Brain Fog
By Virginia Archer
We hear this a lot these days but what is brain fog and how do you know you have it, what caused it and how can you get rid of it?
Cognitive fatigue combined with several wide-ranging symptoms such as headaches, heart rate fluctuations, and digestive issues and an impaired memory are classified as brain fog. Those who struggle with brain fog will often provide clear evidence of all three factors, struggling to remember events that have just passed or people they have just recently been in contact with. Conversations become muddled and confusing. All these factors in brain fog often mean the sufferer will become introverted and avoid any contact with others essentially creating an environment for the brain fog to intensify and become chronic. The sufferer will feel overwhelmed as if they are literally in a thick fog struggling to navigate their way in life.
Brain fog is a relatively new term and most recently we have heard it associated with “long covid”. Neurologically it is not recognised as a sickness but more commonly referred to as a mental syndrome. Cognitive fatigue which includes symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness specifically around events or activities you would normally expect to remember is one of the contributing factors to brain fog. Mood swings, and difficulty with tasks that you might have previously considered to be simple, are also key symptoms in cognitive fatigue, along with sleep disorders (too little, inability to or too much sleep). One of the symptoms of cognitive fatigue that is most upsetting is a feeling of disconnection between yourself and the rest of the world.
The causes are wide and varied and range from physical diagnosable afflictions as simple as vertigo through to MS and even Covid 19. There are many references to brain fog being a symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Other causes might lie in the sufferer having chronic inflammation or persistent migraines, hormonal imbalances, or under active thyroid. Other physical afflictions such as a head injury or sleep apnoea can also lead to brain fog. Of course, some medications, depression, stress, anxiety, substance abuse and even dehydration can produce brain fog.
If at any stage brain fog comes on suddenly and progresses quickly, it is important to get medical help as soon as possible, but for most it is a slow creeping syndrome that becomes more intense as time goes by. The sufferer may not be aware of this and not able to communicate their state of wellness to another person until it has become chronic. Once family or support networks have helped the person realise, they need to access help. If there is a simple physical or medical reason why they have brain fog it can usually be remedied quite quickly. For instance, if it is associated with vertigo or an underactive thyroid it can be quickly identified, and remedies put in place through medication or in the case of vertigo, physical therapy. If no physical or easily identified cause is discovered the sufferer could be referred to a psychologist or wellness therapist to identify if there is any presence of stress and anxiety.
The treatment of brain fog is as diverse as is the causes. It could consist of medication as suggested previously, or sleep therapy to improve the quality and amount of sleep the sufferer gets. Using mindfulness is used help reduce stress and changes in lifestyle including exercise and diet are also key in supporting the overall wellness of the person and improve the state of brain fog.
The good thing about brain fog is that in most cases it is not permanent and once diagnosed can be eased or completely lifted through the above interventions. The most important thing is not to wait until the brain fog becomes chronic but seek help as soon as you begin to feel any of the symptoms outlined above.
Research via: www.health.harvard.edu
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