ADHD/ADD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are conditions that becomes apparent in some children in the preschool and early school years. It is estimated that between 3 and 5 percent of children have ADHD, or approximately 2 million children in the United States. This means that in a classroom of 25 to 30 children, it is likely that at least one will have ADHD.

It is hard for these children to control their behavior and/or pay attention. Children with ADHD have impaired functioning at home, school, and in relationships with peers. If untreated, the disorder can have long-term adverse effects into adolescence and adulthood.

Adult Attention-Deficit Disorder (Adult ADD) symptoms are similar, but not identical, to those seen in children and adolescents. People often refer to the adult form of the disorder as ADD, because symptoms of hyperactivity tend to diminish with age, often taking the form of restlessness or fidgetiness (eg, persistent pencil tapping and/or foot tapping) and difficulty engaging in quiet activities. However, the medical community uses ADHD for both children and adults, and this term is becoming more widely accepted.

Symptoms of ADHD in Children:

Symptoms of ADHD will appear over the course of many months, and include:

• Impulsiveness: a child who acts quickly without thinking first.
• Hyperactivity: a child who can't sit still, walks, runs, or climbs around when others are seated, talks when others are talking.
• Inattention: a child who daydreams or seems to be in another world, is sidetracked by what is going on around him or her.

Diagnosing ADHD/ADD in an Adult:

Diagnosing an adult with ADHD/ADD is not easy. Many times, when a child is diagnosed with the disorder, a parent will recognize that he or she has many of the same symptoms the child has and, for the first time, will begin to understand some of the traits that have given him or her trouble for years - distractibility, impulsivity, restlessness. Other adults will seek professional help for depression or anxiety and will find out that the root cause of some of their emotional problems is ADHD. They may have a history of school failures or problems at work. Often they have been involved in frequent automobile accidents.

What Causes ADHD/ADD?

There is little compelling evidence at this time that ADHD can arise purely from social factors or child-rearing methods. Most substantiated causes appear to fall in the realm of neurobiology and genetics. Environmental factors may influence the severity of the disorder, and especially the degree of impairment and suffering the child may experience, but environmental factors do not seem to cause the condition by themselves.

• Environmental Agents: Studies have shown a possible correlation between the use of cigarettes and alcohol during pregnancy and risk for ADHD in the offspring of that pregnancy. Some preschool children with ADHD have been found with high levels of lead in their bodies.
• Brain Injury: Some children who have suffered accidents leading to brain injury may show some signs of behavior similar to that of ADHD, but only a small percentage of children with ADHD have been found to have suffered a traumatic brain injury.
• Food Additives and Sugar: Diet restrictions helped about 5 percent of children with ADHD, mostly young children who had food allergies. A more recent study on the effect of sugar on children, using sugar one day and a sugar substitute on alternate days, without parents, staff, or children knowing which substance was being used, showed no significant effects of the sugar on behavior or learning.
• Genetics: Attention disorders often run in families, so there are likely to be genetic influences. Studies indicate that 25 percent of the close relatives in the families of ADHD children also have ADHD, whereas the rate is about 5 percent in the general population.

What is the Treatment for ADHD/ADD?

In both adults and children, the main treatments are behavioral therapy and medications. In a recent study by the US National Institute of Mental Health, children who received a combined therapy of medication management and behavior treatment fared better than those who received only medication or behavior treatment alone.

The combined treatment was especially superior in the areas of anxiety, academic performance, oppositionality, parent-child relations, and social skills. Another advantage of combined treatment was that children could be successfully treated with lower doses of medicine, compared with the medication-only group.

HerbaCall ADD & ADHD Testimonials

• In an HerbaCall testimonial, Ruby van Dijken tells us that her son was diagnosed with ADHD as a child. Along with medications, her son took NRG twice a day, and Formula 1 and Formula 2 once a day. He's doing great now and is off medication.
• Jane Corda says that "Herbalife plus medication have helped her son with ADD be a happy boy again."
• June Albert tells HerbaCall that a 7-yr-old girl with ADHD "started taking 1/2 NRG tablet each morning and 1/2 tablet after school. She can now focus and is able to get along with others and does not have sudden outbursts.".
• Guy Lasley writes that because of his adult ADD, "he had trouble paying attention. Thanks to Herbalife N-R-G, shakes, Herbalifeline and more he is now able to concentrate again."

How can Herbalife help relieve ADHD?

Herbalife's ShapeWorks programs give your child the nutrition he or she needs and are so delicious that your child will actually want it. N-R-G tablets contain guarana, a substance similar to caffeine. Herbalifeline is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids to support good health.

Want more information and more Herbalife testimonials?

Visit the HerbaCall Resource Centers for more detailed information on many health conditions, news, and research links. Herbacall has many testimonials on ADHD/ADD and other conditions. Herbalife products can help you get the nutrition you and your child need to deal with ADHD!