4 Major Things That Causes Brain Fog

Do you ever get up from bed feeling exhausted and confused? If yes, then you may have brain fog. Brain fog is a term used to refer to the feeling of being mentally lethargic. What causes brain fog has become a concern among those who experience this common symptom.

# Stress

Brain fog can derive from stress. It is not unpredictable to attribute this common tension to what causes brain fog. Stress can cause and exacerbate headaches, drag emotional states down, lead to depression, and deteriorate the immune system. With all these effects of stress triggered and accumulated, your brain is worn out, which consequently leaves you feeling cloudy.

To reduce stress caused by heavy loads of work or study, you should find a point where you can balance between working and resting. Working too hard and trading off your health is just not worth it, right?

# Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation can be one of the reasons your brain is feeling sluggish. Lack of sleep can cause your brain to suffer from an inability to concentrate, difficulty memorizing, and frequent forgetfulness. It is understandable why sleeping too little causes brain fog. Most people need at least 7 hours of good-quality sleep each night. Good-quality sleep is not only about the number of hours in bed. It is also about feeling refreshed both physically and mentally when you wake up. People with insomnia do not get the benefits of getting enough sleep, thus fall into some unhealthy conditions, including brain fog.

Sleeping well helps reduce stress and improve mood, think more clearly, and make good decisions. In contrast, lying around in bed without proper rest causes damage to the brain.

# Food Allergies or Sensitivities

If there are foods that you are allergic to, they may contribute to what causes brain fog. MSG or monosodium glutamate can be one of the ingredients that you may want to avoid at your dining table. MSG is commonly known as a flavor enhancer in cooking. It can be found naturally in some foods, including tomatoes and cheese.

Suppose you experience some effects of MSG, such as headache, after 20 to 25 minutes. In that case, you are likely to be sensitive to this ingredient.

# COVID-19

Another culprit of brain fog is pneumonia, or COVID-19. The most commonly seen symptoms of COVID-19 include high body temperature, constant coughing, fatal shortness of breath, and fatigue. You probably never associated brain fog with COVID; however, it has been recently found that some people with COVID-19 also suffered from cognitive impairment. These people reported that even after other symptoms of COVID had gone away, the feeling of sluggish brain performance lasted weeks later.