Brain fog

What is brain fog?

Brain fog refers to feelings of mental fatigue or forgetfulness. It can make it hard to focus, retain information, or think clearly. Some common symptoms include:

• Forgetfulness - struggling to recall facts, memories, or basic information


• Lack of focus - inability to concentrate or pay attention to tasks


• Cloudy thinking - feeling like your head is full of cotton


• Slow processing speed - taking longer to understand or react to information

What causes brain fog?

There are many potential causes of brain fog including:

• Stress or anxiety


• Lack of sleep


• Hormonal changes - like menopause or thyroid issues


• Medications


• Poor diet and nutrition


• Underlying health conditions - chronic inflammation, autoimmune disease

For some people, getting to the root cause of their brain fog symptoms requires seeing a doctor for blood tests or medical evaluation.

However, for others, looking at lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, stress management, and sleep quality can help sharpen mental clarity.

"After struggling with brain fog for years, I finally found relief through balanced nutrition and stress-reducing habits with guidance from my functional medicine practitioner at Endocrine Wellness Center. I have much better focus and memory now."

How to clear brain fog naturally

Some tips to help improve brain fog naturally:

• Get 7-9 hours of sleep per night


• Exercise regularly - this boosts blood flow and oxygen to the brain


• Eat a balanced, nutritious diet - with healthy fats, protein, complex carbs


• Stay hydrated and avoid too much alcohol or caffeine


• Practice relaxation techniques - yoga, meditation, deep breathing


• Stimulate your brain - read, take courses, play memory games


• Consider supplements - fish oil, B vitamins, ginseng

Figuring out any underlying medical issues is also key. For example, hormonal imbalances can directly cause brain fog, especially for women during perimenopause or menopause. Seeing a specialist like those at Endocrine Wellness Center can help identify and properly treat hormonal causes of cloudy thinking.

When to seek medical care for brain fog

See your doctor if lifestyle measures don't help or you have brain fog along with:

• Severe memory problems or confusion


• Headaches, dizziness, vision changes


• Slurred speech


• Lack of coordination or balance

These may indicate an underlying neurological or serious medical condition requiring treatment. Diagnostic tests to determine the cause may include:

• Physical and neurological exam


• Blood tests - check hormone, vitamin, and mineral levels


• Brain imaging - CT scan or MRI to rule out injury or disease

In many instances, brain fog resolves once any medical condition is properly treated. A combination approach of medical care, nutrition, supplements and optimizing health habits can help restore peak mental clarity.