Brain fog can be a difficult condition to live with—it can affect your daily life and make it hard to focus on tasks.
Some people even experience brain fog as the only symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as diabetes or hypothyroidism.
It can be hard for some people to know if their memory problems are attributed to brain fog or another health issue.
So, we’ve put together this guide that will help you understand how can brain fog affect vision and what causes this problem.
Let’s get started.
What exactly is brain fog?
Brain fog can be described as a mental state when you can’t think clearly, and it’s hard to focus on tasks.
It can also make your memory unreliable, making most people feel like they’re losing their minds or that something terrible has happened to them.
People with brain fog can experience other symptoms, such as:
- Feeling tired all the time
- Difficulty concentrating and focusing
- Headaches
- Poor sleep quality
Different things can cause brain fog, and it can vary in intensity.
Some people only experience brain fog occasionally, while others have to deal with this problem on a daily basis.
Those who have diabetes can experience brain fog when their blood sugar levels are high. Similarly, people with thyroid problems can suffer from this condition due to low TSH levels in the body.
Brain fog can also be caused by nutritional deficiencies or gastrointestinal issues that affect your gut health and cause inflammation in the body.
Can brain fog affect vision?
Yes, brain fog can affect vision. When you’re experiencing this condition, it can be hard to focus on anything, and your attention span will be shortened.
In some cases, people with brain fog can also experience changes in their vision.
This usually happens because it’s difficult to concentrate on anything, including what you see when you can’t think clearly.
If you’re having trouble with your vision and can’t seem to figure out the cause, it’s worth considering if brain fog is a potential factor.
Other Possible Causes of Brain Fog
Brain fog can also be caused by lifestyle or other health conditions.
If you’ve been experiencing this problem for more than a few days, it’s worth getting yourself checked out by your doctor to see if something else is causing the issue.
Here are some of the possible causes of brain fog:
Stress
Stress is one of the significant causes of brain fog.
When you can’t relax, your body can become overwhelmed, and this can affect your memory and overall cognitive function.
It can even lead to physical symptoms like headaches or muscle aches that are hard to pinpoint as being caused by something else.
Unfortunately, stress is a natural part of life today, and it can be hard to avoid.
However, you can take steps to manage your stress levels, and this will help improve your cognitive function overall.
Poor Sleep Quality
If you’re not getting enough sleep or if your sleep is interrupted, this can also lead to brain fog.
This happens because when you’re tired, your cognitive function is impaired, and it’s harder to focus and think clearly.
In addition, sleep deprivation can also lead to inflammation in the body, which can cause problems with your gut health and exacerbate brain fog symptoms.
Too Much Sugar Intake
Sugar can also be a major contributor to brain fog.
When you eat too much sugar, it can cause blood sugar spikes which can lead to insulin resistance.
This can have a negative impact on your cognitive function and can make you feel tired and unfocused.
In addition, overeating sugar can also have an effect on your gut health, leading to inflammation and more brain fog symptoms.
Too Much Alcohol Intake
When you drink too much alcohol, it can disrupt your sleep and cause dehydration in the body which can lead to headaches or muscle aches.
It can also affect your gut health, leading to inflammation that causes more problems with cognitive function and makes you feel fatigued all the time.
Diet
If you’re not eating enough healthy fats, this can affect your brain health and cause inflammation in the body which can lead to problems with cognitive function.
In addition, diets high in processed foods can have a negative impact on your gut health and can lead to inflammation which can cause more brain fog symptoms.
Covid-19
There is some evidence that Covid-19 can also cause brain fog.
This is still a new virus, and not much is known about it, but there are reports of people who have contracted the virus experiencing cognitive problems like memory loss and confusion.
If you’re worried about contracting Covid-19 or if you’re already experiencing symptoms of brain fog, it’s important to get yourself checked out by a doctor.
Other Medical Conditions
If you can’t think clearly and are often spaced out or confused, it’s essential to speak with your doctor.
Brain fog can sometimes be a symptom of another medical condition that needs treatment right away.
This can include medical conditions like:
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Liver disease
- Thyroid problems
- Dementia
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Lupus
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Anxiety
- Depression
Medications
Some medications can also cause brain fog as a side effect.
This includes medications for high blood pressure, anxiety or depression, and pain relief medications.
If you’re taking any prescription medications and are experiencing symptoms of brain fog, it’s important to talk to your doctor about this to see if they can be changed or reduced.
Brain Fog Symptoms
If you’re not sure if you’re experiencing brain fog, here are some common symptoms to look out for:
Feeling tired and fatigued all the time
Fatigue is a common symptom of brain fog and can make it hard to get through everyday tasks.
In addition, feeling tired can also lead to anxiety or depression, which can exacerbate symptoms further.
Feeling like you’re in a mental fog all the time
Everything can feel like a struggle when you’re experiencing brain fog, and even simple tasks can be complex.
You may feel like you can’t focus on anything or that your mind is just blank.
Experiencing a lack of energy
Brain fog can sap your energy and make you feel drained all the time.
This can make it hard to do anything and can also lead to feelings of depression or anxiety.
Difficulty focusing on tasks
When you’re experiencing brain fog, it can be difficult to focus and concentrate on things, which can affect your job or school performance as well as relationships with friends and family members.
Experiencing memory problems
Brain fog can make it hard for you to remember important information like birthdays or anniversaries, which can cause unnecessary stress in your life.
In addition to forgetting information like birthdays and the names of people you know, brain fog can also have an effect on short-term memory, so it can be hard for you to remember things from just a few minutes ago.
Feeling confused all the time
Brain fog can make it feel like you’re not thinking clearly and can even lead to feelings of confusion or disorientation.
In addition, brain fog can also affect your ability to communicate with other people because if you can’t think straight, you won’t be able to speak properly either.
Suffering from mood swings
One of the lesser-known brain fog symptoms can be mood swings.
People who are experiencing brain fog can feel depressed or anxious and can also have a lack of interest in things they used to enjoy doing.
In addition, if you’re feeling overwhelmed with life because it feels like everything is difficult when you have brain fog, you can start to feel hopeless about the situation as well.
Experiencing a lack of motivation or focus
Brain fog can make it hard for you to concentrate on anything, which can affect how motivated and focused you are throughout the day.
In addition, brain fog can also affect your ability to think clearly so that if you can’t think straight, you can’t make a plan to solve the problem.
Having trouble concentrating on conversations
People who are experiencing brain fog can find it difficult to concentrate on what other people are saying because their thoughts seem scrambled, and they can only focus on one thing at once.
In addition, if you’re having a conversation with someone and they can’t seem to focus, it can be frustrating for them and the person they’re talking to.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to speak with your doctor.
Brain Fog Diagnosis
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of brain fog, your doctor can perform a few different tests to try and diagnose the problem.
One common test is called a neuropsychological assessment, which can help to determine how well your brain is functioning.
Another test that can be done is a blood panel, which will look for things like vitamin deficiencies that can affect brain function.
Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor can determine if you have a problem with concentration or memory and recommend further testing to diagnose any underlying issues.
Brain Fog Treatment Options
If, after undergoing some testing, it’s determined that you are suffering from brain fog due to an underlying problem like a vitamin deficiency or an illness, your doctor can recommend treatment options to help clear up the fog in your brain.
Sometimes this can mean taking supplements or medication to correct the deficiency or illness. In other cases, it can mean therapy to help with any mental health issues that may be contributing to the brain fog.
Concluding Thoughts
Brain fog can be a frustrating and debilitating problem, especially if it causes problems in your vision, but thankfully there are treatments available to help clear up the foggy thoughts.
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of brain fog, please speak with your doctor so that they can help you figure out what’s causing the problem and how to treat it best.
If you want to learn more about getting rid of brain fog and maintaining impeccable brain health, check out these educational resources and feel free to join this online community of mental health enthusiasts.