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Heart Check ups for children with ADHD

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:28:36 GMT

The following link provides information regarding a recent recommendation by the American Heart Association that children who are taking (or are considering taking) stimulant medications to treat this condition, be screened for heart problems. Apparently children with heart conditions are 3x more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, and stimulant medications may cause additional stress on the heart. For more information visit:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24244468/

ADHD Omega-3 Deficiency?

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:04:41 GMT

By smithmom on Apr 4 10:04 am

I just read about a story that may link ADHD symptoms to an Omega-3 Deficiency. Could ADHD be atributed to diet - specifically intake of fatty acids? As the article below points out, this certainly appears to be a possibility. Do you think that this case study has any relevance? Or is this just more hot smoke?

An article from PubMed - Results and Conclusion (link to abstract follows) -

Fatty acid status and behavioural symptoms of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adolsecents: a case-control study.

Colter AL, Cutler C, Meckling KA

Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada. kmecklin@uoguelph.ca.

RESULTS:

Results showed that ADHD adolescents consumed more energy and fat than controls but had similar anthropometry. ADHD children consumed equivalent amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to controls, however they had significantly lower levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) and total omega-3 fatty acids, higher omega-6 fatty acids and a lower ratio of n-3:n-6 fatty acids than control subjects. In addition, low omega-3 status correlated with higher scores on several Conners’ behavioural scales. C

CONCLUSION:

These data suggest that adolescents with ADHD continue to display abnormal essential fatty acid profiles that are often observed in younger children and distinctly different from normal controls of similar age. Further these red blood cell fatty acid differences are not explained by differences in intake. This suggests that there are metabolic differences in fatty acid handling between ADHD adolescents and normal controls. The value of omega-3 supplements to improve fatty acid profiles and possibly behaviours associated with ADHD, need to be examined.

To read the abstract - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18275609?dopt=Abstract

PMID: 18275609 [PubMed - in process]

What Do You Look for if you think that your son has ADHD

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:44:08 GMT

By miavita4ever on Mar 27 11:44 pm

I am having a tough go of it at school with my son as the teachers say that he is highly disruptive in the classroom. They think that I should get him tested for ADHD. My main issue with that is he can get involved in something here at the house (like video games or building something) and be conteb to do it for hours, which seems to contradict everything that the teachers are telling me. I don't want to not do something because it seems as though the school issues keeping getting worse.

Is there test or a doctor whom we could see to DEFINITELY determine what it is the matter, if anything? We are located in the Broward county area.

Should I say something to her??

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:58:41 GMT

By colleen on Feb 12 12:58 pm

I think my friend’s son has ADD or ADHD, but she just thinks he’s ‘being a boy.’ Should I say something to her? That's a really touchy subject

any suggestions?

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:50:08 GMT

By crobertson on Feb 12 12:50 pm

I have a 8 yr old son with ADHD. He is on Adderall 25mg. Since the divorce things have gotten worst.- throwing chairs, throwing tantumes when he dosen't get his way. I have put him in time out, taken toys away,. He sees a therapist weekly. What more do I do? What am I doing wrong?

Daughter with attention problems (ADHD)

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 23:37:17 GMT

By seantilbrook on Feb 3 11:37 pm

I have a young daughter who has just entered 2nd grade. She is extremely bright, gets along well with her teachers and her friends, yet is starting to do really poorly at school. She is more than capable of doing the work, it is just that her focus and attention are all over the place. Currently her math teacher has said that she 'DEFINITELY' has ADHD and has no focus. I have noticed at home she is able to focus for 2 plus hours on video games, so there must be something else to it. Does anyone have any suggestions on getting to focus on her schoolwork when needed, or anything other than the video games? I am really at my wits end and after reading the stories on the different medications do not feel that is a route our family could take.

How to lower the risk of injuries?

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:57:46 GMT

By martha on Feb 1 1:57 pm

I would like to strat disscusion about it because I think that we can learn from each other about injury prevention.How can we change, enhance home or school enviroment ?Please, share your suggestions.

active baby

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:22:02 GMT

By nany on Feb 1 12:22 pm

My 7 months old son has just started being very active. He crawls everywhere and he can not focus on the one toy for longer than one minute. My baby is very fast and he often looks for a new things to play.He can get bored very easily. Is that normal or is that a first sign of ADHD?