Risk taking behaviour

Several areas of research have converged over the past several years to give people a better understanding of adolescent risk-taking behavior. For many teens, taking risks and making mistakes (sometimes life-changing) is part of what adolescence is. Fortunately, a more complete understanding of peer influence, parenting, and brain development has been able to explain this process in more details.

Essentially, increased independence, opportunity, peer/cultural influence, and continued brain development (particularly the prefrontal cortex; the decision-making center) all contribute to what some adults see as erratic behavior. For a more in-depth view as well as some expert suggestions on how to keep kids out of trouble, take a look at this article from Reuters.

Hyperactivity

Hyperactivity is a behavior in which a person is excessively or constantly active. Hyperactivity can be a symptom of a variety of conditions, including excessive caffeine intake, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHA), stimulant drug use and hyperthyroidism.

A frequent cause of hyperactivity is ADHD, a common neurobehavioral developmental disorder. ADHD is sometimes referred to as hyperactivity or hyper. Other symptoms that occur with ADHD include problems with inattention and impulsivity. These behaviors coupled with hyperactivity can result in further symptoms and complications, such as difficulties with school and work and in relationships.

Hyperactivity caused by hyperthyroidism is caused by a variety of thyroid disorders that overstimulate the thyroid gland and increase production of thyroid hormone. Increased production of thyroid hormone results in a stimulation or quickening of the body's metabolism. This results in additional symptoms, such as nervousness, anxiety and hypertension. Untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to serious, potentially life-threatening complications.

Stimulant drug use can also cause hyperactivity. Stimulant drugs include certain diet pills, and foods, beverages and supplements that contain caffeine. Overuse of stimulants can also result in hyperactivity and other symptoms, such as insomnia, diarrhea and nervousness. Complications are also possible. In some sensitive people, even moderate use of stimulants can result in hyperactivity and other symptoms and complications. For more information about complications and symptoms of hyperactivity, refer to symptoms of hyperactivity.

Making a diagnosis of hyperactivity and its underlying cause begins with taking a thorough medical history, including symptoms, and completing a physical examination.

A variety of tests may be done to help determine the underlying cause of hyperactivity. Blood tests include tests that determine levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and the thyroid hormone thyroxine. Low levels of TSH and high levels of thyroxine indicate hyperthyroidism. If hyperthyroidism is present, other tests are done to determine the underlying cause, such as Graves' disease or thyroid nodules.

Other tests may be performed to check for potential complications of hyperthyroidism, such as heart disease. These can include blood tests that can reveal hypercholesterolemia, increased liver enzymes, or anemia. A chest X-ray may be done to evaluate the size of the heart.

There is no single test that is used to diagnose ADHD, and a diagnosis of the disorder is based partly on symptoms. Only a full evaluation by a licensed health care professional can truly diagnose or rule out ADHD. It is generally accepted that person must exhibit symptoms to an extent greater than the average person of the same age for six months or more.

It is also important that a person who is exhibiting symptoms of ADHD be evaluated for other medical conditions in addition to hyperthyroidism that might be affecting behavior. These include petit mal seizures, diabetes, learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, and conditions that can affect hearing or vision, such as ear infections or a need for glasses.

Because hyperactivity is a general behavior as well as a symptom of a variety of diseases or disorders, a missed or delayed diagnosis is possible. For more information on misdiagnosis, refer to misdiagnosis of hyperactivity.

Causes of Hyperactivity:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Hyperactivity. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Normal child - young children are often very active with short attention spans.
• Normal teenager
• Boredom
• Gifted child
• Psychological conflicts
• Problematic family home life
• Puberty
• Attention deficit disorder
• ADHD
• Hearing problems
• Vision problems
• Thyroid disease
• Learning disability
• Depression
• Lead poisoning
• Anxiety
• Sexual abuse
• Mental illness
• Mania
• Bipolar disorder
• Food allergies - somewhat controversial as to whether allergies cause hyperactivity.
• Brain damage
• See also causes of mania, inattention, concentration difficulty
• Mental disability (type of Disability)
• Attention defict hyperactivity disorder
• Panic attack
• Type A personality
• Autism
• Temporal lobe epilepsy
• Drug use

Hyperactivity Treatments

Treatment plans for hyperactivity are individualized based on the underlying disease or disorder, the patient's age, medical condition and other factors. When hyperactivity is caused by stimulant drug use, reduction and/or discontinuation of the stimulant is generally prescribed. With some stimulant medications or excessive caffeine use, a gradual tapering off of use may be needed to minimize ...Hyperactivity Treatments

Some of the possible treatments listed in sources for treatment of Hyperactivity may include:

• Stimulant therapy
• Behavioural therapy
• Methylphenidate
• Dextroamphetamine
• Atomoxetine
• Tricyclc antidepressants
• Imipramine

Symptoms of ADHD

The symptoms of ADHD include inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity. These are traits that most children display at some point or another. But with ADHD, which stands for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or what was referred to as ADD -- attention deficit disorder -- the symptoms are inappropriate for the child's age.

ADHD is common in children and teens. But adults also can have ADHD. With ADHD in adults, there may be some variation in symptoms. For instance, an adult may experience restlessness instead of hyperactivity. In addition, adults with ADHD consistently have problems with interpersonal relationships and employment.

How Well Are You Managing Your ADHD?

Are there different types of ADHD?

There are three different types of ADHD, including:

combined ADHD (the most common type), which involves all of the symptoms

inattentive ADHD (previously known as ADD), which is marked by impaired attention and concentration

hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, which is marked by hyperactivity without inattentiveness

For a diagnosis of ADHD, some symptoms that cause impairment must be present before age seven. Also, some impairment from the symptoms must be present in more than one setting. For instance, the person may be impaired at home and school or home and work. Also, there must be clear evidence the symptoms interfere with the person's ability to function at home, in social environments, or in work environments.

What are the main symptoms of ADHD?

There are three different categories of symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity.

Inattention may not become apparent until a child enters the challenging environment of school. In adults, symptoms of inattention may manifest in work or in social situations.

A person with ADHD may have some or all of the following symptoms:

difficulty paying attention to details and tendency to make careless mistakes in school or other activities; producing work that is often messy and careless

easily distracted by irrelevant stimuli and frequently interrupting ongoing tasks to attend to trivial noises or events that are usually ignored by others

inability to sustain attention on tasks or activities

difficulty finishing schoolwork or paperwork or performing tasks that require concentration

frequent shifts from one uncompleted activity to another

procrastination

disorganized work habits

forgetfulness in daily activities (for example, missing appointments, forgetting to bring lunch)

failure to complete tasks such as homework or chores

frequent shifts in conversation, not listening to others, not keeping one's mind on conversations, and not following details or rules of activities in social situations

Hyperactivity symptoms may be apparent in very young preschoolers and are nearly always present before the age of seven. Symptoms include:

fidgeting, squirming when seated

getting up frequently to walk or run around

running or climbing excessively when it's inappropriate (in teens this may appear as restlessness)

having difficulty playing quietly or engaging in quiet leisure activities

being always on the go

often talking excessively

Attention Deficit Epidemic

Human beings are grasp learners – considered one of our definitive traits. The brain is made of specialized nerve cells, referred to as neurones, that communicate with each other to form the process of thought itself. The brain is constantly restructuring itself and studying by forming new nerve pathways. A healthy new-born baby will form over half its studying pathways between ages one and 5 years. The variety of nerve cells don’t increase after age two, however the number of connections do. At birth a child can connect with 2500 other neurones. By age 2-3 years a baby can hook up with 15000 neurones.

Learning is one of the greatest and most exciting potentials we have to fulfil. But sadly our capability to learn is being threatened. This is evident within the ever-increasing incidence of childhood learning disabilities seen today, from consideration deficit hyperactivity disorder to autism. Statistics from the UK show that one in three youngsters in each classroom is recognized with attention deficit dysfunction (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Lancet estimate that eight to 10 percent of youngsters suffer from this condition. Boys are more susceptible to ADHD than girls, with a ratio of 10:1 boy to woman sufferers.

ADHD does not often affect IQ or intelligence and individuals will be highly creative and can sit for lengthy periods finishing projects which can be of interest to them. Onset is normally by the age of 3, though diagnosis is often later when the child is in school. ADHD can occur in maturity as well.

Symptoms of ADHD (one or more could also be present):

Hyperactivity

Risk-taking behaviour

Restlessness

Reduced concentration & distractibility

Short consideration span

Aggressiveness

Impulsivity (action earlier than thought, abrupt adjustments in activities, leaping up in class)

Reduced coordination and accident susceptible behaviour

Self-destructive behaviour

Temper tantrums and impatience

Low stress tolerance & emotional instability

Disruptiveness in the classroom

Excessive talking

Problems adapting to change/new things

Memory and thought issues – often losing things.

Causes

Although the trigger or causes of ADHD have not been fully established, many theories have been postulated. Recent research has recognized that ADHD is attributable to chemical imbalances within the brain’s neurotransmitters, with dopamine being low in ADHD sufferers. The causes for this chemical imbalance are varied.

Conventional Treatment

Conventional treatment doesn’t address the underlying explanation for ADHD but merely masks the signs by prescribing brain-stimulating drugs. Ritalin, an amphetamine-type drug, is essentially the most commonly prescribed anti hyperactivity drug. It has been categorised as a class II drug (alongside cocaine and methadone) by the US Drug Enforcement Agency. Ritalin works by stimulating the production of the brain neurotransmitter, dopamine. Dopamine helps to focus consideration and concentration. The long-term effects of Ritalin have not yet been established. Numerous side-effects have been identified with Ritalin. It should not be stopped suddenly, since severe withdrawal reactions can happen (e.g. depression). Supervision during withdrawal can be needed. Ritalin shouldn’t be administered to kids less than six years of age.

The function of nutrients in mental health

The nutritional method to ADHD works on the idea that dietary changes influence brain chemistry. Certain vitamins are required to make and maintain the brain itself. Deficiencies of these nutrients at any time can have repercussions on intelligence, learning potential and behaviour.

The key vitamins required to feed the brain are:

Essential fatty acids present in oily fish (such as salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines), nuts and seeds, are vital for brain function. These important fats form part of the myelin sheath, a layer surrounding all neurones, and enable one neurone to communicate with another.

Protein (found in for instance salmon, nuts, seeds, beans and lentils, eggs, tofu, quinoa, yoghurt) is vital for the formation of neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers of the brain.

Vitamins and minerals function to preserve the brain in tune. The B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and zinc are some of important vitamins and minerals wanted by the brain.

Phospholipids from eggs and lecithin granules help with brain memory.

The predominant brain pollutants that hinder brain operate are:

Heavy metals akin to mercury, lead, cadmium, copper and aluminium.

Trans and hydrogenated fats found in fried meals and meals containing margarine or shortening.

Preservatives and components from processed foods.

Food and chemical sensitivities (milk and wheat being essentially the most common)

Blood sugar imbalances – hyperactivity is often the results of a sudden burst of sugar. The brain feeds on sugar and low blood sugar can also end in lack of concentration.

There is a robust connection between poor gastro-intestinal perform and adverse brain symptoms. Gastro-intestinal tract conditions, resembling intestinal permeability, meals intolerance, undigested food particles and chemicals, imbalances in gut bacteria and yeast infection, can have a profound negative impact on brain function. The time period GAP (gut and psychology) syndrome, has been used to explain this link. Assessing gastro-intestinal function is an important aspect of treating ADHD nutritionally.

Functional Tests

Various assessments are useful tools in identifying doable causes and contributing components to ADHD. The nutritionist might use a number of of the following:

Hair Mineral Analysis – for figuring out heavy metal toxicity and nutrient imbalances.

Food Allergy or Food Intolerance Testing.

CDSA – Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis – for figuring out if there are any pathogenic bacteria/fungus or organisms are present.

Nutritional remedy has proven very helpful for a lot of children with ADD or ADHD. It has few, if any, unwanted effects and is due to this fact worth pursuing earlier than considering other more harmful interventions.

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Prepare Corn on the Cob

There are several choices, and all of them simple and delicious. Probably the most common is to boil them. You can remove the leaves and the dastardly little silks from the ear first, or remove only the toughest outer leaves and boil them in the husks. The silks are more easily removed once the corn has been cooked. Put the ears in boiling water. How long you leave them there depends on your tastes. Some people boil them only long enough to warm the ears — a minute or so. Others like them more done, and leave them in the pot for 3/5/7 minutes or more.

Another option is to microwave the corn. Again, you can shuck before of after cooking. If you shuck first, wrap the ears in damp paper towels, and put them in the microwave. Cook them on high until you smell the corn, which will be 6 to 9 minutes for a few ears or 12 to 14 minutes for a half-dozen ears. You should turn them around about halfway through. If you’re shucking after cooking, use a dish towel or oven mitts to protect your hands from the heat as you shuck.

You can also grill corn. And guess what? It can be in the husk or out of it. For a milder flavor, soak the corn in husks in cold water for at least a half hour. Put them on a hot grill, turn them every couple of minutes, and and cook until they’re evenly heated on all sides, which can take anywhere from 8 to 15 minutes. Again, the silks will come off more easily after cooking. If you husk first, you’ll get a much more intense grilled-corn flavor, and will want to grill the ears for 5 to 7 minutes, turning them occasionally to expose all surfaces to the heat. The final option — and our new favorite — is to mostly shuck the corn before grilling.

There are other options, as well. Corn can be cooked beautifully and quickly in a pressure cooker. It can be beautifully steamed, though not nearly as quickly. It can be also be baked in the oven — either in foil or (somewhat sloppily) in the husk.

Our "Corn Central" page provides links to suggestions for storing, shucking, de-silking, blanching, freezing, cooking from a frozen state, canning, refrigerating, seasoning, flavoring, cutting, and troubleshooting fresh corn — just about everything you want or need to know about making the most of this delicious fruit.