What Is Brain Fog?
Sometimes we can be at work and, for some reason, we draw a blank on how to do what we are working on. Our brain can be a lot slower than usual and it can be difficult to think clearly, and it can be difficult to maintain our focus on any one thing. These symptoms are often referred to as brain fog.
Brain fog is often quite mild and will be little more than a minor inconvenience, but it can be more noticeable in some cases. It is often just a matter of the patient not taking proper care of themselves, while it can also sometimes be caused by a medical condition.
1. Why Does It Happen?
Our brain is the most complex organ that we are aware of in the universe. There may be more complex brains and other organs in the universe, but we haven’t discovered them yet. It takes a lot of fuel to keep the brain going, and this means a constant supply of fresh oxygen and nutrients. Brain fog sometimes occurs because the brain is not being provided with what it needs, causing it to slow down. At other times, it is because medication is affecting its ability to work properly, or maybe a medical condition is physically affecting the various cells and other tissues of the brain.
2. Forgetfulness
When we remember things, they just pop into our minds with us having to make little to no conscious effort. Sometimes, memories are even recalled whether we want them to be or not. If the brain isn’t working at 100%, however, then our memories can become a lot harder to recall.
Brain fog can cause people to forget simple things like turning off the stove or where the car keys are. It can be difficult for people at work as they struggle to remember even simple details at times. While it is not uncommon for people to have episodes of forgetfulness, you should speak with a medical professional if the symptom lingers, or if it becomes too severe.
3. Mental Lethargy
Usually, our minds are quite active throughout the day. We are usually happy to think things through and often inquisitive enough to want to ask questions to get to the finer details of things. It is this inquisitiveness that has helped us to understand so much about the world around us, but we don’t always feel that way.
When we have brain fog, we would rather not have to spend much effort in thinking if we can avoid it. Mentally taxing problems and puzzles are just too much of an effort for us, and we would rather have simple information spoon fed to us instead.
4. Lack of Focus
Even the simplest of tasks require at least a minimal amount of focus, especially when we are completing them for the first time. Without the ability to concentrate on what we need to be doing in order to complete it successfully, then we can really struggle to get the job done. People with brain fog will often find It difficult to focus their efforts on any one thing.
Their minds are often easily distracted and may just switch off altogether, leaving them in somewhat of a daze. If it is something that happens too often then you should consider speaking with a doctor.
5. Chronic Fatigue
Brain fog can be a symptom of chronic fatigue, while chronic fatigue can also be a symptom of brain fog. The two often accompany each other regardless, and it can make things harder for the patient. Fatigue generally means that you are always feeling tired, even if you have had a lot of food and rest. Fatigue can cause people to fall asleep in the daytime.
This might be at work or during classes, and it can have a considerable negative impact on the patients life. It can be caused by some potentially serious underlying causes, and it is something that you should get checked out if it persists.
6. Lack of Sleep
There are numerous reasons why people might be experiencing brain fog, and the most common cause of all is a lack of sleep. Quite often, this is simply because the patient is having late nights despite having to wake up early in the morning. This might be because they have a lot of work to do, or it might even mean they are having nights out with friends.
Other reasons for a lack of sleep include medical conditions and/or medication. Regardless of the cause, too many nights without enough sleep can pose a very real threat to the patients health in the short term, and in the long term.
7. Stress
Cortisol is a very important hormone for us because it makes us alert when we need to be. As we evolved, it was essential in helping to get us out of dangerous situations. Even in the modern world, it is still often important for us when it comes to difficult situations. Once the problem has passed then the levels of cortisol, and some other hormones, should return to normal levels.
If, for whatever reason, this does not happen then the patient is going to be facing prolonged periods of stress. This can lead to brain fog, and it can also lead to some other very serious problems.
8. Poor Diet
The importance of a healthy balanced diet cannot be stressed enough. It is important that we get a good range in our diet to provide us with all the different types of nutrition that we need. It also means that we should try and avoid processed foods where possible opting for fresh foods instead. If you do have a poor diet then your overall well-being is likely to suffer as a result.
You are likely to experience a number of unwelcome symptoms, one of which is brain fog. If you can, try to use as many fresh foods in your diet as you can. Not only is it better for your health, but fresh foods are also likely to taste a lot better.
9. Dehydration
It can be all too easy for us to become dehydrated from time to time, and a lot of the time we won’t even realize it. It is obvious that we will become dehydrated when in hot weather and/or when working out, but we can also become dehydrated if we don’t drink enough at the office. If you do get dehydrated then you are likely to develop a number of symptoms, including a headache and brain fog.
Fortunately, dehydration is fairly easy to overcome provided you have plenty of fluids available. It can also be caused by some medical conditions, however, and these should be addressed by a medical professional.
10. Lack of Exercise
Everybody should try and get a reasonable amount of exercise if they are able to. If you don’t then your health will decline and your body will not function as well as it should do. This can mean that the brain is unable to function as well as it should, and this can lead to problems like brain fog. It is not necessary to exercise a great deal to keep in reasonable shape.
Even just taking the dog for a brief walk, or walking to the nearby convenience store, can be enough to get your system working enough. If you feel you don’t get enough exercise, then look for ways that you could walk to your destination, for example, rather than taking transportation like a car or bus.
