5 Reasons Why You Might Have Brain Fog

Even though brain fog is not a medical condition, it can still affect your well-being and disrupt your life in a big way.

This cognitive dysfunction can lead to a lack of mental clarity, poor concentration, and memory loss, making it next to impossible to function normally and get things done.

The good news is that brain fog isn’t permanent and once you identify the cause, you can easily make some changes and soon start to feel like your old self again.

Why You Might Have Brain Fog

Let’s look at some of the most common causes of brain fog.

1. Your Sleep Patterns are Irregular

You might be getting some sleep every night, but if you’re not getting enough hours or the quality of your sleep is poor, it eventually affects your brain. A study by the National Library of Medicine shows that poor sleep quality has a direct impact on how well your brain can function. The average adult needs at least 8 hours of quality sleep per night to avoid brain fog.

2. You’ve Been Too Stressed for Too Long

Prolonged periods of stress can have multiple negative effects, including high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, a weak immune system, and mental fatigue. If you’ve been dealing with high levels of stress for several days or weeks, it will automatically become harder to focus and think clearly.  

3. You’re Taking Medication for a Medical Condition

There are a number of medical conditions that are linked to brain fog, including anemia, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, migraines, and hyperthyroidism. What’s more, the medications required to treat these conditions can also sometimes lead to memory loss and poor concentration.

If you’ve noticed a change in your thinking and concentration after starting a new medicine, it’s best to speak to your doctor about adjusting the medication or your dosage.

4. You’re Experiencing Hormonal Changes

Another reason why you might be experiencing poor memory and concentration is that you’re going through a hormonal change. Menopause and pregnancy can both cause hormonal changes that could trigger brain fog. And while most instances of hormonal memory loss are temporary, in the case of menopause, you can speak to your doctor about options.

5. Your Diet Needs Some Adjusting

Certain vitamin deficiencies have been linked to brain fog, particularly low levels of vitamin B12. Taking a vitamin B supplement can assist with this, as will eating more foods rich in vitamin B. You may also want to speak to your doctor about food sensitives and whether you need to make some adjustments there. Dairy and peanut sensitivities can both sometimes cause brain fog.

How to Get Rid of Brain Fog for Good

Now that you have a better idea of what might be causing your brain fog, here are a few general tips for how to get rid of it for good.

• Increase your intake of vitamin B12 and D. Along with supplements, foods such as red meat, egg yolks, cheese, milk, fish, and fortified breakfast cereals are all good options for increasing your intake of vitamin B12 and D.
• Increase your intake of Omega-3. Eat more foods like salmon, cod liver oil, mackerel, and anchovies to increase your Omega-3 levels. Supplements are also available.
• Go easy on the sugar and caffeine. When you eat sugar and drink caffeine, you get a boost of glucose and energy. By consuming anything high in sugar or caffeine on a daily basis, you are gradually making it harder for your brain to recover from the dips in energy, resulting in brain fog. Cutting down on sugar and caffeine can help with this.
• Find ways to destress more often. Your brain can only experience so much stress before it needs a break. So, before your body forces you to take a break, rather find ways to destress daily. Whether this is walking your dogs, taking a short yoga class, or running a relaxing bath, giving your brain a breather can really help it function better. Even taking short moments throughout your day to do some deep breathing can make a big difference.
• Move your body. Your body is designed to move, which is why moving has numerous benefits, including an increase in brain health. Many people have desk jobs, so we don’t always move as much as we can. To relieve brain fog, make a point of moving several times a day. It doesn’t always need to be full-on exercise (even though this is ideal), it can simply be getting up from your desk every hour to walk around.
• Switch up the products you’re using at home. Unfortunately, the reality is we consume and are exposed to chemicals and toxins daily, which can affect our brains. Another simple change you can make to reduce the chances of brain fog is to switch up the products you use at home. There are a number of natural cleaning and beauty products available.
• Schedule an appointment with your doctor. If after making basic lifestyle changes you are still experiencing concentration and memory issues, rather schedule an appointment with your local doctor to discuss potential underlying health conditions. It will also give you the chance to discuss any medications you’re currently taking and whether they should be adjusted.

The Bottom Line

There’s no need to learn to live with a foggy brain and the problems it brings. There are ways for you to think clearer and boost your memory without relying on medication or accepting grogginess as a normal part of your life.