We all forget things sometimes. We forget the names of our favorite singers or movies. We can’t find the key or phone when we are about to leave the house. But when should we be concerned about our forgetfulness?
Some degrees of memory problems are just a part of aging. However, there is a difference between this kind of changes in memory and the memory loss related to Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders.
COMMON CAUSES OF FORGETFULNESS
EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS
When you are stressed or anxious, you have mood disturbances that distract you from your normal life. You can’t focus, which leads to memory problems.
Medications
Some medications like over-the-counter sleep aids, pain medications, overactive bladder medications and some allergy medications cause memory problems.
SLEEP ISSUES
Insomnia or not being able to sleep for 7 hours affect thinking and memory skills.
Excessive alcohol consumption
Alcoholism can impair mental abilities. When interacting with some medications can cause memory loss.
VITAMIN B-12 DEFICIENCY
Vitamin B-12 affects healthy nerve and red blood cells. Its deficiency especially in the elderly causes memory problems
Brain disorders
An infection in the brain or tumor can cause memory loss.
When is it more than just forgetfulness?
When someone starts having problems with memory, their initial fear is dementia. Its most common cause is Alzheimer’s disease. The main symptoms of this disease include forgetting events or recent conversations, repeating what has been said before or getting lost in familiar places, even home. People who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease usually do not recognize that they have it, which makes the treatment process a bit harder.
Another cause of memory loss is cerebrovascular disease or damage to the blood vessels in the brain. The damage is mostly caused by strokes and heart disease such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and smoking.
When should I see a doctor?
If you’re concerned about memory problems, you should see your doctor. The latter will diagnose your case with the help of tests and inquiries.
It’s even better if you visit your doctor with one of your family members or friends so that the answers to the doctor’s questions could be correct. Here are some of the questions that the doctor will ask:
- When did you start forgetting things?
- Do you take any medications, and in what doses?
- Do you drink alcohol?
- Have you been in an accident, or have you fallen?
- Have you recently been sick?
- Have you been stressed or sad?
- Have you recently had a major loss?
- What have you done to tackle memory problems?
How to prevent memory loss and forgetfulness?
Below you can find some ways that will help you slow memory loss and cut down on forgetfulness:
Healthy eating – Healthy food is beneficial for brain health. Try to have DASH or Mediterranean food plans as they include brain-protecting food like fish, nuts, chicken and green vegetables
Exercise – Even walking for 30 minutes a day can be a great exercise for your body and health.
Stay active mentally – Try reading, playing games, solving puzzles and learning new hobbies.
Socialize – Strong social connections help to reduce stress and improve your mood.
If you are still concerned about your memory problems, our professionals are available 24/7 to help you cope with both mental and physical issues.