A Guide to Memory Loss and Forgetfulness
We have all done that, wondering in the middle of the kitchen why we entered or trying to recall why we opened the fridge door, looking for car keys while holding it in our hands, and calling out people with different names.
In a fast-paced world, occasional forgetfulness is something we cannot avoid, as it is directly related to stress and a busy schedule. However, when those “where are my glasses?” turn into “how to reach home?”, it becomes a serious matter, as occasional forgetfulness turns into memory loss.
There is a very thin border between memory loss and forgetfulness.
Brain and memory are important aspects of one’s life, and understanding the thin line between normal stress or age-related problems and neurological concerns is vital. At Eskag Sanjeevani, we believe that clarity is the first step towards wellness.
Key Takeaways
- Right Understanding: Normal forgetfulness is when you forget certain things, like names or where you have kept a specific item, but you recall it after some time, whereas memory loss is consistent and affects your daily life drastically. Consult a neuro doctor when your memory loss is affecting your daily life.
- Root Causes: From causes like vitamin deficiency and constant stress to dementia, which play a crucial role in how you develop memory loss and forgetfulness.
- Proper Care: Stress management and early diagnosis help manage and even recover worse conditions and help you to lead a better life.
Proper Care: Understanding the Difference
As we dive deep for our responsibilities, occasionally forgetting things, becomes a daily part of our lives. Even though, normally forgetting things, is not always related to age but as we grow older, our body parts undergo changes and grow slower. Just like how we cannot run faster when we grow older, our brain too starts functioning slower. It’s important to understand the characterisation of memory loss and forgetfulness.
Forgetfulness can be characterised by the following:
- Forgetting a name but remembering it after some time
- Misplacing your wallet or book, but being able to trace it down
- Requirement of lists to cope up with certain things like groceries, important task, etc.
On the other hand, memory loss can be characterised by the following:
- Trouble remembering names and recent conversations
- Asking about the same doubts and questions repeatedly
- Facing trouble while walking or driving in a familiar neighbourhood
- Misplacing your items often and being unable to trace it down
- Missing important events and appointments [1] [2]
These symptoms gradually occur and increase over time, disrupting your societal life. Memory loss can lead to dementia and Alzheimer’s, which are incurable. Before it gets worse, it’s better to consult a neuro doctor. Eskag Sanjeevani is a highly experienced and the best neurologist in Kolkata who believes in providing the best services and helping you recover faster.
What Causes Memory Loss and Forgetfulness?
While understanding the difference between these two conditions is the first step to take care of your health, it is also necessary to understand what causes memory loss and forgetfulness. It can be caused by a number of factors, such as stress and other negative emotions, a busy schedule, or peer pressure. Whereas memory loss may be a result of different factors, such as:
- Physical health problems: Health problems like strokes, thyroid problems, infections, and a deficiency of important nutrients.
- Mental health issues: Severe forms of depression, stress, and anxiety may lead to serious memory loss issues.
- Other major issues: Consuming alcohol, head injury, major trauma, side effects from medical treatments, and chronic illnesses like high blood pressure may also lead to memory loss.
10 Ways to Improve Memory and Brain Health
There are various ways to improve memory loss and forgetfulness. And it is important to take care of your brain and memory, so that, in the near future, your memory loss doesn’t affect your daily activities. Here are 10 ways to improve memory and brain health:
- Active Physical Activities: Get out for a walk, do exercise, and some yoga or play light games. Doing a lot of physical activities will help keep your brain health in check.
- Stay Mentally Active: Staying mentally active is also mandatory for your nerves and brain health. Play memory games, do meditation and breathing exercises, and also keep stress in check. This significantly improves your memory loss and forgetfulness.
- Eat Healthy: Cut back on smoking and drinking. Try to eat foods that are good for your brain health, like nuts, berries, veggies, and fish. This makes a great difference in how you remember things.
- Spend Quality Time: Spend some good time with your friends and family that doesn’t only make you happy but those “happy hormones” helps your brain and nerves.
- Sleep Well: The best way to improve memory loss and forgetfulness is to sleep well. Stay away from your screen and dim your lights one hour before going to sleep.
- Learn a New Skill: Learning a new skill like drawing, guitar, or skills involving critical thinking is a great way to help your memory.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Maintaining a healthy weight is mandatory for your overall health, including brain health. Do physical activities and eat healthy foods to maintain a healthy weight.
- Eliminate Distractions: Try not to do too many things together that distract you, instead of keeping you on track. Do one thing at a time, stay organised, and see how issues related to memory loss and forgetfulness disappear.
- Socialise: Along with spending time with your loved ones, it is necessary to socialise. Socialising with people allows you to learn new things and keeps your anxiety in check.
- Take Challenges: One of the best things for your brain is to take up new challenges. Explore new and unfamiliar things that let you think critically.
Follow these steps and see improvement in your brain and memory. When nothing stops the issues affecting your daily life, it’s time to consult a neurologist. [3] [4]
When to See a Neurologist?
The moment when your simple questions, “what was her name?” turn into “where do I live?” and interrupt your daily life, it is time to consult a neurologist.
A neurologist or neuro doctor is a specialist who treats disorders related to the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, and is capable enough to treat your memory loss and forgetfulness. Memory loss is related to the brain and nerves; thus, it is important to consult a neurologist.
Are you looking for the best neurologist in Kolkata?
As a leading hospital in Kolkata, Eskag Sanjeevani Hospital is always ready with a wonderful team of experienced neurologists who have been successfully treating every patient and helping them recover.
Experienced doctors like Dr. Debasish Roy, Dr. Sumanta Sarkar, Dr. Moukoli Paul and many others are all experts and have been successfully treating patients over these years, putting great effort and care into their treatment.
Conclusion: Take the Right Step
Once the difference between these two conditions is clear, effective management becomes necessary. From practicing the 10 ways to improve memory to seeking advice from a qualified doctor, your brain health is in your hands. Eskag Sanjeevani and our team of trained professionals are always there to help you with your brain and memory. We prioritise our patients’ well-being and offer:
- Experienced specialists and medical professionals
- 24/7 advanced-level facilities
- Latest infrastructure
- Affordable treatments
- Faster and virtual reports
Early diagnosis can help you recover from memory loss and forgetfulness faster. Do not wait for your conditions to get worse and book an appointment with a neuro doctor at Eskag Sanjeevani, right now.
References
Forgetting simple things like where have you kept your book or someone’s name but recalling it after some time is forgetfulness. Whereas, repeatedly forgetting things, like recent conversations and places in your neighbourhood is memory loss.
Memory loss is caused by a number of factors like trauma, head injury, poor diet, extreme medical conditions and even poor management of stress. Eskag Sanjeevani is there to help you diagnose the underlying condition and recover faster.
Yes, stress can lead to forgetfulness and it is necessary to keep it in control. Poor management of stress and its repetition can lead to memory loss. Book an appointment with Eskag Sanjeevani to keep your condition in-check.
Neurologist is a brain doctor who treats everything related to your nervous system, that includes brain, nerves and spinal cord. Eskag Sanjeevani has experienced neuro doctors who ensure that your entire medical journey is safe and comfortable.
If your memory loss is caused by deficiency in nutrients, poor diets and certain medications, then it is curable but certain advanced neuro diseases like dementia can be treated but are incurable.