Common symptoms of COVID-19; include cough, shortness of breath, headache, fatigue and fever. But after COVID-19 symptoms disappear; Some people may experience “brain fog” – a long-term problem that can affect the ability to carry out daily tasks.
What is brain fog?
Brain fog is associated with problems with thinking, memory and concentration: forgetfulness, lack of concentration, fatigue and poor clarity… but for many patients; It can be challenging to describe the symptoms of brain fog.
Dr. Talya Fleming, Medical Director of COVID Rehabilitation Program, JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute said: Patients often say they don’t feel right; I feel like there’s something overwhelming that makes everything no longer as sharp as before.
Brain fog syndrome causes memory loss and difficulty concentrating.
Persistent “brain fog” is one of the neurological symptoms commonly reported by people with COVID-19. In some cases; Brain fog, or cognitive decline, can last for months after the illness has resolved.
Many patients complain of problems with memory; easily distracted, difficulty following conversations, and difficulty concentrating and participating in daily tasks. Symptoms of brain fog may also appear as:
-Walk into a room and forget why you’re there.
-Difficult to think of the right words.
-Difficulty remembering what you just read.
-It takes longer to complete tasks.
-Forget recipes or steps when cooking.
-Forget what you were doing after becoming distracted…
These symptoms often appear after the patient has experienced a medical emergency and returned to work. In many cases; The patient has difficulty performing work or daily management. This can negatively affect their quality of life.
What causes brain fog after COVID-19?
According to Dr. Fleming, scientists are still researching potential causes of brain fog after COVID-19. However, some identified causes of this condition include:
– Lack of oxygen due to lung damage.
– Inflammation affects brain cells.
Autoimmune disorders cause the immune system to attack healthy cells in the body.
– Lack of blood flow due to swelling of small blood vessels in the brain…
Causes of brain fog are also due to overwork, lack of sleep, stress and spending too much time on the computer. At the cellular level; Brain fog is thought to be caused by high levels of inflammation and changes to hormones that determine mood; your energy and focus.
Additionally, medication use or medical conditions (related to inflammation, fatigue or changes in blood sugar levels); even nutritional deficiencies or inadequacies; may contribute to brain fog symptoms.
Long-term complications after COVID-19 infection are different for each person, Dr. Fleming said. For some patients; Brain fog after COVID-19 may go away in about three months. But for others; it could last much longer.
How to deal with brain fog syndrome?
Treatment for brain fog depends on the cause. For example, if you are anemic, iron supplements can increase red blood cell production and reduce brain fog…
Sometimes, minimizing brain fog is a matter of correcting nutritional deficiencies; switch medications or improve your sleep quality.
Home remedies to improve brain fog include:
Get enough sleep 7-9 hours every night.
Stress management
Limit coffee intake
Increase your intake of protein, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats…