For many, brain fog is hard to describe. While it is not a medical condition, it can indicate that something is amiss with us physically and/or emotionally. Normally, brain fog is characterized as a general feeling of confusion, forgetfulness, or inability to focus. Some report feeling mentally sluggish and having an overall sense there is a “fog” that is impacting their ability to think clearly and engage in once enjoyed activities.
What Is Brain Fog?
On a cellular level, brain fog is thought to be connected to increased levels of inflammation and changes in the hormones that regulate mood, energy, and focus. When our hormones are out of balance our whole system is out of balance and at risk of disease. For many, brain fog is an indicator that something is going on with their health.
Possible Causes For Brain Fog
There are several factors or medical conditions that could initiate brain fog. It’s thought that brain fog is created by a lifestyle that supports hormonal imbalances and emotional distress, such as:
- Electromagnetic radiation from computer, mobile phone, or tablets
- Stress that reduces blood flow to the brain and causes bad memory
- Lack of sleep or physical activity
- Diets void of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
- High levels of toxins, pollution, chemical substances, and insecticides
- Some medications
Medical and mental conditions that have been associated with brain fog include:
- Depression/Anxiety
- Dementia
- Perimenopause
- Diabetes
- Anemia
- Thyroid disease
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Certain viral infections
Tips And Treatments For Brain Fog
How brain fog is treated depends on what caused it. Some lifestyle changes to consider to clear brain fog are:
- Spend less time on devices like computer and mobile phone, take breaks
- Engage in positive thinking, meditation, mindfulness, or deep breathing exercises to reduce stress
- Change your diet by eating more veggies and healthy fats
- Practice good sleep hygiene (7-8 hours in a 24-hour day)
- Regular exercise
- Avoid alcohol, smoking, and drinking caffeinated drinks in the afternoon
- Enjoy socially and physical activities
- Avoid multitasking, focus on one activity at a time
Treatments Offered At Desert Oasis Clinic That May Help
As stated, how your brain fog is treated would depend on the triggering lifestyle factors or medical conditions. An initial appointment is needed to collect your medical history before developing a treatment plan. To determine if a food supplement would do the trick, Dr. Thompson will work with you to complete a Nutritional Assessment.
Should your brain fog be a result of diet or hormonal issues, it may be suggested options such as IV Nutritional Therapy or Bio-Identical Hormones be considered.
Brain fog related to living or working in environments wrought with toxins and harmful chemicals could be treated with therapies such as Lymphatic Stimulation or Osteopathic Manipulation (OMT).
Most people experience the occasional brain fog if they have not had enough sleep or are taking allergy medications. Yet, if feeling “spaced out” has gone on for quite some time, and is negatively impacting your everyday life, it may be time to see your medical provider to determine any underlying bases. Please call Desert Oasis today at (702) 310-9350 and schedule an appointment with one of our friendly staff. From there we will be able to determine which of our natural and holistic therapies would serve you best!