Recently, the flu is menacing, presumably many friends have been recruited, and Pharmacist Wang has not been spared, after a sickness, he feels that his sense of taste is wrong, his mouth is bitter, and his food is bland and tasteless. I asked some colleagues around me who happened to have the flu, and many of them also had this situation.
While it's not a big deal, it's still confusing. Why does my sense of taste change when I'm sick?
From a professional point of view, this change is also based on the fact that it is caused by an inflammatory response, because the body produces the key protein TNF-α in the process of fighting infection and repairing damaged tissues, which is the "culprit" that makes our mouths bitter.
Scientific studies have confirmed that people with infections, autoimmune diseases, or other immune diseases have much higher levels of TNF-α than the general population.
TNF-α acts as a pro-inflammatory factor, which not only triggers inflammation and fever to help the body fight infection, but also affects the taste buds and makes us more sensitive to bitterness. In mouse experiments, the researchers found that mice lacking TNF-α had normal responses to sweet, salty, sour, umami and other tastes, but their sensitivity to bitter tastes was significantly reduced. This indicates that TNF-α has a direct effect on the perception of bitterness.
American neuroimmunologist Grigrett believes that this discovery is another evidence of the interaction of the immune system with the nervous system. In the human body, the immune system and nervous system are interconnected, and they work together to maintain the balance and health of the body. When the body encounters an infection or other inflammatory stimuli, the immune system produces pro-inflammatory factors such as TNF-α, which in turn affect the nervous system, including the sensation of taste buds.
I often feel bitter in my mouth, which may be caused by the following reasons!
If you feel bitter in your mouth after a cold, it is likely to be just a temporary normal reaction, but if it is a long-term bitterness in your mouth, you must be careful whether it is a problem with your body, because many diseases will also have bitterness in your mouth.
1. Habitual eating Xi
Eating spicy, irritating or greasy foods all the time can make you indigestion. When the food in the stomach cannot be digested in time, it can lead to bitterness in the mouth.
2. Hepatobiliary problems
People with liver and gallbladder problems may also have bitter mouth. It is usually because the level of bilirubin in the body becomes abnormally high after the liver cells are damaged, which leads to problems with liver function and a feeling of bitterness in the mouth.
3. Periodontal disease
Periodontal disease is usually a chronic inflammation caused by plaque in the mouth. When the bacteria in plaque release large amounts of toxins, these harmful substances can trigger symptoms of bitter mouth.
4. Problems with gastrointestinal function
If you have gastritis, stomach ulcer and other problems, it is easy to feel acid reflux, stomach distention, belching, belching, etc. These digestive juices that reflux into the mouth can irritate the oral mucosa, resulting in a dry, bitter mouth.
5. Salivary gland problems
Salivary gland tumors or cysts can cause too little mucus to be secreted in the mouth, losing the flushing and lubrication of mucus, leaving the oral mucosa feeling dry, cracked, and even burning.
6. Picky eating and partial eating Xi
Skipping vegetables and fruits for a long time may cause the nipples at the bottom of the tongue to shrink and the tongue coating to fall off, resulting in a loss of taste and a bitter feeling of saliva. At this time, you can adjust your diet and supplement more vitamins and trace elements.
7. Psychological problems
Sometimes a bitter mouth is not necessarily a physical illness, but it may also be related to your emotions.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that bitterness in the mouth has a lot to do with the "liver" in the five internal organs. The liver is responsible for excretion, it allows the qi in the body to flow, let the blood and fluid flow unimpeded, coordinates the operation of the spleen and stomach, helps the discharge of bile, and can also adjust emotions and emotions. If the liver is hot and hot, these functions will be affected, causing bitterness in the mouth.
Now that the pace of life is so fast, everyone's emotional pressure is also great, and the mood is becoming more and more out of control, so there are more and more people with bitter mouths. Therefore, friends who have bitter mouth problems should also pay more attention to regulating their emotions, look at their usual things a little more openly, and keep a happy mood, which is definitely good for health.