What to do if you get brain fog? After recovering from inattention and forgetfulness, you must learn 6 tips to save yourself
Nearly 30% of people seeking medical treatment for brain fog after contracting the epidemic may have symptoms in mild or severe cases.
Not only do people who are infected with the new coronavirus have to worry about major hazards such as pneumonia and encephalitis, but the problem of “growing new coronavirus” is also likely to cause “brain fog”, which will have a lasting impact on the cognitive function of those diagnosed. Tamara Fong, associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, pointed out that about 22% to 32% of recovered COVID-19 patients seek medical treatment in the hospital due to symptoms such as difficulty concentrating and forgetfulness, and the symptoms they complain of are all very similar.
Brain fog is currently listed as one of the sequelae of PASC (Long COVID). Tamara Fong said that “brain fog” was originally a word used to describe slow thinking or cognitive sluggishness, and it may occur in various situations. Occurrences such as lack of sleep, physical discomfort, drug side effects, chemotherapy or concussion injuries caused by external forces. In most cases, brain fog is temporary and will get better on its own over time.
80% of hospitalized patients have neurological symptoms. Can brain fog problems improve over time?
Scientific evidence that the new coronavirus causes brain damage has gradually increased, including directly attacking brain cells, reducing blood flow to the brain, or triggering other immune responses that may damage brain cells. Increased risk of memory loss, stroke, and other brain-damaging conditions. One study even pointed out that 80% of patients hospitalized with the new coronavirus developed neurological symptoms. The infected cerebral cortex is more likely to shrink as a result.
However, it is still not possible to clarify the exact mechanism of brain fog caused by infection with the new coronavirus, nor to evaluate how long the symptoms will last. Tamara Fong pointed out that the symptoms of clinical cases show that brain fog after infection may indeed cause various cognitive impairment symptoms. , including decreased attention, memory, and executive functions. And whether they are mild or moderately severe cases of the epidemic, brain fog is reported.
Tamara Fong cited a German study of 136 participants with an average age of 30 that showed that people with mild COVID-19 infection will have memory and attention problems after recovery. Compared with people who are not infected with the new coronavirus, people diagnosed with the new coronavirus have worse performance in attention and memory. However, brain fog symptoms seemed to improve over time, with memory improving after six months and concentration returning to normal after nine months. The brain fog that means “COVID-19” is reversible is possible.
Chronic inflammation and pain may cause difficulty concentrating after recovery
Andrew E. Budson, director of cognitive behavioral neurology at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Boston Health Care, said that the new coronavirus may cause damage to the brain in various ways, some of which are related to severe infection and inflammation, such as brain inflammation. inflammation, stroke, brain hypoxia and other acute injuries.
In addition, the new coronavirus may also cause long-term effects on the body, such as fatigue, pain, reduced exercise ability, headaches, and difficulty sleeping. Andrew E. Budson believes that even sequelae such as chronic fatigue and pain may affect patients’ memory and attention. In addition, the epidemic will affect the quality of sleep. Even if you recover from acute symptoms, you will still have difficulty concentrating.
How to improve brain fog symptoms? Neuroscience experts suggest 6 ways to help yourself
Andrew E. Budson reminds that if you still feel that you have brain fog after recovery, the first thing you should do is go to the rehabilitation care clinic and inform the doctor if you have other neurological symptoms besides brain fog, such as weakness, numbness, and tingling. , loss of smell and taste; also pay attention to whether there is shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and abnormalities in urination and defecation.
A healthy lifestyle can help speed up the improvement of brain fog symptoms. Andrew E. Budson recommends taking the following measures. First, exercise more, preferably 30 minutes aerobic exercise 5 days a week; second, eat a Mediterranean diet. , consume more vegetable oils, fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, and whole grains; third, proper sleep can help the brain and body remove toxins and recover.
Fourth, participating in social activities can help your mood and help thinking and memory; fifth, engage in activities that are beneficial to the body and mind, such as listening to music and mindfulness, and maintain an optimistic and positive attitude; sixth, avoid drinking and abusing drugs and poisons, and reduce exposure Substances that can damage the brain.
source:
Brain fog: Memory and attention after COVID-19
What is COVID-19 brain fog — and how can you clear it?
COVID and the brain: researchers zero in on how damage occurs
Rapid vigilance and episodic memory decrements in COVID-19 survivors
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