Brain Fog

Brain fog is a frustrating symptom that affects your memory and ability to think clearly. If you develop brain fog, talk to board-certified gynecologist Kristen Matsik, MD, at Women’s Wellness and Sexual Health in Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. Matsik is a menopause specialist who provides comprehensive treatment to address brain fog and other menopause symptoms. To schedule an in-person or telehealth consultation at Women’s Wellness and Sexual Health, use the online booking feature today. 

What is brain fog?

Brain fog is a term for cognitive problems that make it hard to think clearly. Common brain fog symptoms include:

• Poor memory
• Difficulty concentrating
• Forgetfulness
• Inability to focus
• Problems expressing your thoughts
• Mental fatigue

Brain fog doesn’t cause the same degree of dysfunction as a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) or a disease like dementia. However, it can make daily life more difficult and is extremely frustrating.

Why might I develop brain fog?

Brain fog isn’t a disorder in itself but a symptom of various other problems. Common causes include:

Mental health conditions

It’s often hard to think clearly when affected by depression and other mood disorders.

Lifestyle

Chronic stress, excessive alcohol consumption, drug use, lack of sleep, a poor diet, and dehydration can all contribute to brain fog.

Medications

Brain fog could be a side effect of certain prescription medicines.

Medical conditions

Many diseases feature brain fog as a significant symptom, including:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Anemia
• Diabetes
• Hypothyroidism
• Lupus, multiple sclerosis, and other autoimmune disorders

Viral infections like COVID-19 can sometimes cause brain fog.

Hormonal changes

Hormones are powerful chemicals that affect multiple functions, from digestion and metabolism to puberty and reproduction. Hormonal problems are a common cause of brain fog in women, sometimes due to conditions like hypothyroidism (lack of thyroid hormone) but frequently related to female sex hormone imbalances.

Falling estrogen and progesterone levels affect women during perimenopause and menopause. This natural part of life starts in most women in their forties, when reproductive capabilities slow and then cease in their fifties.

What can I do about brain fog?

To treat brain fog effectively, it’s important to understand what’s causing it. For example, you might require iron supplements for anemia or levothyroxine pills for hypothyroidism. Lifestyle changes can also help.

If the cause is menopause, Women’s Wellness and Sexual Health offers effective treatments like bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). BHRT uses hormones that match the ones your body produces to raise estrogen and progesterone levels during perimenopause.

BHRT has many other benefits, such as reducing symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and night sweats that also affect women as their hormone levels decline.

Call Women’s Wellness and Sexual Health today to learn more about overcoming brain fog, or use the online booking feature to schedule a consultation today.