Sunday, July 28, 2013

ADD and Allergies - Is There a Link?


Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood disorders in the United States and is typically a life long problem. Children with ADHD often struggle with low self-esteem, troubled relationships, poor performance in school, focus and attention problems, difficulty controlling behavior and hyperactivity.

If your child has more than 3 of these symptoms, allergies could be the culprit.

  • Inattention

  • Easily Distracted

  • Difficulty focusing

  • Become bored, especially if it's something they don't like.

  • Difficulty focusing.

  • Organizational skills are usually lacking and learning new things can be a challenge.

  • Poor followthrough. Not finishing homework assignments, losing homework and misplacing items are typical.

  • Doesn't seem like they are listening when spoken to.

  • Daydream

  • Problems following directions, becomes confused easily.

  • Can't sit still.

  • Constantly talking

  • Must touch everything in sight.

  • Have trouble sitting still in school, at dinner or on the bus.

  • Is constantly in motion.

  • Problems with quiet time.

  • Impatient

  • Blurts out inappropriate comments, shows emotions without restraint and act without regard to consequences

  • Have difficulty waiting for a reward or waiting in line.

  • Often interrupt conversations.

Why is ADD under-reported?

Because children may sit quietly and may not be paying attention to what they are doing, the child can be overlooked, parents and teachers may not notice that he or she has ADHD.

Could food allergies have an effect on your child's behavior?

That's the word from doctors at Long Island College Hospital in New York City, who presented their findings at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in Denver.

The study involved 20 children between the ages of 5 and 18, all of whom had been diagnosed with ADHD. But only two had been evaluated for allergy problems, even though all had a family history.

The researchers screened the children for allergic rhinitis, using not only a focused personal and family history, but also blood and other types of allergy testing for mold, cockroaches, dogs, cats, feathers, ragweed, trees and grass.

The results? Eight of the children (40 percent) were diagnosed with asthma or atopic dermatitis, three (23 percent) with allergic rhinitis, and nine (69 percent) had at least one positive allergy test. Fifteen of the 20 also had a history of at least two allergic symptoms.

Based on those findings, the researchers concluded that a high percentage of children with ADHD may also harbor allergies.

The authors suggest all children diagnosed with ADHD should also be tested for seasonal and environmental allergies and that treatment might improve their overall behavior and symptoms.

Many parents will acknowledge that too much soda and candy makes their kids bounce off the walls on a sugar high, but what if a child's persistent hyperactivity was caused by tomatoes, eggs, gluten or some other seemingly innocuous food?

That is what a Dutch study published found. In kids with ADHD, researchers found that putting them on a restrictive diet to eliminate possible, previously unknown food allergies or sensitivities decreased hyperactivity for 64 percent of kids.

It isn't the first time researchers have tried to link ADHD to things kids eat, such as sugar, food dyes or other preservatives, but even with this recent study, pediatricians remain skeptical of a true connection between diet and hyperactivity disorders.

A study published today in the Journal of Pediatrics says that one type of pesticide commonly used on fruits and vegetables may be contributing to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD.

Researchers took urine from over 1,000 participants ages 8 to 15 and analyzed it for pesticides. 119 of the children had symptoms of ADHD. Those with the highest concentration of pesticides were more likely to have the disorder, according to the study.

"It's consistent with other studies that have looked at organophosphate pesticides and have found that exposure of children to organophosphates in early life can cause brain injury. This study builds on those other studies," said Dr. Philip Landrigan, chairman of the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

If there is a link between allergies and behavior problems, if we are able to eliminate allergies from these children, would it be possible to improve behavior, concentration and offer these kids a more normal life. That's the opinion of Dr. Ynge Ljung who has created a home allergy treatment that addresses what is believed to contribute to this disorder.

The Allergy Kit, as it is called, not only treats most food allergies, but also treats herbicides, pesticides, heavy metals, vaccines and childhood vaccinations. Milk, sugar and gluten are also believed to contribute to ADD and is also treated in The Allergy Kit using natural allergy remedies.

Do yourself and your child a favor and check out the newest natural allergy treatment and get your life back and bring peace back to your family. It's fast, easy, safe and permanent.

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