So you begin to see in my posting of this that I am hooked on the stimulation of this presentation and it generated lots of thoughts, ideas and speculations in me. The biological importance of smell is one of detecting danger if a foul odour of something wrong or alert on odour such as fire and toxic gases to get us to react out of danger. It may be linked to a memory of something that was either a repugnant situation or a sweet situation. The memory can be triggered to affect us in a way to either induce nausea or to relax in the safety of a memory. I popular one is the smell of lavender it can often we associated with grand and great grandmothers it may evoke a peaceful relaxing safe memory... or a memory of pain and loss. So you will get varying reports on the smell of lavender.
But there is another important role that it is the start of our digestive process. We all know the feeling of hunger and anticipation of a good meal when we smell cooking or baking. Our saliva secretion starts and we can sometimes drool at the thought of the food to come. So our digestive tract is awakened in readiness to start receiving the tasty food to come. Given that smell and taste are linked then no smell and no taste or distorted taste can hinder this process. It made me think of in the case of long covid was some of the tiredness linked to inefficient absorption of vitamins (particularly Vitamin B complex important in our Krebs cycle in the mitochondria for max energy production. Given the covid virus was an hijacker of our mitochondria for its own energy production it has some bearing), the absorption of minerals, carbohydrates and proteins important for our overall health .. A thought I raised with Prof Veena in our time of comments and questions.
Professors work had looked a challenging smell and taste to regain and looked at mood affects over a period of time. So given my past study on Aromatherapy and that in many clinical settings it is used from Midwifery, Cardiology to Oncology I wondered if a study had been made on this to assess smell and reawakening smell. The aromatherapy induces mood changes too with the high and low notes of aroma. Can be used to relax or to uplift. But I also need to think the active components can be absorbed through the skin in therapeutic massage. This leads to also the effects of therapeutic touch to help healing.
See how fascinating this subject is.. Also in break time we were discussing the very elite job role of "Le Nez the Nose" in the perfumery industry to develop new perfumes for the market. It is well known we desensitise to smells over a long exposure. So in that role of "Le Nez" the hours are limited lol but well paid!
Some other areas of discussion looked at Low Mood and Anxiety, Unhealthy Eating Patterns, Reduced Quality of Life, Early Dementia, Brain Fog. One of the Long Covid patients in the Zoom put forward how as in her 80s she had hot flushes something she had finished with long before in menopause. So this made us think of hormonal disturbances caused by long Covid given that women can experience brain fog in the menstrual cycle, post partum and peri menopause. So that was an interesting symptom to pursue. The resumption of those hot flushes was a key point brought to the table.
Trying to help the lack of taste there was a presentation on breathing exercises to improve olfactory response. But a subnote! does it depend on the environment we are in at the time.. There is a difference to breathing exercises say by the sea or in a forest to being in a busy city..
Some additional useful references found:
We had a very engaging presentation from Prof. Costa Karageorghis His opening demonstrated how in the lockdown the work of university research departments took on a different shape. From an urgent knock on the office door to go home to then finding new work was needed on the now emerging effects of the pandemic on all aspects of life! A key shift was one from outgoing to work to working from home and the effects on work production and health. Reduced exercise and mobility and changes in mental performance were affected. Brain fog came along again in the discussion as a result of changing world upskittled routines and having to adapt to new situation. There was a need to look at pre and post covid changes in performance. But in among the loss of socialising out and about we also found a portal call Zoom and Teams Meetings. Some felt this a connecting experience some missed the in person interaction in office and social environment. So mentally we could see a rise in depression and low moods.
I felt as we listened to this we needed to know if the people had been hospitalised or not. To be hospitalised and the need for induced coma and ventilation in ITU, that may have needed temporary tracheotomy, could have brought on PTSD on regaining consciousness and the healing journey. There was gratefulness to staff and survival but the journey had been life threatening and involved a degree of Scifi scariness in the type of clothing the care givers had to wear. Staff recognised this and would come up with ingenious ways to show their name, job role and personality on attached artwork to their gowns.
I also felt that we needed medical data on the Oxygen sats in the disease process was it prolonged low to cause contribution to low mood, changed cognitive behaviour and mobility. My point of concern in the present NHS format is the loss of convalescent beds and rehab wards, I know as a past patient myself from pneumonia that yes one wished to get home but there is a need for some nursing support even if you are trying to be independent. On my discharge I needed to devise a rehab plan for myself with realistic set goals for the day and weeks as I regained my energy levels and reduction in breathlessness on exertion. I needed time on inhalers to aid my breathing... So when we look at post covid effects can we see a multi disciplinary care plan to aid the journey to wellbeing.
Professors work can be found on the link above and he introduced me to stats presentations of Stackdot plotting and Raincloud. So a thoroughly stimulating and informative afternoon.
Some additional useful references found:
