All You Need to Know About Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by behavioral and learning disorders %26 particularly by a persistent pattern of inattention or hyperactivity, as well as forgetfulness, poor impulse control or impulsivity, and distractibility. It is a condition in which it is hard for children to control their behavior and/or pay attention %26 was first described by Dr. Heinrich Hoffman in the year 1845. While a section of scientific society is contentious about its existence %26 prefers to call it a “fictitious disease”; some recent research suggests that ADHD does exist. This condition becomes apparent in some children in the preschool and early school years. It is one of the most common behavioral disorders in childhood %26 its prevalence is estimated to be between 5-7 percent %26 approximately 2 million children in the United States are suspected to have ADHD. About 60% of children diagnosed with ADHD retain the symptoms %26 as a result, over the past decade, ADHD has been increasingly diagnosed in adults.Over the last few decades, various theories have been hypothesized about the causes and effects of ADHD some of which have been highlighted below:Genetics: ADHD has been often found to run in families %26 various studies indicate that around 25 percent of the close relatives in the families of ADHD children also have ADHD; so there are likely to be genetic influences. By studying the genetic isolates of Paisas of Colombia, researchers have been able to describe specific genetic aspects of ADHD.Brain Damage: While the majority of ADHD is believed to be genetic in nature, around one-fifth of all ADHD cases were considered to be acquired after conception due to brain injury caused by either toxins or physical trauma prenatally or postnatally. Some children who have suffered accidents leading to brain injury may show some signs of behavior similar to that of ADHD.Alcohol %26 Tobacco: Various studies have shown a possible correlation between the use of cigarettes and alcohol during pregnancy and risk for ADHD in the offspring of that pregnancy. This could be related to the fact that nicotine is known to cause lack of oxygen – hypoxia, in the uterus.The principal characteristics of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These symptoms appear early in a child’s life. Everyone wants his/her kids to graduate from Harvard. But kids are kids after all %26 many normal children may show these symptoms at one or the other time. Parents shouldn’t just hastily assume that as ADHD %26 force their kids to pop in ADHD drugs impulsively!So, it is important that the child receive a thorough examination and appropriate diagnosis by a well-qualified professional. Even if a child has ADHD, he/she can achieve his/her full potential by receiving help, guidance, and understanding from parents, friends, counselors, and the public education system!

Hyperactive And Misunderstood: Working With Adhd Children

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be very, very difficult for parents to handle - as any parent of an ADHD kid will tell you. It can be really hard to understand your child’s problems, which further complicates that situation - because you love your child so much and will do anything to help them. You might be blaming yourself for your kid’s problems, wondering if you’re feeding your child the “wrong” things, or if you’re a bad parent, or even thinking -”that’s just the way he/she is” - and thinking that something is very wrong. If there are behavioral problems,plaguing your child,that are frustrating and hard to deal with, there might be another deeper underlying issue that would be worth checking into. The culprit could be Attention deficit disorder. Once the real problem issue is understood, one can stop asking themselves the painful questions. Symptoms of ADHD can manifest along with several different behavioral problems. Some of the symptoms of ADHD include, and inability to be still, or stay on task. Once they are on task, completing that task could another battle. Other symptoms of ADHD include hyperactivity, which could also make it incredibly difficult for adults to control them.The cause of ADHD, often, is genetic and inherited from one’s parents. If the father has it, and you see that your kids show the symptoms, it might benefit everyone if they are examined. Two potential explanations exist for ADHD. Research has shown that these attention deficit disorders may occur due to chemical imbalances in the part of the brain that lets people organize thoughts. They do not have a sufficient amount of the proper type of chemical, and so they find that they have trouble reasoning. The second cause of ADHD involves the levels of brain activity. Children with this disorder have particular areas in the brain which are less active than in those children who do not have ADHD. Since these parts of the brain are less active, it causes the child to have a much shorter attention span, impulsive behavior, and stunted emotional expression as well.ADHD is often caused by genetics, in other words it is an inherited trait from parents. If the father has ADHD and one of his children begins to exhibit signs of it, it is wise to have the child checked for the disorder. Two possible explanations exist for ADHD. Research indicates that that first cause is when there is a chemical imbalance in the area of the brain that enables thought organization of those who have ADHD. The lack of this chemical makes it difficult for the person to reason properly. The other cause is related levels of activity in the brain. Those with the disorder have certain areas of their brain that exhibit less activity than compared to children that don’t have the disorder. The lack of activity in the brain causes a shortening of the attention span in the child, stunting of emotional expression, and behavior that is impulsive.Still, there is hope for children with ADHD and their parents. First, they could have a physician prescribe medication to help manage the symptoms. Or, they could attempt to manage their child’s ADHD without any medicine. Parents must make sure their children always get the right amount of sleep, exercise well, and provide them with the proper nutrition. You would be amazed over the difference in behavioral problems that this can make. Diet especially can be used as a way to control Attention deficit disorder. These children can be more sensitive to sugar and processed foods, manufactured dyes, yellow foods, and chocolate. You should also add more fruits and vegetables, decent protein choices, and more mineral supplements. Pair this with natural homeopathic remedies available for ADHD.ADHD cannot usually be managed with disciplinary measures or environmental changes. Because of this it is very important to get children correctly diagnosed. Once you have a correct diagnoses you will see long term improvements in their behaviors as long as you use holistic, natural and herbal remedies.

Information on Child ADHD

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the name of a group of behaviors found in many children and adults. This is mostly occur in boys than in girls. These behaviors contribute to significant problems in relationships, learning and behavior. About half of children who have ADHD continue to be easily distracted, have mood swings, hot tempers and are unable to complete tasks. There must be clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning. The causes of the child ADHD are food allergies, depression, genetics, diet, undetected seizures. The very real need for structure with a child with ADD the desperate need for rebuilding and maintaining self esteem and far from least, names of organizations and educational institutions which would be of value not only to your child but to yourself as a parent. Childhood ADHD is diagnosed after a child has shown six or more specific symptoms of inactivity and/or hyperactivity on a regular basis for more than six months in more than two settings.Types of Child ADHDThere are three types of the child ADHD. They are as follows Combination of Inattentive/Hyperactive/Impulsive Child ADHD Combination of Hyperactive/Impulsive Type Child ADHD Inattentive Type Child ADHD Symptoms of Child ADHDDifficulty following instructions Loses things necessary for tasks or activities Low concentration Have difficulty playing quietly. Talks excessively Forgets things Do not finish tasks. Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities. Prevention for Child ADHDSet specific times for waking up, eating, playing, doing homework, doing chores, watching TV or playing video games, and going to bed. Post the schedule where your child will always see it. Explain any changes to the routine in advance. Use More Immediate Consequences - ADHD children require more immediate feedback or consequences for their behavior and activities than do normal children.This feedback must be clear, specific, and occur as close in time after the behavior that is the target of change as circumstances permit, if it is to be maximally effective in developing and maintaining positive behaviors in ADHD children. Reward your child when he or she tries to finish school work, not just for good grades. You can give extra rewards for earning better grades. Diagnosis of Child ADHDThe diagnosis of ADHD involves the gathering of information from several sources, including school, caregivers, and parents. Your childs primary care doctor can determine whether your child has ADHD using standard guidelines developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. These diagnosis guidelines are for children 6 to 12 years of age. Treatment for Child ADHDAll doctors across the board - agree that ADHD medications are not the cure for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and A.D.D., but simply a means of minimizing the symptoms. A team effort, with parents, teachers and doctors working together, is the best way to help your child. The long-term treatment with a combination of medications and behavioral therapy is far superior to just medication treatment. Some children benefit from counseling or from structured therapy.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is the term used for a neurological condition marked by difficulties with attention and concentration and usually difficulties with self-control and overactivity or restlessness. It is also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) because many individuals with ADD are or were overactive and impulsive. About 5% of all people have ADD.

ADD is recognized by mental health professionals as one of the most common disorders of childhood, and was previously thought to resolve in adolescence. Over the past decade there has been a growing awareness that for many if not most individuals with ADD it persists into adulthood. Effective treatment for adult ADD is a relatively new area of study.

ADD affects many aspects of life. It affects academic and vocational success, personal and family relationships, emotions and self-esteem. ADD individuals often share a number of positive qualities such as creativity, spontaneity, inventiveness, and sensitivity to others. But it also leads to disorganization, procrastination, difficulty with task completion, and feeling overwhelmed.

The Nature of ADD

ADD is commonly described as a disorder consisting of chronic difficulties in the areas of attention/concentration, impulsivity, and overactivity. In addition to these “core” symptoms, other symptoms and problems include distractibility, forgetfulness, lack of persistence with tasks, frequent boredom, failure to delay speech or action when appropriate, fidgetiness, restlessness, being “always on the go,” disorganization, difficulty coping with stressful situations, temper outbursts, and frequently changing moods. Not every ADD individual displays all these symptoms. Some ADD individuals have mainly the attentional difficulties and do not have the overactivity and impulsivity. These symptoms frequently lead to low self-esteem, problems with planning and executing tasks, a disorganized lifestyle, poor problem-solving skills, frequent job or relationship changes, social and relationship difficulties, a chronic pattern of underachievement, and/or inconsistency in work production and performance. Children often display problems with behavior, socialization, and school performance. Many individuals with ADD may have a coexisting problem such as anxiety or depression, a learning disability, or drug/alcohol abuse. It may be that they focus on and seek help for this problem, not recognizing its link to ADD.

Causes

ADD is widely recognized among experts as having a biological, neurological basis. It is currently understood as the result of a part or parts of the brain not regulating self-control of attention, impulses, and activity level as it should, likely due in part to a lack of certain neurochemicals. While it is usually an inherited condition, it may be exacerbated by environmental and other factors such as parenting, adversity, or educational environment.

Progression

ADD individuals are generally born with ADD. It usually becomes manifest in early childhood. Often it becomes more apparent during elementary school years because of the demands of school experience. For some individuals it may not become apparent until later in life. During adolescence changes in the ADD manifestation often occur. It may be less outwardly obvious, especially when hyperactivity diminishes. For some individuals, it seems to end. For the majority, it usually continues to impact in many ways throughout adulthood, although greater control may be achieved in various ways.

Diagnosis

ADD is widespread in our society. It seems males are much more likely to be diagnosed with ADD than females. There is no definitive test for ADD, and it is one of the most difficult diagnoses to assess. ADD can only be diagnosed by a mental health or medical clinician trained and experienced in the area of ADD. Comprehensive interviews covering childhood and adult history of academics, relationships, behavior, etc. are necessary to establish a diagnosis. Rating scales and certain tests are often helpful and employed. Because the main symptoms of ADD overlap with other conditions as well as with “normal” experience, a qualified professional is required to rule out other conditions that may produce symptoms resembling ADD. ADD should not be self-diagnosed. If you think you have ADD it is recommended that you consult a professional.

Treatment

ADD is not an all or nothing condition, but occurs in degrees. It is possible to have a mild case that can be relatively easy to manage. Some people have severe symptoms and problems that can impair their functioning greatly. Even severe ADD can, with effort, medication, and support, be managed effectively.

People with moderate to severe problems related to ADD should consider treatment with a professional with training and experience in ADD. Medications can be helpful. Counseling is often indicated to deal not only with the symptoms, but also the resulting issues related to emotions, self-esteem, relationships, work performance, school performance, etc. Parent counseling has been shown to be effective in helping children with ADD. Coaching is another service providing support for ADD. Greater effectiveness and reaching of potential can be had. There is much that can be done to help the individual struggling with ADD.

Learning new ways to gain control of ADD-related problems is an important part of coping with ADD. A first step is to gain insight and understanding of how ADD impacts in your life. This understanding can then be used to identify the challenges and eventually to develop new strategies and skills for dealing with your (or your child’s) ADD symptoms and problems. An ADD coach or therapist specializing in the treatment of ADD can be very helpful in this process.

Every day across America, nearly a million American kids age 12 to 17 abuse a pain reliever for the very first time just to get high. If you do the math, that’s nearly a million kids a year risking their lives — or at the very least, risking a life interrupted or ruined by prescription drug addiction. Teenagers are abusing more prescription and over-the-counter drugs than all illegal and illicit drugs except marijuana, according to federal statistics. In 2006, more than 2.1 million teens ages 12 to 17 reported abusing prescription drugs. And kids as young as 12 and 13 told researchers that prescription drugs are their “drug of choice.” The drugs that lead to prescription drug addiction for thousands of these young people are powerful narcotic painkillers like OxyContin, Vicodin and Percocet. These are the heroin-in-a-pill type drugs that can cause breathing collapse and coma, that have led to tens of thousands of cases of prescription drug addiction across the country. OxyContins were responsible in part for the death of actor Heath Ledger, and literally thousands of other “just plain folks” across the country in recent years. Anti-anxiety drugs and depressants, especially the benzodiazepine drugs — Xanax is a popular brand, as are Valium, Librium and many others — are particularly dangerous. They rapidly create dependencies that can lead to prescription drug addiction — some people are hooked after just a day or two on Xanax — and they are really difficult to get off of safely. And benzos can cause death when mixed with other drugs or alcohol. Stimulants are another type of drug that kids are abusing to get a buzz, particularly the kinds prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Adderall and Ritalin are two of the most abused, and these, because of their side effects, are basically cocaine-in-a-pill. Kids are trading and selling their ADHD prescription drugs with other kids, and stupidly risking their friends’ lives. Speed drugs can cause seriously abnormal heart rhythms, seizures and death. Meanwhile, a recent University of Texas study showed conclusively that methylphenidate, the active ingredient in Ritalin, causes chromosomal damage — the organized structures of DNA in our cells. No one has a clue yet what damage that will do long-term, but messing with someone’s DNA can’t be harmless. But while that research continues, millions of parents keep feeding these drugs to children. It’s time for a reassessment. Teens are also abusing over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, such as cough and cold remedies, which contain dextromethorphan and other drugs which are, like those prescription drugs, extremely deadly when combined with other drugs or with alcohol. OTC drugs can cause blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, coma, and even death. And they’re a stepping stone to prescription drug addiction, too. Thousands of kids wind up in hospital emergency wards every year fighting for their lives because they overdosed on prescription or OTC drugs mixed with alcohol — all for fun! These drugs are readily available from home medicine cabinets or from friends, and even from on-line pharmacies. A lot of kids still think they’re a safer way to get high than street drugs, and many of them who wouldn’t touch cocaine or heroin don’t realize they are abusing almost identical drugs, and risking prescription drug addiction or death. What’s needed is for parents to start talking to their kids, and to clearly spell out all the very real dangers of prescription and OTC drugs. And they need to show strong disapproval of drug experimentation and abuse, and create and enforce anti-drug rules. Parents need to be firm, but they need their kids to understand that rules are to protect them — kids should be healthy, not in the morgue with a tag on their toe or in medical drug detox recovering from addiction.

I was working with a client who had recently been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD or ADD). She went on to say that she was happy she had ADHD because now she had a built in excuse to be disorganized. Certainly people with ADHD have trouble being organized but is it an excuse?

I have ADHD, do I have to be disorganized too?

Just because you have ADHD doesn’t mean you have to be disorganized. In fact there are many people with ADHD who are incredibly well organized. Being organized has helped them thrive. However, if you have ADHD it is often more difficult for you to get organized and stay that way.

What does being organized mean?

Being organized is not about putting things away and everything being neat and ready for company. It is about how you function in your environment. It means that you control your environment, your things and your time, instead of your environment controlling you. Organization is how you manage your things, your time, and your tasks.

What about ADHD contributes to disorganization?

ADHD involves your brain’s frontal lobe which acts as the “executive functioning” area of your brain. This is the part of your brain that allows you to make decisions, set rules, prioritize, assign responsibilities, help you focus and remember.

So What?

Getting organized involves several steps that are often done in a specific order.

1. Decision Making — Decide what you need and what you don’t need.

2. Setting Rules — Categorize what you have left.

3. Assigning Responsibilities — Assign a place to keep these things and put them away

4. Focusing and Remembering — Keep everything organized on an on-going basis.

To follow these steps to get organized and then to stay “organized” once you must have systems in place and keep on track while you are performing tasks which are less than stimulating. When you look at it this way it is no wonder that people with ADHD have trouble being organized.

People with ADHD have trouble focusing on routine tasks…is there anything more routine (and boring) than opening mail, paying bills and filing? How about doing laundry and putting away clothes?

People with ADHD have trouble filtering out distractions. Going through old clothes in your closet is just not that exciting. How can you stay focused on the one thing that you are trying to get done when you hear “You’ve got mail!” or the phone rings? Not only do you lose your place on the stack of papers you were working on but you get pulled completely off task. It might be hours, days or even weeks until you get back to that pile.

If it is so hard to be organized why should I bother?

One of the ironies of ADHD life is that the more organized you are and the more routines you have in your schedule and life, the easier it will be for you to function. What organization does is allow you to NOT have to focus on this minutia. Once organizing becomes routine you don’t have to think about where something goes or where to find something that you put away. Once you have a schedule for getting up and out of the house in the morning you don’t have to worry about what to do 1st, 2nd and 3rd or whether or not you will make it to work on time. Once you have schedules and routines you don’t have to hunt all over the house for your bills and when you finally track them all down pay them — late.

So how do I get organized?

• Realize that you are NOT perfect. You don’t have to have a perfect system and there are no set rules to follow. The system you create only needs to make sense to you.

• Be yourself. Don’t try to fit someone else’s mold. Instead, create systems and routines that reflect your personality and make them fun. Remember that one great thing about ADHD is the ability to be creative and brainstorm. Come up with the wackiest way to organize your environment. That will probably the way it will work best for you.

• Learn to say “NO”. Before deciding to take on a new responsibility make sure you have the time and ability to add it to your current schedule. If you don’t have the time decide which activity from your current schedule you will stop.

• Use broad categories for filing and organizing. Depending on how you think you can file all banking things together and all credit cards together. They don’t need individual files unless that would help you.

• Label everything. Remember people with ADHD tend not to remember “unimportant” details like which drawer they put their bank statements in or which refrigerator drawer holds the fruit or which list is for phone calls. Labeling helps you to find things and put them away.

• Create Mini-Tasks. Break up all tasks into mini-tasks that take 10 ‘ 15 minutes each. Smaller tasks are easier to do and to schedule.

• Manage organization energy bursts. Work for 5, 10 or 20 minutes and then, even if you aren’t done, stop. If you have a list of mini-tasks set up you should have a list of things you can accomplish fairly quickly.

• If it works stick with it. When you are faced with organizing something new, look at the systems you have that work and try to figure out why it works. Build onto these systems or create new ones that are similar.

• Use memory tricks. Don’t just try to remember things, use multiple senses. Say it aloud to yourself, tell someone, sing it, write it down and keep the note somewhere that you will really see. If it is a routine or habit you are trying to create make a rhyme out of the sequence of things you want to accomplish, create a sign and post the new habit where you will be doing it.

• Ask for help. Often having someone to keep you company is enough to get many people moving and stay on task. Maybe you can volunteer to keep a friend company if they keep you company?

• Get your kids help. Tell your kids what you are going to do. They love catching parents “misbehaving.” Most people will do anything to avoid being caught by their children.

• Be Flexible. Remember life happens. Sometimes despite your best planning things don’t always work out the way you want them to. There are many ways to be organized — you just need to find the way that works for you.

You’ve tried all the usual ways to get your child to bed on time: sticking to a nightly routine; stopping them from eating and drinking well before bedtime, etc. However, none of these seem to work well so you’re caving in to the idea of getting a children sleep aid. Here are some facts that would encourage you. Facts you probably don’t know about how children sleep aids are being prescribed. Pediatrics (May 2003), a medical journal, has an article that surveyed 671 pediatricians on when, why and what they actually prescribed or recommended prescription or over-the-counter sleep aids for children and adolescents. When, Why and What Doctors Use Sleep Aids For Children 1. More than half of the pediatricians surveyed had prescribed sleeping pills to children at least once in the last six months. Apparently, your children are not the only ones having sleeping problems and the doctors recognize that. 2. About 55% of physicians said they prescribed sleeping medication to treat sleep problems in children to “provide the family with needed respite.” This includes the short-term use of over-the-counter medications for specific situations, such as travel, acute pain or stress. 75% of those paediatricians had recommended a non prescription sleep aid, including the antihistamine Benadryl. 25% of them recommended melatonin or other herbal remedy, such as chamomile teas and valerian root. 3. The other half of paediatricians said they used sleep medications in “special needs” children i.e. mental retardation, autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This usually requires long-term use of children sleep aids or medication like Tenex which is used as a sedative in kids with ADHD. The most commonly prescribed sleeping pills were alpha-agonists. One brand name is Calapres, a hypertension drug for adults that has sedating properties. 4. Lastly, it must be noted that most of the paediatricians interviewed said they prescribed the children sleep aids “in combination with behavioral treatments.” So, sleep hygiene and techniques are still just as important as having effective sleep aids for kids. Two Common Sleep Problems in Young Children Behavioral treatments must go hand in hand with any children sleep aid because many children have childhood behavioral insomnia. This sleep disorder involves one or both of the two following problems: 1. Sleep-onset association Everyone wakes up briefly a few times at night especially during the stage of sleep called rapid eye movement (REM) when our dreams occur. Usually, we are unaware of these awakenings and return to sleep quickly. As for young children, they may cry when they wake up. Parents naturally “help” their child return to sleep by feeding, rocking, holding or lying down with their child. The child learns to connect or “associate” going to sleep with a person or activity. She is unable to fall asleep on her own when that action is missing. 2. Limit-setting problems Your child refuses to go to bed, stalls, or makes it hard for you to leave the bedside. Usually begins from the age of two, limit-setting problems can occur at bedtime, nap time, or when your child wakes up during the night. It can be hard but you need to discern what’s real and what’s simply a delay tactic. They may ask for one more hug, a tissue, a drink of water, another story, to have the light turned off or on, or to “tell you something important. You need to be firm and consistent about the time for bed even if the child disagrees or seems active and alert. Don’t give in to them as it will only encourage the behavior. Children thrive within well-defined environments. Hence, the need for limits or boundaries to their sleep habits. Next, here’s a fast guide to Popular Natural Sleep Aids For Children or understand more about OTC Sleep Aids in OTC Sleep Aids: A Quick Overview

NOT A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF A SOUND MIND
by Dr Gez Agolli

Gez Agolli, ND, PhD, is a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and the Managing Director of Progressive Medical Centers of America. In the past several issues of Christian Living Magazine, he has discussed detoxification (the removal heavy metal deposits through chelatin treatments and the use of the FIR sauna), hormone therapy for women, pain management, and weight loss.

He and his staff specialize in non-invasive practices that include supervised exercises, hyperbaric chambers to increase oxygen levels, electrotherapy, massage, nutritional guidance and pharmaceutical naturopathic medicines. Progressives caregivers often ask if they may pray for a patients healing and recovery. Faith is an important part of the Centers healing process.

What other ailments are of concern to the Center and to Dr. Gez Agolli?

CLM: You recently mentioned wanting to address the problem of ADD/HD. Would you first define that?

Gez Agolli: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has become an all-too-familiar medical condition affecting mostly children and adolescents. Brain cells communicate with each other using chemical neurotransmitters with messages relating to emotion, behavior, thinking, and attention. Although research is still ongoing, scientists believe that the ADHD problem lies with an unbalance or impairment of two of those transmitters.

CLM: 2 Timothy 1:7 says, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (emphasis added.) That being the case, then ADD/HD is certainly not a natural state. So, what then are the probable causes of the condition?

Gez Agolli: As one of our doctors noted in a recent article that an important factor to consider is food. Sensitivities to certain foods can cause symptoms of ADHD, and when that item is removed from the diet many kids show improvement. Theres also the much reported ill effects of fatty acids, but the brain and nervous system is primarily composed of fats. There must be a balance for a fatty acid deficiency in order to function properly.

CLM: How would a parent know about such a deficiency?

Gez Agolli: A quick way to check is to consider a few symptoms. Is the child thirsty often or does he or she urinate often? Do they have dry skin, brittle nails, dandruff or dry hair? If you answered yes to any of these, your child may need some additional fats in their diet. Fats found in meat and chicken is not the answer. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and cod liver oil is needed. Make sure the fish you select has been monitored for mercury levels, a heavy metal that can cause ADHD symptoms as well.

CLM: How about the suggestion that TV and video games can be a factor?

Gez Agolli: Studies have shown that playing video games for more than one hour per day can have detrimental effects on your childs health, including ADHD, especially in adolescents. The moral appears to be: moderation. The problem may lie more in lack of exercise than what is happening on the screen. The bottom line is that if a parent suspects that their child may have ADHD then they should bring them to Progressive for blood tests and possible treatment.

CLM: How about the use of Ritalin, Dexedrine and similar drug therapy?

Gez Agolli: Many of those drugs fall into the Schedule II category that includes cocaine, methadone and opium. My recommendation is to use natural remedies, including pharmaceutical herbal medicines as a first line solution to ADHD.

CLM: You are also concerned with depression?

Gez Agolli: Absolutely. Twenty-one million American adults, mostly women, suffer from a depressive illness in any given year. Thats a disorder that can impact a persons physical body, their mood and even their thoughts. Eating, sleeping, personal relationships, workliving in general can be affected by depression. What most people dont realize is that its a treatable illness.

CLM: What are some of the causes of depression?

Gez Agolli: Excess stress, nutritional deficiencies, too much caffeine or sugar or additives, allergies, alcohol, nicotine, environmental toxins, and even endocrine disorders in the brain and thyroid.

CLM: Adjusting ones lifestyle may help, but it sounds like professional treatment is essential to achieve a normal balance.

Gez Agolli: Thats true. When you feel that you or a loved one are showing signs of depression: loss of appetite, mood swings, anxiety, despair, headaches, or even entertaining thoughts of suicide, then professional help should be sought immediately. It could save literally save a life.

CLM: Depression and ADHD are two huge and complex subjects. Where can our readers learn more?

Gez Agolli: They can contact us by phone at (770) 676-6000 or go to our website at: www.progressivemedicalcenter.com. We will provide them with specific information to help them recognize the symptoms of those and other illnesses. Appointments may also be made for testing and treatment if needed. Progressive Medical Centers of America work alongside of traditional medical practices to provide a complete solution to whatever stands between them and Gods promise of health and a sound mind.

Alternative Approaches For Attention Deficit And Hyperactivity Disorders

Approximately two million American children are affected with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is about one child per classroom, with boys being 3-5 times more likely to have ADHD. Symptoms of this disorder begin before the age of seven and often continue into adulthood. ADHD has nothing to do with intelligence, and the precise cause of it is unknown, but it is known that it evolves from an interaction between genetic, biological, and environmental factors. Since the symptoms vary between children, ADHD is commonly over-diagnosed. Additionally, many psychiatric disorders interfere with a childs ability to pay attention and can confuse a diagnosis. Similarly, anxiety, depression, drug abuse, and stress can interfere with attention and cause hyperactivity which can be misdiagnosed as ADHD. Adults who have extreme expectations about behavior can also mislabel a child as having ADHD. Children who actually have ADHD and are not appropriately treated may experience academic and social failure, low self-esteem, drug addiction, and trouble with the law.

There are three subtypes of ADHD: inattentive without much hyperactive behavior; hyperactive and impulsive without attention problems; and both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive. There is no test for ADHD, therefore, diagnosis takes time and expertise. A child psychologist or psychiatrist should be used because of this. Recent studies have found that 54% of parents used alternative therapies such as vitamins and dietary changes to treat ADHD problems. A calm and orderly home, good diet, sleep, and exercise can often help to treat this disorder. A diet that is high in protein may also help. Twenty percent of adult caregivers give children with ADHD herbs which enhance mental function or provide a sedative effect. Many parents use ginkgo bilboa which increases circulation to the brain and protects the nerves; Asian and American ginseng which help to improve the bodys ability to cope with stress; bacopa which helps memory and learning in both adults in children; gotu kola which has been found to improve memory and concentration in rats; lemon balm which is used as a tea to soothe agitated and hyperactive children; oats (avena sativa) which traditionally is believed to have a calming effect on the nervous system.

There are two well known studies that directly evaluate herbs in ADHD. In an open trial, the herbal formula (AD-FX) which contains American ginseng and ginkgo, was given to children ranging from age three to age seventeen who were already on medication for ADHD. The dosage of herbs was 200 mg of American ginseng extract and 50 mg of ginkgo extract, twice a day at least thirty minutes before meals. After four weeks, 74% of the children had improved. In another study, the use of Mexican valerian was tested by giving five boys that had ADHD a placebo for two weeks, nothing for seven days, then 500 mg of dried valerian root for two weeks. The valerian improved sleep and particularly helped the boys with hyperactive behavior. Children with ADHD may also be deficient in essential fatty acids, therefore supplementation of EPA and DHA or eating more fish, leafy vegetables, chia seeds, canola oil, pumpkin seeds, Brazilian nuts, and walnuts can also help this disorder. Supplementing drug treatment with magnesium and zinc can improve behavior more than standard therapy alone by severely reducing hyperactive and impulsive behavior as children with ADHD symptoms often have low blood levels. Other ADHD treatments include deep breathing, mediation, massage, yoga, biofeedback-assisted relaxation and progressive muscle relaxation, and acupuncture. There is not one cure-all for ADHD. Those cases that are mild can be controlled through alternative therapies, while more severe cases may need alternative therapies to augment treatment. Most importantly, it is most important to get the proper diagnosis and treatment for a child that has ADHD.

Is Drugging Our Children The Answer Or Could A Natural Supplement Magnesium Help?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been a commonly diagnosed illness occurring in children since the 1980s. Many people argue that ADHD should not be categorized as a disorder, but rather a set of problems that are normal to childhood. Either way, ADHDs symptoms consist of wandering attention, nervousness, and hyperactivity. These symptoms can be extremely troubling for the parents and teachers that have to work with children suffering from ADHD. Drugs like Ritalin have been promoted ADHD treatments for many years, but have been found to have highly dangerous side effects and not be a solution to everything. Meanwhile, many nutritionists have discovered that many of the answers to ADHD can be found in a childs diet in the form of food additives, sugar, and the missing essential nutrients.

One child who was horribly hyperactive, out of control, and diagnosed with ADHD by a school psychologist was taken off any foods that contained a particular red dye. Almost immediately, the childs hyperactivity ceased and he began paying attention and living the life of a normal child. A study recently completed at Yale University School of Medicine supported this result, showing a direct connection between food additives and hyperactivity. This study consisted of 297 children who were given drinks that contained common artificial food colorings and additives that are usually found in food and candy. Meanwhile, a control group was given drinks without additives. The children who drank the additive-enhanced drinks showed a significantly greater amount of hyperactivity and had shorter attention spans.

Another common cause of ADHD symptoms in children is overdosing of sugar. With all the snack-like breakfast cereals available and the high sugar-constant treats, hyperactivity should be expected. Once a child consumes a large quantity of sugar, he will hit a high of out-of-control hyperactivity and then quickly become grouchy and prone to tantrums. This is often called a sugar rush and can easily be solved by taking children off sugar.

After removing chemical additives and processed sugar from the diet, ADHD symptoms have also been traced to a lack of mineral magnesium. This nutrient is essential and often missing from most diets today. Kids who drink a lot of soda or fruit juices are getting high amounts of sugar but not magnesium. Those children without magnesium often suffer from irritability, insomnia, and constipation. These symptoms, which are commonly diagnosed as ADHD, can be cleared up quickly by putting your child on a magnesium supplement. Most nutritionists agree, believing that many ADHD symptoms come from a high sugar diet and a magnesium deficiency. Sugar and over-stimulation, such as stress, actually exhausts a childs nervous system. This can be cured with a magnesium supplement which allows the nervous system to rebuild. In addition, this supplement will assist the child in relaxing. Since children are the future for our society, helping them to survive in the best way possible, naturally, is something each and every one of us should take much more responsibility for. Magnesium and other natural supplements can be found at your local or internet vitamin store.