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Cog Fog: How To Deal With This Frequent MS Symptom?

What is Cog Fog?

Cog fog or the “Brain fog” is one of the most harassing symptoms of living with a chronic illness. Many symptoms of chronic diseases can be treated with medications.

However, unfortunately, no medication could take away cog fog. But, there are certainly some ways to deal with these frequent MS symptoms and one can minimize its effects and live a normal life. Read the following array of the article to discover more about the same.

Cog Fog: The Science Behind It

MS is a disease of the CNS or central nervous system that affects the brain and spinal cord. Areas of inflammation and lesions are also caused in the brain. This ultimately leads to cognitive issues in the patients that usually involve slowness of processing, distractibility, and trouble in multi-tasking.

Cog-fog is also known as MS-related brain fog and affects numerous people surviving with MS. It is estimated that more than 50% of people surviving with MS will develop various cognitive issues, such as problems while understanding conversations, recalling memories, or thinking critically. This symptom is known as Cognitive fog or in short, “Cog Fog”. This is also termed, “brain fog”, and referred to as cognitive impairment, and changes in cognition. For the most part, Cog fog will be mild to moderate and it won’t be severe. However, it can make even the simplest tasks like shopping, pretty frustrating.

Cog Fog: How To Deal With This Frequent MS Symptom?

There is a lack of treatment options for the cognitive issues or cog fog that accompany MS. However, in the absence of treatments, some lifestyle factors can make a huge difference. Some modifiable factors that are in our control, can aid in changing the way a person with MS lives and also protect the brain fairly.

The most important lifestyle factors that might help with Cog fog include diet, exercise, mental exercise, and rest.

Focus On What You Eat:

One with MS experiencing symptoms of cog fog should focus on what they eat. They should eat lots of good fats which are good for brain health. Such foods include nuts, avocados, coconut oil, and foods rich in omega-3. The addition of healthy fats to the diet can help with cog fog. Some other brain foods to be included in the daily diet could be extra virgin olive oil, seafood like mackerel, salmon, sardines, chia seeds and flax seeds.

Exercise and Physical Activity Is a Must:

Engaging with physical activity is good for physical as well as mental health. It has been studied for years that exercise has helped people with MS to deal with their daily struggles of cog fog.

According to a study of 2011, it has been found that physical activity was significantly correlated with the cognitive speed in patients with MS.(1)

It has also been found from a study of 2013 that people with MS who participated in regular aerobic exercises, experienced an increase in their mood.(2) There is a heightened ability to process information when your mood is good. Though any type of exercise can prove beneficial, it is specifically, the aerobic exercises that play a crucial role in MS and cognitive function.

Apart from this, another study of 2016 reported that patients with MS who exercised every day had shown a reduction in lesions in their brain, which in turn has shown how powerful exercise can be.(3)

Exercise Your Mind Too:

Patients with MS experiencing cog fog should do some thought-challenging or mental exercises like Sudoku, crossword, and jigsaw puzzles, or should learn a new language. Moreover, maintaining a hobby would keep their mind focused on the positive world.

Get Plenty of Rest:

One of the most important things to follow while dealing with cog fog is to take plenty of rest. Quality sleep and restorative naps can improve cognitive health significantly. Make sure to maintain a routine bedtime and waking time, and follow this even on the weekends.

Write Things Down:

Someone with MS and experiencing brain fog or cog fog often forget important occasions and dates. So, keep a to-do list and a calendar in a visible location, or use a note or diary to keep track of every day.

Ask For Help:

Make it a note that whenever required ask for help. Do not overdo or pressurize yourself. Participate in various calming activities like reading a book, taking a nature’s walk, listening to soothing music, and so on.

Final Words:

So, these were some of the ways to deal with cog fog. If you have been dealing with MS and having hard times dealing with cog fog, then try out the above-mentioned lifestyle factors and see the improvement. Make sure that you seek medical attention or help whenever required.

“You are not alone”

References:

Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:January 24, 2022

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