Pump Those Brakes!

What is ADHD?

According to the CDC, 11% of children ages 4-17 were diagnosed with ADHD in 2011. To better understand the severity of this statistic, we can compare it to one of the most talked about diseases, cancer, which the CDC reports a diagnostic rate of 8.5%.

However, regardless of formal diagnosis or not, we all know a child or adult who suffers from the following:
·      Inattention, hyperactivity, and easily distractible
·      Difficulty sitting still and concentrating
·      Inability to control thoughts and behaviors
·      Always moving, fidgeting

Currently, the most common approach used to help individuals with these concerns is medications. Many parents don’t know that the medication most commonly prescribed, Ritalin, falls under the same drug classification as cocaine. This not only comes with potential side effects, but can also hold addictive properties for these young children.

Many parents have already started looking for alternative treatments for their child to prevent further complications. Since ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, it seems clear that chiropractic care should be your next stop!

Chiropractic and ADHD

Is hyperactivity the result of decreased Ritalin in the body? Of course not! Instead, it is the result of the nervous system not being able to properly communicate to the brain on how to pump the brakes and calm into a more parasympathetic state (or the “rest and digest” mode of the nervous system). The goal of chiropractic is to do just that! Chiropractors “pump the brakes” to an overactive nervous system by detecting and correcting nerve interference. Most commonly this nerve interference is found in the upper neck region, but every child can present differently.

Parents who want a more natural, drug-free approach for the children have found chiropractic to be a big part of their child’s success. When free of nerve interference, a new potential in your child’s personality and behavior can be unlocked. Even better yet, it isn’t uncommon for children to also begin to express improved health in all areas including immune function, digestion, sleep, and much more!