Fragrances and perfumes comprise dozens of compounds or synthetic volatile chemicals that create an odor. Volatile means that they evaporate at room temperature.

Many studies show that fragrance compounds can cross the blood-brain barrier, which is a protective layer of blood vessels and tissues that surrounds the brain, and interact directly with receptors in the central nervous system.

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Larger molecules in the bloodstream, including many medications, cannot cross the blood-brain barrier.

Fragrance compounds may also produce immediate changes in body functions, including blood pressure, brain activity, and pulse rate.

Some people may experience hyperosmia, which is a heightened sense of smell. This phenomenon may occur for a number of reasons, such as pregnancy, but scientists have a limited understanding of how and why it happens.

Fragrance sensitivity and allergic reactions

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The National Eczema Association, suggests that fragrance sensitivity, which refers to sensitivity or allergic reactions to certain fragrances or perfumes, is present in 1-4% of the general population.

Meanwhile, an international 2019 study noted about one-third of adults across the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Sweden report fragrance sensitivity.

Individuals with fragrance sensitivity reported various health effects upon exposure to fragranced products like perfume, air fresheners, and personal care products, including:

• migraine episodes
• asthma attacks
• neurological problems, including:
  • head pain
  • fainting
  • dizziness
  • seizures
• breathing problems, like coughing and shortness of breath
• skin problems, such as hives and rashes
• cognitive problems, which may involve difficulty thinking clearly and concentrating
• mucosal symptoms, including:
  • watery or red eyes
  • nasal congestion
  • sneezing
• gastrointestinal symptoms, like nausea and diarrhea
• cardiovascular problems, such as a fast or irregular heartbeat
• musculoskeletal problems, like muscle or joint pain

The authors of the study found that migraine episodes associated with fragranced product exposure occurred in 12.6% of the general population.

Osmophobia

Osmophobia, which experts define as fear, aversion, or psychological hypersensitivity to smell, is common among people with migraine.

According to the American Headache Society, aside from triggering migraine, osmophobia may also worsen a migraine episode. To add, those with osmophobia tend to have longer migraine duration and higher migraine-related impairment.

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A 2016 study on 113 people noted that odors were a common trigger for migraine, affecting 90.2% of the study participants, with perfume odor being the most common trigger, followed by cleaning products, cigarette smoke, and motor vehicle exhaust.

More specifically, a 2017 study found that perfumes with floral scents commonly triggered migraine episodes.

Experts still do not know how odors trigger headaches, but some believe that the smells directly interact with the trigeminal nociceptive pathway. This is a sensory pathway along the nose and mouth and into the brain via the trigeminal nerve, which is one of the cranial nerves.

Others hypothesize that the scents trigger the release of inflammatory substances in the brain and cause pain.

It may also activate the trigeminovascular system and dural pain receptors, which lead to a state of reactivity that lowers the threshold for pain. This may also lead to allodynia, or the experience of pain from a stimulus that does not typically cause pain.

Learn more about migraine triggers here.

Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHY