6 smart steps to keep your senses sharp

Being aware of taste and smell and consciously using and enjoying your senses matters. Are you doing all you can to preserve them? These six steps could help you avoid common causes for their decline.

Smoking can damage your eyesight and the tar and smoke is also likely to affect your sense of taste and smell. If you're looking for help quitting, a visit to your doctor is a good place to start.

Head injuries are a common cause of loss of taste and smell. While some accidents are unavoidable, there are sensible precautions you can take.

• Always wear a properly fitting helmet when riding a bicycle, and for activities such as horseback riding or ice-skating.
• Make sure your car seat belts are securely anchored and fit properly, and always "buckle up."

Colds and other respiratory infections impair your taste and smell while you have them, and occasionally cause lasting damage, especially among older people.

That's why it's sensible to steer clear of anyone with an obvious sniffle (and stay home if you're affected). But you can do much more than that to protect yourself from getting sick.

• Research has repeatedly shown that handwashing significantly reduces the risk of catching a cold. You are four times more likely to pick up someone's cold from hand-to-hand contact than from a sneeze. Viruses can survive for hours on hard surfaces such as telephones or door knobs.
• It's a good idea to keep hand sanitizer in your pocket or bag for moments when it's difficult or inconvenient to wash your hands.

A reduced sense of smell and taste as you get older can affect your appetite. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies that may further impair these senses. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help protect your senses as you age.

Dental disease, mouth infections and poor oral hygiene can impair both appetite and taste.

• Make sure you brush your teeth at least twice daily.
• Visit your dentist for regular checkups.
• Clean your tongue: studies have shown it can greatly improve taste, particularly in the elderly.

Some foul odours may impair your ability to smell. Culprits include certain moulds, industrial chemicals, petroleum products and cleaning solutions.

• If you are exposed for a long time or on a regular basis, wear a mask impregnated with odour-reducing compounds to cover your nose and mouth.
• Ask your employer to provide you with a mask if this is the case at your workplace.
• For personal protection from DIY products or household chemicals, look for a protective face mask with a carbon or charcoal filter.

Follow these simple steps and you'll be well on your way to preserving your sense of taste and smell.