Chiropractics and ADHD

A new study finds that adults with ADHD can greatly benefit from chiropractic care. The World Chiropractic Alliance in Switzerland made this news public. A press release stated that the chiropractic care seemed to increase the level of concentration in people with ADHD. Between 3 and 10% of children living in the US suffer from ADHD, and between 1 and 6% of adults do the same. Researchers evaluated attention in 9 adult patients before and after 2 months of wellness chiropractic care. Every patient experienced significant improvements in concentration and 88% normalized parts of the test. This means everyone benefited from this care. Chiropractic manipulation effects the cerebellum, which is the part of the brain that is partly responsible for concentration and attention. If the cerebellum isn't functioning to it's fullest potential, the rest of the brain will become clumsy. By activating the spinal receptors and balancing the cerebellum, the brain is able to better function.

ADHD In The Preschools

ADHD is no longer the "in" diagnosis for just school-age children, but is also the new "in"diagnosis for the preschool aged kids as well. Attention deficit disorder is now the most common mental health diagnosis for children ages 3 to 5. Stimulant drugs are increasingly prescribed "off-label" to younger children, even though the FDA has not approved Ritalin, Adderall and other stimulant ADHD medications for children under the age of 6. The dangers and side effects are much higher for children under the age of 6 and the effectiveness is much lower for this age group as well. According to the September 2007 issue of Harvard Mental Health Letter there are things families should be trying before resorting to drugs for ADHD preschoolers. Here are a few:
--Parent training, based on the belief that parental negligence, harsh discipline, or intrusiveness could be triggering hyperactive behavior in a child along with impulse control.

--Setting appropriate limits and using moderate punishments as well as rewards.

--Specialized daycare
The most popular among these is the parent training. Parents are taught how to set the appropriate limits and to use the punishments and rewards system correctly. Basically, be slow in making a diagnosis, and definitely be sure. Please, consider any alternatives like the parent training or specialized daycare, or even something not mentioned here like all natural treatments, before resorting to stimulant drugs. Seems to me that anything is better than your toddler depending on something like that.

Daytrana Malfunctions

Up to 5% of patients using the Daytrana transdermal patch, used for ADHD treatment, have reported trouble removing the release liner from the sticky part of the patch. The patches have been withdrawn following these reports of application difficulty. While this has nothing to do with the release of the drug into the body, the manufacturer decided to withdraw the product anyway.
Shire, the UK company whom holds the global license for Daytrana, says the patches could be used as long as they weren't damaged. Improvements are in the works to fix the problem, and the new patches should replace the ones being withdrawn. Daytrana is the first and only transdermal medication approved by the FDA to treat ADHD symptoms, and was approved by the FDA last year for children with the disorder between ages 6 to 12.

ADD- With or Without Medication?

So many kids these days are being diagnosed with ADD and ADHD. According to a new study by the National Association of School Psychologists, catching ADD early on may make it possible to reduce symptoms. The most important tool for this is structure. Environmental management is what they are calling it, as it relates to ADD. 30% of preschool aged children with ADD improved with no medication at all, according to a new study. Changing the routine, diet, and overall family atmosphere can make a huge difference. A few more examples are monitoring sugar intake, a strict bedtime, and more structure throughout the day. Proactive parenting and education makes it possible to tackle ADD and make medication a last resort.

Non-Medical Interventions For ADHD

Non-Medical Interventions are an option with ADHD. According to one U.S. study, non-medical interventions can help prevent academic and behavior problems due to ADHD. The early intervention techniques use highly individualized programs, relying mostly on positive support to reinforce good behavior. This technique is simply known as positive reinforcement. When using a variety of early intervention techniques, an average 17% decrease in aggression and a 21% improvement in social skills was reported by the children's parents. The children's teachers reported a 28% improvement in both of those categories. Literacy skill improved up to 3 times over the baseline status. The multi-tiered approach to the early intervention offers more traditional services to at-risk children, and a more intensive service to children in greater need. While medicines might address symptoms of ADHD, it does not necessarily improve a child's academic and social skills.

ADD- Or Lack Of Quality Sleep?

The university of Michigan has recently done a study suggesting that around 30% to half of all ADHD diagnosed children may have nothing more than a lack of quality sleep problem. Children don't usually tell their parents that they are tired and want a nap or that they want to go to bed. Instead, they act irritable, temperamental, and in school aged children experience a great lack in focus and attention. Children aren't the only ones with this problem. Many adults simply do not get enough sleep. Avoiding caffeine, keeping TVs and computers out of the bedroom, and going to bed at the same time every night are all examples of simple ways to get more sleep. Although pediatricians are not yet appreciating this concept, any child with ADD should be changing their sleeping habits, in an attempt to potentially change their symptoms. Hey, it can only help right?

Is 5 Minutes Enough Time to Diagnose ADD?

The reality is this; Most pediatricians are booked for two patients every 15 minutes. With about five of those minutes dedicated to paperwork, doctors have about five minutes to spend on each child.Can your doctor truly give an adequate ADD diagnosis in 5 minutes? It is the opinion of many that doctors simply cannot provide a diagnosis for an issue as intricate as Attention Deficit Disorder in a short amount of time.What the pediatricians often do with new mental health problems is guess what the problem is, write a prescription and then see if the medication works. This is time efficient for the doctor - they don't have to ask a lengthy series of questions.However, a child may have ADHD coupled with other issues like anxiety and depression that can worsen with stimulant medication. Or, the child might not have ADD at all but gets stuck with the label - and the drugs to go with it.If your doctor has not spent at least 15 to 20 minutes to thoroughly address your child's issue, it's time to either get a new doctor or demand the time an ADD diagnosis truly needs.

Ritalin Affecting Chilldren's Brain's?

Somewhere around 2 and 18% of american kids are affected by ADHD, as well as Ritalin, which is a stimulant not unlike amphetamines or cocaine. Ritalin still is one of the most prescribed drugs for the behavioral disorder.The Weill Cornell Medical College animal study is is one of the first to research the effects of ritalin(methylphenidate) on the neurochemistry of the developing brain. They did this research on rats of course. "The changes we saw in the brains of treated rats occurred in areas strongly linked to higher executive functioning, addiction and appetite, social relationships and stress, said Professor Teresa Milner, the study's lead author. "These alterations gradually disappeared over time once the rats no longer received the drug." Physicians should be extrememly careful when diagnosing ADHD and before prescribing Ritalin,this is because whileRitalin may help to battle the disorder, it is also potentially harmful when given to young children with an overall healthy brain chemistry. The risks seem to outweigh the benefits sometimes huh.

Divorce and ADD- Connection?

Children that come from divorced families are twice as likely to be prescribed attention-deficit disorder medication, than children whose parents are still married. Of the children with married parents, only 3.3% were prescribed Ritalin. From divorced families, 6% of 633 kids received this treatment, according to a Canadian study. This study began in 1994, with 4,700 families with children, and parents who were not yet divorced. Then, these families were frequently checked up on, to record the status of their marriages, and what their children were being prescribed. Researchers aren't yet sure why children of single parents are more likely to receive medication like Ritalin, and other mood altering drugs. But, there is definately some connection here, don't you think?

Stress Actually Making Us Fatter?

We all know stress can make you eat right? Although sometimes, stress will make you not eat. Well, a new study finds that stress can be fattening. As stress levels grow, so might your belly fat. A study done at Georgetown University states that there is a hormone called neuropeptide Y that promotes the growing of abdominal fat. The researchers found that stress triggers the release of this hormone. While some scientists try to come up with yet another pill that will block this hormone, the rest of us could try and reduce stress in drug free ways. For instance, relaxing our minds and bodies would help. Try mindfulness meditation or relaxation response. Also, subliminal messaging has been known to work for many individuals.

Girl Talk leading to Depression?

Girls have always been known to tell their friends basically everything about themselves. From who they have crushes on, to whom they think are the prettiest girls, and so on. Up until now, we have had no reason to believe that this "sharing of information" was unhealthy in any way. Indeed, there has been new research done stating that excessive discussion of "problems" and "stuff" will strengthen friendships, but take a very emotional toll on girls ages 8-15. Non-stop venting about popularity, crushes, and personal issues could lead to anxiety and/or depression for girls, but not for boys. The results of this study may be reflecting the tendency among girls to blame themselves when guys don't call them back right away, or they don't get invited to "the party." Apparently the more they talk about it, the more anxious and depressed it makes them. So, is it really better to share feelings, rather than keeping them "bottled up inside?" Students were surveyed twice, six months apart. Researchers used questionnaires to assess students' anxiety, depression, and friendship quality, and tendency to relay their problems. Ultimately, they found that students with emotional difficulties were more likely to ruminate about their problems. Then, examined the effect this had on the students emotional well-being and friendships. While the boys had no changes in feelings of depression or anxiety, the girls felt worse, although the change was a modest one. Basically, girls are at risk of this despite having strong supportive friends. This supports findings that support groups can reinforce eating disorders or delinquent behaviors. Most people think having similar social support wold be a positive thing, but putting people with similar issues together doesn't necessarily make anything better.

Laughter is the Best Medicine!- It's True

Have you ever heard the saying "Laughter is the best medicine?" Well, it's actually true! Laughter really is the "best" medicine for all kinds of diseases, this has been medically proven. Stimulating the brain, the respiratory system, the nervous system, the muscular system, and the hormonal system isn't all it does. Laughter can also reduce allergies and stress, lower blood pressure, increase muscle flexion, lighten depression, and can strengthen the immune system. Sigmund Freud wrote a book called "Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious" all about this subject, and in it he describes laughter as the body's way of safely releasing anxiety, aggression, fear and anger. Exercise releases endorphins in the body, which are the body's natural painkillers.These are the same chemicals triggered in response to sexual stimulation. They make a person feel good, relieving stress and indirectly reducing one's risks of suffering a heart attack and other health problems."Laughing provides the same effect, which makes people, like exercising, naturally happier individuals. Some people even say that laughing is the body's internal jogging. Stress hormones will constrict the blood vessels which causes high blood pressure and leads to heart problems. Health professionals actually admit that laughing decreases stress hormones and growth hormones, like adrenaline, this allows them to return back to normal. Based on all of this, we can truly say that laughing helps the body to fight off diseases. Laughing is like exercise in that they release the same hormones (endorphins, the painkillers), but laughing is also considered exercise for certain parts of the body. For instance laughing gives the diaphragm, abdominal, intercostal, respiratory accessory, and facial muscles a complete workout. Beyond all of this, laughing can actually make you appear more friendly and approachable. Think about someone you know who has a long, unhappy face most of the time, now picture someone who laughs all day long, who would you rather spend time with. Most people would say the laughing person. Laughter will eventually even create "laugh lines" in your face, which actually poses a warmer kindly look, as opposed to stress lines and wrinkles due to unhappiness and hardships, ultimately aging a person, giving them an angry or hard appearance. When it comes to relationships, because laughter is so uplifting, it takes you to a deeper level where there is understanding and a mutual release of a person's reservations and inhibitions. They say that even if you can't laugh for whatever reason, tat faking it can help you achieve the same affect, since it it the action of laughing that is most beneficial. Basically, laughing can actually help you live longer, so laugh and laugh, until you just can take anymore, and then try a little harder!

Dementia caused by Depression?

New evidence is pointing to depression as one cause of dementia. Not only depressed people in general, but also people who may just have episodes of depression here and there. Depression in certain people can be situational, which can easily be overlooked, and not treated. According to a study done by the University of Pittsburgh, just one depressive episode, untreated, during late middle-age, can double the risk of having dementia as a senior.

Depression Higher Among Back Pain Sufferers?

Clinical evidence in the past has shown that depression among people with chronic pain was around 20 to 30%. The general population has an average incidence of major depression that is around 5%. A recent study done in June of 2007 shows that 61% of chronic back pain sufferers now suffer from depression. This is a giant increase in a not so large amount of time. Treating depression is done in many ways, involving lifestyle changes, professional counseling, and support groups. Then there's the medication route, including anti-depressants like , Lexapro, Effexor XR, Cymbalta and Wellbutrin. The fact that people with chronic pain and/or back pain have depression, is no surprise really. Having continuous pain will likely drain anyone physically, emotionally, and mentally, making everyday normalcy's nearly impossible to maintain. Most impressive, is that most of these people are reporting their own depression, indicating that depression among the back pain population is under-diagnosed, and that more medical professionals treating patients with back pain should be looking out for symptoms of depression in those patients.

Risperdal- Doing More Bad Than Good?

Risperdal is a prescription only anti psychotic medication, used ideally for aggression, anxiety, disruptive behavior, and general behavioral difficulties. Recently though,a study has proven that one side effect of Risperdal is actually causing depression in children. Being a new adverse reaction for risperidone, the consequences of this could potentially be severe, meaning physicians need to be aware of this risk.The IMMP study is a nationwide cohort study that observes the usage and safety of atypical anti psychotics in kids.Symptoms of depression developing in kids that had no prior mood disorders were found in the study. About 1 in 3 kids reported adverse affects, being weight gain, fatigue, and dental caries. Maybe some of these people should try natural or homeopathic remedies, eliminating these negative side effects and adverse effects altogether.

Do your neurons do their job?

Do you now anything about your neurons? Apparently the neurons inside your body will aid you in finding certain things you are looking for. New research indicates that someone looking for a ripe tomato at the store may be more likely to notice apples, strawberries or other red fruits, based on a study measuring blood flow in the brain. Also, extra neurons may be used to help our eyes find another object we may be looking for.

Men with Postpartum Depression- It Happens

Research was performed on more than 5,000 two-parent families, revealing that 14% of mothers and 10% of fathers had symptoms of moderate to severe postpartum depression. Parents were asked to complete a questionnaire, and were interviewed to prove whether they did or did not have depression. Observing parent-child interactions, such as reading, story-telling, and singing songs is important, because lack of interaction is a sign of depression in either parent.

Health care providers often blame postpartum depression on the hormonal changes that occur in women after childbirth. Hormone upheaval can contribute to postpartum depression. Life upheavals that occur with having a baby can also contribute to depression. Fatigue, marital discord, strained finances and a lack of social support are other factors suspected to play a role in this type of depression.

According to Mental Health America, postpartum depression can begin any time after childbirth and can last up to a year. Symptoms include sadness, fatigue and hopelessness. The person experiencing postpartum depression might have drastic changes in mood and appetite, be excessively preoccupied with their baby's health or have thoughts of harming the baby.

Asthma and ADD

University of Virginia Children's Hospital researchers believe that until these other conditions are addressed, asthma programs will not be completely affective for young patients. The April 12, 2007 issue of "The Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics" states that asthmatic children report higher incidences of ADHD, depression, anxiety, and learning disabilities. The study also revealed that the more severe a child's asthma, the higher the incidence of these other health conditions. Researchers believe that physicians can better help asthma sufferers by managing these co-morbidities, and that children with asthma need tailored and precise treatments that address physical, mental, and developmental health.

Running Rats are Happier AND Grow New Brain Cells

With a headline like that, you could easily expect this article to fall under the "News of the Weird" category. However, this article isn't off-beat in the least. It shows, once again, that exercise is a viable cure for depression. Okay, so the test subjects were rats who ran on wheels. We humans hit the treadmill. Not much of a difference, is there?

I digress. Let's move on to the study...

A group of Swedish researchers genetically altered rats to exhibit depressive behaviors and matched them up against their non-depressed rat counterparts. A portion of rats from each group had free access to running wheels for 30 days and others did not. After 30 days, researchers found that the running rats were a cheery bunch of rats. In fact, running had a similar effect as common SSRI (selective serotonin re uptake inhibitors) antidepressants.

This is not new news. Study upon study upon study shows that running and other forms of aerobic exercise provide powerful antidepressant effects. The amazing part of this research was that exercise actually prompted new brain cells growth.

When researchers examined the hippocampus region of the rats' brains, they found that neurons increased dramatically in the depressed rats after wheel-running. Past studies found the human brain's hippocampus (area involved in learning and memory) shrinks in depressed individuals.

If you feel like you are on the treadmill of life, my suggestion is to lace up your running shoes and hit the treadmill, hit the streets running or sign up for a daily aerobics class. Your brain and your mood will thank you.

Having Trouble? Take Drugs

The advice doctors often dole out is that if something's wrong, pop a little pill to make it all better. Last year, 2006, doctors wrote more than 30 million prescriptions for ADHD alone. Doctors doled out another 118 million scripts for antidepressants, the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. That's a whole lot of Americans hopped up on drugs.

Couple this with another scary stat; In 2006 over 120,000 people died as a direct result of taking prescription drugs. Only 11,000 people died from illegal drug use. It seems that our government's "War on Drugs" should be focused on the drugs that kill the most people. That's just me though.

At what point do we recognize that we are an over-medicated, pill-popping society that takes drugs to make problems disappear?