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| A Normal Part of Aging? | Loss of Taste and Smell
Insignificant loss of taste and smell occurs normally with aging. It is takes place due to degeneration of the nerves that control smell, which can directly or indirectly affect taste. Besides, the sensitivity of your taste buds can diminish with age. However, aging is not the only cause of taste and smell loss. Here are the other causes of taste and smell loss:
• Nasal and sinus problems, such as allergies, sinusitis and polyps
• Certain medications, such as some antibiotics, high blood pressure medications and chemotherapy
• Mouth sores, tooth decay or poor dental hygiene
• Head injury
• Cigarette smoking
• Neurodegenerative disease, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease
As it is known, loss of taste and smell can have a significant impact on quality of life. Decreased taste and smell can lead to diminished appetite and poor nutrition in older adults. In addition it may tempt you to use too much salt or sugar on your food to enhance the taste — which is a problem if you have high blood pressure or diabetes. That’s why, it's important to have this problem evaluated by a doctor. Many causes of impaired taste and smell are treatable in terms of properly diagnosing.
Watery Eyes, or Constant Tearing in Older Adults
Generally when you blink, your eyelids move tears across your cornea to the little openings at the inner part of your eyelids (the puncta). Your tears enter the puncta and drain through a small tube (nasolacrimal duct) into your nose.
For older adults is typical such age-related changes at that the eyelid tissues is relaxed, which interferes with their normal function in removing tears. In case the lid tissues relax too much, the inner part of the lid may not lie flat against the eye surface, which prevents tears from entering the puncta. The name of such condition is ectropion. It treatment may include eye drops, protective eyewear or surgery.
Contraction or partial obstruction of the puncta is another cause of watery eyes that can often be corrected with a relatively simple procedure in your doctor's office.
Other possible causes of watery eyes include irritation, infection, dry eyes, allergies and blocked tear ducts. For determining the cause of watery eyes, consult an ophthalmologist. Treatment, when possible, depends on the underlying cause.
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