What is ADHD?

ADHD is the short for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This is a neurological symptom found in children as well as adults. It is also more common in boys than in girls.

It is the dysfunction of the Central Nervous System, more specific the Reticular Activating System, the centre of consciousness that co-ordinates learning and memory and which supplies the appropriate neural connections necessary for smooth information processing and clear attention. The demand for further connectivity can not be fulfilled because of the lack of these neutral building materials. This then interferes with the processing of information. These children or adults therefore have a problem maintaining concentration and attention.

To explain this in easier terms. The neural (the white lego building blocks) that are in limited production and not enough off, supply cannot keep up with the demand, meaning all the different lego colours for this building blocks for new neural connections within the Central Nervous System. This demand being new learning, memory or managing information that can not keep up. These insufficient connections result in pathways constantly getting overworked and stressed and then complete shutdown where nothing gets processed.

A person with ADHD has difficulty functioning in normal life due to the fact that they can not sit still, pay attention or control their impulsive behaviour. They are easily distracted, have low tolerance for frustration of boredom and they say or do whatever comes to mind. They have difficulty following and organising instructions, forgetfulness and it will appear as if they do not listen. They have a problem giving attention to detail and because of that make careless mistakes. The reason for this is the inability to process incoming information from both the objective, meaning the outer world and the subjective, the inner world.

ADHD children have a problem controlling their attitude, therefore it is important to remember that this attitude is not the result of bad parenting, or you not knowing how to control your child.

 An easy way to remember what ADHD is.

A= The inattention and distraction aspect.

H= The hyperactivity and impulsivity aspect.

If your child has ADHD, you can recognize it if your child does the following:

• Has trouble sitting down for long or short periods of time, are constantly moving, squirming in seat, fidgeting and hyperactivity.
• Acts as if something is chasing them, all the time.
• Talks excessively, without intervals, sometimes not making any sense.
• Have other learning disabilities.
• Fail to meet normal intellectual deadlines.
• Have problems sleeping.
• Has trouble with activity such as reading.
• Impulsive behaviour and Inattentiveness. Cannot play quietly when required in a group, finds it difficult waiting and taking turns and interrupts and intrudes upon others.
• Anger rage, unexplained rage towards others for no apparent reason.
• Moodiness and tremendous frustration.

To correctly diagnose ADHD and not jump to conclusions to soon, the following conditions should be met:

• Some of the abovementioned symptoms must appear by the age of 7 years.
• At least 6 of these symptoms must be present and must persist for at least 6 months.
• Symptoms must take place in at least 2 different environments, for example the school and at home.
• The symptoms must cause impairment of social end academic functioning.

It is always important to remember that such a child can be endangering themselves and others because of their impulsive behaviour and the disregard they have for their own safety.

If you believe that your child might have ADHD, how can you be sure?

There is no test for example a blood test that can diagnose ADHD, instead your child would have to go for a comprehensive evaluation. This evaluation should include a clinical assessment of your child’s social, emotional and academic functioning. You can ask your local practitioner and psychologist to be involved in this assessment.

Bear in mind that all other medically-based conditions for example allergies and epilepsy need to be excluded before an ADHD diagnosis should be made.

Children with ADHD are still special!

This statement I truly believe, and you should too. Even if your child has ADHD it is very important to know that except for your child’s condition, your child still has positive unique characteristics.

Your child can be:

v      Interesting to others, to talk to and to be with.

v      Spontaneous, creative and keen to try new things.

v      Intelligent, imaginative, inquisitive and open minded to new experiences.

v      Loving and caring.

Remember that a child with ADHD is often surprised by their own behaviour and do not intentionally act out inappropriately. These children are also frightened and confused by their inability to control their behaviour.

Medication for ADHD?

I do not have a child with ADHD, but my niece’s son has ADHD. He visits us frequently.

I therefore know the positive and negative affects of ADHD medication. I am not a doctor to judge or to tell you what to do or not. I can just comment on my personal experience.

Listening to conversations and looking at documentaries on TV, there has been and always will be a dispute on whether ADHD medication is the correct root for a child with ADHD.

There is a saying amongst parents with ADHD children. “The medication is given not to only help the child, but to make it easier for the teacher or parent to cope with a child with ADHD”.

There is no denying the fact that a child with ADHD are very exhausting individuals.

Let’s look at ADHD medication.

For most children and adults with ADHD, medication plays a very important part in treatment. The using of this medication will improve the symptoms of ADHD positively, but it will not control the behaviour.

Stats show that 70-80 percent of children with ADHD respond positively to medication.

Responding positive means that their behaviour and impulsivity improves positively and their attention span increases. Even a simple thing like handwriting improves, meaning the fine-motor control and visual-motor-co-ordination improves.

Medications like:

Stimulants – Methylphenidate

Non-stimulants- Atomoxetine and Tricyclics

Other

Stimulants – Methylphenidate:

Also known as MPH acts on the dopamine levels in the executive function involved in the frontal areas of the brain. There is an inhibition in the breakdown of the neurotransmitter, therefore increasing the levels of dopamine, causing the improvement in the core symptoms of the child with ADHD.

This medication works immediately and the effects disappear when the serum levels drop.

Types of methyphenidate are Ritalin and Concerta. The specific dosage is determined for each child. It normally starts with a low dosage and gradually increases until the clinical benefits are achieved.

Is this medication safe?

Any treatment is better than no treatment at all, but you as a parent or individual using this type of medication should be fully aware of the evidence regarding the efficiency of this medication, the side-effects and any alternative treatments available. The implications if this disorder not being treated, should also be considered.

As the case with any other medication taken for illness, some children might experience no problems, others have mild effects and there will be those who can not tolerate the medication with the effects at all.

The side-effects:

• The most common effect will be nervousness and sleeplessness depending on the dosage taken.
• Complaints of headache, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea.
• A dry mouth or thirst can also occur.
• Suffering from abdominal pain.
• A not so nice side-effect is mood swings.
• Special caution must be taken with children already suffering from pre-existing depression. hypertension, psychosis, tics and seizures.
• One common concern is the abuse potential of this medication especially Ritalin. An untreated child having ADHD are at a much higher risk of drug abuse than those treated with this medication.

What to eat and not!

Having and keeping to a well balanced diet and eating habits, will play a very important role in normalising a child’s life suffering from ADHD.

v      Limit the intake of sugar and sweets. This is the main food trigger of hyperactivity.

v      Stick to fresh meat, chicken and fish, fresh fruits especially pawpaw and pears, vegetables and unrefined carbs like wholewheat bread, brown rice, lentils, peas, milk and other dairy products.

v      Limit fat intake.

v      Avoid food additives, no artificial colourants, preservatives and flavourants. Studies show that this colourants and preservatives like sodium benzoate increase the hyperactivity in children, even children without ADHD.

v      Try a Low-GI diet. Foods with a low glycaemic index with keep the blood sugar and insulin levels under control and constant.

v      Ensure correct eating habits. Children with ADHD develop a craving for certain foods. They also have a great need for liquids and will drink a lot of water every day. Try to accommodate your child, but make sure that he/she still gets in all the necessary nutrients.

v      Supplements are very important. A child with ADHD needs additional nutrients (magnesium, calcium, zinc, potassium, selenium, B vitamins, vitamin E and C, beta-carotene as well as omega 3 and 6). These added nutrients help them through the stress their body and nervous system are exposed to.

An ADHD child and the school environment.

For this child, school and coping in the class environment, can be a very difficult place to succeed. Because of the fact that this child can not pay attention and sit still in class, it is no wonder that this child feels discouraged and frustrated in school.

A child with ADHD encounters a lot of difficulty staying up to date with the normal class work and slips further and further behind. If care is not taken it will be impossible for this child to catch up. This will result in poor test results and homework not being up to standard. If this child does not keep up in primary school there is no doubt that he/she will not be able to cope in high school.

Except for the educational problems, there will also be social problems which a child with ADHD will not be able to cope with. The fact that this child interrupts the class room activities, the other fellow classmates will get upset and impatient. Keeping your ADHD child in the incorrect school is not only unfair to him/her, but also to the other children trying to get through a normal school day. There is also not enough time in a teachers schedule to take time in finding out why your child is feeling frustrated and behaving in a specific or inappropriate way to the normal.

Learning how to deal with a child that has ADHD will be very challenging for a teacher. Keeping control of the normal classroom activities, including a child with ADHD can be a very difficult task. Teachers, especially in a normal school environment, should have a good knowledge about the ADHD condition. It is always vital for a teacher to have an open and frequent relationship with the parents of children with ADHD. Problems and most importantly achievements should be discussed on a regular basis.

The ADHD child will develop a low self esteem, and in much older children lead to substance abuse or reckless behaviour. The child with ADHD will be labelled as a “difficult” child and this label may stay with them throughout their school years.

About half of children with ADHD can achieve success in a regular classroom. This is possible when the teacher understands the needs of these children and makes the necessary adjustments within the classroom environment.

I do not know whether it will be possible in some school environments for a parent to interfere in the school principles and routines, but here are a few suggestions for a teacher having a child with ADHD in the classroom.

• Seat the child in front of the classroom, in a quiet area with few distractions.
• Keep the work assignments brief with not to much information all at once.
• Give immediate feedback to this child, whether it being a reward for correct behaviour or punishment for incorrect behaviour.
• Allow this child to participate often, even if it takes a little bit longer. Allow this child a little extra time to answer a question or complete a test.
• Schedule subjects that will need a lot of concentration in the mornings and other school activities that requires less attention in the afternoons. This will not only positively affect the child with ADHD, but also the other children in the classroom.
• Mix the classroom lectures with periods of sport or physical activities for example going to the bathroom.

If your child has ADHD, how do you get involved in their school environment and how to make it easier for them?

       It is impossible for a child to cope in a school class with 30 children, asking the same attention and education all at the same time. Ensure therefore that your child is placed in a school system capable of handling ADHD children. A school with smaller class sizes, individual attention and extra time on tests. A school that understands your child’s needs.

       Educate your child about his/her condition. Make sure that your child knows that it is okay to be ADHD and that this is not an incurable decease that they will infect on others. Encourage them to socialize with other children and to take pride in the things that they do well, ever if it is not the same standard as another child.

       It is always easier to talk to others that have the same concerns with ADHD. Join a support group with your child. Your child will then also realize that there are a lot of others that have the same condition.

       Teach your child to get organized with a diary, notepad or agenda planning concerning homework and sport activities.

       Exercise is very important. Give your child every opportunity possible to exercise.

       Visit your child’s school frequently. Show them that you are interested in your child’s education and well being and that you are willing to help and assist when needed.

Tips for parents!

• Always check, whether it is homework or a task given at home. Make sure that the task is done by the child.
• Do not help them!, you can advise, but do not do it for them, even if it takes up a lot of time.
• Time management: Teach the child to make a list of things to do and what to do when tasks are done. Packing away or taking with of toys and books. Teach them to do this at a specific time. This will make them feel in control and not disorganized.
• Eating at regular times.
• Give them an alarm clock, put up a calendar against the door. Teach them how to plan and remember for example sport venues or music lessons.
• To make your child feel secure, make sure of a specific routine at home.

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Everyone you talk to on a daily basis will suggest 8 glasses of water per day is essential.

We all grew up with the impression that drinking water will keep you healthy. Your skin will become firm and moist, your hair will shine, your eyes will sparkle and you will live longer.

Is this statement true, or not?

Some opinions from experts actually suggest something quite different.

A person needs a certain amount of water per day to survive. This does not necessarily mean that this water should be in a glass. Water is present in almost all the foods that you eat for example fruits and fruit juices, vegetables, soup and non alcoholic beverages.

Did you know this?

• Bread is about 35% water
• Meat, poultry and fish contain 50-60% water
• broccoli is about 90% water
• a tomato is 95% water
• an egg is about 74% water
• a watermelon contains 92% water

How to know if your water intake is enough?

The amount of water you need per day depends on your weight, level of activity and the climate. When living in a warm climate or while doing exercise, you do need the correct amount of water to counter act the fluids lost through perspiring.

You can determine your specific recommended water intake by dividing your weight (in pounds) by 2. The resulting number is the number of ounces of water you need per day.

You can also divide your weight (in kilograms) by 30. The result will be the amount in litres needed per day.

What happens if you do not drink enough water?

Our body is made up of approximately 2/3 water. You can go without food for a long period of time, but by not drinking water, you will surely die within a matter of days.

You need water to regulate your temperature, carry nutrients to your organs and carry waste products out of your body.

When you perspire, you loose fluids (water) through your skin via your pores.

Most people without even knowing it go through the day in a dehydrated state. They will have a headache, feel tired and too little water will cause heat exhaustion. If you do suffer from some of these symptoms, I suggest you drink a mouthful of water every hour.

Warnings however:

• People with some heart conditions, high blood pressure or swelling of lower legs (edema) need to avoid excess water. It is best to consult your doctor when having this condition or if you have a history of kidney problems or if you had a transplant.
• Do not drink to much water while eating. The water dilutes your stomach acids and you can get digestion problems.
• If you consider increasing your water intake, just remember that you will have to get up more often in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. To avoid this from happening, stop drinking water a few hours before bedtime, or go to the toilet before going to bed.

There will always be a dispute whether 8 classes of water is or isn’t necessary. The important thing to remember is that any amount of water per day does have positive health benefits.

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Whenever a man becomes moody, the obvious reasons are always, stress, overworked or just being full of nonsense. When your spouse is under the age of 40 years, this most probable is true, but over the age of 40 years, there might be another reason for this.

Discussing menopause in women is very easy to do. Regular TV and radio interviews and discussions regarding this are being done. My question is however, how many times does the subject of male menopause arise? It is as if this is not a subject that is easily talked about.

To me menopause in men is just as important as in women. If the issue is not addressed, it can also cause distress and underlying problems which will not disappear by itself.

What is male menopause/andropause?

Male menopause, also called andropause, is the decline in a man’s testosterone level.

This means a very gradual testosterone deficiency and an increase in sex hormone-binding globulin(SHBG).

Testosterone is an essential male hormone. Male menopause is common in most men, but studies are still being done to find out why it does not affect all men. From the age of 30 years, testosterone levels drop by about 10% every 10 years.

About one in every ten men between the ages of 40 and 60 has low testosterone.

Why is testosterone important to men?

Testosterone alone is a hormone that has an unique effect on the male body. The production of testosterone takes place in the testes and the adrenal glands.

Testosterone builds protein and is necessary for normal sexual behaviour and because of that producing an erection.

Testosterone also affects other metabolic activities like the production of blood cells in the bone marrow, liver function, prostate gland growth, lipid metabolism, bone formation and carbohydrate metabolism.

Men who have had autoimmune disease or cancer have an increased risk for low testosterone levels.

Is male menopause/andropause the same as menopause in women?

Menopause in men is completely something different to menopause in women.

Menopause in women has to do with the complete decline of sex hormones. Estrogen levels decrease and disappear, causing the loss of fertility.

During menopause in men, they do not loose their fertility completely. The testes, unlike the ovary does not run out of the substance it needs to make testosterone. Testosterone will continue to produce as well as sperm and a man can have children well into his 80s.

Symptoms of female menopause include hot flashes, fatigue and night sweats whereby male menopause includes depression, mood swings, irritability and low libido.

Symptoms of male menopause.

The decline in testosterone lead to:

• loss of energy and concentration
• weakness and decrease muscle mass and loss of muscle strength
• increased upper and central body fat
• mood swings
• depression
• impotence and low sex drive
• irritability
• listlessness
• loss of strength and memory
• cardiovascular risks
• Osteoporosis or weak bones and back pain
• Falling asleep after dinner

How can male menopause be diagnosed?

Usually it is done with blood tests to check testosterone levels. A physical exam will also have to be done by a doctor and symptoms should be discussed.

Treatment options.

Due to the low levels of testosterone, testosterone replacement therapy can be considered as an option. This therapy will relieve the depression, fatigue and decrease libido symptoms. This replacement therapy can be in the form of injections, oral androgens, testosterone time release pellets inserted under the skin or transdermal patches. There however are side effects for example replacing testosterone may worsen prostate cancer.

If you do not consider this therapy root, the natural option can also be considered.

Here are a few options you can follow to boost your testosterone level.

• Studies have shown that doing weight-lifting exercises like bench presses or back rows increases testosterone.
• Nuts, canola and olive oil and peanut butter are rich in monounsaturated fat that can increase testosterone levels.
• Stay away from eating a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. This cramps testosterone levels. Protein intake should be about 16% of your daily calories.
• Eat healthy, do exercise and loose some weight if needed. Carrying excess body weight is a cause of the decline in testosterone production.
• Be sure to get adequate rest. A minimum of 7 hours sleep per night. Not enough sleep can harm the production of testosterone.
• Do not drink more than 3 alcoholic drinks per day. Alcohol stops your testes from producing testosterone.
• Do not skip meals.
• Studies show that taking 30mg of Zinc, 450mg of magnesium and 11mg of Vitamin B6 supplements per day can elevate testosterone levels.

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I took up meditation!!

Just like me, all of you I am sure lead a very hectic lifestyle. The one morning after running around as usual, thinking where the time went and finding the time to get everything done, I decided to do something different. Something to calm myself and to get me centred again.

I decided to take up meditation.

What is meditation?

Meditation equals awareness. When you for example listen to birds, you are meditating. Any activity that you do that separates you from any other distraction or thought in your mind, you are effectively meditating. All the activities in the mind should be reduced to one. You are responsible for your own state of mind and how to change it.

The word meditation comes from 2 Latin words; meditari (to exercise the mind or to think) and mederi (to heal).

Meditation is when you go beyond the thinking mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness.

Some would say that meditation is only practiced in some religions. This however is not true. Meditation can and is practiced by people of different religions or no religion. Meditation is about the consciousness of the mind, nothing else, religion is of no importance when meditating.

For me there are three essential things that should be done before meditating. The correct environment, posture and breathing.

The correct environment for your meditation.

Choose a quiet room with no distractions.

Make sure that nobody disturbs you during meditating.

Your posture during meditation.

The normal meditation posture is to sit upright with your back straight, normally on a cushion and cross-legged at the shins and position each foot under each knee. If this is difficult, you can sit kneeled or in a chair. If sitting in a chair your feet must tough the ground.

Do not meditate lying down because you will most likely fall asleep.

Place your hands on your legs with palms up or down. The “palms up” position is preferred, because you are then in a receiving mode.

Always close your eyes.

Breathing during meditation.

You normally breathe through your nostrils. When meditating you must become aware of the sensation of deep breathing as it enters and leaves the nostrils. Try to concentrate on this. You should repeat this many times until your mind settles on the breath.

When your mind starts wandering of, again start concentrating with your breathing.

How long to meditate.

Allow meditation of 3-10 minutes. Most people meditate from 15-30 minutes.

People will say that there is no time to meditate. If you really want to do something, you will make the time to do so. Be patient with yourself when meditating, do not make it time-bound.

Get up earlier or watch 30 minutes less TV.

The best time to meditate is early in the morning or towards the evening, but this also depends on you as a person.

Also try to meditate at the same time every day.

How to meditate?

Relax and always sit quietly for a while before meditating.

Try to centre yourself and learn to concentrate on something, either the fire of a burning candle, or a dot on a picture.

You can also use mantra. A mantra is the repetition of a sacred word for example “AUM” for a number of times. By doing this you force your mind to focus on a single thought.

You can even listen to words or soft relaxing music when meditating. You must just learn to listen to these words or imagine a picture in your mind when listening to a song.

After you have learned to focus on only one thing at a time, you can proceed to the next step; no thoughts at all. When a thought enters your mind, you must learn to throw it out. You must try and achieve a silent mind, which is not very easy to do and takes a lot of practice. You will find that you will not achieve this the first few times of meditation.

In time you will feel peace, calmness and serenity. You will still hear sounds around you, but this will not interfere with your meditation.

Meditation is a self-care activity, giving personal attention to you. When your mind, body and spirit work together, you will have balanced thoughts and awareness.

After you take charge of your distracting thoughts and your mind becoming still, you will experience a feeling of happiness and well-being that will help you cope with the difficulties and stress of your daily life.

Meditation will also help you with;

Tension, reduces stress and improve your concentration level. You will feel more productive and in control of any situation that comes your way.

By reducing your stress levels, positive health benefits will follow for example with chronic diseases, allergies, headaches, obesity, insomnia, muscle tensions, high blood pressure and many more.

You will have a clearer understanding of your inner self and therefore you will build self-confidence.

Because of the positive effect meditation has on people, more and more people turn to meditation as their daily boost. Meditation can not cure illness, but somehow because of that inner relaxing peace it creates, it somehow makes a huge difference. There definitely is a link between our state of mind and physical health.

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The real Power of being Positively Positive!

I always considered myself as a positive person. I always try, no matter what the circumstances are, to see the positive side of things. For me there is always a reason why things happen the way they do. I might not see the reason immediately, maybe in a year’s time I’ll look back and think: “Oh, now I understand” and be glad of the way my circumstances turned out.

Positive and negative are directions. Which direction do you choose? –Remez Sasson-

It is very difficult for all, due to unforeseen and unwanted circumstances, to accept positivity and think positively. People always tend to ask, why me? To ask this in itself is a negative thought. I agree that it is not easy. Before I read: “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne, I also could not understand why positive thoughts can change the way you look at your life and how you will then, except this and always manage to go on living with a positive feeling. I will discuss later on the Law of attraction versus positive thinking and a positive mind.

What are positive thoughts?

When something bad happens to you, it is almost second nature for people to say: “Stay positive and think positive”. People tend to not take these words seriously, nor do they know what it really, really means and how potent these words can be if applied correctly.

In order to change your thoughts you need to change your attitude and always be optimistic.

Believe me if I say that your change to positive thoughts and attitude do not happen overnight. It takes a lot of talking to your inner self whenever you feel negative.

The first think I always do when something negative happens to me and I feel or think a negative thought, is to sit back and think of something nice, whether it is my favourite song or movie. You must try to immediately delete that negativity from your mind. The power is to not just think positive, but to really feel the positivity in your inner being. This makes the difference and this is what will bring positive circumstances back to you.

Norman Vincent Peale says: “Change your thoughts and change your world”.

In order to fully understand and apply positive thinking to your daily life, it is important to look at the full picture.  Let’s start with the Law of Attraction.

What is the Law of Attraction?

This Law states that the thoughts of people (conscious and unconscious) dictate the reality of their lives. It simply means that “if you really want something and truly believe it’s possible, you’ll get it”, but be careful. If you put a lot of thought onto something you don’t want means you’ll probably get that too. You attract into your life whatever you think about.

The reality is that there is only one consciousness, you are that singular consciousness and everything and everyone in your reality happens because of your thoughts.

This is to me where positive thought come into play. If you think positive thoughts, positive things will come your way, but if you think negative thoughts, negative things will come your way.

We all know that the scientific Law of attraction states that what goes “up” must come “down”, and so the Law of attractions also states that what you “think” about and “feel” about, will come true, irrespective whether the result is good or bad. Thoughts are things. Your thoughts, what you believe and your feelings are real.

Being persistent, you will in time teach your mind to think positively and ignore negative thoughts. Bear in mind that the Law of attraction it not a way of getting rich quickly without doing anything.

If you would like to start applying the Law of attraction to your life, you will sometimes, just like I have experiences, feel as if you think positively about what you want, but still in the long run don’t achieve the results. You then become negative because you are not seeing the wanted results.

Here are a few steps that I have also applied in my life, not to fall into the grip of negative thoughts.

You need to have total motivation and commitment if you want to achieve the goal you set for yourself.

• Learn to recognize and use an opportunity if and when it arises.
• You must take the necessary steps. Do not wait for luck to fall from the sky. You must work hard for your desires if you want it to materialize. Stay focussed, visualize and be willing to do physical word to achieve results.
• Always create a feeling of hope and excitement for yourself.
• Appreciate what you already have. By doing this you will already feel good even if you strive for more.
• Always be aware of your feelings. Feeling bad you move away from what you want, feeling good you move towards what you want. Always boost your self esteem.

You need Optimism if you want positive thoughts!

“The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds; and the pessimist fears this is true.” –James Branch Cabell-

I always use this simple explanation if someone asks me what an optimist is. You should recognize this.

Take a glass and fill it up, only half-way. Now! Will you say the glass is half full or half empty? If you are optimistic then your answer would be, “Half full”, being pessimistic your answer will be, Half empty”. The philosophic explanation, “full” as positive, “empty” as negative.

Ø       An optimist does not always assume the worst, they look for the light at the end of the tunnel.

Ø       Do not think about what is happening to you, but how to make it happen the way you want it to.

Ø       An optimist evaluates a situation, looks at possibilities on how to improve, sets new goals and moves on.

Stay motivated with positive thinking.

A positive mind equals happiness, joy, good health and achieving success with every situation and action. You will not be able to achieve anything if you are not motivated enough. Staying motivated by means of positive thinking go hand in hand, The one can not be successful without the other.

Lou Holtz has a very clear explanation. He says: “Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it”.

Ø       Avoid pessimists, cynical people and people who always complain. Do not let them drag you down to their level. If you allow this, your motivation will disappear.

Ø       Be friends with exiting and active people. You will never be bored and most of all you will stay motivated.

Ø       Dream about your future, this always keeps me motivated.

Ø       By thinking and being clear about your goal, writing it down and reading articles about the subjects of your goal, will keep you motivated and determined.

Ø       Always think of solutions, not problems.

Ø       Think about what you have achieved and done, and not what you haven’t achieved yet.

Ø       Be happy and smile as often as possible.

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Breast Cancer!

My mother of 63 years was diagnosed with breast cancer 4 years ago. Because of this and the fact that it can also happen to me, this subject is very close to my heart.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer.

My mother had no other symptoms except for the lump she felt in her right breast. It sounds strange, but she was lucky to feel a lump because some lumps are too small to feel or to cause a change in a breast. This is the dangerous part, not fighting breast cancer in time before it can do irreversible harm to your body.

The first sign of breast cancer is normally a lump that was not there before or a mass in the breast that you or your doctor can feel. Unfortunately a lump that is painless, hard and has uneven edges is more likely to be cancer. Also keep in mind that these changes to a breast can also be less serious and not cancerous like an infection or a cyst.

This is why it is very important for a woman to go for a mammogram (x-ray of the breast) once a year, especially after the age of 40 years. Any abnormal area can be seen on a mammogram

The following are also symptoms of breast cancer.

• Breast pain
• Nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
• The nipple discharging other fluids than breast milk
• Redness or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
• A lump in the underarm area
• Swelling of all or part of the breast
• Skin irritation or dimpling on the breast

What causes breast cancer?

After a lot of research and research still under way, it is still very difficult for doctors to determine the cause of breast cancer and how to prevent it. Why it happens to one woman and not the other.

Doctors are learning day by day how external and internal environments affect breast cancer.

External environment for example the water you drink and food you eat, the air you breathe, the medicines you take and whether you smoke or not.

Internal environment for example the genes you got from your parents, hormones and illnesses.

Whether external or internal, some of these factors have a direct effect on breast cancer.

Let met explain to you two factors that are commonly used when referring to or talking about breast cancer.

Firstly the risk factor: Anything that would increase your chance of getting breast cancer, is known as the risk factor.

The protective factor: Anything that could reduce your risk of getting breast cancer, is known as the protective factor.

How can I reduce my risk of getting breast cancer?

Some risk factors you can control, for example:

Ø       Being overweight. It is very important to loose the excess weight. This can reduce your risk of getting breast cancer, especially for woman after menopause. Why? Because fatty tissue is the body’s main source of estrogen after menopause. This happens after the ovaries stop producing hormones. Always remember higher estrogen levels, increases your risk of getting breast cancer.

Ø       Make your own informed choices about the medicines you take. Always do research, educate yourself about the side effects.

Ø       Have control over your physical activities and alcohol consumption. Alcohol drunk by women limit’s the liver’s ability to control blood levels for the hormone estrogen, which can increase the risk of cancer.

Ø       Do exercise. There is growing evidence that shows that exercise can reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Ø       Taking combined hormone replacement therapy namely estrogen and progesterone for several years or taking estrogen alone for an ongoing period of ten years without any doubt is a very high risk factor for breast cancer, because the female hormone, estrogen already stimulates breast cell growth.

Ø       Be careful when using oral contraceptives for an unlimited time. Studies show that this birth control pill slightly increases the risk of breast cancer.

Which risk factors do I have no control over?

Ø       Being a woman. Although breast cancer can also be present in men, the breast cells of women are always changing and growing because of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Ø       Aging. From the age of 30-39 the risk of getting breast cancer is 43%.It increases by more that 4% after the age of 60 years of age.

Ø       Breast cancer history in your family. If your mother or sister had breast cancer or ovarian cancer before the age of 50 years, your risk of getting breast cancer is higher.

Ø       Radiation therapy to the chest. Any radiation therapy during childhood especially during the teen years when the breasts were still developing, increases the breast cancer risk.

Ø       Changes in breast cells, during a breast biopsy can be a risk factor. Biopsy is the removal of tissue for examination under a microscope.

The fear of breast cancer recurrence!

My mom will be finishing her cancer hormone treatment this year. Since she was diagnosed with breast cancer 4 years ago, she has been going for mammogram’s yearly as well as blood tests.  All this tests needs to be done to make sure that the breast cancer will not be coming back and if so, to get the necessary treatment in time.

This is a fear my mom has been living with since the day she got informed that she had breast cancer and even after she had her mastectomy and was cleared, she still has this fear of the cancer recurring.

If breast cancer comes back, it may come back in the same place or in different areas of the body, for example:

v      the chest wall

v      the liver

v      the brain

v      the lymph modes

v      the bones

v      the lungs or around the lungs

v      the breast or the area where the breast used to be.

Just to get more scientific, here’s a list of the 3 general locations. This is the words that a doctor will use when explaining your type of breast cancer recurring:

Local: meaning in the breast where it started the first time, the area where the breast used to be or in the skin and underlying tissues.

Regional: means in the lymph nodes next to the breast. After diagnosed with breast cancer this will also be the first place where tests will be done to establish whether the cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes under the arms.

Metastatic: meaning in another part of the body, like the lungs, liver etc.

How to cope with the fear or recurring breast cancer.

Ø       Always stay informed, keep on reading, investigate tests, procedures and treatments done and following up information regarding breast cancer. The more informed you are, I think, will somewhat undermine your fear.

Ø       Have a great relationship with your doctor. You must feel comfortable discussing your situation and your feelings with this doctor whenever your feel like it.

Ø       Always, always stay calm and positive, even if it is difficult to do so every day. You will without knowing it transform your positive thoughts into positive energy. Trust me, you will feel better.

Ø       Join a cancer group that knows how you are feeling. In this group you can exchange stories and find solutions. Nobody else will know exactly how you feel, except for that other person that has gone through the same trauma.

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My child’s teeth!

It is important to care for your child’s teeth from an early age. This will ensure your child growing up with healthy teeth and gums. This means even wiping your baby’s gums after feeding with a soft damp cloth in order to prevent bacteria build-up.

Three important issues to always remember when you think about your child’s teeth!

Ø       Regular visits to the dentist.

Ø       Your child’s diet, what your child should and should not eat. Keep away from sugary or acidic food and drinks.

Ø       Oral hygiene, when to brush teeth and how often. Teach your child from a young age to spit out toothpaste and not rinse with water. This will reduce the effect of fluoride.

Interesting facts about your child’s teeth!

Your child’s teeth start developing before birth. I child firstly gets milk teeth, thereafter permanent teeth.

Milk teeth.

A child’s milk teeth are important for speech, smile, eating and mostly for confidence. Looking after a child’s milk teeth will ensure the healthy development of the permanent teeth.

A child usually has 20 milk teeth by the age of three years, starting to come out through the gums at about six months of age. The last milk teeth will fall out by the age of 12 years.

Permanent teeth.

If you as a parent do not look after your child’s permanent teeth and teach them the right from wrong, these teeth might get damaged or even need to be removed. Unfortunately there are not another set of teeth to replace the ones lost.

From the age of six years your child’s permanent teeth will start to erupt and as an adult have 32 permanent teeth.

Cavities and your child’s teeth.

What is a cavity?

Cavities are holes in the teeth formed from germs, a more scientific word is bacteria, using the sugary foods that they eat, to form acid. This acid then eats away at the teeth.

How to stop cavities and bad teeth?

• Brush teeth regularly to prevent the acid from eating away at teeth.
• If your child is capable to do so, it is very important to teach them how to floss once a day.
• Learn your child the importance of brushing teeth twice a day, in the morning and before bedtime.
• Twice a year visits to the dentist are essential. You get children who are scared and traumatised of a dentist and are unable to sit quietly in the dentist chair. My child was one of those children. My dentist and I diarized two visits per year and my child’s teeth were checked, fixed and cleaned under anaesthetic at our local hospital up until the age of 7 years. Thereafter my child himself decided to go to the dentist office without being traumatized.
• Avoiding sweets, fizzy drinks and between-meal snacks is good advice but much harder to do. Rather try teeth friendly snacks like fruits and vegetables.
• Never put your baby to bed with a bottle of juice, only if it contains plain water.

If the liquid for example stays in contact with the child’s teeth for a long period of time, the sugars cause tooth decay.

What to use to clean your child’s teeth!

Toothpaste and a toothbrush.

You get special toothbrushes for babies as well as for growing children.

When your child is the right age, teach him/her to clean their teeth by applying small circular movements.

The mineral in our toothpaste is called fluoride. This fluoride strengthens the tooth enamel.

Older children can chew sugar-free gum after meals, gum containing Xylitol, because this prevents tooth decay.

For a small child you get disclosing tablets. This is small pills, if chewed for 30 seconds, turn the plaque into a bright colour, usually pink. This will help show your child the areas that he/she have been missing when brushing.

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What is Asthma and how would I know if my child has asthma?

The majority of people are unaware of the symptoms of asthma.

When a child for example has a constant cough, it normally gets associated with flu, especially if there is no history of asthma present in the family.

Asthma can be genetically inherited.

• Coughing is normally a symptom that is commonly overlooked.
• Frequent colds or chestiness may also be asthma related.
• A child with a weak chest may also be asthmatic.

Asthma is one of the world’s most common respiratory illnesses in the world today.

It affects one out of ten children out of every twenty adults.

At any stage of your life, ever as an adult, asthma can start, but it normally starts at the age of 5 years. Asthma is most commonly  the result of an allergic reaction.

I am speaking out of experience when I tell you that it is not a nice feeling when your child gets diagnosed with asthma. Asthma is always the last condition thought about by a parent.

Causes and triggers of asthma!

• Allergens or pollutants, like preservatives and colorants. This is a less common trigger, but it does exist.
• Environmental pollutants like cigarette smoke or pollen can trigger asthma symptoms.
• Outdoor pollutants from motor cars and factories also trigger asthma.
• Allergy to other products for example milk products can trigger asthma.
• The most common trigger is a cold and flu.
• The weather like cold air can trigger asthma.
• Doing exercise can not trigger asthma, but is very dangerous for a child having asthma as the symptoms are not being controlled. With the collect medication and control methods, any exercise can be performed.
• An infection in the breathing tubes because if a virus, can either start or make the asthma symptoms worse. This asthma condition can persist for even 6 weeks after infection.
• Emotions for example anger and rage can trigger an asthma attack.
• Some common used medication like aspirin and other anti-inflammatory meds can trigger asthma.

The most common asthma symptom!

Cough:

• It reoccurs constantly and is persistent.
• Coughing always occur in spasms and can result in the child loosing his or her breath.
• Symptom is worse during the night and during exercise.
• It can cause the child to vomit.

Can your child outgrow asthma?

According to medical statistics a child can outgrow asthma by die age of 10 years.

What happens to a child’s lungs during an asthma attack?

Asthma affects the breathing tubes, called the bronchioles, by inflaming the linings of the bronchioles, making it more difficult to breathe. This is where the “wheezing” sound or constant cough comes from.

There is 3 main elements to asthma:

• The inflammation
• The mucous plugging
• The bronchospasm

Let me explain these elements better.

Because of the inflammation, brought on by an allergic reaction, the child’s body produces extra mucous which in return creates mucous plugging and then the child gets bronchospasm. This bronchospasm decreases the size of the breathing tubes called the bronchioles. This creates the wheezing sound when a person with asthma exhales, or a constant cough, mainly at night.

Because of the decreased bronchioles, the child’s body is not able to exhale air in the lungs. This becomes trapped. If this continues, it comes to a point where the asthmatic can not breathe.

How do you treat asthma?

The main aim is to get the breathing tubes to function without any difficulty when breathing.

Just like any other, the affect of medication differs from person to person.

This is also the case when using asthma medication.

Asthma medication will help your child with the following:

• The medication controls the inflammation and stops the coughing or breathlessness at night and in the mornings.
• Medication will treat an asthma attack when it happens, it will give quick relief.
• It will avoid symptoms to trigger asthma.

There are 2 main asthma type medications,

Anti-inflammatory drugs:

These medications are very important and necessary because it prevents asthma attacks on an ongoing basis.

Corticosteroids are a very important medication because of the fact that it reduces the swelling and the production of mucus in the airways.

Bronchodilators:

These medications relieve asthma symptoms. It relaxes the muscle bands that tighten around the airways. By doing that it opens the airways, letting air come out and into the lungs. Because of this your child will breathe much easier.

These bronchodilators also help clear the mucus form the child’s lungs.

If the airways are open, any mucus build-up can move and be coughed out easily.

These medications can be administered in different ways.

Your child’s asthma and exercise.

There are a lot of children with asthma that develop a tight chest after exercise. Dry and cold air can also be a trigger causing the air pipes in the lungs to narrow. If the air pipes only narrow a little bit, the child will only cough after exercise. If however the air pipes narrow a lot, the chest becomes tight and breathing becomes difficult.

This asthma condition occurs about after 10 minutes of exercise.

After the proper medication the chest will open up.

Preferred exercise for a child with asthma.

• Swimming

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Is sugar good for your child’s health?

This question is being asked by a mother once a day. Let’s start by understanding “sugar” better.

Sugars are carbohydrates (carbs), producing energy for the child’s body. These carbs are absorbed in the small intestine, converts to glucose by ways of the liver and then used for energy.

Sugar especially for a child must be consumed in moderation.

Too much sugar does not only affect a child’s behaviour but also his/her emotions and health. Please take into account that a child’s body does not process sugar the same way an adult body does. Sugar represses the child’s immune system and disturbs the body chemistry.

Here are a few negative health forms sugar can produce:

Ø       Allergies

Ø       Dizziness

Ø       Depression

Ø       Headaches

Ø       Constipation

Ø       Diarrhoea

Ø       Joint pain

Ø       Gas or bloating

Ø       Excessive sweating

Ø       Overweight

Ø       Skin problems

Ø       High blood pressure

There are 2 types of carbohydrates:

• Simple carbohydrates:
• This is present in sugars for example lactose (milk sugar), sucrose (table sugar), fructose (fruit sugar) and glucose.
• Complex carbohydrates:
• This is present in vegetables and grains. This carb is therefore the fiber and starch in these products.

Healthy versus unhealthy carbohydrates.

Too many carbs may be stored as body fat. Just like everything else in life, you get stuff that is either good or bad for your health. The same motto applies to carbs. Carbs can either be healthy or unhealthy to your body.

Healthy carbs do not only supply energy but also gives the necessary nutrients that the body needs, for example brown rice, fruits and vegetables.

Unhealthy carbs contain more than 5% added sugars for example ice cream, fruit juices and sweetened yogurt. These sugars provide empty calories, there are no minerals or vitamins included.

Problems sugar can cause!

• Adult obesity as well as obesity in children is caused by an excess use of processed carbs. Processed carbs are refined sugars in foods like sweets, soda and refined grains like white rice, white flour and many pastas and breads. This processed carbs are a source of surplus calories which contributes to obesity.
• The rise in blood sugar levels are caused by those foods that contain a lot of simple sugars.
• One of the most important aspects in dental care in children is sugar. Sugar is one of the main reasons for dental caries.

When eating sugar remember the following:

• When preparing foods, use little added sugars or caloric sweeteners.
• A healthy person should use sugar in moderation and sugar should be used sparingly by a person with low calorie needs.
• Eat vegetables, grains and fiber-rich fruits.
• Always practice good oral hygiene after consuming sugar foods or beverages.
• One aspect a parent always tend to do is reward a child by giving them sweets. This is not the healthy way to go.

What if my child eats too much sugar and can’t stop!

I call this a sugar addiction. Chances are good that if your child has a sugar addiction, other family members will have it too. In order to help your child, you as a parent need to be accountable for your daily sugar intake as well.

If a parent’s sugar intake is under control, your child can be helped much easier and quicker.

Here are a few useful tips:

Ø       Changing the family diet altogether, will lower your child’s sugar intake.

Ø       Eat a healthy breakfast. Eat fresh fruits instead of sugary cereal.

Ø       Breakfast should be eaten an hour before any activity. This reduces the risk of your child’s blood sugar level dropping. We all know what happens if your blood sugar level drops. You feel tired and sleepy, not in the mood for anything.

Ø       Don’t give in to your child’s pleading words for a chocolate. Rather explain the reasons why your answer will be “no”, instead of feeling sorry for him/her. In the long run this will be worth the effort.

Ø       Serve protein for lunch time, for example cheese, lean meat, nuts or poultry.

Ø       Balanced meals and high-protein snacks will help your child to stay focused.

Sugar and my child’s teeth!

Minimizing the amount of sugar given to your child, will definitely prevent tooth decay. Especially in tooth decay, it is important to know how much, but more importantly how often your child eats sugar.

How often your child has acidic food and drinks affects the amount of acid that will attack the tooth enamel.

What not to do!

• A minimum amount of fizzy drinks, sweets and cakes. All the bad things that contain sugar.
• No sugary foods and drinks between meals and especially not before bedtime.
• Read the food labels. There are always hidden sugars in sauces and breakfast cereals.

What to do!

• Give your child healthier snacks like dried fruit and fresh vegetables. Why?, because they contain natural sugars. Still keep in mind, even natural sugars can cause decay if eaten in large amounts.
• Teach your child to drink water after every meal, or when eating a snack. This will neutralise the acid in the child’s mouth which will prevent tooth erosion.

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How do you know if your child is allergic to milk products?

Are you a disheartened parent, looking for answers on why your child always has a runny nose, coughing constantly, mucus in the airways and lungs and a weak immune system.

After visiting the doctor, your child is diagnosed with a cold or flu, antibiotics are prescribed. After the 5 day antibiotic course, within 10 days your child is sick again.

I know exactly how you feel, because I was one of those mothers, until I discovered the actual reason for my children’s constant flu condition.

Your child, just as mine, might be allergic to milk products.

In order to understand an allergy, let’s start from the beginning.

What is an allergy?

Allergy is the sensitivity to a substance that normally does not cause any discomfort to people. Hay fever for example is triggered due to the sensitivity for pollen. Asthma, eczema or rashes can again be triggered due to an entirely different allergy.

An allergy can affect any part of a person’s body, depending on the type of allergic reaction a person has.

Allergies are mainly a reaction to allergens, those substances for example pollen or the lactose in milk products. These allergens start the symptom of the allergy that a person is sensitive to.

An allergy can be anything,

• A runny nose
• Coughing
• Mucus in the airways and lungs
• Itchy eyes
• Skin rash

It can affect your child’s sense of smell, sight, tastes and touch that causes irritation. This affect on the body occurs when the immune system overreacts to the normally harmless substances.

What causes an allergy?

Allergies tend to be inherited characteristics in the cells which are made up by the immune system. The immune system is the body’s defence system against diseases.

Allergies are caused due to an error in the immune system. White blood cells are a very important element in the immune system. The work of these cells is to be on the look-out for any strange substances for example viruses, proteins and bacteria that is different to the body’s own proteins. Whenever these white blood cells come across a strange protein, it forms antibodies, which in turn combines with the strange substance and neutralizes it.

In some strange way, the immune system of a normal healthy child has the ability to distinguish the difference between a strange substance (example a virus) and a harmless substance (example food protein).

Strangely so the immune system of a child that has an allergy, reacts to this harmless protein as if it was a threat, and therefore starts forming an antibody. This antibody therefore attacks itself to cells called mast cells. These mast cells are very important due to the fact that it contains chemicals, the most important one is histamine.

After the child’s body gets exposed to the protein again, the antibody attached to the mast cell combines with the strange protein trying to neutralise it. By doing this it upsets the structure of the mast cell. This mast cell then falls apart releasing a lot of histamine. The effect of the histamine is an inflammation, which dilates the walls of the blood vessels, which them leaks.

A child that has a milk allergy for example, the mucus glands in the nose and sinuses are stimulated by this leaking fluid cells in the blood, which in return produces fluid, which causes stuffiness, a runny nose and coughing.

How can you find out if your child is allergic to milk products?

An allergy, especially a milk allergy, normally means an allergy to the lactose in the milk. This allergy will occur from a very young age.  If you have a milk allergy history with your children you will learn what symptoms to look for.

Symptoms when drinking or eating milk products:

• Vomiting
• Colic
• Diarrhoea, constipation, nausea
• Constant runny nose
• Sneezing
• Mucus in airways and lungs
• Watery eyes
• Constant coughing due to asthma or mucus in sinuses
• Skin conditions like hives, eczema and swelling of tissue

Always remember a lot of babies who are allergic to milk products will also react in the same way when given soy-based products.

The following tests can be done to establish an allergy.

The Skin prick test:

During this test a small needle is used to prick the skin through a drop of fluid having the known allergen. This test is usually done on the forearm and is not painful to the chid. Results of the test are immediately available.

The Blood test:

During this test a sample is taken of the child’s blood. This blood sample is then send to a laboratory. They will do a RAST(Radio Allergo Sorbent test) or a CAP-RAST. This test measures the amount of Immunoglobulin E antibodies(IgE) in the child’s blood to different types of allergens. His allergens can be food or environmentally related. The IgE is graded on a scale of 0-6 depending on the level of that IgE in the child’s blood.

Patch test:

This test is normally done to establish delayed allergic reactions for example Contact Dermatitis. The test involves taping traces of different known allergens on the skin underneath aluminium discs. This discs are kept on for 48 hours, whereafter a dermatologist assesses it for any allergic eczematous changes.

Allergy to rubber, cosmetics, preservatives, medication and nickel can be tested.

How to teach your child and others involved with your child about his/her allergy!

Most children have an allergy from a very young age. This makes it much easier to teach your child the pro’s and cons of his/her allergy and what to eat and what not.

Here are a few suggestions:

• You must teach your child about his/her allergy. He/she must be taught from a very young age, the younger the better, about what he/she is allergic to, foods to eat and not and very importantly what the wrong foods will do to them.
• All foods must have food labels. Teach your child to read those labels especially when it comes to cookies, sweets and drinks. A simple drink might contain milk solids which will be harmful to your child.
• Teach your child that he/she can still eat delicious foods without containing milk solids. You get cakes and pudding recipes made without milk.
• Teach your child to teach others especially if your child goes to a crèche during the day or an after school in the afternoons. Your child must be so educated that he/she will know exactly which foods given to them spells danger. 
• By informing the teachers of your child’s allergy you keep your child safe in school. By packing your child’s lunch does not prevent them from eating the incorrect foods. There might be a birthday party in the class with cakes and chocolates.
• Some people are not very educated when it comes to allergies especially a milk allergy. For some unexplained reason they think an allergy for milk products means that the child must not drink a glass of milk, totally unaware of the fact that giving your child a slice of cheese also contains milk solids.

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