Adhd Medication Vs Exercise

648 Words2 Pages

About 6.4 million people have been diagnosed with ADHD in the United States. A simpler way to help treat people with ADHD would be exercise. Theres many benefits to it and it’s available for everyone. Children diagnosed with ADHD should use exercise as a form of medication because it’s inexpensive, more effective, and it has no side effects. Exercise is an inexpensive way to help treat ADHD. A comprehensive review of 19 research studies reporting on the excess cost of ADHD in the United States for children and adults found a range between $143 billion to $266 billion (adjusted to 2010 U.S. dollars) every year for the nation. The variability of costs is based on the severity of the ADHD, the presence and severity of coexisting disorders …show more content…

The kids showed an improvement in executive control, which includes inhibition (the ability to maintain focus), working memory, and cognitive flexibility (or switching between tasks). Executive functioning is often impaired in children with ADHD, which means exercise may directly help to improve symptoms. Exercise is well known to boost test scores and academic performance in children, and this association is particularly strong among kids with ADHD. Another reason Exercise should be used as a form of medication for kids with ADHD is because it has no side effects. Exercise has no side effects unlike ADHD medication. ADHD medication can cause you to be nauseous, loss of appetite, headaches, dry mouth, dizziness, moodiness, trouble sleeping, and tics. The amount of medication can affect you whether you need more or less. If you change the times of when you take your medicine or what you eat with it then that can cause more side effects. In conclusion there are many reasons why Exercise is a good form of medication for people with …show more content…

Of the children, 30-40% will require special education services. Many children will need doctor visits to monitor and manage ADHD. There lack of poor judgement and making poor decisions can lead to juvenile justice systems with the costs of detention centers and arrests. The costs for children with ADHD is noticeably higher than those without.

Mercola. "Regular Exercise Can Be an ADHD Medication."Mercola.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2016.
Exercise is more effective towards ADHD than medication itself. Regular physical activity helped to improve the brain. Physical activity helps to strengthen the brain and make it work better for children with ADHD. Kids showed an improvement in executive control. Especially in kids with ADHD, exercise helps them do better in school too.

WebMD. "How To Reduce the Most Common Side Effects of Adult ADHD Medications." WebMD. WebMD, 2005-2016. Web. 04 Oct. 2016.
Most side effects go away after a while, but not always. Some common side effects are nausea, loss of appetite, headaches, dry mouth, dizziness, moodiness, trouble sleeping, and tics. If you change the times of when you take your medicine or what you eat with it then that can cause more side effects. The medication should be taken with food and you should eat throughout the day and drink plenty of fluids. Depending upon your side effects and the results from your medication, the doctor might change

Show More
Related

  • Compare And Contrast Medication And Behavioral Therapy

    1634 Words  | 4 Pages

    As stated previously, medication is the most common option that parents choose for their children. The most common prescriptions are Dexedrine, Cylert, Ritalin, and Adderall. Medication is highly effective. For around 75%-90% of prescribed patients, these work to solve their issues. This is a definite advantage to taking medication is that it is almost guaranteed to work. There are drawbacks to taking medication however; the trial-and-error process, cost of medication, and the side effects that can come with medication. As with any brain chemical medication, there comes a trial-and-error process to determine the right balance and the right amount to really curb the symptoms that come with. Just like any medication that people need to operate, the cost does add up whereas with behavioral therapy, there is no medication to buy and thus no costs. Lastly, there are side effects that come with ADHD. These can be insomnia, nervousness, headaches, and weight loss. Despite all these drawbacks, medication is the fastest and most effective way to treat ADHD (“Identifying and Treating Attention Deficit

    Read More

  • Medication versus Alternative Therapy in ADHD

    964 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the main treatments for ADHD is the use of medication. Primarily the main medication used is stimulants such as amphetamines. Amphetamines have been used in this treatment due to its effects of reducing the symptoms of ADHD such as behavior and irritability (Hodgkins, Shaw, McCarthy, Sallee, 2012). A major concern though with the use of amphetamines is...

    Read More

  • ADHD

    721 Words  | 2 Pages

    The. Web. The Web. The Web. 12 May 2014. Over-medicating ADHD.

    Read More

  • The Medication Of ADHD

    701 Words  | 2 Pages

    There has been an increase in the Misuse and Abuse of prescription drugs to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). the number of children on medication for ADHD has grown from 600,000 in 1990 to 3.5 million in 2013 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But although there is an over-medication of ADHD drugs, there is actually and under-medication since not all the right people are getting medicated. Many individuals lack insurance or are insured with health plans that do not cover the outpatient prescription drugs they need and cannot afford.10 Therefore, Individuals covered by various health plans and programs, and those who have no prescription drug coverage, pay significantly different prices for the same medications. As the demand for ADHD drugs grows, higher prescribing rates and increasing drug prices result, which creates problems for these number of Americans who cannot afford the treatment they require.

    Read More

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

    1686 Words  | 4 Pages

    Stimulant drugs are widely used to treat the symptoms of ADHD. These stimulants dramatically reduce the hyperactivity of sufferers and improve their ability to focus, learn and work. Such medication may also improve physical coordination, for instance handwriting and sports. Research completed by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) suggests that these medicines may also help children with an accompanying conduct disorder to control their impulsive, destructive behaviours. The three medications that have been proven by the NIMH to be most effective in both children and adults suffering from ADHD are: methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine or Dextrostat), and pemoline (Cylert). (NIMH 1999) Yet there is currently much research on the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, such as t...

    Read More

  • The Effects Of ADHD Drug Overdoses

    539 Words  | 2 Pages

    Every day, doctors are diagnosing kids with ADHD. A diagnosis can come as early as four years old. Doctors evaluate the patient. They also read reports from teachers and or coaches, along with talking with the child’s parents. Typical symptoms of ADHD include: “being in constant motion, squirming and fidgeting, making careless mistakes, not wanting to listen, being easily distracted, losing things, and making careless mistakes” (WebMD, 2014). If a child is diagnosed with ADHD, they may be put on a typical ADHD drug. Medicines that are used to t...

    Read More

  • ADHD Stimulant Medication Abuse and Misuse Among U.S. Teens

    1273 Words  | 3 Pages

    U.S. Heath News reported (2013) that 6.4 million children ages 4 to 17 have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Since 2007, the utilization of stimulant medication to treat ADHD has jumped 11% nationally as a whole. It was also reported that the U.S. spends more on prescription drugs to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder than it does for all but six other medical conditions (U.S. News Health, 2013). The number of ADHD diagnosed teens prescribed stimulants, such as Ritalin and Adderall, will be increasing over time as the new guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics now recognizes physicians prescribing ADHD stimulant medications to childre...

    Read More

  • The Overdiagnosis of ADHD in Children

    1421 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kelland, Kate. "Children with ADHD say stimulant drugs help them: study." Huffington Post. 10 14 2012: n. page. Web. 9 Apr. 2014.

    Read More

  • Overview of ADHD

    1075 Words  | 3 Pages

    Smith, M., Segel, J., & Ramsey, D. (2013, 9). Add / adhd medications. Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/adhd_medications.htm

    Read More

  • ADHD and Its Treatments

    1853 Words  | 4 Pages

    The purpose of this research was to describe and understand Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the most effective treatment options that are available today. ADHD is a mental health disorder that affects 3-9% of the population in ways that, if left untreated, can wreak havoc on the mind of the sufferer. It makes concentration difficult, large tasks seem insurmountable, and causes impulsive and hyperactive tendencies. Fortunately, research and experiments have led to new and effective treatments to help those who suffer from this disorder (Dupaul 8). This research examined journal articles and internet sources on the topic to help unlock the complexities of the disorder through scientific research. It also was a way to separate the myths of the disorder from the truths, while discovering the causes, diagnosis methods, and best treatment alternatives to battle this prevalent disorder.

    Read More

  • ADHD and Marijuana Use

    1281 Words  | 3 Pages

    Chandler, C. (2011). The Science of ADHD: A Guide for Parents and Professionals. New York:

    Read More

  • ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment

    1236 Words  | 3 Pages

    ADHD, or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. There are many symptoms associated with ADHD but the most common include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity. Scientists are not exactly sure of what causes ADHD but they are more comfortable with the idea that a lot of different factors play a role in its development, such as, genes, environment, brain injuries, sugar, and food additives. The most widely used treatment is the drugs but this is not the only way to treat ADHD.

    Read More

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Ritalin, and the Brain

    1604 Words  | 4 Pages

    The lack of a complete understanding of ADHD has led scientists to question how to go about treating ADHD. While at the moment the disorder cannot be cured, they are methods that scientists have come up with to address the symptoms displayed by ADHD. These approaches range all the way from psychotherapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, to the prescription of pyschostimulant medications. (3) The most popular of these medications include amphetamines, such as Aderall, and methylphenidates such as Ritalin. (1) The use of such drugs ...

    Read More

  • Increase in the Number of ADHD Diagnoses

    611 Words  | 2 Pages

    Again, the children suffer the most. ADHD has dramatically risen in diagnoses, whether it is a

    Read More

  • Essay On ADHD

    710 Words  | 2 Pages

    ADHD medications come with a variety of side effects. The most common side effects are decreased appetite, trouble sleeping, anxiety and irritability. In some cases people have stomachaches or heada...

    Read More

More about Adhd Medication Vs Exercise

Open Document