The Best Ways to Tackle Brain Fog
It’s called many things:
- Brain Fog
- Fuzzy Brain
- Foggy Brain
Whatever it’s called, it means you’re experiencing brain fatigue, memory lapses, confusion or an inability to think straight.
All of us have times when we can’t remember if we locked the door when we left home, or we forget why we walked into a room.
That’s fairly common, particularly as we get older.
It’s not a lot of fun.
But often, it’s really nothing to worry about.
What’s not common is when these times of forgetfulness happen often.
You’ll want to know if brain fog symptoms are temporary, or if they’re an indication of something more serious.
So first, let’s look at the most common causes of brain fog and what you can do to make sure it’s temporary, and then we’ll look at symptoms you might want to have checked.
Common Causes of Brain Fog
Brain fog can sometimes be linked to a specific health condition, such as:
- Going through menopause
- Higher glucose levels
- Chemotherapy
- High blood pressure
As a general rule, if the brain fog moments are linked to specific situations (such as starting menopause because of the changes in hormones), it’s NOT anything to be worried about.
A bad bout of insomnia can cause trouble with mental clarity.
So can high or low blood sugar, as can a lack of the right nutrients.
Sometimes, brain fog can be a result of stress overload.
You can get stressed from everything that you have to take care of – your brain simply can’t handle all that you’re giving it. So it tries to hold on to what’s important, and discard what (it thinks) is not vital.
Those types of brain fog normally get better, and your mental clarity rights itself.
Other Causes of Brain Fog
If you’re worried about your brain fog, it can cause you to feel stressed, which in turn can make the brain fog even worse.
Stress and trying to do too many things can cause brain fog.
Getting sidetracked by overloading your schedule so much that you can’t take a break is another cause.
Plus, if you’re worried or stressed, you may not be getting enough sleep.
A lack of sleep affects your mental clarity, your glucose level and your ability to react to stress.
Poor nutrition, inflammation and not getting enough exercise can also contribute brain fog.
When you don’t eat properly, your body doesn’t have the valuable nutrients it needs for the brain to be able to function well.
Exercise helps the body be able to move oxygen through the blood vessels easier. It enables the heart to pump the blood to the brain better.
So, before you fret, see if any of these known brain fog conditions match what’s going on in your life.
There are often green and eco friendly solutions that don’t involve medication.
Try making some changes in areas you feel challenged – change some eating habits, get more exercise, or say “no” to too many commitments.
Often, correctly identifying the underlying cause of brain fog is fairly simple, and you can then take the right steps to help.
What If It’s Not Any of These?
There are times when brain fog hints at more serious conditions which should be evaluated, such as:
- emotional distress caused by trauma
- depression
- bipolar
- ADHD
- Age-related dementia
- Alzheimer’s
- or other brain problems
Toxicity caused by environmental toxins can also cause brain fog.
Some people experience extreme fatigue which leads to brain fog. This is different from normal tiredness – it’s being tired to the point of exhaustion. Not getting enough sleep and not really resting once you do go to sleep causes havoc with our brain.
While extreme fatigue may be caused by doing too much, it can also be related to a health problem with the adrenal glands.
This should be checked if you’re experiencing extreme fatigue on top of brain fog.
Get a blood test done (a complete blood count or CBC is recommended), and also have your adrenal gland and your thyroid gland checked. If you’re going through menopause, you might also want to have your hormone levels checked.
Be ProActive!
Be proactive about your health for anything that can be linked to brain fog. It’s never too soon to fight mental impairment.
This is Information!
The articles on this website are for informational purposes only. The intention is to promote a broad general understanding of various health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider with any questions and before undertaking a new health care regimen. Don’t disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
What do you or a loved one do to counteract brain fog? Let me know in the Comments below!
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