Study found that people with “self-reported altered taste and smell perception” had “significant elevations in blood pressure regardless of known risk factors.
“People with altered taste and smell perception had greater increases in systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure after two years of follow-up compared to those with neither altered taste nor altered smell perception,” says general practitioner Tatyana Zakharova.
The studies follow previous results that showed that people with a “reduced ability” to taste sodium are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure.
“Chemosensory functions, commonly known as taste functions and olfaction, are the primary pathways for mammals to perceive and respond to chemical compounds in the environment, such as smell, taste, and stimulant. The chemosensory process involves several signaling mechanisms that may be associated with the development of certain diseases, but this process is relatively little understood in the general population,” adds Zakharova.
High blood pressure – or hypertension – can lead to serious health problems, if not treated. If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra stress on your blood vessels, heart, and other organs such as your brain, kidneys, and eyes.