ADHD Treatment, Causes, Types, Symptoms, Medication And Facts

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a sickness commonly referred to as ADHD. It is a pretty common condition among children. It has been found out that between 3% and 5% of children are suffering from this disorder. About 8% to 10% of all the reported cases are children going to school. There are some adults who also suffer from ADHD. It is therefore necessary diagnosing ADHD in children so that it could be handled properly.

Symptoms of ADHD in Children

The ADHD symptoms of this disorder can show in three main forms. These are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

Inattention

These are signs that show that the child is not paying attention to whatever is going on around her/him. They may not pay attention to details involved in whatever is being done. They will appear not to be listening when you are talking to them. They are distracted and cannot follow instructions given concerning simple task. They tend to forget where they left things they need for completing the tasks they are undertaking.

Hyperactivity symptoms

These are symptoms related to movement. Children with ADHD are always fidgeting and squirming. They cannot sit for a long time; they will get up several times in class. They are always running about and climbing dangerously.

Impulsivity symptoms

Children showing impulsivity will show it in many impulsive behaviors. They will start answering a question before it is finished; they will interrupt others unnecessarily, and are in a hurry to ask questions when an issue is already being explained. Such children find it difficult to wait for their turn to do what they want to do.

Gender and ADHD in children

Boys get more often diagnosed with ADHD than boys. This is because the main symptom that makes people think of the disorder is hyperactivity which is more common in boys than in girls. Girls show the other symptoms of the disorder rather than hyperactivity. But it is believed that the intensity of the symptoms is higher in girls than in boys.

Treatment of ADHD in children

There is no known cure of ADHD. However, there are many ways of treating or managing the disease. There are certain medications that could be prescribed to help manage the disorder. These are not over-the-counter medications. There are stimulants and non-stimulants.

In addition, there are various forms of therapies that can be used to manage the disorder. There are psychosocial therapies and psychotherapies.

Attention building activities like building with blocks, puzzles and various games could be used to help children to concentrate on what they are doing. Telling children stories and reading to them are other ways of managing the condition in children.

There are suggestions that diet could also help in reducing the symptoms of the disorder in children. Foods containing a lot of sugar are not recommended for children with ADHD. This is because sugar can cause them to become more active as it enters the blood stream fast and causes a boost in adrenaline production.

Although ADHD is a disorder commonly seen in children, some people carry it into adulthood. There many consequences of ADHD in adults. People with adult ADHD are not able to organize their lives properly and could turn out to be social failures. These are people who will have problems with their jobs, they may have relationship and marriage problems, and some of them will get involved in substance abuse such as narcotics and alcohol abuse. ADHD cannot be cure but it is treatable. There are various ways of adult ADHD treatment.

Medication – the standard treatment
The standard treatment for adult ADHD is medication. This is what is recommended by the experts. There are five medicines that have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition in adults. Four of these are stimulants, and these are Focalin XR, Adderall XR, Concerta and Vyyanse. The fifth one which is not a stimulant is known as Strattera. However there are other medications that could be prescribed by doctors. ADHD medications work fast and the results are seen within a few days.

These medicines are generally safe although they may produce some mild side effects. However, those with other health conditions such as heart disease, and hypertension may develop serious problems after taking some of the medicines. The good news is that these are not over the counter drugs, and so the doctor will have taken all these into consideration when prescribing them.

Psychosocial therapy
The use of medication is not always enough for treating ADHD. There is the need for other forms of treatment such as psychosocial therapy. This focuses on how to help the individual to function properly at home and at work. They are taught practical ways of overcoming their ADHD behaviors such as time management and self organization skills. Those who can offer this kind of treatment are psychiatrist, psychologists and social workers. They may rely on techniques like behavioral therapy and ADHD coaching. The best thing to do is o combine therapy with medication.

Self-care
There are a lot of things that people with ADHD can do to help themselves.

Taking time to get organized
It is not easy for people with ADHD to get themselves organized. Therefore they must make conscious efforts towards that. They should set a time of the day for that purpose. Even if possible a whole day of the week should be dedicated to that.

Seek help
People who have been diagnosed with adult ADHD should not hesitate to look for support from their family and friends. It is very crucial for families to be ready to support them if they hope to help them live better lives. Apart from family and friends, there are other support groups such as associations of people with the disease. Joining these groups will help you share knowledge and experiences with others.

Avoid being exploited
There are many people in society who are ready to exploit other who are vulnerable. Beware of such people who will come with claims of alternative treatments. These treatments have no scientific proof. Consult your doctor before you engage yourself in any of those treatments.

When people hear of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – ADHD they think of children who cannot sit for a long time. Teachers think of children who cause problems in the classroom by disrupting lessons. This is partially true, but the problems of ADHD are more than rowdiness in children. In fact, there are adults with ADHD, and one of the problems that can arise from ADHD in adults is substance abuse. There many ways in which substance abuse is related to ADHD.

There are several research studies that have shown that there is a strong link between substance abuse and ADHD. It is estimated that about 5 to 10 more people with this disorder are more likely to be alcoholic than those who do not have the disorder. Teenage substance abuse is more common in children with ADHD. One study has revealed that about 15% of adolescents between the ages of 15 and 17 already had problems related to abuse of alcohol.

It has also been found out that people who have ADHD are more likely to be using hard substance like marijuana, cocaine, and other recreational drugs when compared to those who don’t have the disorder. The bottom line is that people who have ADHD do get involved in substance abuse earlier in life as compared to those who don’t have it.

What are the reasons for this?
People who have ADHD are very impulsive. They are more likely to suffer from behavior problems. These two factors can contribute to substance abuse. It has also been found that alcohol abuse and ADHD occur in the same families. It has been discovered in research that the genes responsible for alcoholism are similar to those of ADHD. Therefore an ADHD child with an alcoholic parent will easily learn alcohol abuse from his/her parent.
Use of stimulant medications

There is some controversy about this subject. One part is that some of the stimulants used in treating ADHD are addictive. For example Ritalin, which works in raising the levels of dopamine in the brain to improve attention and focus, creates feelings similar to those related to cocaine. The individual will therefore want more of it. In absence of that, they might settle for other similar substances. In fact Ritalin, because of the feelings it creates, is said to be “poor man’s cocaine.”

The other side of the argument is that the use of stimulants rather prevents the abuse of other substances. This conclusion was arrived at after several years of research. One of these studies was about 100 boys who were observed for about ten years. It was concluded that the risk of substance abuse was lower in people with ADHD who take stimulant medication as compared to those who don’t.

It should be noted that not all those with ADHD will end up abusing substances. There are people without ADHD with the problem of substance abuse. In cases where substance abuse is a problem, doctors resort to treating the condition with non stimulants.

There are a lot of benefits earned when you exercise. Exercise can be performed by all ages – children, adults, and the elderly alike. A simple exercise every morning such as walking, jogging, stretching, or biking is enough to enhance those weak and sleepy muscles. When people participate in a regular exercise program, there is a decreased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and an increase to their general health and wellbeing.

Benefits of Exercise

A daily exercise schedule promotes physical and psychological health. Exercise and an active lifestyle is important for maintaining and promoting health. Regular physical activity enhances the functioning of all body systems. The musculoskeletal system, which controls flexibility and bone density, is greatly improved by weight bearing exercises. Weight bearing maintains a balance between bone building cells and bone breakdown cells. Endurance and Cardiopulmonary functioning is enhanced through aerobic exercise. Exercise also produces a sense of wellbeing, reduces depression, and improves body image and sleep quality. Exercise will raise your appetite, but it also elevates metabolic rate which in turn will increase the production of body heat, waste products, and calorie use.

Types of Exercise

The best exercise program includes a combination of physical activities that produces different physiological and psychological benefits. There are several different types of exercise. Exercises such as a simple pushing or pulling against the wall in which the muscle shortens to produce muscle contraction and active movement are called isotonic exercises. Another example of isotonic exercise is lifting the buttocks off the bed by pushing with the hands against the bed. These exercise increases muscle tone, muscle strength, maintains joint flexibility, and facilitates proper circulation. In this type of exercise, both the heart rate and the amount of blood pumped by the heart quicken to increase blood supply to all parts of the body.

Another form of exercise is called isometric exercise. In these exercises, there is a change in muscle tension but there is no change in muscle length because there is neither muscle nor joint movement. Isometric  exercises include extending the leg in a supine position or pressing the knee against the bed.

The last type of exercise is isokinetic or resistive exercise. It involves muscle contraction or tension against resistance. These exercises are used in physical conditioning and are often done to build up certain muscle groups.

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ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is mostly associated with children. Immediately people hear of the disorder they start thinking of children who are rowdy and cannot sit still just a short period. Therefore the mention of ADHD in adults will come to many as a surprise. The fact still remains, however, that people do carry symptoms and effects of this condition into adulthood. Another thing is that people are not aware that they have the problem. It is therefore good to examine this issue properly.

Causes of ADHD in Adults

Nobody knows exactly what causes ADHD. It is believed that genetic factors may be responsible for this. In addition to this, it is also strongly believed certain environmental factors may be responsible for developing ADHD. Such factors include exposure to tobacco and/or alcohol during pregnancy. ADHD is not a disorder that can be developed all of a sudden in adulthood. For someone to be diagnosed with ADHD in adult years, it means that they have had ADHD during childhood. Adult ADHD is therefore a development from the childhood disorder, where most of the time they can be treated with medicines like CieAura.

Symptoms of ADHD in adults

The methods used in diagnosing ADHD in adults are similar to that of children. It is believed that adults who suffer from this disorder may show signs of forgetfulness, daydreaming excessively, constantly fidgeting with objects, and difficulty with sitting still at one place. However, there are other symptoms that might be seen in adults who don’t show the known symptoms of childhood ADHD. The symptoms of the disorder in adults are very subtle and may not be easily identified. They include the following:

Problems with getting organized

Most people who have adult ADHD usually crumble under the demands of adulthood. They have problems with getting their lives organized. They are unable to handle their bills, organize their jobs properly to meet deadlines, and take care of their children. This makes people with adult ADHD annoying to live with. The disorganization that comes with the condition makes the quality of life very poor for people suffering from ADHD.

Reckless driving and other traffic problems

Adults suffering from ADHD may find driving a vehicle very difficult. This is because the condition makes it difficult for affected people to concentrate on one task for a long period of time. This may be responsible for some people always getting involved in traffic offences such as reckless driving which may result in accidents. They may even lose their driver’s licenses as result.

Problems in marriage

People who suffer from adult ADHD may have certain marital problems. They may find it difficult keeping promises, they have poor listening abilities and are not able honor the common responsibilities of marriage. This does not mean that all people who have marital problems are suffering from ADHD. What it means is that ADHD is one of the causes of marital problems. Married people who suffer from adult ADHD will not even understand why their partners are complaining about them.

Those with the above symptoms should seek professional help for the management of the disorder. It is very important that people around those suffering from adult ADHD should understand them and offer them support.