Dehydration can cause us to have 'brain fog' due to the fact that the brain requires a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to function properly. When you become dehydrated, the volume of blood in your body decreases, which means that there is less blood flowing to your brain.
This can lead to a decrease in the amount of oxygen and nutrients that your brain is receiving, which can result in symptoms such as confusion, difficulty concentrating, and memory problems.
Lupus fog is a general name for the cognitive impairments that often appear with lupus, including concentration and memory problems, confusion, and difficulty expressing yourself. These cognitive problems are often worse during flares.
Tips to Improve your lupus fog symptoms
Put it in writing - Instead of trying to keep stuff in your head, write it down. Write everything down - every household chore, every birthday, and every doctor's appointment. Take notes during conversations. You need to get in the habit of writing down even the stuff you’re positive you would never forget.
Stay organised - Keep everything in a daily planner so you don't end up with your notes on random scraps of paper. Consult it many times a day. Come up with a schedule and manageable to-do list for every day. If you have a smart phone, get a good note-taking app that you can access on your phone and on your computer.
Say it out loud - Things seem to stick better in the short-term memory if you say them aloud. When you meet new people, use their name a few times in the conversation. After a chat or meeting at work, repeat the main points -- it will help solidify your memory and let others fill in anything you missed.
Prioritise your to-do list - Rank to-do items by how much stress they're causing and to get rid of the stressful stuff first.
Keep good habits - If you have lupus, you need to take care of yourself. Reducing stress, taking naps, and getting enough sleep at night could help relieve lupus fog symptoms.
Stretch your memory - Playing word games and doing crossword puzzles can help sharpen your memory. Keep your mind active and engaged.
Drinking water isn’t a cure but it’s still important. Drinking water supports the elimination of toxic build up in the body, and a faulty digestive process common with lupus. Staying hydrated is important for improving and maintaining health. But be careful not to over hydrate as well.
This article is intended to inform and give insight but not treat, diagnose or replace the advice of a doctor. Always seek medical advice with any questions regarding a medical condition.
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