Why Does My Head Feel Both Foggy and Heavy?

Reviewed by Suo Lee, MD

Internal Medicine

Your head may feel foggy and heavy because your brain isn’t processing things as clearly as usual, which can happen for many reasons like stress, fatigue, or changes in your body’s signals.

Explanation

Many people describe feeling “brain fog” as a mix of confusion, slow thinking, and a heavy or cloudy head. Scientists have studied this symptom and found that it can involve problems with concentration, memory, and overall alertness. Some research looked at thousands of people and noticed that brain fog can have many different aspects, from feeling like your brain is in a haze to having physical signs such as headaches. Conditions like long COVID, changes in blood pressure when standing up (as seen in some people with postural tachycardia syndrome), and other health issues can trigger these feelings. When your body is stressed or recovering from an illness, your brain might not work as clearly, leading to that foggy, heavy feeling. It’s also common for our minds to feel overloaded when we’re under pressure or not getting enough rest. If this feeling persists or worries you, it is important to speak with a doctor who can check your overall health, suggest ways to ease the symptoms, and help determine if something else is going on. This information is meant to educate and is not a substitute for clinical advice.

(References)

Alim-Marvasti A, Ciocca M, Kuleindiren N, Lin A, Selim H, Mahmud M. Subjective brain fog: a four-dimensional characterization in 25,796 participants. Front Hum Neurosci. 2024 Jun 6;18:1409250. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1409250. PMID: 38911226; PMCID: PMC11191638
Ross AJ, Medow MS, Rowe PC, Stewart JM. What is brain fog? An evaluation of the symptom in postural tachycardia syndrome. Clin Auton Res. 2013 Dec;23(6):305-11. doi: 10.1007/s10286-013-0212-z. Epub 2013 Sep 3. PMID: 23999934; PMCID: PMC3896080.
Jennings G, Monaghan A, Xue F, Duggan E, Romero-Ortuño R. Comprehensive Clinical Characterisation of Brain Fog in Adults Reporting Long COVID Symptoms. J Clin Med. 2022 Jun 15;11(12):3440. doi: 10.3390/jcm11123440. PMID: 35743516; PMCID: PMC9224578.
Di Stadio A, Brenner MJ, De Luca P, Albanese M, D'Ascanio L, Ralli M, Roccamatisi D, Cingolani C, Vitelli F, Camaioni A, Di Girolamo S, Bernitsas E. Olfactory Dysfunction, Headache, and Mental Clouding in Adults with Long-COVID-19: What Is the Link between Cognition and Olfaction? A Cross-Sectional Study. Brain Sci. 2022 Jan 24;12(2):154. doi: 10.3390/brainsci12020154. PMID: 35203918; PMCID: PMC8870047.

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