongue can only distinguish bitter, sour, salt and sweet. It is the smell of the food that com- pletes the full impact of the meal. Any nasal con- gestion that interfe res with the ability to smell de- creases the enjoyment of eating and can even affect the amount consumed. • A gradual decrease of olfactory function occurs normally as we get older. Some studies have also shown that major changes in smell (particularly a d ecline in ability to smell) may be a precursor to Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. As the assorted facts presented in this col- umn show, the sense of smell most definitely plays a significant role in our daily lives. I wish you “happy smelling” and ho pe the experience helps you recall great moments in your life. I also wish happy new scents for you that prompt fond and pleasant memories that will last a lifetime.
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