My pregnant girlfriends use to complain about short term memory loss and they’d dubbed their temporary illness "baby brain". As someone who never had a child, I chalked up baby brain to my girlfriends having too much on their plate, like work, preparing for a new baby, and the stress of balancing work/home issues, etc.
However when I entered my late forties, I started having some minor memory issues like forgetting zip codes and adjectives. Holy smokes! I forgot my own zip code the other day.
I was moaning about this issue to a colleague and she mentioned that I might have "foggy brain". Her unofficial diagnosis brought up the image of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge surrounded by heavy fog, and this is exactly how I feel. The answer is there, but it is buried beneath a temporary fog.
Research has shown that foggy brain is real and it affects menopausal women. Foggy brain is when you experience cognitive problems like:
• Difficulty focusing
• Memory issues
• Decreased alertness
• Confusion
The good news is that after menopause, the brain fog is lifted and your cognitive skills return to normal.
As someone who has returned to school, I am not comfortable with adding foggy brain to my daily list of aches and pains. So, here are some tips to deal with foggy brain:
• Drink plenty of water.
• Drink green tea and avoid high energy drinks.
• Manage stress levels.
• Try the herbal supplement ribose.
• Stay cool. Keep the temperature cool in your home, car, and office.
• Eat right. A well-balanced diet can help you feel more energetic and mentally focused.
• Increase your tuna and salmon intake. Also, add 4 oz nuts to your daily diet.
• Stay away from hot flash triggers like hot or spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeine.
• Exercise regularly. Being active can help preserve your brain function and aid memory.
• Get plenty of sleep
• Before bedtime, avoid eating too much, smoking, working or exercising.
• Sleep in a dark, quiet, and cool room. If necessary sleep with a fan on or install a small air conditioning unit in your bedroom.
• Be consistent with your sleep schedule. Wake up and go to sleep at the same time each day.
If these issues do not help your foggy brain situation, contact your doctor or other health care practitioner. They may be able to give you additional recommendations. There is no need to suffer from foggy brain.
Sources:
Chan, Amanda L. "'Brain Fog' In Menopause Is Real, Study Suggests." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 16 Mar. 2012. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/16/brain-fog-menopause-symptoms-memory_n_1345894.html
Dolgen, Ellen. "What's To Blame For Your Brain Fog: Menopause Or ADHD?" The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 06 Aug. 2013. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellen-sarver-dolgen/brain-fog_b_3605867.html
Teitelbaum, M.D., Jacob. "Brain Fog in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 30 June 2011. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-teitelbaum-md/brain-fog-in-chronic-fatigue_b_872531.html
"Brain Fog Symptoms." LIVESTRONG.COM. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/204035-brain-fog-symptoms
"Menopause Symptoms: Dealing With Brain Fog." EverydayHealth.com. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/menopause/brain-fog.aspx
"Vitamins for Brain Fog." LIVESTRONG.COM. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/394667-vitamins-for-brain-fog
Reviewed December 16, 2013
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith