Phantom smells, where one perceives scents that aren't actually there, might be more common in the country than most people think, according to a new study.
It suggests one in 15 Americans aged 40 and above detect odd odors, such as burning hair or rotting food, when in fact no such smells are present.
The result, which was published in the JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery journal, is the first study in the United States to look at how common this phenomenon is.
Don't Ignore Phantom Smells
Problems with people's olfactory senses are often overlooked or ignored, despite how crucial they are, according to Judith A. Cooper, acting director of the National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders.
"They can have a big impact on appetite, food preferences and the ability to smell danger signals such as fire, gas leaks and spoiled food."
For the study, the researchers looked at data from nearly 8,000 participants over the age of 40 from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A striking find in these records: about twice as many women as men reported smelling phantom odors, especially those under the age of 60.
Why Do We Smell Things That Aren't There?
There are several possible explanations for this. Previous studies have shown that women are generally more adept than men at identifying odors, and they're more negatively affected by odors around them, as ABC News notes. Women are also more likely to have a heightened sense of smell, and are more inclined to report a problem with phantom smells, previous research has shown.
A person who experiences phantom smells shouldn't worry too much, as they're not known to be a sign of disease, according to Kathleen Bainbridge, an epidemiologist and lead author of the study.
"However, we found phantom odors to be more common among people who have fair or poor health."
What's more, people who experience strong phantom odors have weight struggles and may have a miserable quality of life, says Donald Leopold, an otolaryngologist and one of the study's authors.
The root cause of phantom smells hasn't been determined clearly yet. A range of medical tests, such as MRIs and CT scans, can pinpoint physiological triggers such as a tumor, sinus infection, and epilepsy, but most patients are left in the dark as to why they're suddenly getting a whiff of rotten eggs, spoiled food, and even garbage.
The study suggests that genes may also play a role, although further research is needed to confirm this.
"A good first step in understanding any medical condition is a clear description of the phenomenon," said Bainbridge. "From there, other researchers may form ideas about where to look further for possible causes and ultimately for ways to prevent or treat the condition."
