Health Smart Mom

You have had trouble concentrating at work.  It seems as if you’ll go stir crazy if you have to wait more than five minutes for anything.  The problem could be attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

What is ADHD?  We hear the acronym tossed around a lot when it comes to kids, but what does it really mean in a physical sense?  For someone affected by this disorder, there are many symptoms that can be monitored.

The typical symptoms are the most obvious.  A person, whether child or adult, loses focus and has trouble concentrating on their work.  Their minds wander to other things and are brought back to task when someone interrupts their train of thought.

People suffering from ADHD often seem to fidget all the time.  They can’t sit still for any length of time.  The only thing that calms them down is to keep moving or doing something.  In a classroom this can be distracting to the other students and the teacher.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is often misconstrued as bad behavior or poor performance.  A child or adult can be labeled by their behavior when there is another explanation.  Many parents chalk it up to being a hyper child and let it go, especially if the child still manages to make decent grades and have friends.

Many adults who miss being diagnosed as children only discover what they have when their children are diagnosed with the disorder.  The symptoms sound so familiar that they finally get it.  They feel relief but also sadness at the years of turmoil that could have been avoided.

The causes of ADHD are varied.  There is a hint of genetics at work for children of parents who have ADHD.  Unfortunately, when the parent has been misdiagnosed, it is often hard for them to believe that their child has ADHD.

Other causes of ADHD include possible chemical imbalance, brain trauma due to injury, toxins, other brain disorders, and less than proper care during pregnancy.  The brain stem is the first thing to develop so if the mother suffers from alcoholism, smoking, or substance abuse, the chances of ADHD may increase.  Not getting enough nutrients in the diet during pregnancy also affects fetal development.

It has been hinted that the diet of the child can cause ADHD symptoms.  According to doctors and researchers, this is not the case.  However, poor or improper diet does affect attention span and concentration to a point.  A child that is hungry will pay more attention to their stomach than their teacher.  Lack of nutrients can cause fatigue which also makes it hard to concentrate in class.

ADHD is diagnosed through a series of tests and questions.  A person is not even suspected of the disorder unless they display symptoms for at least six months.  So many other social and mental issues can be the bad guy in this scenario that it is crucial to be detailed in the testing for ADHD.

If you suspect that you or your child suffers from ADHD, don’t hesitate to consult a doctor.  The cause is not a bad diet, but a healthier person can cope with and manage the treatment for ADHD with better success.