Menopause-Brain Fog - Access to Advice and Help
By our member Mr Makarand Oak MBBS, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
‘Brain fog’ is a symptom frequently mentioned by women approaching their 40s and 50s. This is a collective term for cognitive disruption resulting in impaired cognitive function in daily activities. Symptoms include difficulty recalling words, misplacing items, trouble concentrating, being prone to distraction, and losing one’s train of thought. There are oestrogenic receptors in the pre-frontal lobe and in the hippocampus part of the brain, which are an important part of reasoning and learning, and these are adversely affected with falling levels of oestrogen. Brain fog is often accompanied by other symptoms such as menstrual irregularity, hot flushes, night sweats, skin and vaginal dryness, and sleep disturbances. The spectrum may begin before periods stop and may continue for several years after. Lifestyle factors play a significant role in the foregoing symptom complex.
Management of brain fog and/or menopause symptoms should start with a detailed medical history, which should include lifestyle factors, relevant examination, offering opportunistic cervical and breast screening, full health check and in high-risk cases arranging a baseline DEXA scan.
The ideal treatment/management goal is eliminating symptoms, but this may take up to six months to achieve. Management options are conventional Hormone Replacement Therapies, alternative medicine, and lifestyle changes including yoga and meditation.
The best outcomes are achieved by a patient-led engagement approach.
Mr Makarand Oak MBBS, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and (Late) Clinical Chair London Independent Hospital. GMC No 1740718
Our member Professor Nadey Hakim is a consultant transplant surgeon - and much more besides: a clarinettist and a sculptor. His sculpture in the picture is called "From the stillness of stone, the miracle of a kidney has emerged"
Click here to view this inspiring video interview of Prof Hakim:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Our member Natasha Dawson, an expert adviser on neurodiversity, has just co-written a new book "Raising a sensory-sensitive ADHD child - why everyday sounds, clothes, and textures trigger meltdowns & what you can do about it".
Imagine a world where the hum of the refrigerator feels like a roar, a simple hug is excruciating, or a seam in a sock can derail an entire day. For the sensory-sensitive ADHD child, this isn't imagination - it's their daily reality. If you've ever hidden 'itchy' clothes, whispered pleas for 'just wear socks,' or felt utterly helpless during a meltdown triggered by something seemingly insignificant, then this book is not just for you - it's written for everybody that comes into contact with your child whether that be brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers or health professionals. Welcome to the hidden world of the sensory-sensitive ADHD child.
Raising A Sensory-Sensitive ADHD Child: Why Everyday Sounds, Clothes, and Textures Trigger Meltdowns & What You Can Do About It | Parenting ... Toolkit From Co To Self Regulation: Amazon.co.uk: Penn, Courtney, Dawson, Natasha: 9781919198613: Books
83% of reviews are 5*. See two of the reviews below.
