Several studies have focused on the potential effects tobacco and lead have separately on children. But now, a first-of-its-kind study has documented the risks of combined exposure.

"New research suggests exposure to both tobacco and lead my increase [a childs] risk [for ADHD] by eight-fold." Florida's Ivanhoe Newswire reported. "A recent study from the Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center found a connection between ADHD, prenatal tobacco exposure and childhood exposure to lead."

Authors of the study believe prevention should be the focus, rather than treatment, the Newswire reported. Reducing exposure to tobacco and lead could decrease instances of ADHD in young people ages 8 to 15 by 35 percent (about 800,000 cases), according to the study.

Labels: causes, prevention

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The holidays are stressful for most families, and they can be particularly difficult for families of kids with ADHD. In Dr. Kari Miller's Nov. 15 examiner.com article, mother and author Deborah Merlin offers some suggestions to help reduce stress for all family members:

• Use the family gathering as an opportunity to build strong family ties as well as childrens self-esteem. -- ADHD children are often told everything they do wrong, and tend to have low self-esteem. An effective way to remove negative feelings from a family dinner is to have everyone take a turn listing either a positive comment or something they're grateful for about each person at the table.

• Be alert to food sensitivities and allergies. -- Food allergies are often common with people who have ADHD. Dairy allergies caused my boys countless ear infections and visits to the doctors office.

• Encourage your childs creativity! -- I helped my twins get in touch with their creative side by making sure we had plenty of construction paper, crayons and patterns for turkeys and pumpkins so they could make place cards and decorations.

Labels: stress, prevention

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