How to overcome Thyroid brain fog.

How to overcome Thyroid brain fog.

How to overcome Thyroid brain fog.

Do you ever walk into a room and forget why you went in there or forget what you were about to say? Do you get distracted easily or struggle to concentrate? Although most people occasionally experience this, if you are experiencing symptoms of forgetfulness or are struggling to concentrate more often than usual, you could be experiencing what is commonly known as “brain fog.” Read more

Brain fog occurs as a symptom in most people who experience some type of thyroid condition or even thyroidectomy, which results in hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is caused by an under-active thyroid gland, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or thyroidectomy.

 

What specifically is brain fog, and how does your thyroid health contribute to your mental well-being?

Our thyroid gland produces, regulates, and distributes the thyroid hormone throughout most of the systems in our body, it’s a key contributor to our overall health in general and is vital to our metabolic rate, heart, digestive system, bone, and brain health.

Metabolic rate and thyroid function are linked together when it comes to energy production and regulation. Any imbalances or fluctuations in our metabolic rates will cause things to S-L-O-W-D-O-W-N and can lead a person to feel fatigued and cognitively sluggish. 

In fact, our brains are the first systems in our bodies to experience some sort of decrease in functionality when we have low thyroid hormone in our system.  If you are someone who’s had a thyroidectomy or are living with hypothyroidism you are more likely to experience “brain fog” and more surprisingly you can experience this even if your TSH is normal.

In a study conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago that aimed to determine brain fog symptoms that participants with thyroid conditions experience, more than 5,000 participants were asked open-ended questions related to their health, brain health, and mental cognition, among them more than 79 % of participants reported that they experienced brain fog symptoms frequently. The most common symptoms reported by thyroid patients included fatigue as well as forgetfulness.

 

Brain fog symptoms can include:

  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Forgetfulness
  • Short Term and Long Term Memory loss or difficulty
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Staring into space
  • Confusion
  • Muddled thoughts
  • Fatigue
  • Reduced reaction time
  • Depression
  • Poor self-esteem
  • Difficulty getting motivated
  • Procrastination

Although people being treated for their thyroid-related conditions may still experience brain fog even if their TSH is normal. Why? Research shows most thyroid patients experience low stomach acid which can lead to nutrient deficiency and SIBO, an overgrowth of bacteria in the gut. When patients experience low stomach acid their bodies can’t digest proteins or carbs normally, this can lead to loss of nutrients as well as weight gain as well as symptoms that mimic thyroid symptoms. It’s why thyroid patients often say “My TSH is normal, but I don’t feel normal.” 

Unfortunately, the nutritional aspect of thyroid treatment is not typically addressed by healthcare providers and patient complaints often go unheard or are treated with more medications instead of treating the root cause.

 

How to overcome thyroid brain fog?

The simplest answer is to support your thyroid health (with or without a thyroid) and get proper nutrition to replenish lost nutrients that help your body convert T4 to T3.

ThyVita® Women’s Ultra and ThyVita® Vitality is an innovative support in thyroid treatment taken 4 hours after thyroid medication. Formulated for patients with and without a thyroid. Their Patented formula contains 22 vitamins and minerals that play critical roles in helping maintain healthy thyroid function. With higher absorption thyroid patients actually feel a difference in their mood, clarity, stamina and hair shedding. Best of all, most patients state they sleep better too!

If you’re not sure if your thyroid is to blame for your symptoms, be sure to book a visit with your healthcare provider to receive a proper diagnosis of your hormone health. Understanding which condition you have or if you have none at all is an important step to take. Your doctor will be able to help you determine which course of treatment is best as each of us has specific needs that may vary when it comes to thyroid health and life after thyroidectomy.

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.