Mercury-Based Preservative

Continuous evidence is now pointing to Thimerosal, which is a mercury-based preservative in vaccines, as possibly being responsible for the increasing growth rate of autism, attention deficit disorder, speech delays, and other neurological disorders. Today, many autistic children are found to be deficient in glutathione, an antioxidant generated in the brain that helps remove mercury from the body. Nearly a decade ago the American Academy of Pediatrics estimated the autism rate at 1 in 2,500. But today, the CDC says that rate is now an astonishing 1 in 166 or 1 in 80 boys. Also one in sic is now being diagnosed with a related neurological disorder. Prior to 1989, American infants generally received polio, measles-mumps-rubella, and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccinations. But in the early 1990's, public health officials increased the number by seven more shots that contained Thimerosal without considering how the mercury load would impact young developing brains. Warning were given that six month old children would suffer mercury exposure eighty seven times the government safety standards, but to no avail. In 2000, the CDC, pharmaceutical companies, and the FDA reviewed findings and were alarmed about the undeniable link between Thimerosal and the widespread brain damage in children. Since then, numerous animal studies have proven that Thimerosal is the culprit in America's epidemic of neurological disorders by being able to induce autism-like symptoms in mice. There has also been significant improvements in autistic children who have had mercury removed from their brain. Drug manufacturers who are wary of liability have reduced Thimerosal in most children's vaccines in recent years, but the preservative still remains in flu shots, tetanus boosters, and over the counter drugs. Stocks of the mercury laced vaccines were given to American children until the end of 2003.

Treating Disorders Early

Researchers believe that diagnosing and treating childhood disorders early plays a very important role in prevention down the road. Parents are encouraged to take their children to a doctor or have a disability screening if they see any signs of delays or other problems. They believe it's important that parents expose their children to books and reading, using and talking with appropriate words and playing games. Even simple things such as playing with cards or stacking dishes in the kitchen will help. Studies have shown that those who have trouble received little exposure to vocabulary. They also point out that preschool will help to develop language and social sills. Most problems seen today are learning disabilities, autism disorders, speech and language impairments and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. But even a lack of breakfast or not having a regular bedtime can cause a lack of concentration and may be misdiagnosed as ADHD. Many feel that this diagnosis is overused. For example, if a child is hyperactive, but is learning in school, then it's not ADHD. Some behaviors may be a normal response to such things as a chaotic home life, parents separating and so on. Parents and teachers should look for signs such as not being able to focus for long on an activity that interests them. Some other symptoms could include tantrums, problems sleeping, and not following directions. Many feel that ADHD is preventable by having a structured home where children will know what will happen next. But if your home is already structured and only one child is having problems, then there might be other problems, like learning disabilities, that are involved. Some feel that before you take a child to the doctor for hyperactivity, you should take a parenting class to see if the problem is a home issue and not a learning issue first.

Message Away Depression and Anxiety

Therapeutic massage was developed in China about 2,500 years ago. Using their arms, hands, fingertips and elbows, massage therapists use pressure to help treat physical and emotional problems. Even in 400 B.C. Hippocrates used massage to treat sprains. Today, many cultures have developed their own versions. Recently, researchers from the University of Miami Studied thirty seven women who suffered from breast cancer. They found that those who received massage therapy or did progressive muscle relaxation for five weeks reported feeling less depressed and angry, and they had more energy. In another study at the University of South Florida, high blood pressure patients, who received ten minute massages three times a week for three weeks, lowered their points by eleven. Study reviews by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine concluded that massage relieves depression ad anxiety by affecting the body's biochemistry. Measuring the stress hormone cortisol before and after massage found that levels were lowered by up to fifty three percent. They've also found that massage increases serotonin and dopamine, which are neurotransmitters that help reduce depression.

Mood Food

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh say that by eating more omega-3 fats, you may be less impulsive, less depressed and easier to get along with. Measuring the blood levels of omega-3s of one hundred and six healthy adults and giving them psychological tests, they found that those with the highest levels scored forty nine to fifty eight percent better on the tests than those with the lower blood levels. Previous studies have linked omega-3s to lowering depression, but this study is the first to show the enhancing capabilities in healthy people. Researchers say that two servings a week of high omega-3 fish, such as salmon, sardines, herrings and mackerel will give you optimal benefits.

Late Onset of Depression

Research published in the current issue of Cognitive Therapy and Research shows that the late onset of depression, that usually begins at age sixty or over, is linked to a decline in the brains executive functions, leading to repetitive negative thought patterns. This report is based on a survey of forty four people who suffer from depressive symptoms, aged sixty six to ninety two years, and who live in a retirement community. Those with a late onset of depressive symptoms showed a poorer performance than those with an early onset of depression. Typical signs of executive decline can include rigid thinking, inattention, dis inhibition and a decline in memory. Also seen with executive decline was a tendency for some to have repeated negative thinking patters. And finally, executive decline was associated with those who had late onset depression and it led people to ruminate negative thought patterns. Researchers now believe that a longitudinal study will reveal whether executive decline causes rumination and late onset depression or if there's another underlying association.

How ADHD Medications Work

Despite the fact that millions of children and adults are on medicine for ADHD, very few know exactly how these medications work in the brain. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are studying ADHD medications on the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which is associated with making decisions, attention, and a person's personality. Because there's the concern of children becoming addicted to the current medications available, doctors must first find out exactly what these drugs do before different or better drugs are made. And despite these health concerns, doctors are still prescribing the medications because they help better than nothing at all. ADHD drugs are stimulants that increase two neurotransmitters in the brain called dopamine and norepinephrine. It is thought that dopamine plays a role in one's memory and addictive behaviors and norepinephrine plays a role in a person's attentiveness and arousal. Researchers feel that past studies showed little results due to the effects of the medicines that were given in high doses. This can cause dramatic increases in the neurotransmitters, which can make attention even more difficult and can cause a bigger risk of addiction. So the researchers studied the effects of lower doses on rats and found that their dopamine and norepinephrine levels increased in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. Their research indicates that any new medicines developed would need to target this area. Studies are being planned for the future to see how ADHD medications act on the nerves that enhance cognitive ability.

Depression and Parkinson's

A recent European Survey found that eighty percent of those with Parkinson's, a degenerative, neurological disease, also experience depression. What was more surprising was that out of the five hundred people polled, forty percent rarely, if ever, discussed the problem with their doctor. The most well known symptom of Parkinson's is tremors in the arms and legs. But depression can either be an effect of this or a symptom of the disease itself. Researchers also spoke with five hundred specialists who said their patients often or sometimes experience depression. But forty nine percent of the specialists said that depression symptoms were often difficult to recognize. Many doctors said that they didn't discuss depression because they felt there were more pressing symptoms to deal with. But most patients agreed that depression was just as significant as having tremors and can make it very difficult to maintain a normal outlook on life.

Conditions Affecting Many

Some people are now asking why people till suffer from problems such as depression, anxiety, stress and phobias when there are quite a few low cost solutions available. The most common form of mental health problem is a combination of anxiety and depression. According to the Mental Health Foundation in the UK, one in four adults will experience some form of mental health issue within the next year. Many feel that medication alone is not enough and people should include psychological therapy as well. By utilizing both, the chances of preventing a relapse are greater than with using medication alone. Unfortunately, many people either can't afford therapy or there's a long wait to see a therapist. This is perhaps the reason there has been an increase in self help alternatives. Remote therapy sites can provide for psychological issues including depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Many sites online can provide therapist sessions that can be downloaded to an MP3 player. Although you don't receive the advantage of a face to face session, you can use your downloaded information over and over again. Not only can it be more convenient, but cost efficient as well. Another reason for the rise in popularity is that they are anonymous, available instantly, and can be surprisingly effective.

Omega 3's and Depression

According to a pilot study done in Israel, children who suffer from clinical depression can find help with omega 3 fatty acids, the type that are found in fish oils. In the American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers explain that study results in adults with major depressive disorder benefit from omega 3 fatty acids as an add on therapy, but the effects of this supplement with the disorder in children is unknown. Researchers studied 28 depressed children between six and twelve years of age, who were randomly given omega 3 fatty acids or a placebo. To assess the children, standardized depression scores were used at the start of the study and throughout the sixteen week trial. Also included in the trial were twenty children who remained for at least one month. Seven out of ten in the active group and none of the children in the placebo group had a reduction in their depression scores of more than fifty percent. Four children who received the omega 3 fatty acids went into remission. And there were no relevant side effects reported. The fatty acid used was a combination of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid that is available over the counter. The researchers concluded that the effects of these supplements were highly effective and they believe that this was the first study of its kind with children.

Men, Women and Depression

Depression due to long term pain and sickness makes women more disabled than men. This was found in a study published in the European Journal of Pain. Researchers found that treatment procedures that reduced stress and pain in arthritis and back pain patients will reduce disability. Doctors can help reduce disability in female patients by targeting their depression. The study involved 260 chronic pain patients from the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases and found growing evidence that psychosocial factors can effect a person's health and behavior. This research also shows that pain related emotions are associated with pain related behavior, and it also highlights a significant discrepancy between the behaviors of men and women.

ADHD and Pycnogenol

New research had shown that a daily supplement of pycnogenol, found in pine bark extract, helped improve attention, coordination and reduced hyperactivity in children with ADHD. This wonderful supplement is also contained in the Attend formula for ADHD. The stud, published in the Journal of European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, was a placebo-controlled, double-blind study that gave 57 children whose average age was nine and a half years, either a daily supplement of pycnogenol pine bark extract or a placebo for one month. Using the Child Attention Problems (CAP) teacher rating scale, the Conner's Teachers Rating Scale(CTRS), the Connor's Parenting Rating Scale (CPRS), and basic psychiatric examinations, the volunteers ere evaluated at the start, end, and one month after the trial was complete. The researchers found that the inattention and hyperactivity scores had decreased by around 20% for those taking pycnogenol, and there were no changes for the placebo group. These results were found using the CAP scores. The pycnogenol group also showed a decrease in inattention and hyperactivity by ten and fifteen percent, according to the CTRS scores. Also, the parental scores on the CPR test reported a decrease of eight percent and sixteen percent for the inattention and hyperactivity, respectively. Researchers believe they've found an alternative to existing drugs for those who fear the adverse effects of these medications. Although the mechanism behind the benefits is still to be identified, researchers believe that the extract might be promoting the synthesis of nitric oxide in the brain, which is a molecule reported to be a neurotransmitter. Studies have reported that pycnogenol stimulates nitric oxide synthesis in the smooth muscle lining blood vessels, but it is not known if it is stimulated in the brain as a result of the pine bark extract. Pycnogenol has also been claimed to be beneficial for other medical conditions such as diabetes and asthma, to help boost male fertility, and improve the memory of mice. Pycnogenol is extracted from the bark of the Maritime pine that is found on the Southern coast of France, and it is currently used in well over four hundred dietary supplements, multi-vitamins, and health products, such as Attend.

Children's Allergies Linked to Parents' Depression

According to a study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine, parents who have major depression or panic disorder are more likely to have children who suffer from asthma and other allergy based conditions. The study of biological children supports the idea of shared genetic liability. At Columbia University, using a sample of 9,240 parent-child pairs, researchers assessed the link between childhood allergy disorders and parents with major depression, generalized anxiety disorders and panic attacks. The allergic disorders included respiratory allergies, hay fever, wheezing, eczema, asthma, and food allergies. Out of a total of 8,686 biological pairs and 554 non-biological pairs, thirty one percent of the children and nineteen percent of the adults had allergic disorders. There were six percent of parents diagnosed with major depression, three percent had panic attacks, and another three percent had the generalized anxiety disorder. The association between the two was seen only in the biological pairs. Further analysis showed that the association occurred statistically significant only in mothers.

Girls Suffering From ADHD

Researchers in Northern California found that despite the assumptions of many parents and pediatricians, girls do suffer as much from ADHD as boys. By observing girls with ADHD at summer camps, they found that they were much more impaired than their counterparts who don't have ADHD.
In the study done by the University of California-Berkeley, 228 girls, aged six to twelve, were enrolled in day camps held from 1997-1999. Of these girls, 140 had ADHD and were specifically recruited. The others not diagnosed with ADHD were told the camps were for "enrichment" purposes. So researchers could observe their natural behavior, those with ADHD were taken off their medication for the six week camp periods.
Watching the girls closely, they found that those with ADHD were often socially isolated and not interested in following directions. Although the ADHD girls weren't as physically aggressive as boys with ADHD, they would engage in "relational aggression", which includes getting back at someone by excluding them or spreading rumors. The girls also scored as poorly as boys on their abilities to set goals, alter strategies in response to changing situations, and making plans. The findings, that appear in the October issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, suggest that girls and boys are similarly affected by the disorder. Several researchers feel that many affected girls have been left behind because they are less likely to be hyperactive and have more trouble paying attention, thereby becoming less noticeable to teachers and parents. This highlights the importance of teachers, parents, and pediatricians paying attention when girls aren't doing as well as they should be. Also, the longer problems go untreated, the worse kids feel about themselves, the more social difficulties they'll have, and life will become harder for them. Many adult women are discovering that they've had undiagnosed ADHD since childhood. Oftentimes, teachers would say these kids weren't smart. But it's not an issue about intelligence. The issue is about an ability to organize and get it all together.

Got ADHD? Meditate, Don't Medicate

High-energy children labeled with ADHD are often put on powerful drugs as a first course treatment for ADHD. There is a drug-free approach showing great benefit for fidgety children; transcendental meditation, or TM.

Advocates of this drug-free approach state that TM is easy for kids. They simply sit, eyes closed for 10 minutes, twice a day. This practice allows children to experience deep levels of relaxation while wide awake.

Meditation is shown to increase blood flow to the brain, which is especially beneficial to those with ADHD. With ADHD there is often reduced blood flow in the brain."

ADHD children practicing meditation often experience dramatic reductions in stress, anxiety, depression. Organization, memory and strategizing skills are also improved.

Critics of drug-therapy for ADHD claim that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is over-diagnosed. Currently one in 20 U.S. children gets labeled with ADHD and put on powerful and oftentimes dangerous drugs like Ritalin. Compare this rate to Europe and Canada where the diagnosis is still rare. Nevertheless, meditation is a drug-free solution that can help children focus no matter what the diagnosis.

"Sticks and Stones" Saying Wrong-Names Can definitely Hurt You

Study findings published in the Journal of Affective Disorders state that those who are verbally abused as children grow up to be self-critical adults prone to depression and anxiety. Researchers at Florida State University studied data on 5,614 people aged between 15 and 54. They found that people who were verbally abused had 1.6 times as many symptoms of depression and anxiety as those who had not been verbally abused and were twice as likely to have suffered a mood or anxiety disorder over their lifetime. To assess self-criticism, researchers asked the participants to respond to statements such as, "I dwell on my mistakes more than I should", and "There is a considerable difference between how I am now and how I would like to be." Those who had been verbally abused were more likely to be self-critical than those who were not.

Need A Hug?

A new study from the University of Virginia and the University of Wisconsin found that the reassurance you received from a spouse or loved one can calm areas of the brain that register alarm. Using sixteen married women in a stressful situation, neuroscientists found that when a friendly volunteer held their hand, scans showed less activity in the parts of the brain that respond to danger. This effect was even greater when the hand belonged to the woman’s spouse. Researchers believe that the mind relaxes because someone is there to help. They also say that other forms of touch, such as a hug or massage, may also help ease anxiety and even reduce the amount of stress hormones that the brain produces.

Fast Mood Fixer

I’m sure you’ve read several times in the past that exercise can help lift your mood. But now researchers at the University of Texas in Austin have discovered that a thirty minute walk can give you a temporary lift from major depression also. Their study included forty men and women who were recently diagnosed with major depression. They were asked to walk on a treadmill or sit in a comfy chair. After a half hour, both groups had fewer negative feelings, which included fatigue, anger, and tension. But those who exercised said that they actually felt good. They received an 85 percent boost in vigor and a 40 percent improvement in overall well-being that lasted about an hour.
Previous studies have shown that by doing aerobic exercise, the brain’s serotonin levels increased. The subjects also got an extra boost of accomplishment by just knowing they did something good for themselves.

Can Sex Ease Your Tension?

If your anxious about work or any number of life's obsticles, just jump into bed and tension will disappear-for at least two weeks some say. A study from the University of Paisley in Scotland found that sex can ease tension for up to two weeks. Researchers asked about 50 men and women to record their sexual activity for one week. They then monitored their blood pressure as they were put under stressful situations such as doing math problems or giving a speech. The results showed that blood pressure was the lowest in people who had the most sex and was highest among those who abstained. Although they were unsure, masturbation and oral sex did not have the same effect. They believe it's because there's only one sexual behavior that evolution rewards with the likekihood of gene replication.

Women Worry More

In a recent study at the Ohio State University and the University of Maryland, researchers found that out of 1,672 reports from men and women nationwide, 40 percent of women felt rushed, even during leisure time. Only 31 percent of me felt this way and married men felt more stress than single men. So when company is due and your house is a mess, foods not done, or the baby needs changing, here are a few things women can do to get through this. First, get some help. Enlist your husband instead of letting him watch TV. Second, schedule some time to relax. Devote at least 10 minutes every four hours to do something relaxing, such as taking a walk. Finally, do you really need to be in a hurry? Most of the time your answer will be no. So stop, take a step back, relax, and delegate duties.

Stress and Healing Time

A new study has shown that stress that a typical married couple feels during an ordinary argument lasting a half an hour, is enough to slow sown their bodies' ability to heal from wounds by at least one day. It also shows that if the couple argues frequently, the healing process may even double. Some believe that this study may have major financial implications for medical centers and health care insurers.
Reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry, it is the latest discovery in a series of experiments spanning three decades at the Ohio State University's Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research. Their work has been aimed at identifying and then explaining the ways psychological stress can affect the immune system.
Researchers focused on 42 married couples who had been together for an average of 12 years. All were admitted into the General Clinical Research Center for two, 24 hour visits. These visits wee also separated by a two month interval.
Using a small suction device, they created eight tiny blisters on their arms that the researchers used to gauge the healing process. During the first visit, each spouse had a supportive, positive discussion about some characteristic or behavior that he or she would like to change. But during the second visit, they were asked to talk about a disagreement that had an emotional element to it.
both visits were videotaped and those tapes were used to gauge the couples level of hostility. The fluid accumulation at the wound sites and peripheral blood samples were taken from all. The analyzed data showed:
-The wounds took one day longer to heal after arguments than they did after the positive discussion.
-Those with high levels of hostility took two days longer to heal. They healed at about 60 percent of the the rate of those considered to have low levels of hostility.
-The blood samples from the hostile couples had levels of one cytokine, interleukin-6, increase one and a half times more than the other couples. Cytokines are key elements within the immune system that help balance the right immune response. Although high levels of this at a wound site stimulate the healing process, those levels circulating through the blood stream is a problem. These high levels have been linked to long term inflammation, which can lead to cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes, certain cancers and Alzheimer's.

Passing Depression to Your Children

Findings that appear in the March issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that by effectively treating a mother's depression within the first three months of a child's life, can reduce the risk of psychiatric and behavioral disorders in her children. Also, mothers who remain depressed increase the risk of passing disrupting behaviors and thoughts to their children. Research shows that parents who have depression is a high risk factor for childhood anxiety, disruptive behavior disorders and major depression. Children of depressed parents often develop psychological difficulties before reaching puberty and can continue into adulthood, thereby manifesting themselves in the next generation. Although many feel that major depression has a strong genetic component, other factors such as disrupted parent-child attachment and poor bonding may also play a very significant role. For children who are likely to be vulnerable, reducing stress that is associated with maternal remission may reverse the symptoms.

Job Burnout?

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it may be time to seek employment elsewhere!

1). If you are cranky and irritable with co-workers that you used to get along with, it may be more than interpersonal dynamics, especially if they are walking on eggshells around you.

2). You used to wake up in the morning ready to start another day, but now it seems that you dread coming in, come in late, you start watching the clock after lunch, and you want to leave earlier.

3). Soon apathy has replaced enthusiasm. You are no longer motivated, have no sense of accomplishment and have no desire to be challenged. Those who have burnout no longer take pride in a job well done.

4). There is no longer any camaraderie with co-workers. You don't want to socialize in or out of the office as you did before.

5). You're starting to feel physically sick. You may feel exhausted, have headaches, muscle tension, and trouble sleeping. These are common signs of stress that can turn into a physical problem.

A Good Reason for Stress?

Stress is often talked about in bad terms. One example is that it is true that sustained stress is harmful to your health. Stress can contribute to insomnia, depression, anxiety, obesity, heart disease, and other problems.
But according to the April 2005 issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource, momentary or acute stress may actually boost your immune system, promote longevity and can help you meet life's challenges. Face it, life without stress would be boring. Manageable levels of stress make a challenging task exciting and can increase your potential productivity and success. Stress is neither good or bad. But the positive or negative effects of stress depend on the amount you are able to tolerate.
A way to help prevent stress overload is to choose positive and meaningful activities over those that can cause an unnecessary emotional load. For those unavoidable stressors, such as trauma or loss, you can learn constructive ways to deal with them by focusing on those factors you can control. This could include taking care of yourself through diet and exercise, maintaining a positive approach and seeking professional help when needed.

Alzheimer's and Depression

According to a study by researchers at the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, those with a lifetime history of depression are associated with the increased plaques and tangles in the brains of those with Alzheimer's and those who have a more rapid cognitive decline. This study has now been published in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.
According to the background information in the article, previous studies have linked depression and Alzheimer's. Those with a lifetime history of major depressive disorder may be more likely diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Also, both diseases are likely to affect the brain's memory related temporal lobes. Depression is likely to cause atrophy of the hippocampus, which is the area where the largest amounts of plaques and tangles form in those with Alzheimer's disease.
To assess how depression might affect the development of Alzheimer's, researchers compared the brains of 44 patients who had Alzheimer's with a history of depression to 51 without. This group included 32 men and 63 women who had an average age of death of 81 years.
Those with a history of depression had more tangles and plaques in the hippocampus than those without. People who were depressed at the time they were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease had even more pronounced changes in their brains than those whose depression occurred earlier or later. Based on the analyses of cognitive tests that where given to the participants, those with Alzheimer's who had a history of depression also experienced a more rapid decline into dementia than those who did not have depression.

Treat Your Own Depression

Researchers at the Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle found that patients who chose their own depression treatment had better outcomes than those whose treatment was determined by their physician alone. The study of 335 adults who had a clinical diagnosis of depression appears in the October issue of the Annals of Behavior Medicine.

Of the participants, most were male with an average age of 57. They were allowed to choose from a treatment plan that included medication alone, psychotherapy alone or both. It was determined that 72 percent who were recieving treatment according to their preference showed a more rapid improvement in the symptoms of depression.

In telephone interviews at one week, three months, and nine months, patients were assessed on functional status, severity of depression, the amount depression interferes with their lives, and changes in health outcomes and treatment preferences. Most showed improvement in all categories at the three and nine month intervals, and depression did improve for patients in both groups. Researchers feel the positive impact was more noticeable in the early months of treatment. And although not saying for certain, they feel the preference-matched patients were better able to stick with their treatment in the early stages.

15 percent of those who preferred medication alone were older and more likely to be white and married than the 24 percent who used psychotherapy alone, or the 60 percent who preferred both. They also found that African-American patients were less likely than whites to find either treatment acceptable, and Hispanic patients were less likely to find medicaiton acceptable. The majority preferred some type of active treatment.

Adults With ADD and Their Work Environment

With the increase in advertising aimed at adults, it is now estimated that 8 million struggle with ADHD. Chances are, if you work in an office setting, you've spotted a few of them. They may have symptoms that include figeting, trouble focusing on a task, missed deadlines, seemingly uncomfortable at meetings, desks in disarray, and interrupting colleagues. This issue, which is more commonly diagnosed in children, has become a growing problem in the workplace.
According to a study done in September by Dr. Joseph Biederman, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, this disorder can have a very significant economic impact on employees. He says that the household income for high school graduates with ADHD is almost $11,000 less than a person without ADHD. And college graduates who suffer from ADHD have an income nearly $4,000 less than their counter parts.

Is ADHD a Precursor to Smoking?

According to the Scripps Howard News Service, children who have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are more likely to start smoking. On Oct. 3rd they also reported that those with more ADHD symptoms were at an even higher risk then persons that would smoke regularly during adolescence or early adulthood.
Although more research is needed, it is possible that certain ADHD symptoms may encourage smoking. The study, published in the October 2005 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, reported that smokers who had the most inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms as children, started smoking, on average, a year earlier than those who reported the fewest number of symptoms.

Stress During Pregnancy Causes High Cortisol Levels in Their Kids

Research done at Bristol University in the UK has found that women who have high levels of anxiety during the late stages of pregnancy, had children who had higher cortisol levels when they reached 10 years. Researchers say many of these children may be more susceptible to anxiety.
This study of 74 children can be read in the journal of Biological Psychiatry. Saliva samples were taken from 10 year olds and tested four times a day for three school days. The mothers were questioned about their anxiety levels during pregnancy. Researchers found that there was a clear correlation between the two. They also pointed out that factors such as the child's personality, environment, lifestyle, and upbringing need to be taken into account when trying to predict susceptibility to depression or anxiety later in life. Researchers also point out that cortisol levels can work both ways. Low levels are linked to some mental health problems.

Treating Childhood Depression

The latest research reported in the Lancet suggests that childhood depression is often difficult to treat. With little in the way of scientific evidence to guide the use of antidepressants, treating children can be problematic. And although depression is common among children and adolescents, recent data pertaining to the increaded risk of suicidal behavior among children taking antidepressants such as Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft have called their use into question.
The latest research reported in September shows that major depressive disorders affect nearly 1-2 percent of children 6-12 years, and 2-5 percent of teenagers. In addition, it shows that 14-25 percent of children and adolescents have at least one major depressive episode before they reach adulthood.
Depression in children is not a short or transient phenomena. It is relatively common, with impairment that can last awhile, deserving treatment. Given the recent problems of antidepressants causing suicidal thoughts, many experts believe that medication should be used in conjunction with psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is a very valuable and effective means of treating depression. Children shouldn't be limited to medication.

Treating ADHD Through Diet

Traditionally, doctors have been treating children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder with medication. But now more and more health care providers are having success controlling symptoms by simply changing their diets. Some say that children are now thriving due to a special nutrition program.
All foods cause chemical reactions in the body. Therefore, eating the wrong foods may cause a brain chemistry and nervous system imbalance. Experts say that the top five foods that can cause sensitivity and aggravate ADHD symptoms include eggs, corn, citrus products, and wheat and dairy products. They also say that adding a daily supplement to your child's diet may help. Missing essential nutrients may also cause ADHD symptoms.
Although there is no scientific evidence to back this up,parents say it's worth a try. They're looking for ways to help their kids without the use of prescriptions.

What's The Best Meds For ADHD?

If you're a parent seeking comparisons of ADHD drugs, you won't find any. According to a new review from the Oregon Evidence-based Practice Center at the Oregon Health and Science University, there are few clinical comparisons of ADHD medications despite the large variety and the prevalence of the condition among children and adults.The majority of head-to-head trials compared the widely prescribed drug Ritalin with other drugs. Most trials were also short in duration, included a small number of patients and did not measure the long-term effects of the drugs. Researchers also found that as for safety, the short-term, randomized controlled trials did not provide evidence that any one stimulant was any more tolerable than another or that nonstimulants were more tolerable than stimulants. Researchers also found that none of the trials compared how well the drugs improved academic performance, quality of life, or social skills. Few studies compare one stimulant to another and those that do show no clear advantages. Dr. John Santa, assistant direcotr for health projects at the center for Evidence-based policy says they reviewed 146 studies including a combination of randomized controlled trials and observational studies to ensure the largest possible amount of data on the medicines' side effects. Only half had any data on race or ethnicity, and only one quarter of school age children reported the type of ADHD treated. Very few studies compared the effectiveness of different drugs in treating adults with ADHD.

Pharmaceutical Companies Are Pushing Pills

"Selling Sickness: How the World's Biggest Pharmaceutical Companies Are Turning Us All Into Patients" is a new book coauthored by University of Victoria, Canada drug researcher Alan Cassels. He argues that people should be skepticle before taking pills for so-called illnesses, noting that pharmaceutical companies offer drugs to essentially healthy people. Cassels and coauthor Ray Moynihan, health policy researcher, closely examines the multibillion dollar pharmaceutical industry and checks for misinformation and profit-driven behaviour. They argue that pharmaceuticals have exaggerated drug effectiveness and the number of sufferers for a host of conditions including depression, ADD, PMS, and social anxiety disorder just to name a few. One example, high cholesterol, is now being considered a disease, rather than a simple risk factor. Exposing the sometimes questionable practices of North America's drug manufacturers is not something new. However, this book shows that there's not only problems in Oklahoma and New Jersey, but in Vancouver and Edmonton as well. And although direct-to-comsumer drug advertising is technically illegal in Canada, the drug commercials mentioned in the book will be familiar to Canadians.

Children and Prescription Drug Abuse

A new report shows that prescription drug abuse among teenagers is on the rise. According to a study done by the National Center on Addiction and Substanse Abuse at Columbia University, one in ten teenagers has tried prescription stimulants without a doctor's order.

The most common abused stimulant was methylphenidate (Ritalin). Many factors contribute to the escalating abuse of such prescription drugs. Some of these are lack of adequate information to youth, parents and schools regarding the abuse of potential these drugs. Parents and teenagers need to understand that the consequences of using these stimulants without a doctors orders are very serious and may include irregular heartbeat, dangerously high body temperature, and/or the potential for cardiovascular failure. All in all, the abuse of methylphenidate has increased significantly since 1990 and parents and school officials need to be on the lookout.

ADD Drug Cylert Too Dangerous

According to the Food and Drug Administration, liver problems with Abbott Laboratories Inc’s discontinued ADHD drug Cylert and other generic versions, are too dangerous for the U.S. market. This means that drug manufacturers can no longer produce generic versions of pemoline. Abbott Laboratories discontinued the drug earlier this year, but generic versions have remained available. The FDA said it is not recalling the drug. This will allow pharmacies to sell their remaining stock as doctors switch patients to alternative treatments. The lack of a recall caused concern from consumer advocacy group Public Citizen. Drs. Sidney Wolfe and Peter Lurie, who lead the organization’s Health Research Group, called the FDA and the involved companies reckless and insensitive to the health and lives of children and adults using this drug. The FDA made the statement that during the thirty years the drug has been available, it has thirteen reports of liver failure resulting in transplant or death among those who too it. According to them, the number is well above what the normal rate is such problems are among the general population. They conclude that the risk of liver failure outweighs the potential benefits, noting that other stimulants have been produced and don’t cause the problems pemoline does.

Don't Let Your Child Be A Bully

Research conducted at the University of Washington has shown that a lack of social interaction can cause aggressive behavior in 4 year olds. Most of that lack is from parents letting their children watch too much TV. Whether it's educational or not, TV cannot replace the importance of playing and interacting with family and friends. So please don't let your child become a bully. Participate in his\her life instead of using the electronic babysitter.

New ADD Medicine

The Food and Drug Administration has given approval to Cephalon Inc. to market Sparlon as a treatment for attention-defict/hyperactivity disorder in children ages 6-17. Subject to FDA final approval, Sparlon is expected to be on the market by early next year. Final approval is contingent upon discussions between Cephalon and the FDA regarding the product's labeling.

Sparlon is a new formulation and dosage strength of modafinil, which is the active ingredient in Provigil. Provigil is Cephalon's product approved for the treatment of adults that struggle with excessive sleepiness associated with narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea/ hypopnea syndrome and shift-work sleep disorder. It was going to originally be marketed under the name Attenace, but the FDA expressed concerns about the name prompting the change.

Patch or Pill for ADHD?

Those suffering from ADHD may soon have a choice of taking pills of using a patch. The patch will deliver methylphenidate, the same ingredient that’s found in Ritalin, Concerta, and Methylin, throughout the day. Pending FDA approval, it will be the first ADHD medicine that doesn’t have to be taken orally. The company plans to call it Daytrana.
This transdermal delivery system is designed to provide a continuous release of medicine throughout the day. It will pass through the skin and go directly into the blood stream, and it will be water-resistant. Studies reported at the American and Canadian Academies of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry find it’s effectiveness as well as the once a day drug. Of 80 ADHD kids, aged 6-12, studied, those receiving the real patch, not a placebo, did much better. Their behavior and attention, tested throughout the day, had improved. They also achieved better results on age-adjusted math tests. Side effects were similar to other stimulant drugs, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, and those with sensitive skin experienced irritation.
Another study on the patch compared it with a placebo and methylphenidate pills. Both the patch and pills improved ADHD symptoms in 6-12 year olds. Scores improved slightly more with the patch compared to the pills, but the difference wasn’t significant enough to claim scientific proof of superiority.
The patch would be ideal for children who can’t swallow pills. This is especially important for those taing the extended release pills because they cant’ be broken up or the release mechanisms will be destroyed. Another important factor is that the patch offers parents control over how long they want the medication to last. Once a child swallows a pill, you can’t do anything about it. The patch may release methylphenidate for up to 16 hours. And it must be removed for three hours before its effects wear off. But parents can decide to remove it earlier or leave it on beyond the school day. Knowing there was continuing efficacy beyond that 12 hour time point may give them more options.

Pessimism Can Lead to Dementia

Here’s another reason to stay positive; a new study by researchers at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Found that pessimists are more likely than optimists to develop dementia later in life.
Studied were people ages 20-69 who had taken memory impairment tests in the 1960’s and then developed dementia 20-30 years later. Those without a history of psychiatric problems, but scored high on the pessimism scale were 30 percent more likely to develop dementia. People who scored high on the depression scale increased their risk by 40 percent. This either causes stress hormones to be released or their might be a group of genes linked for dementia and pessimism. Whatever the cause, the results are pretty clear-you need to rev up your optimism. Here are four simple tips that can help change your gloomy outlook.
1. Applaud Yourself-Rather than thinking how much time it will take to accomplish a large goal, accomplish small goals and give yourself a pat on the back.
2. Don’t Let Fear Lead To Pessimism-Don’t avoid activities because you’re afraid of triggering a flare. You now you deserve to have some fun, just be sensible about when, and how long you do it.
3. Don’t Beat Yourself Up When Things Go Wrong-If your arthritis is acting up, find a way to enjoy the day anyway. If you had to cancel lunch with a friend, why not invite her over and order takeout instead.
4. Love Yourself-If you’re starring in the mirror wishing you looked younger, give yourself some positive affirmation. Say something like, “These laugh lines make me who I am,”

Will School Standards Boost ADHD Diagnosis Odds?

Factors such as a child's social and school environment may play a role in whether or not ADHD is diagnosed.
In the April issue of Pediatrics, it reports that one factor is whether your school has strict accountability standards designed to improve your child's academic performance. They say that the stricter the accountability laws are, the higher the odds were that your child will be diagnosed with ADHD. Researchers also say that it is difficult to say whether there's a positive or negative relationship between the two. And that school standards may have unintended consequences.
They say that schools with strict standards might encourage parents or teachers to treat children with medication rather than address other behavioral aspects.

A New Way To Treat Depression

After almost fifteen years of development by Somerset Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the first skin patch to treat depression will be on shelves soon.
On Feb. 28, the FDA approved the patch called Emsam. Of the 14 million U.S. adults with major depression, it’s expected to add another option for them, including some who don’t respond to other treatments.
Selegiline, the active ingredient found in Emsam, is the same chemical that makes up the base for another of Somerset’s products called Eldepryl, which is a capsule used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
The patch will be advantages in that it will bypass the liver by delivering the rug through the skin and going directly to the brain. This is also beneficial because Selegiline is an MAOI, which can interact with foods such as cheese, meats, and alcohol, causing high blood pressure.

New CDC Stats-Very Interesting

A new Center for Disease Control report shows some very interesting information about Attention Deficit Disorder. Here goes;

_ About 4.4 million kids have been diagnosed with ADHD. More than half of those kids (56 percent, or 2.5 million kids) were taking medication for ADHD when the survey was done.

_ ADHD was diagnosed more often in boys than in girls. For boys, ADHD diagnosis was more common in families living below the poverty level. ADHD diagnosis history was most common among 16-year-old boys, with about 15 percent having been diagnosed with ADHD.

_ ADHD was diagnosed less often in minority children and those without health insurance.

The number of kids with reported ADHD diagnosis varied greatly from state to state - from 5 percent in Colorado to 11 percent in Alabama. Medication practices also varied. California had the lowest percentage of kids taking medication for ADHD (more than 40 percent) and Nebraska had the highest percentage (almost 58 percent).

U.S. Doctors Looking For Alternative Treatments

Across the U.S., many doctors are now studying a variety of non-medical treatments for ADHD and similar disorders. Although no definitive studies have been done about exercise and ADHD, it makes sense that exercise would help people cope with the condition. This is due in part because exercise increases the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, which helps people focus. Cognitive function is also better for one to three hours after exercise. Some researchers believe that if kids would exercise strenuously tree to five ties a day, there may be no need for medication at all. Involving kids in team sports can help in several ways. Kids will benefit from following a regular schedule and coaches who lead them through structured exercises also might help build concentration and organizational sills. Yet studies show that today's children are more sedentary than they were a generation or tow ago, which seems to have contributed to increasing childhood obesity rates. This leads to speculation that one reason for the increasing rate of ADHD is lack of exercise. New research has also shown that meditation, done twice a day for a few minutes, is an effective treatment for ADHD. Improvements include better attention and impulse control, improvement in academic performance, enhanced problem solving sills and the reduction of stress, anxiety and anger. Transcendental meditation, TM, is a specific form that helps the mind settle down to a state of what's called "restful alertness'. It is a mental technique that involves narrowing the focus of the mind in an effortless way that allows it to settle sown. Once settled, the body becomes deeply relaxed allowing you to experience profound levels of relaxation while you're awake. In one study, kids with ADHD who meditated for ten minutes twice a day had significant improvement in several areas. The children were required to simply sit in silence with closed eyes and thin about nothing more than a mantra, which could consist of a single word. There were 45-50 percent reductions in anxiety, stress and depression. They also showed improvement in organizational skills, memory, strategizing, mental flexibility, attention and impulsivity. Other studies involving TM on kids without ADHD have shown to lower blood pressure and raise IQ. For kids with ADHD, the benefits may be much greater. Across the country, some schools have already incorporated meditation into their daily routines. There is also a national TM organization that can have a speaker arranged to come to schools to talk to officials about TM.

Is Anxiety the Cause or Effect?

Experts have been asking for sometime now if the anxiety that is often associated with chronic depression a cause or effect of the illness?

New research performed on mice suggests that chronic stress may be a trigger and not a symptom of depression. These findings are in the April issue of the Journal Behavioral Neuroscience. The research team from Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital in Boston believes that the findings could also help improve treatments for the disorder.

It is already a known fact that those with depression tend to have higher levels of the human stress hormone called cortical, but it has never been clear if this was a cause or effect of depression. According to the new mouse study, long term exposure to cortical may actually contribute to depression.

Researchers exposed mice to twenty four hours and seventeen to eighteen doses of the rodent stress hormone corticosterone. This hormone was put in their water so that the stress of having an injection would not interfere with the results. This same method was done to a group of mice with a shorter term of exposure.

Those who had long term exposure took longer time emerging from a small dark compartment into a brightly lit open area, which is a common behavioral test of anxiety in animals. These results suggest that these mice were more fearful and less willing to explore their new environment.

Researchers also found that mice with longer exposure showed dulled reactions to being startled, which is an indication that their nervous system was overwhelmed.

New Device to Treat Depression

Billed as “a pacemaker for the brain”, a pocket watch sized device may be the newest cutting edge treatment for as many as 4 million adults whose severe depression is not relieved by psychotherapy, drugs, or even shock treatments. Since it’s FDA approval eight months ago, more than 550 Americans have had a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) implanted in their chests to activate parts of their brain. The VNS is a battery operated generator that is attached to an electrode that is then implanted in the vagus nerve in the neck. The generator than emits regular pulses of electricity that is supposed to stimulate serotonin and other brain chemicals that are believed to regulate mood. But does this new device really work? Is VNS a lifesaving treatment for chronic depression or is it an unproven and potentially harmful treatment based on flimsy science, as critics contend? The only clinical trial of this device, which is approved to treat severe epilepsy, failed to demonstrate the effectiveness in relieving depression. Due to the lack of alternatives for the severely depressed, a top DDA official overruled unanimous opposition of 20 staff members and approved this device to treat adults who failed four other alternatives

Why Be a Yogi?

I recently received this from a realtor mailing and thought you might enjoy it.

Why Be a Yogi?

Not only can yoga help you stay fit and improve your posture, but it can also relieve stress and improve your concentration. Thinking about becoming a yogi? Read on and you'll likely be convinced:

-Relieves stress: The breathing techniques, stretches, and poses used in yoga will help you cope with life's challenges both personally and professionally.

-Builds strength: Yoga will tone your body, but you will also be gaining muscle strength, improving your endurance, and sharpening your balance.

-Improves concentration: After participating in yoga for a while, you are likely to find that your attention span will increase significantly.

-Increases self-acceptance: When you pay closer attention to what your body is doing and what it is capable of doing, you will learn to stop judging yourself and you'll respect yourself more.

FDA Troubled By Hallucinations

Experts at the FDA said they are troubled after looking over reports of hallucinations experienced by those using ADHD medications. Many found it striking just how often young children described various bugs, insects, and worms, both visual and tactile, which haven't been seen elsewhere. These hallucinations are extremely rare in young children, occurred in patients taking commonly prescribed doses, and the visions usually went away after stopping the medication. One case involved a 12 year old boy with cerebral palsy who was taking Ritalin. After taking his medication one morning, he hallucinated that roaches were surrounding him. Doctors stopped the medicine and the visions went away. Unfortunately, his ADHD came back strongly. He was put back on Ritalin and the hallucinations returned immediately. Drug treatment had to be halted. The FDA believes that the visions recurrence were drug related. However, some manufacturers believed that the children had underlying psychiatric problems that emerged when their ADHD was brought under control. Other children had reported seeing snakes, spiders, bugs and jellyfish. In some cases, they felt as though the insects were crawling on them. One 7 year old girl acted and felt as if she had hit a wall after taking only her second dose of Strattera. Partly because most serious drug problems are never reported to the government, it is unclear what percentage of ADD patients experience these reactions. Some experts offer estimates of 2-5 percent.

The Key To Treating Depression

A new study funded by The National Institutes of Health in Bethesda suggests that determination is the key to treating depression. Results showed that some people who don’t initially improve with an antidepressant may do so if they try other treatments. Phase one of the study looked at how people with major depression responded to the drug Celexa. One third of them had positive results. For the others, in phase tow doctors found that an additional third became symptom free by taking an additional antidepressant and about one quarter recovered by switching to a different one. Based on these findings, researchers say patients should try an antidepressant for 6-12 weeks to see if it works. If it doesn’t, then you should try another. Sometimes people who don’t respond well to synthetic prescriptions may want to try alternative natural therapies, such as Deprex. A big plus to Deprex is that it won’t give you the bad side effects that you may experience wit prescription drugs.

Environmental Triggers of ADHD

Previous studies have determined that environmental factors such as exposure to lead, substance and alcohol abuse and smoking during pregnant, an impoverished environment, malnourished, physical abuse, traumatic brain injury and seizures may be reasons for childhood behavioral problems. Research also shows that children of tobacco users face a higher risk of ADD. One study of 2,232 5 year old twins suggested that there is a connection between affection given by the other and lower rates of the disorder in those with a low birth weight. Another study done at the University of Illinois studied hyperactive children between 5-8 years and discovered tat playing outdoors can have a big positive impact. Finally, a Temple University preliminary report found that deep pressure and strenuous exercise can soothe symptoms, such as restlessness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Another environmental trigger is violence. In a number of surveys, it's been found that violence can also be a possible factor in hyperactivity. One survey, published in the Journal of Pediatrics, found that 90 percent of children between 4 and 6 were exposed to some form of aggression that caused a traumatic stress reaction, such as nightmares, thumb-sucking or bed wetting. Also, one third have allergies, asthma or ADHD. Investigators observed that those who had one or more of these health problems were significantly more likely to have had an encounter with excessive force. Finally, a huge number of reports have linked lack of sleep with behavioral problems. One study of 229 preschoolers showed that those who snored were four times more likely to develop new or worsened symptoms of hyperactivity four years later than those who slept well.

Depression is Common For Parents

According to a new analysis based on data from the National Survey of Families and Households, parents experience higher levels of depression then adults who do not have children. A study conducted by the Florida State University also found that increased symptoms of depression don’t leave you when the kids grow up and leave. Researchers are therefore suggesting that worrying is a lifelong cost of having children. Those who exhibit more signs of depression are the ones whose children are grown and parents who don’t have custody of minor children.

Is Being A Perfectionist Pushing You To The Edge?

The drive to get things done right is making many people prone to depression,obsessive-compulsive disorders and suicidal thoughts. Negative feelings could be reduced significantly by using cognitive behavioral therapy similar to depression and anxiety treatments. These treatments helped decrease the levels of depression and obsessive compulsive behavior. But some people wonder what’s wrong with being perfect? Because being perfect will become a problem when people’s goals are not attainable. It can cause feelings of failure that can lead to these psychological problems.

PLEASE Read If You're On Adderall

I'm sure that most of you have seen a lot of stories pertaining to the terrible side effects of Adderall. This is a very powerful stimulant that you mostly hear side effect stories from children who are on it. Well, today, I couldn't believe what I heard from a wonderful person who just recently purchased Attend for her son. She is trying to win a battle against her son's doctors and teachers who are telling her that he needs to be on prescription medication; prescription medication that took the life of a child she knew. But what's even more tragic was that it wasn't the child who was on Adderall-it was his mother. When the first trial against the makers of Adderall was taking place, she was there telling her story about how she had killed her seven year old son during a psychotic episode she had because of Adderall. I know these types of stories are very rare, but it's so shocking when you do hear one. I'm not saying that everyone on Adderall is going to have a psychotic episode. What I am saying is that everyone responds differently to medications, no matter what it is. All I hope is to try to make more people aware and hope they'll take a little more time doing research, finding alternatives, if possible, and getting more than one doctors opinion. No one should die because they have ADHD.

Is Provigil Good For ADHD?

According to the panel of experts that advises the FDA, Provigil, a drug used to treat ADHD, is not safe enough to win their approval. They are most concerned about the side effects of skin rashes, which can lead to hospitalization. They have called upon the manufacturer, Cephalon, to conduct more clinical trials, believing more patients need to be studied before approval will be granted. They voted 12-1 against recommending Provigil as safe for children who have ADHD. Provigil, already approved to treat sleep disorders, is seeking to market under the name Sparlon for those with ADHD. This ADHD version, also known as modafinil, would be a smaller tablet and have a wider range of doses. Although approval was given by the FDA in October of 2005 to use for ADHD, it had concerns about rashes, mania, aggression and other possible psychiatric effects that prompted the added advice from the expert panel. Even if the wider use is approved, Sparlon will more than likely come with the strongest warning possible, which is the black box warning. This recommendation follows only one day after another FDA panel called for all ADD drugs to include new information about psychiatric and heart risks, even though the data is still unclear. Apparently some panel members are uneasy about supporting Sparlon when other treatments are available and just as effective. This is another setback for Cephalon, who faced problems with its sleep disorder drug Nuvigil and the Vivitrol alcoholism treatment it is developing along with Alkermes Inc. The FDA committee recommends that Cephalon carries out a trial of 3,000 patients to help determine the risk the drug may pose for the sometimes fatal skin disease known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, which can produce widespread blistering and rashes. During previous studies, it was found that one out of 900 children developed the disease.

Sick Building Syndrome

In a recent study, researchers found that out of more than 4,000 government employees, high job demands and the perception of poor support were more closely related to sick building symptoms than were the physical conditions of the workplace. According to these British researchers, its work related stress rather than the building conditions that are causing the problem. The cluster of symptoms includes headache, nasal congestion, and fatigue and eye irritation. These appear to occur when a person is in a particular indoor environment. Researchers have failed to find connections that were consistent between symptoms and specific physical conditions of buildings. Now there is growing evidence that job stress, especially when combined with demanding work and little autonomy, has health effects and the physical reactions to stress are similar to those that attribute to sick building syndrome. In a recent study at eh University College London Medical School; employees were surveyed about symptoms, job stress and the conditions of their work space. They even took environmental measurements of temperature, dust, humidity, airborne fungus, bacteria, and other conditions in some of the buildings. There was some evidence that heat and humidity and levels of dust and bacteria were related to the symptoms. But there was a stronger relationship between the symptoms and job stress, such as demanding work and a feeling of lack of support from superiors and co-workers. These finding suggest that the social and psychological environment of the workplace should be a consideration when employees are affected by fatigue, headaches and other symptoms that are attributed to sick building syndrome.

Can Omega Oils Calm ADHD Teens?

A recent study by English researchers found that supplements containing omega-3 and omega-6 oils, which are all found in Attend, could improve the behavior and attention span of ADHD teenagers.
Studied were twenty teens between 12 and 15, 90 percent of whom had moderate to severe ADHD. They were given supplements for three months and found that inattentiveness fell from 94 percent to 17 percent by the end of the trial. Similar results were seen for impulsivity, which lowered from 89 percent to 28 percent. The supplements effect is proposed to function by increasing blood flow, and it is also suggested to affect hormones and the immune system, which have a direct effect on brain function.

Are Your Eating Habits Affecting Your Mental Health?

Some are beginning to wonder if there’s a link between changes in your eating habits and the rise of mental health problems today. Over the past fifty years, consuming fresh produce has declined and eating more saturated fats and sugars is rising. As a result, the nation’s health is being affected and it could also be damaging to our mental health, according to a recent report. It also shows that an unbalanced diet has led to an increase in depression, schizophrenia, ADHD and Alzheimer’s disease.
The study also shows that consumption of vegetables and fish has declined by 34 and 59 percent respectively within the last 60 years. Also, only 13 percent of men and 15 percent of women eat at least five portions of fresh fruits and vegetables every day. There has also been a decrease in the omega-3 fatty acids that are found in such things as fish and nuts. A deficiency in these has been implicated in a number of mental health problems, which includes depression and hyperactivity disorders.
But the problem isn’t just how we eat, but also how our food is now produced. In many cases, due to changes in the way food is manufactured and produced, the vitamins and minerals have been reduced. Pesticides are now more widespread, and the body fat content of many animals is now higher.

The Benefits of Exercise

The word exercise may not be the most exciting word in your vocabulary, but it has a lot of benefits that you should be aware of. Participating in daily exercise not only makes us healthier, it can diminish the effects of stress on our bodies as well. How many times have you heard someone say,” The doctor says it’s due to stress”? Stress plays a major role in many diseases. To increase your immune system and decrease your stress levels, you can try daily exercise. Some of the very simple things you can do are bending, stretching, reaching, or walking. You could try a simple aerobic video. You could also so simple stretching exercises of your neck and shoulders while sitting or walk in place while watching TV. Make it a point to move more throughout the day and boost your body’s immune system so you can stay healthier in general. There are no reasons to allow stressful situations to take their toll on your health and well being.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

For many in the military, post-traumatic stress disorder is an unfortunate reality. A study that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that nearly 20 percent of those returning from the Iraqi War suffer from this condition or other mental health disturbances. For the Gulf War, the rate of soldiers coming back with these conditions was just half of that. One conclusion was that perhaps the nature of the conflict and the increased risk of being redeployed were making the Iraq War more taxing for these men and women. High amounts of stress and hyper vigilance were considered normal for soldiers serving in Iraq.
Those with post-traumatic stress disorder, whoever they may be, cannot selectively release emotions. For example, letting out love would also mean letting out many other feelings, such as fear and sadness. Therefore, a person with this disorder will stop interacting with the world around them. They will basically withdraw and try to escape. They also frequently feel guilt and shame foe being alive or experiencing pleasure. For these peoples’ partners it can be quite confusing and painful. A highly anticipated reunion may crumble once he or she returns, which can take a significant toll on their relationship. So for our soldiers and their partners it becomes a cruel irony that after a long battle, their plight continues when they do finally return home. For these stories to have happy endings that they deserve, both must make their relationship a priority and bring a strong measure of understanding and compassion to the effort.

Stress Is Not Good For Your Heart

If something is stressing you out, it’s probably not good for your heart. Mental stress decreases blood flow to the heart in those who have no problems in other stress tests according to a recent study. Researchers have found that the adverse effects of mental stress are more widespread than previously recognized. The study found that there may be a stronger association between mental stress and it being a serious risk factor for death in those that already have a pre-existing heart disease, just like smoking and high cholesterol are risk factors.
Patients were monitored for heart blood flow as they performed a mentally stressful scenario. All to them had coronary artery disease. They found that 21 percent of the patients had a drop in blood flow to the heart even though they had previously done well on treadmill stress tests. This study was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Could Depression Predict the Future?

Switzerland researchers analyzed information on more that 4,000 people over a period of 25 years. They found that there’s a link between childhood depression and adult asthma and obesity. Although researchers believe more study is needed, they believe that the neurobiology of depression is different during childhood than at any other time in their life.

Is There A Link Between Allergies And Depression?

In a national survey of over 3,000 U.S. adults, researchers found that women with major depression were more likely to have allergies. Also noted was that men with nervous and anxious personalities also had allergies. These findings lead to the suggestion that there is a relationship between depression or neurotic personality traits and allergies. Although past studies have linked depression and allergies, it’s not clear which one leads to the other.
One hypothesis is that those who have neurotic personalities might be prone to both depression and allergies, which is already thought of as a risk factor for depression. One study found that those with depression were 50 percent more likely to have allergies than those without. And adults with neurotic personalities were 22 percent more likely to have allergies than those without. However, analysis showed that depression and allergies were linked only among women and in contrast, men with neurotic personalities had a higher risk of allergies, but there was no connection between depression and allergies. Researchers speculate that with depression, it’s possible that the disorder contributes to allergy development by impairing the immune system. On the other hand, those that have to deal with chronic allergies may become depressed.

Is It Time To Fix The ADHD Diagnosis And Not The Child?

Ever since the term was first adopted by the American Psychiatric Association in 1987, ADHD has been a source of much debate. And as the multi-million dollar industry has grown, so to have the amount of literature that describes the fundamental flaws in logic and research, and points out that claims of a neurobiological origin has never been substantiated. For example, Ritalin is considered a class 2 drug, which is the same as cocaine. Yet most parents don’t have deep concerns about it because they are unaware of all the facts. Unfortunately parents are not being informed of the medical opinion surrounding ADHD and its validity as a diagnostic concept and the nature of the drugs that are being prescribed. There are basic procedures and medical tests to help establish a correct diagnosis, but very few children have been subjects of these tests and yet they are “medically diagnosed” without finding the source of their symptoms.
Although there has been what some call poor quality research on ADHD, the pharmaceutical industry is now generating huge profits. The differences of opinion in the medical field can be reflected by the wide range of prescription rates throughout the world. In the largest analysis study, published by the Oregon Drug Effectiveness Review Project, researchers found no evidence that supported the claims about the drugs’ safety or even the legitimacy of the diagnosis out of over 2,000 pieces of research. Some feel that to continue giving these drugs while parents aren’t being made aware of safety issues is a crime. Many parents don’t even realize that they’re giving mind altering drugs to children whose brains aren’t fully developed. Yet they do because their doctor gives them a prescription for a drug that has yet to be determined what the long term side effects may be. Will our children just become “junkies” after being on meds for years, will they die from heart complications due to medicines, or will they be properly diagnosed so they don’t have to experience side effects or possibly die?

Britain Now Raises the Health Issue of Strattera

The British are now saying that a new report links drug company Lilly’s Strattera with heart rhythm problems and seizures. This drug has already been linked to rare cases of liver damage and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. But now British authorities have associated this drug with seizures and a lengthening of time between heartbeats, which could be potentially dangerous, in what they consider a handful of more than 3.7 million people who have been using the drug since it came out in 2002. These warnings are based on an internal report that was made by the British Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, which is the equivalent of the U.S. FDA. British authorities are updating the label on the medication to warn about the possible side effects. At the moment, no warnings are planned to be given to doctors and their patients taking the medicine here in the states and the U.S. label for Strattera contains no warning of seizures.

ADHD and Females

Today many researchers are complaining that even in the handbook of standard criteria for ADHD the gender base is not adequately addressed. Currently there are 3-5 boys diagnosed with ADHD for every one girl. That may be because girls with ADHD present themselves differently. They tend to be less aggressive and more likely to be very talkative. They also tend to be more depressed and more internalized than boys, who are externalized by doing such things as pushing, shoving, and running. Girls also tend to engage in sexual behavior at an earlier age than normal and face a higher risk of becoming pregnant.
In the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, one study suggests that the major symptoms of ADHD appear similar in both boys and girls, but girls are less likely to have the accompanying disruptive behaviors. This may be one reason that girls have a lower diagnosis rate. Researchers tested 140 girls with ADHD, whose average age was 11. They observed all of the typical symptoms which included inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. The most frequent symptom found was inattention. Girls with ADHD were found to also have a higher of other psychiatric disorders, such as behavioral, mood, anxiety, as well as an increased risk of drug and alcohol abuse. Rates of mood disorders were similar in both genders, but girls had a less tendency to be affected by disruptive conditions, such as oppositional defiant disorder. Girls are more cognitive in symptoms. Unlike boys, they may never by restless, hyperactive, or impulsive. And while boys tend to get more diagnosed than girls because they’re disruptive in class, girls will quietly space off and not bother anyone. Some studies have estimated that as many as half to three fourths of all girls with ADHD will go undiagnosed. Others speculate that may be one more reason girls, and women, are diagnosed with depression than are men.

Is ADHD Really A Disease?

Many children today are inattentive, impulsive and hyperactive. They often get bored easily in class, can’t sit still, always on the go, and often don’t get along with other students or their teachers. These are symptoms of an alleged disease called ADHD and a majority of these children are given such medications as Ritalin and Adderall. But is it really ADHD that doctors are treating? Or could these children be bright, normal kids that are full of energy and just bored from sitting in a classroom? Could the National President of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights be right with saying that these kids are simply smart and become hyper while waiting for slower classmates to catch up to them? After all, those who are bored tend to fidget, scratch, wiggle, stretch, and may even start looking for ways to get into trouble, especially boys. There are also other conditions that mimic the symptoms of ADHD. These include hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar, allergies, learning disabilities, problems with the thyroid, hearing or vision, mild to high lead levels in the blood, exposure to toxins, spinal problems, carbon monoxide poisoning, sleeping disorders, and about 16 or more other disorders.
Because these conditions can cause ADHD symptoms, it is almost impossible for a teacher, principal, or even a family doctor to say for certain that the child has ADHD. To be absolutely certain, a doctor would have to test and rule out these other conditions. And since parents or doctors rarely do this, than every diagnosis of ADHD is suspect to say the least. Technically, researchers have found no physical evidence of the disease or laboratory tests to prove that it actually exists. So parents, take heed when school officials tell you that your child has ADHD and wants them put on medicine so they can be more controllable at school. Why give mind altering drugs to children whose brains aren’t fully developed anyway? And just because a doctor prescribes it, doesn’t mean you have to give it to them. I would get a second opinion.

Instead of Pills, Lets Talk About Depression

In a new research study from Stanford University, they found that the number of doctor visits made by kids, ages 7-17, who were depressed, has more than doubled between 1995-2002. The first choice of therapy should be talk therapy. But unfortunately a number of children ended up getting pills instead. And the amount of prescriptions has also grown.
Researchers analyzed records of more than 1,000 doctors nationwide and found that referrals to psychotherapy for adolescents declined by 18 percent, while antidepressant prescriptions nearly tripled. The studies author believes that physicians are over medicating our youth with antidepressants and gives a little advice to parents. First, watch out for symptoms. If your child sleeps a lot, is suddenly getting poor school grades, or loses interest in such things as friends or hobbies for more than two weeks, you should talk to your doctor. Second, get the proper treatment. The first step for treatment should be talk therapy. In cases that are more severe, he/she might prescribe an antidepressant along with counseling. Finally, don’t forget to follow up. If you feel that the current treatment is not working, ask for something else. Some may need to try a different antidepressant. This would have to be under close supervision because now the only antidepressant that is currently approved for children is Prozac.

Women Over 50 Need Tools To Help Deal With Stress

You may be feeling more stress than the average person if you’re a female and over 50. The stress load might grow daily no matter how you try to cope with it. One example may be that you’re probably trying to deal with adult children, grandchildren and or aging parents. You also might have a stressful job, aging issues and health problems. And you probably aren’t thrilled with menopause creeping around the corner.
Women 50 or over can also experience pressure from money problems, such as paying your children’s college loans, and health issues that can be related to weight gain. Due to a number of these circumstances, women are now seeking counseling. Here are a few tips that may also help or that you may want to try before you feel you need counseling.
1). Don’t go it alone. It’s okay to ask a lot of people for a little help. For example, ask one daughter to check in on your mother on Mondays and Fridays, and ask another to check on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
2). To help you take control of future problems, be more demanding. Stop allowing able-bodied people to run you ragged. Tell your husband to make his own doctors’ appointment, for instance.
3). Realize you’re not 20 anymore. Look out for yourself in new creative ways. Instead of trying to keep the house spotless, steal some time to exercise.
4). Gain support for yourself by getting a girlfriend network going. Yes, you may have to listen to a lot of their problems, but friends your age will understand your pain.
Women over 50 sometimes need to give up their nice ways. Some have been taught to be nice and agreeable even at the expense of hurting themselves. Think of this age as the time to become more powerful. Insist doctors and other professionals do their job to your satisfaction. If not, then fire them and find more competent help.
Finally, don’t forget that those who are in a good mood look healthier and sexier. While you face life head on, humor keeps you from dragging others down. Making good choices about food, health, money and time issues are hard to deal with. But humor will help you keep your looks and sustain your mental well-being.

Diets and Depression

A report by the Mental Health Foundation and Sustain said that the changes in diets and methods of farming over the past five decades have played a major role in the rise in mental health problems. Less Nutritious and imbalanced diets have led to the growing numbers of those with depression, schizophrenia, ADHD, and Alzheimer's. Because industrialised farming has introduced pesticides and altered body fat composition of animals, there are large reductions in essential fats, vitamins and minerals consumed by most. According to the Mental Health Foundation and Sustain, the drop in intake of the omega-3 & 6 fatty acids has resulted in increases in depression and concentration problems. Evidence linking diet to mood and behavior has been growing. Certain complex carbohydrates as well as folic acid, fatty acids, and selenium decrease the symptoms of depression. They have also found correlations between low fish intake and high levels of depression and diets high in saturated fat and low in vitamins ad minerals may contribute to Alzheimer's. Also found in the report was that in the last 60 years, there's been a 34 percent decline in vegetable consumption and 59 percent decline in fish eaten. They say that a diet that contains an adequate amount of complex carbohydrates, essential fats, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and water will promote balanced moods and feelings.

Depression May Be Linked To Alzheimer's

A study in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry says that those who have a history of lifetime depression may also have the increased plaques and angles that are associated in the brains of those with Alzheimer's disease and may have a more rapid cognitive decline.
Previous studies have already linked the two, and both conditions are likely to affect the brain's memory related temporal lobes. Researchers compared the brains of 44 Alzheimer's patients who had a history of depression to 51 patients who did not. Those with depression problems had ore tangles and plaques than those without problems. Analysis of cognitive tests during their lifetime showed that those with Alzheimer's had a history of depression and experienced a more rapid decline into dementia that those without depression. The identification of potential mechanisms that link depression as a treatable risk factor to neuropathological changes in Alzheimer's may help lead to the development of differential intervention and prevention strategies for Alzheimer's.

Infants Withdrawal From SSRI's

In a new study in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine, concerns for regnant women taking Serotonin Re uptake Inhibitors (SSRI's) was addressed. those who too SSRI's while pregnant had babies that showed signs of withdrawal shortly after birth. It states that one third of 60 newborns whose mother's took antidepressants during pregnancy had neonatal abstinence syndromes. This is a type of withdrawal with symptoms that include high-pitched crying, tremors and disturbed sleep. Infants born with this syndrome should be monitored closely for at least 48 hours.
One fourth of women develop depression at some time in their life. The added stress of pregnancy can make matters worse and may increase the need for medication. SSRI's are the most common class of antidepressants used, but they can cross the placenta barrier and affect the fetus.
Researchers examined 120 babies born over a two year period at the Rabin Medical Center in Israel. 60 had been exposed to SSRI's and monitored for two hours after birth and at regular intervals thereafter. They found that 30 percent had neonatal abstinence syndrome. Symptoms included tremors, gastrointestinal problems, hypertonicity, which is an abnormal increase in uscle tone, sleep disturbances and high pitched cries. They also noted that eight of these babies had severe cases of symptoms. Fortunately none of the babies required treatment.
This study concerned it's authors who said that family physicians, psychiatrists and gynecologists should be more aware of this problem. And the risk to benefit ratio of SSRI treatment should be assessed. They also recommend prescribing the most minimum dose that would be effective for the mom's condition.

Stress Linked to Mortality

A new study shows that women who are exposed to high levels of financial and emotional stress are more likely to die sooner than those who have an easier life. The findings had been projected by the Statistics Canada Study, who evaluated stress levels in women between 1994 & 1995. It was their conclusion that those i the experimental group were more likely to die over the next eight years.
Psychological stress factors included feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and or worthlessness. This was an important predictor in determining the mortality of women 65 or older. Of the more than 2,400 seniors studied, when factors such as age, family circumstances, financial status, level of education, presence of long term diseases, obesity, smoking and alcohol consumption were taken into consideration, the effects of this psychological distress was significant. This study correlates with previous studies. It also shows that women are more prone to stress than men, suggesting that degenerative conditions such as cancer and heart disease could be more dangerous to women than men.

ADHD or Normal Development

The border between ADHD and normal development is not an easy line to see. Often, judgement comes from teachers, who are usually the first ones that suggest a diagnosis of ADHD in almost half of the cases. This is according to a study that was published in the Annals of Family Medicine.
Research shows that the call can be affected by the varying levels of tolerance for boys and girls who behave badly. A report by the American Academy of Pediatrics says that the questionnaires used to rate a child were subjective and subject to bias, and the decisions about inappropriate behavior in children are dependant on subjective judgements of observers.
A national survey, lasting six years, of doctors visits showed ethnic and demographic distinctions in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD by primary care physicians. They found the condition was less likely to be identified in Hispanic children than in their white or black counter parts. Also, it was more likely to be treated with medicines like Ritalin or Adderall in young ones of all backgrounds. Unfortunately, children barely three are under ADHD scrutiny. Researchers from one study found 223 children were identified as having ADHD by age 3 wit more than a quarter of them by their second birthday. Investigators reported that even though there's barely any studies of long term effects and no government approval, nearly 60 percent of the toddlers were prescribed combinations of 22 medications. Sadly, nearly half of them were given 2-6 of the drugs.

Coffee and ADHD

For those who suffer from ADHD, they may find that drinking coffee could help them be calm and help them focus. There have been no known intense medical studies to confirm this, but parents who have hyperactive children have noticed the benefits on them. the effectiveness of coffee in calming ADHD children has become great discussion among Web sites and forums.
Children with ADHD are usually given drugs like Ritalin and Strattera that increases dopamine levels in the body. Higher levels tend to calm and help overactive minds focus. Coffee can also increase dopamine without the risks associated with [prescriptions. The only side effect coffee has may be a headache from withdrawal. but they should also avoid sweetening their coffee because sugar aggravates the symptoms of ADHD.
Dozens of studies have been done and more continue to seek the health benefits of coffee consumption. One study has shown how coffee has antioxidant benefits for those who drink more than two cups daily. One study shows benefits of increased short term memory. Finally, several have shown a decreased risk for diabetes and liver and breast cancer.

7 Memory Boosters

If your memory has been less than perfect recently, don't despair. Most of us experience a mild decline usually in our 30's and 40's and up to 15 percent that are older than 65 develop Alzheimer's disease.
Right now, there's plenty you can do to ward of cognitive problems. Some believe that the key is to challenge your mind, improve your diet and be smart about supplements you take. Some can lead to a drastic improvement in memory and mental functioning. Better brain builders include 1.) Get enough sleep. Too little can impair your recollection. Aim at getting seven to nine hours each night. 2). Note smells whenever possible. Scent has the ability to trigger memory. Researchers reported that adults who were shown images along with a scent, ere better at remembering then those who didn't. 3). Researchers at the University of New Castle in the U.K. found that drinking green or black tea might inhibit certain enzymes in the brain that are associated with memory decline. 4). If lately your mind seems fuzzy, ask your doctor to check your homocysteine levels in your blood. Studies have tied high levels to memory loss. Reversing this effect could be as easy as increasing your vitamin B intake. 5). Think of your ind as a muscle. If it doesn't get regular exercise, it will get stiff and slow. Good mind strengthening games include crossword puzzles, board and card games, and even computer games like Tetris. 6). Don't forget to eat the good fats. Omega-3, which is found mostly in fish, nourish brain cells and help regulate brain chemicals. 7). Your brain also needs nutrients to function properly. You should be eating a balanced diet and taking a multivitamin. Eat vegetables that contain antioxidants. One study that found that when vitamins E and C were taken together in supplements, they had the potential to prevent Alzheimer's by fighting memory damaging free radicals in the brain.

The Right Scent Can Help

Will doing the dishes help you relax? It might. Growing evidence is showing that certain scents, even those from dish soap, can be a benefit to you. Aromatherapy does work because it works on the brain's emotional center, called the amygdala. And you may feel the effects instantaneously because the thinking part of the brain can't inhibit the effects of the scent. One doctor studied the benefits of aromatherapy to find ways to speed up recovery time for his patients and reduce anxiety. With the help of an aromatherapist, he found results using such things as lavender, chamomile or eucalyptus. Also, short term exposure is important because people stop responding to scents after a few minutes.
To relax, placing a few drops of vanilla extract on a handkerchief and keep it with you all day-use as needed. To help you recharge, peppermint, jasmine, and citrus have an effect similar o smelling salts. Even though they are pleasant, they act as mild irritants. And to help you relieve pain, the smell of a green apple will reduce the severity and duration of migraine headache pain, and has a similar effect on joint pain. It works because it seems to reduce muscle contractions, which are the main cause of migraine pain.