Home >Beauty Skin Care Natural > ADHD: The role of diet and sleep - Boston Globe
ADHD: The role of diet and sleep - Boston Globe
Posted on Friday, October 7, 2011 by Beauty Skin Care Natural
I recently had a guest post published on the CNN news blog, The Charts, entitled Calming your child's ADHD symptoms. The subject clearly needs a fresh look, given the startling statistic from a recent CDC report that diagnosis of ADHD was up by 29% from 2000 to 2009, and evidence that medication use for ADHD increased at an average yearly rate of 3.4% from 1996 to 2008.
In a nutshell, I describe ADHD as a problem of regulation of emotion, behavior and attention. I offer three points of approach. The first is to address family relationships. This is because children learn self-regulation in context of relationships with primary caregivers, and family conflict is clearly associated with increased risk for ADHD. Second, I recommend involving kids in activities that promote self-regulation including, but not limited to, horseback riding, swimming, martial arts and drumming. And last I recommend careful use of medication when a child's symptoms interfere with learning and social relationships.
A number of people commented that I had not addressed the issues of diet or sleep, both of which have been associated with symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity. I gave some careful thought to why I had not included these issues among the top three. The reason is that, in my experience, problems around sleep and diet are usually embedded in problems in relationships (the major exception is obstructive sleep apnea, a sometimes overlooked condition that can cause of hyperactivity in children. This topic is well covered in a recent post by an ENT specialist on the blog KevinMD.)
For example, I took care of one teenage girl with symptoms of inattention who met diagnostic criteria for ADHD. I learned that up until her thirteenth birthday, her mother lay in bed with her every night until she fell asleep. Then on the day of her birthday, her mother decided that her daughter was too old for this habit, and abruptly stopped, insisting that she fall asleep on her own. Not surprisingly, her brain and body had no idea how to fall asleep independently, so she was staying up until two or three o'clock every morning, sneaking her laptop into bed with her.
Many children with a range of behavior problems crave sweets. Parents describe constant battles around food choices. It is likely that these problems have complex causes: sweets may be used to reduce stress, and food is a place where children can exert absolute control by simply closing their mouths.
Certainly it is important for growth, development, and learning that children eat a healthy diet. Ideally they should have three meals a day with sufficient fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein and a minimum of processed foods. However, if all attention in management of ADHD is focused on diet, to the exclusion of relationships, then the intervention is off the mark. In addition, evidence for more specific food restrictions, such as dairy, wheat or food dyes, is more anecdotal, and some of these diets can be quite restrictive.
Similarly, getting enough sleep is essential to healthy brain function and regulation of behavior, emotions and attention. But, with the exception of obstructive sleep apnea, most sleep problems develop in the context of relationships. In my work with the teenager I describe above, we needed to understand what about family relationships, between mother and father as well as between mother and daughter, led to this problematic situation. Only then could we could begin to solve the "sleep problem." Many children I see with a diagnosis of ADHD have been engaging in battles with their parents for years around sleep, but almost always in the setting of a range of conflicts within the family.
My answer to those who question the omission of sleep and diet from my discussion of ADHD is that yes, these issues are important. In my CNN piece I describe inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity as symptoms, and urge parents and clinicians who treat ADHD to not simply treat symptoms, but rather to address the underlying cause. Similarly, problems with sleep and diet are often symptoms of problems in relationships. Many parents describe being overwhelmed by the volume of information coming at them about this complex entity known as ADHD. I believe both parents and professional would do well to be open to a variety of ideas while maintaining a focus on supporting relationships and repairing disruptions in relationships.
07 Oct, 2011
--
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEgw5ZEDV26LbxI0uxT69G7EDaWrg&url=http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/childinmind/2011/10/adhd_the_role_of_diet_and_slee.html
~
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
Blog Archive
-
▼
2011
(2699)
-
▼
October
(651)
- The HCG Diet: Does it really work? - KRCG
- How nutrition affects body hygiene - Myjoyonline.com
- The HCG Diet: Does it really work? - KRCG
- Free Weight Loss Hypnosis For Everyone From The Fa...
- Is Demi Moore on the divorce diet? - Gather Celebs...
- FastPencil PREMIERE Announces "The Social Network ...
- Diet Plan Now Offered Free For Weight Loss - Think...
- Is a Gluten-Free Diet For You? - Patch.com
- Diet Plan Now Offered Free For Weight Loss - Think...
- Lutz reveals 'Immortals' diet - Toronto Sun
- Portfolio Diet – could it be as effective as poppi...
- Obese Family Members of Bariatric-Surgery Patients...
- New Yellow Line Stop May Lead to Congestion - Patc...
- Diet.com Announces Video Host Will Compete in Men'...
- Healthier diet, stronger sperm? - USA Today
- Greensboro Chiropractor Announces Weight Loss Work...
- Local businesses offer weight-loss programs - Lexi...
- Baba Suwe and His New Drug Diet - Nigerian Bulletin
- Demi Moore's dramatic weight loss - The Sun
- Beating cholesterol with the Portfolio Diet - Sydn...
- Chinese scientists solve pandas' bamboo diet myste...
- A New Study Links Diet-Induced Obesity to Male Inf...
- Green diet can help beyond pink month - Hattiesbur...
- The Development Of A Perfect Ferret Food - SmallAn...
- Vivus tried again with FDA for weight-loss drug - ...
- Weight Loss After Surgery Seen in Patient's Family...
- Solta Medical Announces Third Quarter 2011 Results...
- Clair's weight loss transforms her life - Worceste...
- S'pore Immunology Network, Galderma Labs to collab...
- $44 for 30-day hCG w/ aminos weight loss program (...
- Hollywood Weight Loss Secrets: How to Drop the Pou...
- How to still look flawless with acne scars - Trini...
- mbalanced diet poses serious health hazards - Sout...
- The Brentwood Diet - Westside Today
- Rob Kardashian Talks Sexy 'DWTS' Side, Weight Loss...
- TAKING CONTROL OVER YOUR ACNE - NorthFulton.com
- Senator uses Twitter to shed 50 pounds - CNN (blog)
- Even Food Network getting back to basics - Chicago...
- Weight Loss Surgery May Have Healthy Effect on Fam...
- Diet Center Wants to Help Merrick Take the Pounds ...
- Food police: Democratic PAC targets Rep. Sean Duff...
- ASRM: Healthy Diet Boosts Semen Quality - MedPage ...
- Clues About Early Diets Found in Fossilized Teeth ...
- Women who start diet on Tuesday most likely to fai...
- Weight loss after surgery seen in patient's family...
- Jessica Alba sues weight loss company for US$1m - ...
- Weight Loss Surgery May Have Healthy Effect on Fam...
- Tips for healthy weight loss in student athletes -...
- Weight Loss Surgery Benefits Entire Family - New Y...
- Ricki Lake's DWTS weight loss - Winnipeg Free Press
- Create a Heart-Healthy Diet - NorthFulton.com
- Revealed: Why giant pandas can stomach bamboo - CB...
- Rooney Mara On Her Dragon Tattoo Diet, Plus More I...
- Prevent Kidney Stones With An Easy Diet! - Silicon...
- Power of Customization by BIONOVA Skincare - Marke...
- Healthier Diet, Stronger Sperm? - U.S. News & Worl...
- Protein key to curbing overeating and preventing o...
- Going Gluten Free for Weight Loss - First Coast News
- Going Gluten Free for Weight Loss - First Coast News
- Nutrisystem and GlucoFitClub to Pilot the First In...
- Nutrisystem and GlucoFitClub to Pilot the First In...
- Vivus gets back in the race for weight-loss drug O...
- Alkaline or pH diet eases variety of ailments - Ze...
- Vivus tried again with FDA for weight-loss drug - ...
- Acne Drug Spurs Developments in Spinal Cord Treatm...
- UA council still doesn't think Fishinger needs 'ro...
- Sara Davis/Thomas Keller Restaurant Group - NPR (b...
- Diet review: Sugar busters diet - Times of India
- Alkaline or pH diet not only helps loss weight, bu...
- Utah HCG Diet Plan Helps Obese Lower BP - Emailwir...
- Cooking for Special Diets: Where to Get Halloween ...
- Vivus tried again with FDA for weight-loss drug - ...
- Acne collaborates with Daniel Silver - FashionUnit...
- Experts: Milk is not linked to weight loss - Green...
- Registration for weight loss contest takes place t...
- Getting over the weight loss plateau - Times of India
- So much more than weight loss - Regina Leader-Post
- Are you ready for manly soda? - Las Cruces Sun-News
- Is the Dukan diet a health risk? - The Sun
- The alkaline or pH diet, fans claim aids weight lo...
- Looking for a Weight Loss Program That's Right For...
- Wondering if Online Weight Loss Programs Are Right...
- Is the Dukan diet a health risk? - The Sun
- Teach yourself willpower Can't commit to the gym? ...
- The high price of weight loss - Irish Times
- The quality of life diet - Sydney Morning Herald
- Diet determines drug dosage - ScienceAlert
- What Kind of Vegetarian Are You? - Patch.com
- Kate Middleton's Reverse Diet Revealed - Just Don'...
- Healthy Living: Poor diets effecting energy levels...
- DietRedi Announces the Enhancement of Their Weight...
- Sheriff, deputy, others drop pounds with 'Ideal Pr...
- Healthy Skin Care Tips - Five Skincare Guidelines ...
- Weight Loss Firm Which Illegally Used Her Name Fac...
- Daisy Lowe and Matt Smith spotted rowing in the st...
- HCG Tablets Now Offed By True Healthy Products The...
- Nutrition advice: How to avoid common dieting prob...
- Dr Pepper Ten: 'No women allowed' - St. Augustine ...
- The Doctors Chocolate An Antioxidant Rich Dark Cho...
- Do Daisy and the Doctor need a bit of space? Matt ...
-
▼
October
(651)