Have you ever been walking around and unable to focus because your mental clarity is lacking? This is called brain fog and it should not be ignored. Especially, if it happens on a daily basis. This usually indicates some deeper issues that need to be dealt with.
Stress
When stress piles up and it feels like there is no relief in sight, it can cause many different things to happen to your body.
Some things that stress can trigger are:
- The weakening of your immune system
- High blood pressure
- Depression
When you are stressed out, try to avoid:
- Nicotine
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
These things can actually make your stress worse, instead of better. For relieving tension, talk to people you trust and try relaxing by doing a form of meditation (see: 3 Popular Types of Meditation Techniques Explained).
Your Diet
Everyone knows that diets are mostly meant for weight loss and to stay healthy, but what you may not know, is that you could be missing several vitamins and minerals, depending on the diet you are on. For instance, many vegans forget that their body is being deprived of vitamin B-12. When your body has an insufficient amount of B-12, there is a risk of brain fog setting in. B-12 is most commonly found in meat. If you do not eat meat, then B-12 supplements can help. It is important to make sure your body is getting this vitamin daily.
Your body also needs Omega-3, along with Vitamin D. Thankfully, both of these can be consumed in a supplement. If the body is lacking these two vitamins, then brain fog can start creeping in.
In order for your brain to properly function, it needs glucose. The body burns glucose for fuel. However, if sugar is being consumed in large quantities or binged on sporadically, then the brain will function inconsistently. This can cause some mood swings, sudden tiredness, and even mental confusion.
Allergies
Brain fog can also be caused when you consume something you are allergic to. The most common food allergies are:
- Wheat
- Peanuts
- Corn
- Dairy
- Soy
- Aspartame
Sleep is Lacking
The average amount of sleep required to be healthy is around 7-9 hours. Some people can function properly on just 3 to 4 hours of sleep, but that is rare. It is very important to get the right amount of rest or brain fog will settle in.
Even watching TV or looking at your mobile phone screen, can keep your brain from settling down. To get a good night’s rest, turn off any electronic devices and pick up a book to read in bed.
Changes in Hormones
When hormones in your body change, it can trigger brain fog. If there are higher levels of estrogen or progesterone in your body, then it can cause memory loss or even short-term cognitive impairment.
Menopause and being pregnant can cause hormone levels to rise or decrease, but don’t panic. Concentrate on a healthy diet and lifestyle. This will reduce brain fog considerably.
Taking Medication
There are many different reasons for taking prescription medication. When first starting medication, a little brain fog may be normal (in some cases), but if it persists, then take a minute to talk about it with your doctor or pharmacist. The doctor may change your dosage or even switch you to something that will not cause brain fog.
Medical Conditions
Brain fog can be triggered if you have a medical condition. Some things that can cause brain fog to trigger are:
- Inflammation in the body
- Changing levels in blood glucose
- Chronic fatigue
- Sjogren syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Depression
- Lupus
- Hypothyroidism
- Diabetes
- Migraines
- Anemia
- Dehydration
- Alzheimer’s disease
Overall
The last thing you want to do is self-diagnose. With Google at your fingertips, it is easy to start punching in symptoms and see what pops up. However, the chances of diagnosing yourself wrong, are huge. As a result, you will start doing treatments that could actually hurt you, instead of helping you.
There is a good reason for doctors to go to school for so many years before they are licensed as a qualified physician, and it takes even longer if they specialize. All of this experience and knowledge, allows them to understand your symptoms, to properly diagnose the problem, and provide the appropriate course of action.
Instead of ignoring brain fog, make an appointment with your doctor. Discuss the symptoms with your doctor and see what can be done to make the brain fog go away.
It could be that your diet needs attention. That can take some work, but it can be done successfully. It could also be a lack of sleep. Treat this by getting into a good bedtime routine that doesn’t involve any screen time. If that doesn’t help, talk to your doctor again.
The bottom line is that brain fog should not be left untreated and there are many options that can help you clear it up, but first, you need to figure out what is causing it. A good place to start is by writing in a journal or keeping notes on your smartphone. You should write down everything you eat and drink on a daily basis. You should also write down any supplements or medications you are taking.
When brain fog occurs, you should write down the time of day it is occurring and how you felt right before it occurred, or how you are currently feeling. Once you have written everything down in your journal, you can take it to your doctor, so they can review everything and diagnose the problem.
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