How Tracking Biomarkers Can Help You Reduce Brain Fog
Brain fog is a cognitive symptom characterized by difficulties with focus, memory, and mental clarity. It can manifest as a feeling of mental sluggishness, impacting daily productivity and overall cognitive functioning. Brain fog can serve as an indicator of an underlying illness, a result of hormonal changes, or even a long-run side effect of a past ailment, so it is important to measure biomarkers to differentiate between causes. In recent times, brain fog has been a common symptom for individuals who contracted COVID-19, with 32% of patients experiencing brain fog months after sickness. [1]
Brain fog can occur due to multiple factors
Brain fog is a symptom of a plethora of conditions, lifestyle choices, and medications. Causes can range from chronic stress to chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia. Hormonal imbalances and side effects from medications that impact cognitive function, such as antidepressants, are other common sources of brain fog. Additionally, chronic illnesses often cite brain fog as a symptom, with conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome impairing mental clarity.
What is the link between Covid-19 and brain-fog?
One of COVID-19’s most common long-term symptoms is brain fog, often experienced months after the initial infection and regardless of the severity of the case. This phenomenon occurs due to the body’s inflammatory and immune response to the virus, resulting in inflammation of the central nervous system and the creation of antibodies that mistakenly target healthy brain tissue. In addition, the virus and its vascular damage inhibit blood flow to the brain, culminating in problems with memory and cognitive function.
Brain fog may sound vague, but it can have debilitating effects
Brain fog can significantly impact daily activities. It can result in reduced productivity, difficulties with concentration and problem-solving, and challenges in maintaining optimal cognitive functioning. Brain fog can make it harder to complete tasks, impact decision-making abilities, and hinder overall cognitive performance. It may also lead to feelings of frustration, fatigue, and decreased motivation.
Which biomarkers are closely connected to brain fog?
Cortisol
If your cortisol levels—along with serotonin—are out of balance, you may find yourself emotional and sluggish. This imbalance can also cause trouble sleeping, and can affect mental clarity. Lack of sleep can also lead to increased cortisol levels, causing a vicious cycle. [1]
TSH
TSH, released by the pituitary gland, stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) that regulate brain cell metabolism. Abnormal TSH levels, like high TSH in hypothyroidism or low TSH in hyperthyroidism, can disrupt thyroid hormone balance. Hypothyroidism, with low thyroid hormone levels, is linked to cognitive impairments and brain fog due to inadequate thyroid hormone supply to the brain.
hs-CRP
High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is a biomarker of systemic inflammation in the body. Inflammation can affect various organs, including the brain, and has been associated with cognitive dysfunction and brain fog. Elevated levels of hsCRP indicate increased inflammation, which may contribute to the development or exacerbation of brain fog symptoms.
Hormonal Imbalance
Changes in sex hormone levels can also contribute to brain fog. In individuals with low testosterone levels, brain fog may occur due to its impact on cognitive function. Similarly, imbalances in estradiol levels can also affect cognitive function. In women, fluctuations in estradiol during the menstrual cycle or during menopause have been associated with cognitive changes, including brain fog.[3]
Why choose SiPhox Health?
The lowest cost per biomarker testing, at-home sample collection,
interactive reports and actionable insights.
At-home testing
No more driving to clinics. No more waiting in lines. The sample collection kit lets you collect your sample using only a few drops of blood.
Extremely Affordable
Blood testing is expensive. But it shouldn't be. Meet SiPhox Health, the lowest cost per-biomarker test on the market (17 biomarkers for $85).
Measure progress
Users tell us that regular testing is key to reaching their goals. Whether you want to lose weight or have more energy—we have your back!
Actionable insights
Personalized insights sets you up for success. Paired with your favorite wearables, our system creates insights to improve each biomarker.
What the users are saying
Check out what our customers have to say about
the SiPhox Health biomarker test kit.
17 included biomarkers
Our at-home test kit contains the biomarkers you need to provide you with the best overall snapshot of your health.
The SiPhox Health standard test measures 17 essential biomarkers measuring inflammation, metabolic fitness, hormonal and nutritional balance, and cardiovascular health. You can customize the test by adding on expansion panels, including Hormone+, Thyroid+, Fertility+, and Mineral+.
Is a few drops of blood really enough?
That's right! A few drops of blood is all we need to test 17 biomarkers. Sounds too good to be true? Far from it...
Our sample collection card, the ADX100[1], is an alternative collection method, similar to an SST tube. Red blood cells are separated without a centrifuge, enabling the laboratory to perform tests on dry blood.
Are results accurate? Yes! We process samples in a 3rd party CLIA-certified lab. The test results have been cross-validated against standard finger prick and venous draws.
Can I really collect my own sample?
Each kit contains a sample collection card, three adjustable lancets, band-aids, sterile gauze, an alcohol pad, and instructions.
Drawing your blood sounds scary at first. Especially if it's your first time doing it. We've taken the time to make the instructions as easy to follow as possible.
Not only that, every customer can schedule a live one-on-one session with our certified phlebotomist for FREE (a person trained in collecting blood samples).
Ok, my results are in. What now?
This is the best part! After processing your sample, we create a complete report for each of your 17 biomarkers.
You can then access your reports from your personal reports dashboard. Each report comes with an easy-to-understand graph and personalized insights you can use to improve each biomarker.
The dashboard lets you connect your favorite wearables to make your reports even more insightful. Improved sleep and activity scores are highly correlated with improved hormonal balance and lower inflammation in our user base.
Track and improve sleep, activity, and blood markers in a single dashboardInclude your wearable
Frequently Asked Questions
If your question is not found below, feel free to email us your question at: support@siphoxhealth.com
How do I get started?
You can sign up and place your initial order with us or you can submit your information and one of our team members will be in touch with you.
How do I place orders for my patients or customers?
As an enterprise customer, you will receive access to the SiPhox Health Portal where you can place orders, monitor lab results, customize notifications and view each of your patients’ data at any time.
Who can place orders for my patients or customers?
You can add users to the SiPhox Health Portal at any time and allow them to place orders for patients or customers. We recommend that your team familiarize themselves with the portal and we will provide training sessions and webinars as needed.
What is the minimum number of orders?
We have a minimum order size of 30 kits to become an enterprise partner. The initial order is priced at $120 per kit.
Which biomarkers can I test my patients for?
Each test kit provides insight into the following biomarkers:
Men's Health Panel: 1. High-Sensitivity CRP 2. % Hemoglobin A1C 3. Apolipoprotein B (APOB) 4. Vitamin D 5. Cortisol 6. Apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1) 7. Testosterone, Total 8. Ferritin 9. Homocysteine (HCY) 10. Triglycerides 11. Insulin 12. TSH 13. HDL Cholesterol 14. LDL Cholesterol 15. Total Cholesterol:HDL Ratio 16. ApoB:ApoA Ratio 17. Testosterone:Cortisol Ratio 18. Total Cholesterol
Women's Health Panel: 1. High-Sensitivity CRP 2. % Hemoglobin A1C 3. Apolipoprotein B (APOB) 4. Vitamin D 5. Cortisol 6. Apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1) 7. Estradiol (Sensitive) 8. Ferritin 9. Homocysteine (HCY) 10. Triglycerides 11. Insulin 12. TSH 13. HDL Cholesterol 14. LDL Cholesterol 15. Total Cholesterol:HDL Ratio 16. ApoB:ApoA Ratio 17. Total Cholesterol
Are there any ongoing commitments?
No. There are no ongoing fees or long-term commitments. You simply pay as you go for the orders placed.
Do you offer volume discounts?
Yes! Volume discounts are offered when you reach 1,000 kits per month.
Do you offer customized panels?
Yes! Custom panels are offered when you reach 1,000 kits per month.
Do you have a SiPhox Health API?
Yes. We have a robust REST API that allows for creating orders, fetching customers, and fetching report data.
Do you sign BAAs with your partners?
Yes. We will sign a BAA with a Covered Entity.
How long does it take to implement the API?
It generally depends on your workflows and the complexity of the project. On average, our API can be implemented within a number of hours.
Do the kits get shipped to directly to the patient or to us?
It's completely up to you! We can ship kits directly to your patients or ship kits to you. You can even have us ship some kits directly to patients and others to you so you can have them on hand to distribute however you see fit.
What information is necessary to place an order for a patient or customer?
To place an order for a kit to go directly to a patient, we simply need their name, address and email.
Is the SiPhox Health blood test kit equivalent to standard labs?
Yes, we work with a CLIA/CAP accredited lab that performs extensive validation on each assay to meet federal CLIA requirements.
How are you able to offer the lowest cost per biomarker in the industry?
1. We bundle 17 biomarkers into a single sample collection, maximizing the data we collect from a single kit. Other companies like EverlyWell sell 2-4 markers per kit to maximize profits.
2. The SiPhox Health Unlimited Membership allows us to sell test kits at cost. The reason we are doing this is to drive demand and leverage that to drive our costs down.
3. SiPhox, the company behind SiPhox Health, develops blood testing hardware. Our goal is to eventually make it possible to test all these markers in the home instantly at a 10x lower cost.
Note that we do not compromise on the quality or accuracy of our tests in any way.
Which biomarkers are being tested?
Each test kit provides insight into the following biomarkers:
Men's Health Panel: 1. High-Sensitivity CRP 2. % Hemoglobin A1C 3. Apolipoprotein B (APOB) 4. Vitamin D 5. Cortisol 6. Apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1) 7. Testosterone, Total 8. Ferritin 9. Homocysteine (HCY) 10. Triglycerides 11. Insulin 12. TSH 13. HDL Cholesterol 14. LDL Cholesterol 15. Total Cholesterol:HDL Ratio 16. ApoB:ApoA Ratio 17. Testosterone:Cortisol Ratio 18. Total Cholesterol
Women's Health Panel: 1. High-Sensitivity CRP 2. % Hemoglobin A1C 3. Apolipoprotein B (APOB) 4. Vitamin D 5. Cortisol 6. Apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1) 7. Estradiol (Sensitive) 8. Ferritin 9. Homocysteine (HCY) 10. Triglycerides 11. Insulin 12. TSH 13. HDL Cholesterol 14. LDL Cholesterol 15. Total Cholesterol:HDL Ratio 16. ApoB:ApoA Ratio 17. Total Cholesterol
Why should I use a wearable with SiPhox Health?
SiPhox Health is not just another blood testing service delivering raw data to users. We are able to draw upon correlations between biomarkers and your wearable data. This allows you to optimize your lifestyle to improve your biomarkers.
What wearable devices are compatible with SiPhox Health?
SiPhox Health currently has the ability to support over 300 devices across ten categories. The most common devices our users connect are Apple Watch, Oura, Fitbit, EightSleep, Whoop, and Freestyle Libre.
How do I view my test results?
When your SiPhox Health Report is ready for viewing, you will receive an email letting you know your user portal has been updated. You can access your report at any time by logging in and scrolling down to "Your Reports".
What makes SiPhox Health Reports unique?
Your SiPhox Health Reports are not just raw data. The team at SiPhox created a unique scoring system called the Axes of Wellness that spans different health and lifestyle categories such as Inflammation, Metabolic, and Cardiovascular Health. With this, we take the guesswork out of interpreting your results and empower you with actionable insights to improve your wellness.
If you would like to view your data in a traditional table format, you can do so by exporting the PDF within your report.
Can I modify, pause, or cancel my subscription?
Yes, you can easily do this inside your user portal any time after your initial purchase. There is no commitment whatsoever and you will keep access to your previous test data if you decide to cancel.
Is SiPhox Health HSA/FSA compatible?
If you have an HSA/FSA card you can simply use it for the purchase. If your card is not accepted, please contact support and we will send you an itemized receipt of all information necessary for reimbursement after purchase.
References
| 1 | https://www.palmettoendocrinology.org/blog/brain-fog | The Link Between hormonal imbalance and Brain Fog |
| 2 | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35121209/ | Explanation for link 2 |
| 3 | https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/news/clearing-the-fog | Explanation for link 3 |