| ADD is when the reticular activating system | | | | disabilities, agitation, aggression, short |
| in your brain, which is a part of your body's | | | | attention spans and poor memory retention. |
| central nervous system, is dysfunctional. | | | | The symptoms of ADD are also easily confused |
| This area of the brain is responsible for | | | | with other diseases or attributed to |
| coordinating the information from one region | | | | different factors, making it difficult to |
| of the brain to another via norepinephrine, | | | | diagnose. For example, the main symptoms of |
| due to external information. When it is | | | | ADD are forgetfulness, restlessness, |
| impaired, there is excessive stimulation | | | | depression, inability to focus and impulsive |
| causing the mind to be overworked and unable | | | | behavior. However, thyroid, depression, |
| to cope, leading to a lack of focus and other | | | | anxiety, or a stressful environment can also |
| symptoms. | | | | result in the same symptoms. Excessive sugar |
| | | | consumption can cause impulsive behavior and |
| There are many forms of ADD, such as | | | | restlessness, and allergies can cause |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder | | | | reactions that reduce the neurotransmitters |
| (ADHD), Attention Deficit Behavior Disorder | | | | in the brain causing the same symptoms. |
| (ADBD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) | | | | |
| and Conduct Disorder (CD), to name a few. Of | | | | There are many treatments available for those |
| these, ADHD is the most well know form of | | | | who suffer from ADD, and the most common one |
| ADD, and affects approximately 5% of all | | | | is the use of antidepressant drugs. However, |
| children in America, making it the most | | | | these medications need up to 6 weeks to take |
| common neurological disease. | | | | effect, and have severe side effects such as |
| | | | increasing depression, agitation, and |
| Many factors contribute to ADD, and the | | | | suicidal notions. There are also alternative |
| breakdown of the reticular activating system. | | | | treatments, such as herbs and nutrients used |
| Excessive sugar consumption reduces the | | | | to balance the brain chemistry that has been |
| brain's sensitivity to norepinephrine, making | | | | impaired. These are encouraged as they do not |
| it difficult for the brain to pass messages | | | | have side effects, and are specially designed |
| to different regions of the mind. Other | | | | to provide the necessary acids, hormones and |
| factors include oxygen deprivation during | | | | neural growth needed to assist the reticular |
| birth, genetics, a dearth of nutrients in his | | | | activating system. |
| diet, and substance abuse during pregnancy, | | | | |
| among others. Statistics from the National | | | | For those who are suffering from ADD, it is |
| Institute of Mental Health show that up to 5% | | | | recommended to cut down on sugar intake as |
| of the population has ADHD, and that up to | | | | sugar consumption is linked to aggressive |
| 20% of pregnant mothers smoke during | | | | behavior. Individuals should also be tested |
| pregnancy, with 11% consuming alcohol. | | | | for allergies, especially those triggered by |
| | | | food dyes. In line with this, soft drinks |
| Common indicators that an individual is | | | | should be avoided. |
| suffering from ADD include learning | | | | |