ADHD - Could Lack of Exercise Be a Factor?
The question of how exercise or lack of exercise plays a role in the lives of ADHD children is an interesting one.
Researchers believe lack of exercise doesn't cause ADHD but a lack of exercise contributes to the severity of ADHD and the propensity of ADHD children to pursue other activities which might.
To understand this first we must understand the primary symptoms of ADHD.
They are: inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
The five characteristics in the order of frequently seen in those with ADHD are hyperactivity, perceptual motor impairment, emotional instability, general coordination deficit, and disorders of attention.
In evaluating the above symptoms one could easily see how an exercise routine could help reduce or even eliminate many of these troublesome symptoms.
Exercise has many benefits for both the mind and body.
As it applies to ADHD, intense exercise increases blood flow and heightens levels of endorphin and acetylcholine in the brain.
The increase in endorphin levels promotes a feeling of wellbeing and reduces the effects of certain secondary symptoms such as depression.
Exercise is also effective at reducing hyperactivity and restlessness by making it easier to sit still for a longer period of time.
Another benefit of exercise is that it may discourage children from other endeavors which may make ADHD symptoms worse.
The best examples of this are television, video, and computer games.
Television, video, and computer games take up a lot of time that could be used for activities such as interacting with others and physical activity.
These types of activities promote passivity, give immediate gratification, and promote solitary activity; all of which worsen ADHD.
Note: A study published in the journal Pediatrics showed that for every hour of TV a child watches each day - regardless of the content - the risk of having attention problems by age 7 goes up 10%.
Exercise works in a positive way to improve mood, develop coordination, improve self esteem, and release that excess energy which is so common in hyperactive children; all beneficial in managing attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity.
In summary, exercise doesn't cause ADHD but it can prove helpful in minimizing a number of primary and secondary symptoms.
Additionally, many parents of ADHD are choosing to combine alternatives treatment ideas such as exercise with natural alternative treatments.
The most popular natural alternative treatment for ADHD is homeopathy.
Homeopathic remedies have been proven to be very safe and are effective in treating hyperactivity, distractibility and impulsiveness in children.
If you are seeking a non prescription option, homeopathy is an area worth investigating further.
Researchers believe lack of exercise doesn't cause ADHD but a lack of exercise contributes to the severity of ADHD and the propensity of ADHD children to pursue other activities which might.
To understand this first we must understand the primary symptoms of ADHD.
They are: inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
The five characteristics in the order of frequently seen in those with ADHD are hyperactivity, perceptual motor impairment, emotional instability, general coordination deficit, and disorders of attention.
In evaluating the above symptoms one could easily see how an exercise routine could help reduce or even eliminate many of these troublesome symptoms.
Exercise has many benefits for both the mind and body.
As it applies to ADHD, intense exercise increases blood flow and heightens levels of endorphin and acetylcholine in the brain.
The increase in endorphin levels promotes a feeling of wellbeing and reduces the effects of certain secondary symptoms such as depression.
Exercise is also effective at reducing hyperactivity and restlessness by making it easier to sit still for a longer period of time.
Another benefit of exercise is that it may discourage children from other endeavors which may make ADHD symptoms worse.
The best examples of this are television, video, and computer games.
Television, video, and computer games take up a lot of time that could be used for activities such as interacting with others and physical activity.
These types of activities promote passivity, give immediate gratification, and promote solitary activity; all of which worsen ADHD.
Note: A study published in the journal Pediatrics showed that for every hour of TV a child watches each day - regardless of the content - the risk of having attention problems by age 7 goes up 10%.
Exercise works in a positive way to improve mood, develop coordination, improve self esteem, and release that excess energy which is so common in hyperactive children; all beneficial in managing attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity.
In summary, exercise doesn't cause ADHD but it can prove helpful in minimizing a number of primary and secondary symptoms.
Additionally, many parents of ADHD are choosing to combine alternatives treatment ideas such as exercise with natural alternative treatments.
The most popular natural alternative treatment for ADHD is homeopathy.
Homeopathic remedies have been proven to be very safe and are effective in treating hyperactivity, distractibility and impulsiveness in children.
If you are seeking a non prescription option, homeopathy is an area worth investigating further.
