Allergies, Sinuses
 and
Tasting Wine
By Scott Miller
It's that dreadful season again for many of us
who suffer from some form of hay fever. If
your sinuses are currently suffering from allergies, consider
waiting before opening any special wines, or any wine at all.
Indeed, around the world right now there seems to be a wave of
serious allergy attacks. In
Japan, a massive allergy outbreak is underway as the pollen
volume in the air is expected to be up to 30 times higher than
2004 in some places and two to three times more than average. In
the US, over 40 million people suffer from springtime nasal
allergies. Locally, the Seattle Times reports "tree pollen is
flying like the snow that has not."
Once "sensitized," allergy sufferers are in for a rotten time
of it. I happen to be one of the folks seriously suffering from
whatever it is that is in the air this week. I share your pain.
But beyond the stuffy nose, and scratchy-throat misery, I've
also lost most of my sense of smell and taste! The completeness of
this condition is such that today I did not have any smell or
taste reaction to even a strong red wine which was open about a
week too long... My one sip was of a faintly vinous liquid, a bit
thicker than water, crossing my lips and going down. Not offensive
to me, though my friend who also tasted it assured me it was NOT
FIT FOR CONSUMPTION (which is what I expected really, knowing what
it was and the time it had been open). We immediately poured it
down the sink. "Wow," I thought. "This is serious."
And so it is. Allergy victims around the world are having to
suffer through a period in which wine is simply not worth
drinking. Good bottle or bad bottle--it doesn't matter. Because
enjoying wine really is all about the taste, the smells, the
flavors and interactions with the air and with food. If these
senses are dulled, or even shut down, a joyless quaffing of a wine
is pointless for you, and an injustice to the wine.
For many, time is the answer. Others may attempt to "fight
back." The options for treating allergy symptoms have grown
immensely in the last few years. There are
many products and sources of information, articles and opinion
available. Either way, this grim period should pass. Then once
again, we can pick up a glass and enjoy a toast to the greatness
of Wine, Food, Friendships and Good Living. Perhaps with a renewed
appreciation to boot!
At least I certainly hope so. While looking up some facts on
allergies and loss of smell and taste, I found some fascinating
and truly frightening information--stories
of people who have lost their sense of smell (and therefore most
of taste) permanently!
Loss of smell, either temporarily or permanently, is known as
anosmia. Temporary loss is quite common, and can be caused
by a stuffy nose from an allergy, cold or infection. Common causes
of long term smell loss are typically due to an ongoing process in
the nose and/or sinuses, specifically rhinitis (inflammation in
the nose), nasal polyps and/or sinusitis. Other causes of
permanent loss involve brain damage to the olfactory nerve and/or
the brain's olfactory center. However, according to the
University of Connecticut's Taste and Smell Center, a serious
bout of nasal allergies can also cause a long term smell disorder,
especially in older adults...
So...yikes! We learn something new everyday. Take care this
allergy season. Minimize your allergy/sinus triggers (beer and
wine, for instance) and get better soon.
I, for one, am looking forward to my allergies running their
course and fading away. Then I will be celebrating the
restoration of all my senses!
"Gesundheit!"
Additional Reading
If you experience a smell or taste problem, or like me, find a
curious fascination with the mysteries of the senses, take a look
at the links below:
June Russell's Health Facts: Alcohol and Allergies
Smell and Taste Disorders Public Service Brochure
Harvard Medical School: Smell and Taste Disorders
Merck Manual: Smell and Taste Disorders
Anosmia Links Page of Dr. Karl L. Wuensch (Ph.D.)
Anosmia Foundation
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