ADHD affects about 8.4 percent of children and 2.5 percent of adults. ADHD is more common in boys as compared to girls, and men are at three times more risk to experience ADHD than women.
WHAT IS ADHD?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that can affect both children and adults. People who have ADHD have difficulty paying attention, sitting still, or controlling impulsive behavior. It interferes with the daily working life of the people.
However, treatment can prove helpful if the common symptoms of ADHD, such as Inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, are diagnosed early. According to research studies conducted by clinical trials, seven years is the age for the diagnosis of ADHD.
1) THE COMMON ADHD SYMPTOMS
ADHD symptoms generally manifest during childhood — between 3 years to 6 years of age. But, the symptoms such as impulsivity, inattentiveness, and dynamic behavior, which is typical for a four-year-old kid, become difficult to distinguish. There has been a tremendous increase of 42 percent of ADHD diagnosis over the past eight years. If you experience any of the following symptoms, we suggest you take the ADHD test and consult a doctor. The symptoms of ADHD are as follows:
Symptoms of Inattention: 5 percent of the people over 17 years of age have these symptoms:
Easily distracted
Have difficulty in paying attention
Have a habit of losing things
Lack of attention
Make careless mistakes
Forgets about daily tasks
Fail to respond when spoken to
Find difficulty in keeping things organized
Symptoms of impulsivity and hyperactivity: 5 percent of the people over 17 years of age have these symptoms:
Talk excessively
Excessive fidgeting and squirming
Have difficulty in waiting for his turns like in the waiting lines
Struggle to keep quiet
Have trouble in doing activities quietly
Interrupt upon others
Run where it is not necessary
ADHD combined presentation:
It is possible that you can experience symptoms belonging to both groups. Although there are no defined lab tests for ADHD, diagnosis can be made by gathering information from parents, teachers, and others, filling out the checklists, and having a medical evaluation.
2) THE CAUSES OF ADHD
Though there are no exact causes for ADHD, certain factors can be held responsible for it. With more than 20 genetic studies, it can be said that it is highly inherited. Environmental factors can sometimes be also held accountable.
Environmental factors that can be held responsible are:
Brain injury
Pre-mature birth or low weight when born
Exposure to lead
No single cause can be blamed for ADHD. Smoking during pregnancy or maternal stress is believed to be one of the causes of ADHD.
However, other causes which can make ADHD worse are:
Stress
Watching television for long periods
Traumatic experiences
3) HOW TO TREAT ADHD?
There are no special tests prescribed for ADHD. Tests such as a blood test can not help in the detection of ADHD. There is no actual cure for ADHD either, but certain ADHD medication and therapy can help in controlling the symptoms of ADHD.
Generally, two types of drugs are approved for the treatment of ADHD: stimulants and non-stimulants.
Stimulants:
Stimulants:
Stimulants are the most commonly used medications for ADHD. They are responsible for increasing brain chemicals such as dopamine, which is responsible for transmitting messages between brain neurons. It can show improvement in symptoms within 1 or 2 hours in 70 percent of the cases.
Non-stimulants:
In cases where a stimulant drug is not well tolerated, there is atomoxetine (Straterra), which helps in increasing a brain chemical called norepinephrine. It can be used to improve focus.
Regular exercise:
Exercising decreases the risk of the symptoms of ADHD in adults, and it also helps in improving concentration power.
Therapy:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychoeducation are recommended for ADHD. It provides structure to behave normally and manage emotions. Therapy helps people with ADHD to face day-to-day challenges more efficiently. The therapies are usually conducted once a week for 45 minutes.
ADHD Clinical trials at CMB Clinical Trial
Convincing people to participate in clinical trials can be complicated. Several factors can influence the decision to participate in a clinical trial, the most prominent being whether you wish to contribute to the advancement of medications.
Your participation in a clinical trial does not only benefit other patients and prospect treatments for several diseases, but you can also get early access to medicines that are not yet available for the general public. You are also financially compensated for your time and effort.
Your participation in a clinical trial can help in medical advancement, and clinical research studies cannot be conducted without you. If you are someone living with ADHD, then you can participate in ADHD clinical trials, Colton.