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7 Common Causes of Brain Fog and How to Combat Them

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7 Common Causes of Brain Fog and How to Combat Them

Do you struggle to focus on tasks and can’t remember things? Do you struggle to concentrate and need more caffeine and snacks to stay alert? This is a sign of brain fog.

Getting advanced blood work, an elimination diet, and food intolerance or allergy testing can help uncover what contributes to brain fog.

Lack of Sleep

lack of sleep can make you feel spacey, forgetful, and focused. A lack of sleep also causes low energy levels and fatigue. Sleep disorders like insomnia, narcolepsy, and restless legs syndrome can also contribute to brain fog. Vitamin B12 deficiency or unidentified food intolerances can also lead to a foggy head as they interfere with the proper function of your nervous system and central brain pathways. Advanced blood work and an elimination diet or food allergy testing can help determine if these are the culprits.

Stress

A lack of mental sharpness and a hazy memory can be frustrating. It can make it hard to complete work tasks, keep up with responsibilities and maintain relationships. Some experts revealed that brain fog causes are due to chronic stress, a poor diet, hormone imbalances, medication side effects, and certain medical conditions like insomnia, narcolepsy, and restless legs syndrome. It can also be related to autoimmune disorders and diseases such as fibromyalgia. Ask your doctor if reducing your dose or switching medications will help if you have brain fog while taking medication.

Food Intolerances

Some drugs frequently cause brain fog as an adverse effect. Additionally, it can indicate an imbalanced diet. A balanced diet of vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids will help you think clearly and sharpen your mind.

Food allergies or sensitivities can cause your blood sugar levels to spike and crash, which in turn can lead to feelings of fuzziness and poor concentration. An elimination diet, followed by allergy blood tests, can help you pinpoint which foods are causing you problems and make the necessary changes.

Vitamin Deficiencies

Deficiencies in specific vitamins and minerals can be another common cause of brain fog. Eating an unhealthy diet, possible food sensitivities or allergies, stress, and lack of sleep can all contribute to deficiencies in these important nutrients.

Hormonal imbalances, especially in women during menopause and both sexes during PMS, can also lead to mental fatigue and brain fog. Thorne’s at-home hormone tests can help to pinpoint the imbalance and suggest dietary and lifestyle changes to address it. Supplementing with vitamin C, B complex vitamins, and L-theanine can improve cognition, focus, and memory access. Vitamin D is also a good choice; it is anti-inflammatory and promotes healthy bones and moods.

Dehydration

The brain requires adequate blood flow to function properly. Poor circulation, lack of sleep, stress, and nutrient deficiencies can all contribute to feelings of cloudy thinking.

High-glycemic foods (which cause a spike and subsequent crash in your blood sugar) and food sensitivities or allergies may also contribute to brain fog. An elimination diet can help you figure out the offenders.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day and avoid processed fruit juice, which can be high in added sugar. Instead, opt for whole fruits and vegetables for hydration.

Anxiety

Mood disorders like depression and anxiety can directly affect the brain. If you’re suffering from these conditions and experiencing brain fog, it may be time to seek help.

Alcohol

While a few ibuprofen and a big glass of water can cure a hangover, brain fog isn’t easy to shake off. This is because alcohol impairs GABA, a neurotransmitter that reduces stress levels and anxiety in the body.

It can also impact your memory and concentration. These issues are thought to be exacerbated by an imbalance of hormones, such as those seen in pregnancy or menopause. You can combat these issues by eating a well-balanced diet and reducing alcohol intake. Ensure you sleep enough and participate in activities that increase your alertness and energy, such as exercise or meditation.

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13 Benefits of sorrel and side effects

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Benefits of hyaluronic acid for acne

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Discover the benefits of hyaluronic acid for acne.

In most acne scars there is a loss of skin volume ( atrophy ), which gives the area where they form a depressed or “engraved” appearance.

This atrophy is the product of a  lack of hyaluronic acid and collagen in the dermis, the intermediate part of the skin, responsible for giving the turgidity, volume, and elasticity of healthy skin.

Methods of treatment

There are different  methods to treat atrophic scars, which we could classify into two different groups according to their speed of action:

· Immediate effect.  They are called fillers, biocompatible substances that can be injected into the skin to give volume to areas that have lost it.

Among them, those of hyaluronic acid, polylactic acid, or calcium hydroxyapatite stand out among others. Its turgid effect is immediate, filling cavities, furrows, and atrophic areas of the skin with very natural results. The duration of these materials is limited, so periodically (every  6 – 18 months ) it is common to practice a new session.

· Delayed effect.  It implies that they promote the synthesis of collagen and ground substance of the dermis. It is worth mentioning the fractional lasers  (ablative or non-ablative) and the intermediate and deep peels.

The main advantage of these methods is that their effect is permanent once the optimal point of improvement has been reached, which is not immediate but after practicing several sessions of the procedure.

Hyaluronic acid is indicated in the treatment of atrophic,  depressed, and ice-pick acne scars. There are different densities of hyaluronic acid, designed to treat different forms of atrophy or loss of volume.

For the treatment of moderate or ice pick acne scars, it is useful to use low and intermediate densities; and to recover a large volume in especially atrophic areas, it is possible to use higher densities to cover the maximum repertoire of defects.

The main advantages of using hyaluronic acid lie in its immediate action, its durability, its biocompatibility, and its minimal allergenic potential. This molecule can fill in atrophic scars, providing optimal volume immediately and in the short term, promoting collagen synthesis in the long run.

In this way, the irregularity on the surface of the skin is substantially reduced after the application of hyaluronic acid, improving the overall appearance of the skin in the treated area.

Another positive aspect of using hyaluronic acid is that it usually only requires a  single application session. Likewise, fillers are one of the best tolerated aesthetic procedures since they have a  minimal rate of adverse effects and the pain caused is minimal if a precise technique is followed. Slight erythema  (redness) that lasts 2-4 hours after the procedure is common and can be reduced with the application of cold compresses.

According to studies published by Halachmi et al, the satisfaction rate and results in patients with atrophic acne scars and ice pick treated with hyaluronic acid are excellent.

The only limiting aspect of hyaluronic acid fillers is their duration. This molecule is naturally degraded in the skin, its effect persisting for   6-18 months depending on the density of hyaluronic acid used and the indication for which it has been applied.

Specifically, for acne scars, the duration of hyaluronic acid is the maximum possible, since it is retained within the fibrosis that partitions the scars. It should be remembered that, in the long term, this molecule favors the synthesis of collagen, so that the perceptible effect is progressively more durable as different sessions are carried out.

FREQUENT QUESTIONS

What is the main indication of hyaluronic acid in acne scars?

Its main effect is to fill in depressed scars and regularize the appearance of the skin surface.

When is the effect of hyaluronic acid noticeable?

The effect of hyaluronic acid is immediate and noticeable at the end of its application. Over a week or so, the hyaluronic acid settles in the applied area and the surface where it has been applied progressively becomes even more regular.

How is hyaluronic acid applied?

The procedure is performed in the  Dermatology consultation through microinjections applied under the scars to be treated. An anesthetic cream is usually used before the session and it is very tolerable, with minimal discomfort.

How many hyaluronic acid sessions are needed to treat facial acne scars?

In general, if they are not very deep or extensive,  one is enough.

How is the face after doing the filling session?

The corrective effect of hyaluronic acid is immediate. At the end of the session, most atrophic and depressed scars have recovered all or part of their lost volume. Immediately after the session, it is usual to see some redness in the treated areas and slight swelling, which usually lasts between 2-4 hours.

It is possible, although infrequent, that during the procedure a  minimal punctual hematoma may appear in an injection area, which will disappear spontaneously over a week or so.

Is it a painful procedure?

Filling with hyaluronic acid after application of anesthetic cream is one of the most well-tolerated and appreciated aesthetic procedures, with an excellent satisfaction rate for the patient.

Can fillers be combined with other acne scar treatments?

Yes.  They can be used concomitantly with ablative/non-ablative peels or lasers, or even botulinum toxin if desired. It is recommended, yes, to carry them out in different sessions.

Is the effect of hyaluronic acid definitive?

No.  Although with each session there is a certain accumulation of the effect due to the collagen synthesis promoted by hyaluronic acid, it is advisable to perform a filler every  6-18 months depending on the indication and the area to be treated.

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10 Benefits Of Feijoa Or Pineapple Guava

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