According to recent studies, ADHD is one of the most costly health conditions in the U.S. - topped only by alcohol abuse and clearly ahead of drug abuse in terms of cost.

Annually, alcohol abuse costs American families $86 billion in lost household income. The annual cost for ADHD is $77 billion and the annual cost for drug abuse is $58 billion.

Hard costs, like out-of-pocket medical treatment, are only one aspect of lost income. ADHD high school graduates and college graduates make considerably less money annually than their non-ADHD counterparts.

Research indicates that it doesn’t matter if the person with ADHD has the same level of education as someone who does not have ADHD, the person with ADHD will make less money than the person without ADHD. The numbers are between $4500.00 and $10,000.00 annually. People with ADHD suffer from symptoms like inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity - which are not always conducive to the work environment.

Although about half the children with ADHD learn to adequately manage their symptoms into adulthood, the other half continue to struggle as they transition from school to work. If ADHD goes untreated into adulthood, the symptoms can affect their financial health by making it harder to hold down a job, making it harder to obtain the education needed to land high-paying jobs and it can cause more lost work days.

Many psychiatrists that treat adults with ADHD ask their clients to bring in their employee evaluations, most of the evaluations brought in read like a textbook case. The ADHD adult will talk out of turn, have difficulty following through with instructions, show lack of focus, have difficulty finishing projects and complain of being disorganized.

Symptoms like these make it very hard for an adult with ADHD to maintain a successful work environment. More often than not, these are the employees that get passed up for a promotion or are under-employed according to their abilities.

Not only does the adult with ADHD have more problems at work, without successful treatment the ADHD adult typically also has:

_ Higher Divorce rates.
_ Lower levels of satisfaction with all aspects of their lives.
_ Less likely to have a positive self- image or be optimistic.
_ More likely to abuse drugs or alcohol.
_ More driving accidents.

Most experts agree that if ADHD is detected and treated at a young age, the ADHD adult will be less likely to struggle with work and their everyday duties.

The key is in finding successful and healthful treatment for the ADHD adult.

Jeannine Virtue is a freelance writer who focuses on health related issues. For information about effective and healthy treatments for Attention Deficit Disorder in adults and children, visit the Attention Deficit Disorder Help Center at add-adhd-help-center.com add-adhd-help-center.com

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Fish oil has had significant publicity in recent years because of its potential to positively impact on our physical and mental health. Research indicates that it is the Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA found in fish oil that gives us these benefits and there is now hardly an ailment or physical condition where fish oil hasn’t been shown to have some benefit.

So what’s so good about fish oil?

Fish oil is known to act as an anti-inflammatory, an anti-coagulator, to have an immune boosting effect and to increase neural network connectivity in the brain. It has been implicated as an effective treatment for many kinds of depressive disorders, for skin complaints, for inflammatory conditions and countless others, but probably the most dramatic results you will have heard about have been for its impact on brain function and on heart disease.

Fish oil has been found not only to lower the risk of developing heart disease but can dramatically cut the risk of sudden death in heart attack patients. How do we know all this? We know this because countless research studies have been conducted in many countries across the world and the results made public.

One of the reasons that fish oil is thought to have such an impact is because of changes in our diet over the past century. Long ago, we ate a very balanced diet containing roughly equal amounts of Omega 6 and Omega 3; however, in recent years our Omega 6 consumption has massively increased whereas our intake of Omega 3 had dropped to an all time low. Omega 6 is known to promote inflammation, tumour growth and blood clotting whereas Omega 3 does the exact opposite.

As our fish are now polluted and can contain dangerously high levels of mercury and other toxins, we are advised to restrict our consumption of oily fish. No wonder there has been such a great deal of interest in fish oil, because fish oil that has been purified is perhaps now the safest way of obtaining these fatty acids as we cannot find them anywhere else in any significant amounts.

However, in order to be sure that we are getting the right information, it’s absolutely essential that the results of any research studies are reliable, with proper controls in place, and accessible to the public.

Media publicity

Currently there is a huge amount of media publicity regarding the benefits of fish oil for improving concentration, learning and behaviour problems in school children. Where did the media get their information from? Everyone is talking about the number of research studies and trials that have been completed and the results that have been found, but where are they?

Sadly, most of these reports are coming from the results of so called trials that have not yet been made public. Why not? If the results are as dramatic as claimed, then we need to know all the details.

Published Results

There are some studies that have been conducted into the benefit of fish oil for children with some kind of developmental or learning disorders and these include the following:

• Voigt et al conducted a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial in 2001 involving 63 children with ADHD and found no significant difference between those taking the fish oil and the placebo group

• Richardson et al conducted a trial in 2002 involving 41 children with learning difficulties and found a small improvement in those taking fish oil

• A pilot study in 2003 conducted by Stevens et al on 50 children with attention and behaviour problems found a small improvement in those taking fish oil

• One trial involving 40 participants with ADHD conducted by Hirayama et al found no difference for those taking fish oil and ironically, an improvement in the placebo group

• Richardson et al conducted a large scale trial involving 117 children with dyspraxia and found no significant difference in the symptoms of dyspraxia but there were improvements in both reading and spelling

According to the media, there have been many research trials that have shown how fish oil can help children concentrate in school and improve their level of academic achievement and these reports contain details of a particular kind of fish oil, but what are these claims based on? Why have the results of these trials not been published and made public?

Conclusion

There is little doubt that fish oil is making a dramatic difference to mental and physical well being for many people, and we need more unbiased and published results so that we can all make informed choices. Basically, the science needs to be done right, and all the results of all the trials need to be released not just a “positive spin” placed on the results by the company who supplied the fish oil.

Dave McEvoy is an expert in mind1st.co.uk omega 3 fish oil EPA with over 20 years experience; for more information about fish oil and how it can help come and visit. mind1st.co.uk mind1st.co.uk
mind1st.com mind1st.com

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Tags: ADHD, diet, Heart

Many parents fear hearing that their child has ADHD. Unlike other disorders and other problems, this one can be one that bears both psychological and social impacts on virtually everyone who has anything to do with the child. ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurological disorder. It is characterized by forgetfulness, hyperactivity, and mood shifts. Children and adults can be effected and as many as 5 to 8 percent of all children have this condition. Many go undiagnosed each year.

So, What Is It?

ADHD is a condition in which individuals find themselves distracted, unaware of what is happening around them, or very full of energy. Most cases in children are developed before the age of 7. The diagnosis comes when there are problems in their development. For example, they may show behavior that is inappropriate in attention or they may be so impulsive that the condition leads to other problems. Common places that this can be seen are in education, occupational, family and peer relations, and in social skills. When there is a lacking in these areas, it is necessary for a parent to seek out the help of a pediatrician.

ADHD Symptoms

There are three types of ADHD. These include predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive and a combined type. Here are some symptoms of ADHD.

Destructiveness
Impulsive behavior which includes excessive talking, blurting out answers before the question should be answered, and interrupting others. Also, individuals with the condition often feel the need to speak their mind and this often comes with making statements without thinking about what the consequences for them are. Children may feel the need to respond to a dare.
Restlessness
Inattentiveness which can be both a difficulty with sustaining attention or with persisting towards activities.
Difficultness in reengaging a previous task is also evident.
Hyperactivity happens mostly in early and middle school age children and often decreases as the child ages.
In adulthood, restlessness, as well as a need to stay physically busy is evident.

Or, for those children that are predominantly inattentive type of ADHD, symptoms can be:

Daydreaming
Sluggish behavior
Confused behavior
Staring frequently
Hypo active.

What Do You Do If You Think This Is Something Your Child Has?

For many parents, this comes as a wake up call. Yes, this can explain why your child is misbehaving and getting on your last nerve. And, it does mean that you are not a bad parent but that your child has a disorder that is causing them to behave as they are. But, what do you do? The first thing that you’ll want to do is to talk to your health care provider. You should contact the doctor if you feel that your child is getting into a lot of trouble at school, if you feel that they can’t pay attention to what you are saying or doing, or if any of the symptoms seem to be obvious to you. From there, your doctor will determine the next step.

In many cases, the doctor will refer the diagnosis of the condition to a psychiatric doctor. They can perform a series of tasks as simple as talking to the child, observing them while playing and socializing as well as other tests. From there, a diagnosis will be anything but the end of the world.

Knowing that your child has ADHD opens the door to them. They can be understood then. You can work on providing them with the help that they need. Many times, a child with ADHD can be labeled as a trouble maker when they are actually quite possibly just misunderstood and can’t help it. There are several courses of action that you and your doctor can talk about to determine how to handle ADHD.

These can include a wide range of medications including methylphenidate, amphetamines, and others. While some of these medications can increase the levels of hyperactivity disorder in individuals without ADHD, in individuals that do have the disorder, it can help to focus and keep them in control more so than normal. In other words, it has the opposite effect on ADHD suffers. There are also a wide range of alternative medications for the condition as well. From the use of Vitamin B6, to specific diets, to the use of pycnogenol, and a wide range of other treatments, there are many alternative ways to go. But, it is important to consult your doctor about your child’s condition before treating it.

ADHD doesn’t have to be the end of the world, but an answer to why your child is behaving as they have. As children grow, they get more and more used to their condition and can adapt ways to work around it. ADHD can be outgrown, but in many cases it needs treatment.

For more information about adhdtreatments.net/adhd/adhdglyconutrientsmiraclesugarsphytochemicals/ Child ADHD Treatment visit adhdtreatments.net/ adhdtreatments.net/. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice, link and URL remain intact.

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Diagnosing a learning disability or a medical condition like ADHD can be complicated and inexact. In the case of ADHD, many of the telltale symptoms are also often symptoms of regular childhood behavior — restlessness, rowdiness, and a tendency to be easily distracted. ADHD is treated differently from learning disabilities because it is thought to be different in nature. While most learning disabilities can be diagnosed through specific testing, ADHD requires a more subtle diagnosis through comprehensive evaluation.

A learning disability is generally caused by a neurological difference in the brain structure of a child that makes it difficult for him or her to process information in the same way as others. Learning disabilities rarely have anything to do with intelligence level and are generally not treated with medication, as medication can do nothing to change a brain’s “wiring,” or structure. Children with learning disabilities have to be trained to compensate for them, and after they are diagnosed, schools can help them by providing extra time on tests or other taking other special measures.

ADHD is not considered to be a learning disability as it is thought to be caused by an absence of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine in parts of the brain, and not necessarily by the brain’s “wiring.” Medication can sometimes be used as a successful child ADHD treatment because certain kinds increase the production of neurotransmitters (such as Ritalin), but these medications can also cause disturbing side effects in some children.

In order for your child to be diagnosed with ADHD, he or she must have consistently exhibited ADHD characteristics for an extended period of time and in different environments (school, home, play..etc). Because many of the symptoms of ADHD are also common symptoms of depression or anxiety, the doctor or psychologist evaluating your child will want to make sure that your child is not simply reacting to specific situations. According to the Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is often used in ADHD research studies, common symptoms include:

-Difficulty organizing tasks and activities

-Often losing things necessary for tasks or activities

-Often easily distracted by outside stimuli

-Not listening when spoken to directly

-Difficulty awaiting turn

-Difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly

There is no single specific test that will diagnose ADHD and each child will exhibit symptoms in a slightly different way. As there are also no genetic indicators of ADHD, diagnosis requires extensive and thorough evaluation. The U.S. Department of Education does not require a clinical diagnosis, which means that for school purposes, if a school allows it, a school psychologist can diagnose ADHD in your child. If after careful consultation you determine that your child does have ADHD, be sure to evaluate multiple behavioral and medical or herbal options for treatment for ADHD before deciding on the one you feel is best for your child.

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Tess Thompson is a Homeopathic Practitioner, Reflexologist, Certified Aromatherapist, and Herbalist who contributes regularly to

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