By Karen Anthony
Brain fog itself is not a medical condition, yet a symptom of some other medical conditions. This is basically a form of cognitive dysfunction that includes the inability to focus, poor concentration, absence of mental clarity, and memory problems. Brain fog is also known as mental fatigue. Resting on the severity, this is likely to interfere with school or work, but need not be any permanent fixture in life. There are various symptoms and causes of brain fog, which differs from person to person.
Common Symptoms Unveiled
The usual brain fog feeling gives the experience the name. This feels as though one is living within a thick fog that separates them from the remaining of their life. One may feel that this fog surrounds them is inside their heads or both. The foggy feeling results in other brain fog symptoms such as,
- Problems communicating
- Wandering attention
- Lack of energy
- Exhaustion
- Decreased productivity irrespective of trying in accomplishing something
- Disorganization
- Short-term memory issues
- Forgetfulness
- Difficulty concentrating, focusing
- Confusion
- The inability of grasping a thought or thinking clearly
Besides, brain fog shares symptoms with things such as dissociation, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and depression.
Common Causes of Brain Fog
Brain fog may happen for different reasons. The moment one identifies the root cause, they can start fixing the problem. Below are some of the possible causes,
- Lack of Sleep- Insufficient sleep is likely to interfere with regards to how well the brain functions. It is vital to have 8 to 9 hours of sleep every night. Less sleep can result in cloudy thoughts and poor concentration.
- Stress- Chronic stress may trigger depression, weaken immune systems, and also boost blood pressure. During exhaustion of the brain, it gets tougher to focus, reason, and think.
- Hormonal Changes- This can also affect brain fog. The levels of estrogen and hormones progesterone go up at the time of pregnancy. Such change may result in short-term cognitive impairment and also affect memory. Similarly, a fall in the level of estrogen at the time of menopause can lead to cloudy thinking, poor concentration, and forgetfulness.
- Diet- It is a diet that plays a part in brain fog. Vit B-12 helps in healthy brain function while its deficiency can cause brain fog. In the case of people having sensitivities or food allergies, brain fog can occur post consuming specific foods. The possible culprits include dairy, peanuts, aspartame, and MSG. Removing foods that trigger brain fog from the diet is likely to improve symptoms.
- Medical Conditions- Any type of medical condition that is related to changes in the level of blood glucose, fatigue, or inflammation can lead to mental fatigue. Brain fog, for instance, is a sign of chronic fatigue syndrome that includes constant fatigue above six months. Those with fibromyalgia are likely to face similar fogginess daily. Other conditions that may lead to brain fog include dehydration, autoimmune diseases, especially multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and lupus, hypothyroidism, Alzheimer's disease, migraine, Sjogren syndrome, diabetes, depression, and anemia.
- Medications- The moment one feels that they are experiencing brain fog at the time of taking medicines, they should right away consult their physician. Brain fog can be a familiar side effect resulting from the drug. Switching to other drugs or lowering the dose can improve symptoms. In fact, brain fog may also happen post-cancer treatment, which is known as chemo brain.
To know more, consult a physician near you.
