Attention Deficit DisorderWritten by Dr. Michael L. Johnson
Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) have been widely used labels since early 1990s. They are considered catch-all diagnoses by many clinicians. Frankly, ADD/ADHD is poorly understood within health care profession. Many clinicians have difficulty with classification of different behavior disorders, which are then lumped under diagnosis of ADD/ADHD.ADD and ADHD are caused by biochemical imbalances in brain. In brains of ADD/ADHD sufferers, chemicals known as neurotransmitters are not being adequately produced/processed. To stimulate brain to cause alertness, these chemicals need to be in abundant supply. (ADD is specifically caused by too little norepinephrine production, and ADHD is linked to a decreased amount of dopamine). When norepinephrine and dopamine are in short supply, brain essentially falls asleep. Information cannot be processed electrically and inappropriate messages will get transferred to rest of body. Without correct stimulation, messages are interrupted and incorrect information gets processed. The message can be sent to or interpreted in wrong location. Clinically, patients with ADD/ADHD have difficulty focusing on one task. They can also miss messages from environment. They appear to have a loss of memory and poor listening skills. Poor sleeping habits are common due to brain's inability to shut down. Intervention strategies must address specific areas of brain. A specific evaluation must be done to correlate exam findings to provide strategies to maximize their full brain potential.
| | MigrainesWritten by Dr. Michael L. Johnson
Migraine headaches can be classified into two types: classical and common. The classical migraine is a headache that follows an aura or some type of spontaneous event such as numbness or tingling. The aura may be flashes of light, squiggly lines, or a halo effect. The common migraine does not have an aura associated with it. Most people who suffer from migraines suffer from common migraines, usually at a 3:1 ratio.Some 28 million Americans suffer from migraines, and millions go without treatment. Scientists once thought migraines were caused by abnormally dilated or enlarged blood vessels. New imaging devices have allowed them to watch brains during migraine attacks, and scientists are discovering that sufferers have abnormally excitable neurons, or brain nerve cells. The latest research in regard to migraines is a mechanism called cortical spreading depression, or CSD. Prior to onset of pain in a migraine, researchers have observed a sudden burst of cortical activity that occurs most commonly in occipital lobes (back part of brain). The occipital lobe will increase in frequency of firing, or have a burst of activity, and then there will be an episode of silence of depressed activity. The actual activity of brain becomes depressed when compared to normal. The resulting pain comes from either brain stem activation, blood vessels inflamed by rapidly exchanging blood flow, or both.
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