What's brain fog? Five expert recommended steps to get rid of brain fog.
Most people have experienced jet lag – that sluggish feeling in your brain where you are tired and can’t really think straight.
The same sort of fuzzy feeling can happen when you get the flu, or like most people, you can experience it as a symptom of COVID-19, specifically long COVID-19.
Well, what if that fuzzy, out-of-it feeling doesn’t wear off quickly? You may be experiencing what experts are calling “brain fog.”
Here's more in-depth information on brain fog and what you should know about it.
What is brain fog?
“I think the safest way to put it is that brain fog is a symptom rather than a diagnosis,” said Dr. Daniel Torres, a neurologist at Lennox Hill Hospital. “When people talk about brain fog, they’re usually describing a feeling of fuzziness in their head, difficulty thinking or fatigue.”
Essentially, brain fog is an experience that people are feeling in their heads, Torres said. The common misconception is that brain fog is always a symptom of a brain disease, but that is not the case.
“If you've ever had a fever, and felt like it was hard to think and felt slowed down because you had the flu, you could put that into the category of brain fog,” Torres said.
In the context of many medical problems, people will describe this phenomenon as “brain fog,” Torres explained. “When people talk about brain fog, the medical thing that we usually refer to is ‘Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)’”
That being said, brain fog is not the result of one thing, and the best way to figure out why you are experiencing your brain fog is to consult with your doctor, Torres said.
How to get rid of brain fog?
When the brain experiences this sort of fuzzy feeling, your main goal is to get your brain functioning in a healthy manner again, Torres said.
Exercise. One of the first things to do is slowly begin to exercise, doing things like a recumbent bicycle, pool exercises and other gentle things to start moving the body and stimulate the brain.
Sleep. “Sleep is super important. In sleep, a lot of the toxins that our brain produces through normal activity are cleared when you're in sleep,” Torres said.
Avoid stress. Stress and how you manage stress affect your functioning and your brain. So, managing psychological stressors can really make a big impact on brain improvement, Torres said.
Avoid alcohol/drugs and eat healthily. Avoiding alcohol and drugs, as well as processed and sugary foods, can help your brain strengthen. Focusing on a healthy diet and what you are putting into your body is important, Torres said.
What is the healthiest fruit?This one is high in antioxidants and has cognitive and cardiovascular benefits.
Speak with a doctor. “The behavioral interventions, when you look at people getting better over the long term, probably make the biggest difference,” Torres said. “Having a team of therapists whether it's physical therapist, psychotherapist, plus your doctor who work together and take you slowly through a rehabilitation process is usually the most effective thing.”
Just Curious for more? We've got you covered
USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "How to play Powerball" to what the "healthiest rice" is to "Who is the Zodiac Killer?" – we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer for you.