Coronavirus: Researchers claim that sniffing coffee could predict COVID-19
Loss of smell and taste is also referred to as anosmia and it is one of the biggest mysteries with coronavirus. There is no way to treat it and nor a way to detect it. For many patients with COVID-19, anosmia could be the only recognizable sign of infection and linger on for a long time. The most confusing part about losing a sense of smell is that despite a high occurrence rate amongst infected individuals, not a lot of people are able to recognize it as a typical COVID symptom- unless or until they sniff or smell something. That is why many COVID+ patients go through regular sniff checks.
How to check your symptoms?
Scientists have developed a new and unique COVID loss of smell/taste that involves a simple ingredient, that is hot coffee. Now, scientists have devised the practical coffee test of sorts- a sniffing test if you could call it to help people diagnose an infection early on.
How can a “coffee test” be helpful?
As anosmia can strike a COVID patient anytime, scientists feel that employing a regular sniff test can act as a screening measure and emerge as another tool in the fight against COVID. Some experts also say that sniff and smell tests could act as a great COVID indicator than a simple fever check. It can also be helpful in asymptomatic cases.
How can coffee detect Covid-19?
People who have COVID-19 can feel indifferent to simple smells. Some also suggest that they find it hard to differentiate wine from gasoline, spices, milk, and other related odors.
Researchers say that one reason coffee has been given importance in COVID sniff tests is because of its different tastes and smell. Coffee is strong in its aroma and it can act as a loss of smell indicator.
According to experts, given how anosmia is a widely present symptom in COVID cases, the global availability of coffee can make it an easier test to apply.
One other reason coffee sniff tests could deliver accurate results is that coffee, as an ingredient, does not have any real taste but just a distinct smell.
On a clinical level, coffee has also been employed as a rapid, low-cost testing mechanism and used in certain olfactory test strips as well.
You must have noticed when we go to a perfume store, they keep coffee beans so that the customers can smell after they have already checked a few fragrances. The reason is that coffee has a strong smell.
What other scents can COVID-19 patients not identify?
Other than bitter foods like coffee, scientists have also talked about some other odors which COVID infected patients find it difficult to smell: coconut oil and peppermint scent.
Whereas loss of smell and taste is said to be one of the most common signs of coronavirus, it could stay depending on the patient’s symptoms. It could get over in one week or take a little longer as well.
