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103 HEALTHCARE NEWS COVID-19 patients may not recover sense of taste, smell after other symptoms end By Anuja Vaidya T he CDC added a new loss of taste or smell to its list of COVID-19 symp- toms at the end of April, and early data from recovered patients is showing that many may not recover those senses aer other symptoms of the disease disappear, according to e Wall Street Journal. According to preliminary data from clini- cians, about a quarter of recovered COV- ID-19 patients say they regained their senses of taste and smell within two weeks of other symptoms disappearing. But long-term data is needed to determine when those who did not report an improvement in two weeks recovered their ability to taste and smell. It could take months, and some physicians say they may never recover those senses, the Journal reported. is may put up more barriers to full recovery for COVID-19 patients, causing emotional distress and anxiety. Matt Newey, a 23-year-old man who recov- ered from COVID-19 in March, told the Journal that he has lost weight because eating has become a laborious process. "I've gone a day-and-a-half without eating anything," he said. "Because my stomach isn't communicating anymore. It's been like that for a while now." Mr. Newey also said that not being able to smell has heightened his anxiety because of fears he may not be able to smell a gas leak or smoke at home, putting him in danger. Pamela Dalton, PhD, a chemosensory sci- entist and member of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, told the Jour- nal that losing the ability to taste or smell can trigger negative emotions since there is less serotonin flowing to the brain, which can contribute to well-being and happiness. "So, what they're feeling is not just psycho- logical," she said, according to the Journal. n Majority and Minority Interest Sales | Growth Strategies | Real Estate Sales / Leasebacks | ASC and Practice Exper tise Considering Selling Your ASC? We have helped the owners of more than 250 ASCs realize the absolute best result when selling an interest in their ASC business or their real estate Our industry leading team has successfully completed hundreds of transactions It is never in your best interest to sell directly to a buyer without representation We expertly manage the complex and time consuming sales process Our disciplined process creates the most competitive environment for your ASC Our real estate division helps owners realize maximum value for their assets The experience, knowledge and expertise required to ensure a successful sale Representing Physician-Owners (760) 751-0250 • www.ASCs-Inc.com