Every parent wants their children to be attentive in class and to perform well. However, this is not always the case, especially when you are dealing with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Sadly, ADHD is the commonest mental condition among kids globally. Those with the condition are generally hyperactive and so may find it hard to concentrate or control their own impulses. This affects their school life and life at home. In kids, ADHD affects more boys than girls and the reasons are quite unknown. But still, adults can be affected too. The good news, nonetheless, is that it can be treated with chiropractic care. This is according to research. But before we can delve into the treatment, let’s understand ADHD much better.

What Exactly Is ADHD?

ADHD refers to a compulsive mental disorder which results when neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain become imbalanced. The neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying information between the various nerve cells. The condition mostly affects kids but may proceed to adulthood if left untreated.

Main Causes

There are so many myths out there surrounding the cause of ADHD. For example, some people say that it can be caused by food allergies, long hours of watching TV or taking too much sugar. This is not true. Researchers argue that ADHD can be caused by any of these things:

• Brain damage – If the frontal part of the brain is damaged by an injury or a disease, this can lead to ADHD.
• Metal poisoning – Heavy metals like PCB and Lead may poison the brain, resulting in ADHD.
• Pregnancy interference – Smoking, alcohol, and substance abuse during pregnancy may interfere with the development of the baby’s brain, resulting in ADHD. Infection or poor nutrition can also have similar effects.

Risk Factors

There are a few things that tend to improve the chances of ADHD that you should be aware of. They include:

• Genes – If ADHD happens to run in your family, there’s the possibility that someone will have the condition. In this case, if a parent has the condition, children will have a 50% chance of getting it. This is because the condition is linked to genes that are passed from one generation to another.
• Pregnancy complications – If there was an issue like brain injury during birth, low birth weight or premature birth, they are risk factors for developing ADHD.

Main Symptoms

The symptoms of ADHD differ from kids to adults. In kids, we can look at the symptoms in three major groups:

• Hyperactivity – The kid, in this case, doesn’t like to keep quiet or remain still. So, they’ll excessively talk and jump around. If they are not running, they are probably climbing.
• Inattentiveness – The kid, in this case, is easily distracted by trivial things. They appear like they are not listening and often lose their things. Others forget to do their chores unless they are reminded. We also have a few cases where the kid daydreams.
• Rashness – The kid, in this case, is generally impulsive. They are not patient enough to wait for their turn, more so in school. They’ll burst out their answers and interrupt other kids when they speak.

In adults, ADHD symptoms are more serious in some than in others. Often, they become worse as one age. The commonest ones include:

• Forgetfulness
• Postponement of tasks and lateness
• Addiction to a specific drug substance
• Mood changes and anger issues
• Anxiety and depression
• Lack of organization

The Chiropractic Option

Traditionally ADHD has been treated with medications (stimulants and non-stimulants) and special therapies like psychotherapy and social skills training. While these treatments are effective in some way, they suffer a few setbacks. Medications, for example, may not work for everyone who has ADHD. Additionally, they are prone to side reactions like sleep interference, fatigue, and constipation.

The two therapies, on the other hand, may take time before you can start seeing the results. And just like medications, the options may also not work for everyone. This is where Chiropractic Treatment comes in. It has fewer side effects, it’s more practical for most people, and brings about quick results. It’s basically a great substitute for the two options.

How Does Chiropractic Treatment Help?

Considering that the nerves between the brain and the spine are affected when there’s a neurotransmitter imbalance, a chiropractor can help to normalize things. The expert is able to alleviate your spine from subluxation (misalignments) by gently manipulating the spine using hands. When subluxations are alleviated, the path for the distribution of neurotransmitters becomes opened. So, the levels are restored as they should.

In the end, nerve communication in your central nervous system (which includes the brain and the spine) is restored. This also sees an improvement in impulses and concentration. You are able to control your impulses much better and are able to pay more attention to instructions. According to one study, kids who receive spinal adjustments tend to show a dramatic improvement after a few months of the therapy. This shows that chiropractic treatment is an ideal option for ADHD management.

What Other Things Can a Chiropractor Help You With?

Other than offering therapeutic chiropractic adjustments, Dr. Hinz at Cool Springs Chiropractic can help with:

• Home exercises – As a parent, you may be directed by a chiropractor on exercises like timing therapy (mostly clapping sessions) that you can use to help your ADHD kid at home. The exercises are meant to alleviate ADHD symptoms.
• Lifestyle advice – For a pregnant woman, a chiropractor may advise you to make a few adjustments in your life such as abstaining from alcohol and smoking as they may hamper fetus brain development. You may also be asked to have enough rest and to avoid excess sugars. The whole idea here is to try as much as possible to reduce the risk factors.

What Happens When You Go to See a Chiropractor for ADHD?

Spinal adjustments don’t just begin immediately when you go for your first chiropractic appointment. The chiropractor has to first examine the reflexes of the patient together with sense like vision and hearing. Based on the results of the evaluation, a chiropractor is able to decide on the best treatment option.

Closing Thought: What’s next for you?

Since you already know that there’s hope for ADHD treatment in chiropractic care, the next thing to do is to see Dr. Hinz at Cool Springs Chiropractic. Go ahead and make that appointment if you, your kid or someone within the family line has the condition. It may be your only practical way out of this compulsive disorder!

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