Thinking ……Please be Patient…
You often hear about the obesity epidemic. And while it is very important, there’s another epidemic that should get even MORE attention: It’s an insidious epidemic that creeps up, and takes away your you :(
A clinical definition of brain fog. Brain fog may be described as feelings of mental confusion or lack of mental clarity.
It is called brain fog because it can feel like a cloud that reduces your ability to think clearly. It can cause a person to become forgetful, detached and often discouraged and depressed.
It usually is present most of the time, meaning it does not come and go, although it may become better or worse depending on what a person eats, or one’s state of rest and hydration.
The brain is the crowning organ of the human being. Therefore, dysfunctions involving it are always important. Brain fog is one of the most important symptoms today
We’ve all had those moments:
Searching the house for lost keys that somehow appear in our pocket, struggling to sputter that neighbour’s name on the tip of our tongue, and circling the parking lot while clicking the alarm button until we see the lights flash on our car.
If left unaddressed, these minor episodes can switch from occasional annoyances into a debilitating set of symptoms called brain fog. Brain fog is a general term for dysfunctions in focus, learning, and memory that can create brief episodes of confusion, disorientation and frustration.
Brain fog is a source of anxiety for many older patients.
Brain fog is where your brains ability to function and perform goes on a slow and steady decline.
Some say brain fog is an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s.
Brain fog is not recognized as a clinical diagnosis because it is not easy to test for it. It is quite subjective, in other words.
The person just knows that they do not function well, and the mind often seems foggy or cloudy. This is not the same as dementia, mental retardation, anxiety, depression or other common mental symptoms. I hope that medical doctors will soon expand their diagnostic ability to assess brain fog, but for now it is a subjective condition, though it is very real.
It happens to almost everyone every now and then: a strange memory lapse, impaired concentration, mental fatigue, or a sensation that a cloud has taken over your sharp minds, leaving you with a foggy brain.
It starts with something you can brush off: the standard Where in this mall parking lot did I leave the damn car?!
Happens to everyone, no big deal, a memory lapse. Until you realize it wasn't just today at the mall; you've somehow spent most of your week feeling as if you've made major decisions behind a smokescreen.
Examples of brain fog?
Losing your keys or cell phone because you forget where you put them.
Forgetting to lock the door.Momentarily forgetting the name of someone you’ve known for years.
Poor short term memory
Difficulty learning new things
Poor mental stamina and concentration – there may be difficulty reading a book or following a film story or following a line of argument.
Difficulty finding the right word.
Thinking one word, but saying another.
Disclaimer: The information on this POST is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional advice. The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this article is for general information purposes / educational purposes only, and to ensue discussion or debate.
Thank you …Stress impairs performance
Zero-ing in on what triggers stress could help you curb the fog.
Scientists have known what common sense tells us — that stress has an impact on memory and emotion. But it’s not just that we have a lot going on and aren’t paying attention.
Stress actually has an impact on how the brain processes information and stores memories. And research over the last several decades has pinpointed changes in certain areas of the brain during times of stress.
Now new research, published in the Journal of Neuroscience builds on previous understanding of the brain. It suggests that dramatic changes that occur in the brain when under stress are linked to our emotions and scattered memory.
The Effects of Chronic Stress on Your Brain
While stress and cortisol take a toll on your body, they take an equally high toll on your brain.
Some of these brain-related stress symptoms will be obvious to you, like memory problems, anxiety, and worry.
But most of these effects of stress on your brain are “behind the scenes.”
You don’t notice they’re happening but you will notice the side effects … eventually.
1. Stress creates free radicals that kill brain cells .
2. Chronic stress makes you forgetful and emotional
3. Stress creates a vicious cycle of fear and anxiety.
4. Stress halts the production of new brain cells.
5. Stress depletes critical brain chemicals
6. Stress puts you at greater risk for mental illnesses of all kinds
7. Stress makes you stupid.
8. Chronic stress shrinks your brain.
9. Stress lets toxins into you.
10. Chronic stress increases your risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Want to add word or two?
Brain fog can be caused by a range of factors. In all cases, getting to the heart of what causes the brain fog is the key to overcoming this debilitating condition.
Your comment ….?`
Common causes of brain fatigue include:
Candida overgrowth is extremely common today. It produces alcohol and acetaldehyde, both of which are toxic to the nervous system and often contribute to symptoms of brain fog. Occasionally, brain fog can be due to Lyme disease infection, trichina worms or cysts from consuming pig products, and even fish tapeworm eggs
Toxic chemicals and brain fog. Everyone is exposed to high levels of toxic chemicals today. Often, one is not even aware it has occurred.
They are everywhere, from car interiors, to upholstery, to plastic equipment, to lawn chemicals, paints, inks, insecticides on food, and always in the water supply. In cities, the air is often contaminated as well
Medication
Some kinds of drugs -- over-the-counter and prescribed -- can cause brain fog. If you take medicine and notice that your thinking isn’t as clear as it should be or you suddenly can’t remember things, call your doctor. Be sure to let him know all the medications you take.
Menopause
Women may find it harder to learn or remember things when they reach this stage of life. It happens about a year after their last period, usually around age 50. Along with brain fog, they also may have hot flashes -- sudden sweating with a higher heart rate and body temperature -- and other body changes.
Sleep
You need sleep to help your brain work the way it should, but too much can make you feel foggy, too. Aim for 7 to 9 hours. To get good rest at bedtime, you may want to avoid caffeine and alcohol after lunch and keep the computer and smartphone out of your bedroom. It also can help to get to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
Lupus
This long-term disease causes your immune system to attack your body, and the symptoms can be different in different cases. About half the people with lupus have problems with memory, confusion, or trouble concentrating. There’s no cure, but medication and talking with a therapist can help.