Feeling Forgetful? How To Know If It’s Memory Loss Or Overload

Are you becoming more forgetful?  Do you have trouble concentrating and recalling words or names in conversation? These symptoms can signal concern for many individuals. However, an important question to ask yourself is, “Am I under a lot of stress?” If so, these symptoms will be temporary and a step back into a slower pace of life will do the trick in helping restore your recall. Getting adequate sleep will also help to restore your recall and overall brain function.

However, if your sleep is adequate and life’s pace seems to be steady and you and those around you are still noticing these memory symptoms it may be time to get your memory screened. Other symptoms that it may be time for a checkup are: Difficulty performing familiar tasks, sometimes forgetting where you are or where you are going, misplacing things more frequently, family or friends telling you that you are repeating yourself often. Memory screenings are a significant first step toward finding out if a person may have a memory problem. Memory problems could be caused by Alzheimer’s Disease or other medical conditions. While a memory screening is not used to diagnose any particular illness and does not replace consultation with a qualified physician or other healthcare professional, it is very helpful. A screening can check a person’s memory and other thinking skills. It can indicate if someone might benefit from a more complete medical visit.
Some memory problems can be readily treated, such as those caused by vitamin deficiencies or thyroid problems. Other memory problems might result from causes that are not currently reversible, such as Alzheimer’s Disease. In general, the earlier the diagnosis, the easier it is to treat one of these conditions. Early recognition of mild cognitive impairment provides an opportunity for healthcare professionals to treat this condition, and possibly slow down the changes in memory and other thinking skills. If you suspect it may be time for you or your loved ones’ memory to be assessed, contact your physician. There are simple in-office screenings that can be performed. The nurses at Bayshore are also able to perform memory screenings for all current clients and prospective clients at their request.