Brain Fog Is Not Just in Your Head
by Dr. Fred Harvey, MD
Have you experienced those days where you just could not think straight? Most of us have. Can you recall how it felt when you came down with the flu or a fever? What about an intestinal virus? Now imagine if you had those mental symptoms on a daily basis to a somewhat milder extent. Brain fog is subtler; however, it is similar. Our brains are vulnerable to stress which causes a malfunction in our internal computer interfaces. Communication becomes disrupted when it seems like there is molasses in our gears. Thoughts are slower, and answers come, but they take effort to formulate. Even simple tasks require work and energy than normal. |
Our moods and memories can also be affected, or there could be related general fatigue and generalized muscle aches that frequently begin prior to the brain fog. Often, gastrointestinal signs like those of reflux or of irritable bowel precede the mental symptoms too. Many challenges can result in brain imbalances which cause mental and emotional disorders. We might experience bacterial, fungal or viral infections, a buildup of toxins like alcohol, mold and lead, sleep deprivation, multiple small brain injuries, food triggers like gluten and casein, vascular disease and cirrhosis, and different types of psychological stress. Functional medicine is the ideal specialty to address the root of brain fog because this modality looks at the various symptoms from a systems-based perspective. Rather than simply seeking a diagnosis so that a treatment can be prescribed, functional medicine finds the cause of these symptoms. A functional medicine practitioner looks at genetic predispositions that were present before you developed a symptom like slow thinking. The doctor will examine possible triggers for the problem like a toxic environmental exposure, then evaluate the mediators of damage such as a secondary immunologic reaction to the toxic damage caused by the direct exposure to the mercury. This makes it possible to intervene with specific recommendations that address and potentially eliminate the cause to promote both healing and rebuilding.
If you or a loved one experiences brain fog, please consider scheduling an appointment at the Harvey Center. Dr. Fred Harvey recently completed a training with Dr. Dale Bredeson, author of Reversing Early Dementia. For more information or to schedule a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Fred Harvey, call The Harvey Center for Integrative Medicine at 941-929-9355. |
