You are sitting for an examination. Having spent the last few days preparing for it, you feel you are ready. But thirty minutes into the exam, you are staring at the question paper, unsure where it all went wrong. You feel like you are seeing these questions for the first time as if something has clouded your brain. You feel sluggish and fuzzy. This phenomenon is commonly known as “brain fog”. This can also manifest as a cognitive decline: missing out on meetings, fumbling over words, or accidentally leaving the stove on. Now, this in itself is not a mental condition. But it could be a symptom of many underlying mental health issues you might be going through.
A Brief Overview
“Scattered brain” and “temporary mental impairment” are the terms usually associated with this. That is because it can affect your ability to focus and recall things. You tend to feel confused and disorganized. There is a lack of mental clarity, and you may struggle to put your thoughts into words.
This is usually experienced by various patient groups. These groups can range from people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome to patients undergoing chemotherapy. Sometimes women transitioning to menopause may also experience it. In general, being under severe stress can also slow down the processing capacity of your mind. One of such conditions or a combination of two or more can interfere with your mind’s optimal functioning.
Research conducted by the Harvard Medical School also shows that Covid-19 long haulers are likely to suffer from it. Covid-19 can affect the ability of neurons in the cerebrum to communicate with each other by causing inflammation. It is an uncomfortable feeling where you feel out of sorts.
It is crucial to identify the cause and reduce the symptoms of brain fog to improve your quality of life. A therapist can assess your medical condition and recommend possible ways to help you process and respond to information better.
What Causes It?
Brain fog can have multiple origins. Pinning the cause down can be hard in such cases. As mentioned earlier, anxiety-related disorders can result in this. Along with that, feeling depressed may also lead to it. Being tired and lacking sleep can also slow down your mental capabilities. In such cases, you can get rid of the fuzziness by resting and completing your sleep. Similarly, you could be struggling to process things at a normal rate because you have nutrient deficiency. In that scenario, you can dissipate the fog as soon as you fulfill the nutrient requirement.
Certain health conditions can be the reason behind this phenomenon. They are as follows:
- Viral Infections: HIV and Covid-19 can impede normal brain functioning. How long this lasts in the case of long Covid-19 haulers is still unknown.
- High Blood Pressure: Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to different parts of the body. Our brain needs those to function properly. High blood pressure damages the blood vessels that carry oxygen. This makes them less efficient, creating a lack of oxygen in our heads.
- Low Sugar Level: Brain cells need glucose to fuel their work. Thus, low sugar levels can slow down the process and make you feel fuzzy.
- Autoimmune Disorders: Our body’s defense mechanism causes inflammation in response to certain bacteria and viruses. This inflammation can hinder the cerebrum’s ability to function and transmit signals effectively. Lesions that develop as part of multiple sclerosis can lead to a scattered brain. Lupus is another such disorder that can have the same effect.
- Hormonal Changes: The cognitive ability of our mind is directly related to hormones in our body. As they change and shift throughout our lifespan, our ability to think, process, and express ourselves may also get affected. Thyroid disorders, menopause, and pregnancy are some examples of such changes.
- Cancer: Cancer survivors often have memory and thinking problems after treatment. Some refer to it as cancer-fog or cancer-related cognitive impairment. The main issue that comes with it is remembering and concentrating on things.
- Dementia: Age-related cognitive decline and other forms of dementia, like Alzheimer’s disease, can impair your ability to think and remember. Memory loss is commonly associated with such conditions because our brain loses efficiency.
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Related Conditions
Some conditions are:
- Underactive Thyroid: Your thyroid is responsible for regulating all your metabolic processes. If you have an underactive thyroid, your body processes will slow down. This includes metabolism and brain function. This could be down to the malfunctioning of your pituitary gland or your body’s inability to produce sufficient quantities of required fluids.
A thorough test and examination by a doctor can help you figure out the exact reason. Vitamins B & D and minerals like zinc and iron are necessary for optimal thyroid functioning. Lack of them can result in thyroid-related diseases. - Menopause: Pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause are all accompanied by drastic hormonal changes. As mentioned earlier, with hormonal changes comes a chance of brain fog. During these conditions, the spike in estrogen and progesterone can cause hot flashes, sleep problems, and sluggishness. Estrogen may be responsible for the growth of neurons that transmit information to the brain.
A study by Harvard Medical School also shows that women show a significant decrease in verbal learning, verbal memory, and attention span a year after menopause. - Cancer Treatment and Medication: Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy can all affect your brain’s functioning. They cause sleep problems and fatigue, which directly declines our cognitive capabilities. A bone marrow transplant can also result in this.
Medications prescribed during such treatments can cause hormonal imbalance along with the therapy. Other medications used for treating anxiety, like benzodiazepines, are also possible factors. Anticholinergics that contain diphenhydramine can also block neurotransmitters in the cerebrum. - Autoimmune Disorders: Your body is more than capable of defending itself against most potential attackers. But when your body responds to a false alarm by causing inflammation, it hinders the transmission of information to the brain. This can slow your mind down, and you may feel clouded.
Small intestine bacterial growth is one such medical condition. In this, trillions of bacteria in our gut overgrow. These bacteria produce histamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for warning against attacks. With huge quantities of histamine in our body, it is in a constant state of inflammation. This can cause anxiety, stress, confusion, panic, and other health issues.
Treatment Options
Treatment options may depend on the severity and the cause. This could range from lifestyle changes to cognitive behavioral therapy.
- Physical Exercise and Brain Training: There is a clear connection between our physical and mental health. Regular exercise improves cognitive function and delays the onset of dementia. Alternatively, you can also train your mind to speed up its process. Some websites offer visual tests where you have to match one image with its counterpart while they quickly disappear. Auditory-based exercises include listening to tones that fire in sequence. Then you have to try and remember the number or type of tones you heard. This can help in reducing the symptoms of brain fog.
- Diet: Lack of nutrients in your diet is the most common cause of a decline in cognitive abilities. A nutrient-rich diet that enhances your functioning can help ease the symptoms. Taking supplements for vitamins and minerals to fulfill your body’s requirements can take care of fatigue. A healthy body can focus a lot better and process a lot quicker.
- Cognitive Compensatory Strategies: These are simple ways to assist you in remembering things. It may include writing things down or setting up more frequent alarms. You might want to carry a notebook to note down things you want to remember. You can also use an app to help you avoid distractions and build your attention span.
When to Seek Help
Occasional brain fog is not a matter of concern. You may not get proper sleep on certain days, which might slow you down until you rest properly. You may also face this if you take certain medications for a temporary medical issue.
An odd day of excessive drinking may also result in a dizzy and clouded mental state. Even in the case of nutrient deficiency, as soon as you improve your diet, you can get back to being attentive and focused.
But if the issue persists even after a proper diet and sleep schedule, you should seek help. A medical professional can run all necessary tests to figure out the underlying cause. They can arrange a treatment plan accordingly.
Get Started with a Trusted Provider on DocVita Today
If your brain is constantly struggling to focus, you should schedule an appointment with a trusted provider on DocVita. Timely treatment can ensure that this doesn’t lead to anything serious. Discuss your symptoms and other medical conditions with our healthcare provider. They will determine what’s causing your brain fog.
A proper treatment plan based on the cause can efficiently resolve your problems. The inability to stay attentive and remember things can harm your social and work life. It can also affect your self-confidence. Don’t take it lightly. Let our healthcare professionals help you get rid of the root cause so that you can enjoy your life to the fullest.