As a cognitive-behavioral neurologist, I hear from many individuals who complain of “brain fog” after being infected with COVID-19. So I believed it was value talking about what the COVID-19 brain fog is, and doing just a few things to assist clear it up.
What is brain fog?
Let's start by trying to grasp brain fog. Brain fog will not be a medical or scientific term. It is utilized by people to explain how they feel when their pondering is slow, fuzzy and never fast.
We all experience this sense every so often. Maybe you couldn't think clearly whenever you were sick with the flu or one other illness. Maybe you were jet lagged and your pondering was slow since it felt prefer it was 2 a.m. Or perhaps you took an antihistamine or another drug that clouded your pondering for just a few hours. In each case you almost certainly just waited for things to get back to normal, whether that meant recovering out of your illness, adjusting to a brand new time zone, or waiting for the unintended effects of medication to wear off.
But what in case your pondering doesn't come back to normal?
What is COVID-19 brain fog?
Recently I received an email from a person who described how he was still combating “cognitive challenges” since recovering from the virus within the spring of 2020. Her doctor ran her through a battery of checkups and tests. Everything was normal, yet he still has cognitive challenges. Like this man, many individuals who’ve recovered from the severe, life-threatening effects of COVID-19 still don't feel like their pondering and memory are back to normal.
How does COVID-19 affect the brain?
There are some ways that COVID-19 can damage the brain. As I described in a previous blog post, some might be catastrophic, equivalent to encephalitis, paralysis, and lack of oxygen to the brain. But other effects might be more subtle, equivalent to permanence Sustained attention deficit Chinese researchers noted.
In addition to direct effects on the brain, COVID-19 can even have long-term effects on other organ systems. So-called long haulers could have other chronic symptoms, including fatigue, body aches, inability to exercise, headaches, and difficulty sleeping. Some of those problems might be brought on by everlasting damage to their lungs, heart, kidneys or other organs. Damage to those organs — and even just the symptoms themselves — can impair pondering and memory and cause brain fog. For example, how are you going to think clearly in case you are feeling drained and your body aches? How are you able to concentrate in case you get up in the midst of the night with a headache?
What must you do in case you experience COVID-19 brain fog?
The first and most vital thing to do is to see your doctor and share with all of them the symptoms you’re experiencing. These must also include your brain fog and other neurological symptoms (equivalent to weakness, numbness, tingling, lack of smell or taste) and problems equivalent to shortness of breath, palpitations and weird urination or bowel movements.
What might help clear brain fog?
To help clear the brain fog, I like to recommend doing all of the activities that everyone knows help with pondering and memory.
- Do aerobic exercise. You might have to begin slowly, perhaps just two to a few minutes just a few times a day. Although there is no such thing as a established “dose” of exercise to enhance mental health, it is mostly really useful that you just work out for half-hour a day, five days per week.
- Eat a Mediterranean-style weight-reduction plan. A healthy weight-reduction plan including olive oil, fruit and veggies, nuts and legumes, and whole grains has been shown to enhance pondering, memory. and mental health.
- Avoid alcohol and medicines. Give your brain the most effective likelihood to heal by avoiding substances that may negatively affect it.
- Sleep well. Sleep is a time when the mind and body can clear toxins and work toward healing. Make sure you give your body the sleep it needs.
- Participate in social activities. We are social animals. Social activities not only profit our mood, but in addition they help our pondering and memory.
- Pursue other rewarding activities, engagement in novel, including cognitively stimulating activities; listening to music; practicing mindfulness; And having a positive mental attitude.