BOY WHO MISSED GRADUATION AFTER SURGERY GETS HOSPITAL CEREMONY

DAILY NEWS UPDATES 

 DENNIS WILDFORD AUSTRALIAN UPDATES, BEST 5 NEWS EVER, BEST NEWS, NEW BEST EVET,TOP 10 NEWS, TOP NEWS, UPDATES

---

ARTICLE SOURCE: TODAY NEWS

Alexandra Zaslow
Jul. 7, 2016 at 2:55 AM

---

The moment Lucas St. Onge had been waiting for all his life turned bittersweet when he learned that he would have to miss his pre-K graduation in order to stay in the hospital.

Lucas has both short bowel syndrome, a condition that makes it difficult to absorb nutrients, as well as severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome, making him susceptible to serious infections. But on May 21, which happened to be his fifth birthday, he received good news.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     COURTESY OF KATHERINE C. COHEN/BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL LUCAS WAS ALL SMILES IN HIS GRADUATION CAP.

He was scheduled to undergo multivisceral organ transplant surgery — to get a new stomach, pancreas, liver, intestine and spleen — the very next day.

His parents, Heather and Anthony St. Onge, from Lowell, Massachusetts, knew Lucas would still be recovering at Boston Children’s Hospital during his graduation.

“I felt so bad because I knew he and his classmates had been practicing singing songs and walking across the stage for a while now, and he was really looking forward to it,” Heather St. Onge told TODAY.

St. Onge asked his teacher, Laurie Archambault, if she could FaceTime them during the ceremony, but when that proved too difficult, “Miss Laurie” had another idea in mind.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    COURTESY OF KATHERINE C. COHEN/BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL                                                                           LUCAS RECEIVED A DIPLOMA FROM PRESCHOOL TEACHER LAURIE ARCHAMBAULT.

 Right after the graduation Lucas was supposed to walk in, Archambault and three other teachers surprised him at the hospital with a cap, diploma and his very own ceremony.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             COURTESY OF HEATHER ST. ONGE                                                LAURIE ARCHAMBAULT PUT ON LUCAS’ CAP THAT SHE BROUGHT HIM BEFORE THE GRADUATION CEREMONY.

“I’ve never seen him so excited before,” St. Onge said. “Just by his reaction, you could tell how much he loved going to that school.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    COURTESY OF KATHERINE C. COHEN/BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL                                                          LUCAS PROUDLY SHOWED HIS DIPLOMA WITH HIS TRANSPLANT SURGEON, DR. KHASHAYAR VAKILI.

Archambault made the graduation feel as real as she could. When calling his name, she referred to him as a “graduate of Hellenic American Academy’s class of 2016,” which had everyone in tears — including those passing by.

While Lucas is taking it easy over the summer to recover, he can’t stop talking about entering kindergarten in the fall.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          COURTESY OF HEATHER ST. ONGELUCAS AFTER HIS GRADUATION

“When you have a transplant, you’re kind of secluded from other people,” St. Onge said, “so it means the world to us to have teachers who care enough to go above and beyond for Lucas.”

SOURCE URL: TODAY NEWS

ZONE DIET

THE ZONE DIET: WHAT TO EAT AND WHEN TO EAT IT?

Functional fitness has been a popular choice for many people looking to improve their health and fitness. The intensity and frequency of the workouts combined with a positive community environment has helped many reach their goals, whether they are weight loss, muscle gain or all-round fitness and performance. However, training is only part of the equation. Nutrition is also just as important when it comes to reaching health and fitness goals.

While there are many popular diets used by functional fitness athletes these days, including the Paleo diet, the Zone Diet is arguably the one endorsed most by CrossFit Games athletes. In a nutshell, the Zone Diet centers on a “40:30:30″ ratio of calories obtained daily from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Using a ‘block’ system, the idea behind the Zone Diet is to balance your body’s hormones and achieve an optimum level of insulin and glucagon to support a healthy inflammatory response. Once ideal inflammation levels are obtained, your body will be able to perform and recover faster and more efficiently.

Functional fitness has been a popular choice for many people looking to improve their health and fitness. The intensity and frequency of the workouts combined with a positive community environment has helped many reach their goals, whether they are weight loss, muscle gain or all-round fitness and performance. However, training is only part of the equation. Nutrition is also just as important when it comes to reaching health and fitness goals.

While there are many popular diets used by functional fitness athletes these days, including the Paleo diet, the Zone Diet is arguably the one endorsed most by Cross Fit Games athletes. In a nutshell, the Zone Diet centers on a “40:30:30″ ratio of calories obtained daily from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Using a ‘block’ system, the idea behind the Zone Diet is to balance your body’s hormones and achieve an optimum level of insulin and glucagon to support a healthy inflammatory response. Once ideal inflammation levels are obtained, your body will be able to perform and recover faster and more efficiently.

RELATED ARTICLE: OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY

A ‘block’ is a unit of measurement that equals 7 grams of protein, 9 grams of carbohydrates and 1.5 grams of fat. Some meals might have 2 blocks of each in them, while others could have 4 or 5. For example, a 1-block snack could be a hard-boiled egg (1 mini-block protein), 2 cups of broccoli (1 mini-block carb) and 3 almonds (1 mini-block fat).

While this is a good framework to begin with, there are also two very important aspects of nutrition one must consider: food type and timing. The Zone Diet encourages people to get their carbohydrates, proteins and fats from organic and natural sources, but it is still possible to maintain poor nutrition habits while following the diet. For example, some meals from fast food restaurants could be considered Zone Diet approved. Here is a closer look at where you should try to get your carbohydrates, proteins and fats from while on the Zone Diet.

CARBOHYDRATE CHOICES

Carbohydrate selections are best reserved for non-processed or natural options. Vegetables are usually the best form of carbohydrates because of the density of vitamins and minerals that will aid in energy production and tissue rebuilding. Dark green leafy, cruciferous (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts) and brightly coloured vegetables are the best choices and preferably, they should make up the majority of the carbohydrate blocks during most meals. Other nutrient-dense carbohydrate choices include fruits (although try to avoid fruits that are high in sugar), whole grains such as oats, rice and quinoa, and starches such as sweet potatoes, beets and squash. You should try to avoid foods like pasta, rice, bread and potatoes.

PROTEIN CHOICES

Choosing the best protein sources is relatively easy as the fewer feet the animal has, the higher the nutritional value. Therefore, fish such as salmon, tuna, cod and halibut are the best examples of high quality protein. Shellfish such as scallops, crab, lobsters and clams provide a high nutrient value as well. Cage-free poultry and their eggs, as well asgrass-fed and free-range beef and are also highly recommended. Non-animal products like soy, quinoa, various nuts, seeds and beans also provide a solid protein punch, although you may end up eating too much carbohydrates with those choices in order to get adequate protein intake.

FAT CHOICES

An abundance of fat is present in the protein blocks of food and some fruits like avocados and olives. However, true fats such as oils, nuts and seeds have nutritional value and should be included. Olive, coconut and sesame seed oil are healthy alternatives to typical cooking oils and dressings. Almonds, walnuts, cashews, peanuts and pistachios are all great nut choices, especially when eaten raw. Chia, hemp, sunflower and sesame seeds are also excellent fat choices that will provide energy and nutrients to the body.

FOOD TIMING FOR THE ZONE DIET

The time at which you eat each meal is also very important. Of course, each individual is different so there is no ‘correct’ time to eat. It really comes down to what’s good for your body. However, for optimal recovery from training, it can be argued that you should try to eat a larger meal soon after a workout to give your body the right nutrients to recover. The highest quality proteins should also be consumed during this meal to maximize the tissue rebuilding process. It is also important to eat a meal not long after you wake-up in the morning to kick-start your metabolism process.

As the saying goes, one cannot out-train a bad diet. Even the intensity and frequency of functional fitness needs a diet that is adequately balanced with natural, unprocessed foods.A Zone Diet, made up of a variety of vegetables, fruits, naturally raised animal products, and essential fats should provide the right balance for functional fitness athletes.

SOURCE URL: THE Rx Review

ADHD AND ANXIETY

ARTICLE SOURCE: HEALTH CENTRAL
By Eileen Bailey

---

Anxiety is the fear or worry that we feel about events in our lives. It can occur because of some specific reason, such as when we worry about the first day of a new job or when we don’t seem to have enough money to pay our bills. Anxiety can also occur without reason; some people seem to worry endlessly.  For most people, normal anxiety is controllable and causes little dysfunction in our lives. For others, however, the intense distress they feel can disrupt and interfere with their daily activities.  There is a distinct difference between being nervous about beginning a new job and worrying to the point that you are not able to function or think clearly.  Anxiety is considered to be a commonco-existing condition with ADHD.

Children also experience anxiety. Children without an anxiety disorder may be concerned or scared about an upcoming event, such as the first day of school. However, children with an anxiety disorder can often become obsessed with worry.

Some recent studies have shown that one fourth of children with ADHD exhibit some symptoms of an anxiety disorder, while between just five percent and 15 percent of children in the general population are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. These results would imply a high incident rate of anxiety disorders in children with ADHD.

Some of the major symptoms of anxiety disorder include:

• Anxious and/or fearful feelings without an apparent cause.
• Chronic, exaggerated worry.
• Problems with concentration or destructibility.
• Insomnia

In addition, anxiety can cause physical symptoms such as:

• Headaches
• Stomach Aches
• Nausea
• Irritability
• Sweating
• Lightheartedness

If you, or your child, are showing or experiencing symptoms of anxiety, you should speak directly with your physician and discuss options.

There are a number of different categories of Anxiety Disorder:

• The most common type of anxiety disorder is called Generalized Anxiety Disorder and affects approximately 5 percent of the American population.
• People with Panic Disorder normally have attacks of anxiety and terror that normally last anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes.
• Phobias are considered to be irrational and overwhelming fears of an object or a situation. Most people will avoid those objects or situations in order to avoid the fear that accompanies it.
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder can be extremely distressing. Obsessions are mental thoughts or ideas that are persistent.  Thoughts such as “did I turn off the stove” can disrupt a person’s life until they have checked the stove. Compulsive behaviors are repetitive actions. A person with compulsive behaviors may need to check the stove over and over to make sure that it is turned off.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a severe emotional reaction to a traumatic event. The symptoms include intense fear, helplessness and horror. People suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder continue to relive the event in thoughts, dreams, images, flashbacks or feelings of despair.
• Separation Anxiety Disorder normally occurs in young children and often disappears as the child gets older. However, when not treated Separation Anxiety Disorder can develop into a different anxiety disorder.

---

   SOURCE : Health Central

ADHD SYMPTOMS

Does your child have ADHD?

Here are the symptoms to watch for.

It’s not unusual for parents to have conflicts with their children about finishing homework, following instructions, or not listening. High levels of physical activity, the inability to sit still, and a lack of focus are also common parental complaints. If you’re worried about your child, perhaps the first thing to think about is how often and for how long these behaviors occur.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a persistent pattern of behavior that lasts at least six months. Children with ADHD may show abnormally high levels of physical activity (hyperactivity) and an inability to control their impulses, pay attention, focus, or complete tasks. A pattern usually begins before age 7, although the disorder may be diagnosed at a much later date.

ADHD is one of the most common problems involving behavior and brain function. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 7 percent of children ages 3 to 17 are affected (about 4.5 million in 2006). But less than half of them actually receive a diagnosis of ADHD. When not properly diagnosed and managed, ADHD can have damaging effects on children and their families.

Some children and teenagers have only mild ADHD symptoms while others are severely affected. In general, boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls, perhaps because they are prone to act out and exhibit hyperactivity, while girls with ADHD are more likely to be perceived as simply inattentive (daydreaming, forgetful, easily distracted). Boys and girls with ADHD are more likely than other children to underachieve at school, have low self-esteem, and develop emotional and social problems.

In our survey, personal concerns about their child’s behavior and/or academic performance were the major reasons that 65 percent of the parents sought professional help. A recommendation from someone at school, such as a teacher or school nurse, was a starting point for 39 percent of the parents, and a doctor’s recommendation motivated 17 percent.

A brief history of ADHD

ADHD might appear to be a relatively new condition, but the first mention of it is credited to physician George Still, in a 1902 edition of the British medical journal The Lancet. And the amphetamine Benzadrine was used as early as 1937 to treat hyperactive children, according to a review of the book “Medicating Children: ADHD and Pediatric Mental Health” in the New England Journal of Medicine. It was found to be helpful, but was allowed to be given only to children who were hospitalized or in severe distress.

In 1955, a new stimulant called methylphenidate (Ritalin, generic), which was similar to Benzedrine, was developed and marketed as having fewer side effects and less potential for abuse than other stimulants, according to the review. The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of stimulants for children in 1961—24 years after they were first reported to be effective

Until the late 1980s, ADHD was thought to affect only children. It wasn’t until the publication of the 1987 edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders that adult ADHD was formally recognized in the U.S. There is controversy to this day as to whether ADHD is a valid, diagnosable, and treatable condition.

In 1998 the American Medical Association reported that the criteria developed to identify ADHD were the result of extensive research and, if applied appropriately, led to a reliable diagnosis. That same year the National Institutes of Health released a statement on the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. It said that although the use of psychostimulants remained controversial, short-term studies had established their efficacy. But it also said that conclusive recommendations for long-term treatment couldn’t be made.

Why does it seem as though ADHD is something new? It might be because the condition and treatment have been more accepted and discussed since the late 1980s and early ’90s, when the diagnosis was extended to adults as well as children, and short- and long-acting medications became available.

3 sub-types of ADHD

There are three subtypes of ADHD recognized by the American Psychiatric Association: predominantly inattentive; predominantly hyperactive and impulsive; and a combined type. Although many children have inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, one or the other pattern is more prevalent in some of them.

In the Consumer Reports survey, we asked parents with children diagnosed with ADHD which symptoms they noticed. Interestingly, more than 60 percent of them checked six or more symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity/impassivity associated with ADHD. When we compared parent reports of symptoms with the ADHD diagnosis (hyperactive/impulsive, inattentive, and combined type) their children received, we found that they did not always correspond, and 23 percent of the parents were unsure of the sub-type.

For an official diagnosis, a child should have six or more symptoms of inattention with fewer than six symptoms of hyperactivity/impassivity to fit the “inattentive” label (see chart below). For an official diagnosis of hyperactivity/impassivity, a child should have six or more symptoms from that sub-type (see chart below).

Additionally, 14 percent of the parents whose children had received a diagnosis of ADHD were not convinced their child really had it. Although this group of unsure parents tended to report fewer ADHD symptoms, a parent’s report of his or her child’s symptoms is only one source of information used by professionals. These results reinforce recommendations to get information from schools and other independent observers because children behave differently in different settings.

If this list of ADHD symptoms raises concerns about your own child or a child you know, we encourage you to identify specific examples of the behaviors so that an objective and trained professional with knowledge of what is appropriate for your child’s stage of development can determine if further evaluation is needed.

Inattentive behavior

Experts have found that children with ADHD marked by inattention tend to have the most profound problems with academic performance and other school-related problems. Before receiving an ADHD diagnosis, 93 percent of the children asked about in the survey had six or more inattentive symptoms that occurred a lot or somewhat frequently. Among the most commonly reported were being easily distracted (93 percent), having difficulty focusing or maintaining attention during tasks (92 percent), and losing interest quickly (89 percent).

Hyperactive/impulsive behavior

Children with hyperactive/impulsive ADHD seem to experience more accidental injuries and peer rejection, the experts say. Of the 934 children asked about in this survey, 73 percent had six or more symptoms of hyperactive and impulsive behavior before receiving an ADHD diagnosis. Eighty percent had difficulty sitting still or they squirmed or fidgeted, the most common hyperactivity symptoms mentioned by parents. Interrupting others (70 percent) and having trouble taking turns (68 percent) were among the most commonly reported symptoms of impulsive.

Here are some signs that it may be time to consult a professional:

• Your child has six or more symptoms from either sub type (inattention or hyperactive/impulsive) from the list above.
• Some of those symptoms were present before age 7.
• The problems are present in at least two settings, such as at home and in school.
• Your child’s ADHD symptoms have persisted for at least six months to a degree that interferes with his or her functioning.
• Teachers or day-care workers say that the symptoms interfere with the social or academic functioning expected of your child.

---

Source: Consumer Reports

ADHD OVERVIEW

ARTICLE SOURCE:  PORTICO NETWORK CABY   AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION

---

ADHD OVERVIEW

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic neuro developmental disorder characterized by inattention, disorganization and/or hyperactivity or impassivity.
• ADHD is the most common neuro developmental disorder in children.
• Educators are often the first to notice symptoms of ADHD in children.

• ADHD persists into adulthood for at least 60% of children with the disorder.
• People with ADHD often have difficulty regulating emotional responses, and become easily angered or frustrated.
• Adults with ADHD may self-medicate with caffeine, nicotine, cannabis or cocaine.
• ADHD requires long-term planning and should include the primary care provider as well as a psychiatrist.
• There is no one treatment for ADHD and medication should not be considered in isolation of other treatments.

---

SUBSCRIBE OUR CHANNEL

---

Symptoms

Everyone may experience symptoms of ADHD at some point in their lives, but the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) outlines criteria that must be met for a diagnosis of ADHD. Several symptoms must be present and causing impairment in two or more settings (e.g., home, school, work, play).

ADHD is characterized by symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity or impassivity.

Symptoms of inattention include:

• Failing to pay attention to details or making careless mistakes in schoolwork or at work
• Having difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or at play
• Seeming not to listen when spoken to directly
• Not always following through on instructions and failing to complete schoolwork, chores or workplace tasks
• Experiencing difficulty organizing tasks and activities
• Avoiding, disliking or being reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort
• Losing things necessary for tasks or activities
• Being distracted by extraneous stimuli
• Often being forgetful in daily activities.

   

Symptoms of impassivity include:

• Fidgeting or Squirming
• Being unable to stay seated
• Running or Climbing in Inappropriate situations
• Being unable to Play quietly
• Talking excessively
• Blurting out answers or Finishing other people’s sentences
• Having trouble waiting to take turns
• Interrupting or intruding on others.

---

 SOURCE: PORTICO NETWORK