You may feel drowsy, confused and unable to think. Depression and anxiety, especially if either develops suddenly, may be an early symptom of a brain tumor.
Brain fog can be caused by treatments for blood cancer such as chemotherapy, targeted therapies, or steroids. In some cases, symptoms like fatigue, chronic pain or sleep issues can also contribute to causing brain fog. There can also be other causes that aren't always related to blood cancer.
Keep in mind, though, that brain fog can be a symptom of so many things, including stress, lack of sleep, and menopause. Sudden personality changes: Becoming suddenly aggressive or sluggish, for instance, would be a rare symptom of a brain tumor.
Although brain tumors can cause tonic-clonic seizures (the ones characterized by losing consciousness and experiencing convulsions), they're more likely to cause focal seizures. Also known as partial seizures, focal seizures may cause: A strange feeling of being absent or spaced out.
Symptoms of a brain tumour
seizures (fits) persistently feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting) and drowsiness. mental or behavioural changes, such as memory problems or changes in personality. progressive weakness or paralysis on one side of the body.
This can be caused by overworking, lack of sleep, stress, and spending too much time on the computer. On a cellular level, brain fog is believed to be caused by high levels inflammation and changes to hormones that determine your mood, energy and focus.
Brain fog can be a symptom of many illnesses, such as COVID-19 and autoimmune diseases like celiac disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis. However, it also occurs due to lifestyle factors, such as stress, burnout, lack of sleep, and hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause.
Brain fog is not a medical condition or mental health disorder. It is a term used to describe feelings of mental fuzziness, mental fatigue, and forgetfulness.
Pseudotumor cerebri is a brain condition that causes the same symptoms as a brain tumor: headaches, vision problems, nausea, and dizziness. But it's not a tumor. "Pseudotumor" means "false tumor." It's caused by increased pressure around the brain.
Diagnosing a brain tumor usually involves a neurological exam, brain scans and a biopsy, if it can be done safely. A neurological exam may include a variety of tests to evaluate neurological functions such as balance, hearing, vision and reflexes.
Every patient's pain experience is unique, but headaches associated with brain tumors tend to be constant and are worse at night or in the early morning. They are often described as dull, "pressure-type" headaches, though some patients also experience sharp or "stabbing" pain.
Diagnosing brain tumors. We sometimes find brain tumors when otherwise healthy people suddenly have a seizure, unusual weakness or speech problems. If you have these symptoms, go to an emergency room. If ER doctors suspect a brain tumor, they may send you to us for a full evaluation.
However, people should see a doctor if: their brain fog regularly interferes with their ability to complete daily tasks. they have problems with daily functioning, for example, they forget to pay bills or get lost often. their memory seems to be getting steadily worse.
Chemo brain can also be called chemo fog, cancer-related cognitive impairment or cognitive dysfunction. Though chemo brain is a widely used term, the causes of concentration and memory problems aren't well-understood.
Does chemobrain ever go away? For most patients, chemobrain improves within 9-12 months after completing chemotherapy, but many people still have symptoms at the six-month mark.
From brain fog, fatigue, and frequent headaches, to stroke-like symptoms or a family history of multiple sclerosis or another neurological condition, Lori Hendin Travis, MD, a neurologist at HonorHealth Neurology, says many situations warrant seeing a neurologist.
Everyone spaces out from time to time. While spacing out can simply be a sign that you are sleep deprived, stressed, or distracted, it can also be due to a transient ischemic attack, seizure, hypotension, hypoglycemia, migraine, transient global amnesia, fatigue, narcolepsy, or drug misuse.
Diagnostic tests your healthcare provider may utilize include: Blood tests to understand possible brain fog causes (e.g., vitamin B12, COVID-19 antibody test, or thyroid stimulating hormone). Brain imaging tests, like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to evaluate for neurological conditions.
Brain fog can be a symptom of a nutrient deficiency, sleep disorder, bacterial overgrowth from overconsumption of sugar, depression, or even a thyroid condition. Other common brain fog causes include eating too much and too often, inactivity, not getting enough sleep, chronic stress, and a poor diet.
Cluster, eyestrain, and tension headaches may all trigger a tingling sensation in the head due to changing pressure and blood flow. A migraine aura may occur before a migraine episode. A tingling sensation is a common part of migraine auras.
Many people with MS experience dizziness, in which you feel light-headed or off-balance, notes the NMSS. A less-common MS symptom is vertigo. When you have vertigo, you feel as though your surroundings are spinning around you, Dr. Kalb says, or that you are spinning.
Brain fog is also common if you have depression, anxiety or stress. While recovering from coronavirus (COVID-19), some people experience brain fog symptoms for a short time while others may experience brain fog for several months or longer. Speak to your GP if you're worried about your symptoms.
Headaches, seizures and weakness throughout the body can all be potential brain tumor symptoms.