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ADHD medication prescriptions have changed over the years – a new guide aims to bring doctors up to date

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most continuously diagnosed neurological disorder in children in Australia.

It has been the subject of controversy over the years regarding its potential improper diagnosis and overdiagnosis. There were also differences in levels of diagnosis and drug prescription, depending on Where do you reside and yours socioeconomic status.

To address these concerns and improve consistency in diagnosing and prescribing ADHD, the Australasian Association of ADHD Professionals has published a new prescribing guide. This will help healthcare professionals consistently provide the right treatment to the right people, with the right combination of medical and non-medical support.

Here’s how ADHD medication prescribing has changed over time and what the new guidelines mean.

What is ADHD and the way is it treated?

Until one in ten young Australians experience ADHD. It is diagnosed as a results of lack of attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, which has negative consequences at home, school or work.

The principal pillar of ADHD treatment are psychostimulants.

However, an internationally recognized approach is to mix medicines with non-medical interventions in: multimodal approach. These nonmedical interventions include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), occupational therapy, educational strategies, and other supports.

The use of medicines has changed over time

In Australia, Ritalin (methylphenidate) was originally the hottest drug. prescribed medication for ADHD. This changed in the Nineties after the introduction of dexamphetamine and subsequent years Vyvance availability (lisdexamfetamine).

Perhaps the most important change has occurred with slow-release versions of the above drugs, which may last over eight hours (longer than the school day).

By following clinical guidelines, prescribing medications for ADHD is a protected practice. However, the use of amphetamines to treat young individuals with ADHD has raised public concern. This highlights the importance of consistent guidelines for prescribers.

ADHD medications may be combined with other non-pharmacological treatments.
Caleb Woods/Unsplash

Developments in diagnostics and drug prescribing

Starting from a low base, the Nineties saw a dramatic increase in addiction diagnoses and treatment. Most of them were supervised by A a small variety of psychiatrists and pediatricians in any state or territory. While this provided the potential for consistency early on, it also raised concerns about best practices.

This led to the development of the first clinical guidelines for ADHD in 1997 by the National Medical Health and Research Council.

Several refinements were then made as the recipes expanded change of diagnostic criteria (expanding to include dual diagnosis with autism) and the need for best practice as GP prescribing increases. These guidelines increased consistency in approaches at the national level and reduced the likelihood of misdiagnosis or overdiagnosis.

However recent Senate inquiry In the five years to 2022, drug diagnoses and treatment rates continued to increase significantly. It highlights the need for a more consistent approach to diagnosis and prescribing.

First the ingredients, then the recipe

Latest clinical guidelinesreleased by the Australasian Association of ADHD Professionals in 2022, outlined an motion plan for ADHD clinical practice, research and policy. They did this by drawing on the lived experiences of individuals with ADHD. They also highlighted broader health issues, equivalent to responding to ADHD as a holistic condition.

It stays difficult predict individual response to various drugs. That’s why the new prescribing guide provides practical advice on how to prescribe medicines safely and responsibly. This is meant to reduce the risk of inappropriate prescription, dosing and titration of ADHD medications across different age groups, settings and individuals.

Figuratively speaking, clinical guidelines describe what the ingredients of a cake ought to be, while prescribing guidelines provide step-by-step recipes.

So what do they recommend?

An necessary principle contained in each documents is that medications mustn’t be the first and only treatment. Not every medicine works the same for each child. In some cases they do not work in any respect.

Possible unintended effects of medicines vary and include lack of appetite, sleep problems, headaches, stomach pain, low mood and irritability. These guidelines help adjust medications to reduce these unintended effects.

Medicines represent a vital opportunity for a lot of young people to make the most of psychosocial and psychoeducational support. This support may include:

Support for ADHD may additionally include parent training. However, this doesn’t mean that oldsters cause ADHD. On the contrary, they might support simpler treatment, especially since the difficult symptoms of ADHD may be difficult even for the “perfect” parent.

Getting the right diagnosis

There are reports of individuals wanting to make the most TikTok for self-diagnosisand a rise in the number of individuals using over-the-counter ADHD stimulants.

However, the message from these new guidelines is that diagnosing ADHD is a complex process that takes professionals at the least three hours. Online sources may be useful in encouraging people to seek help, but the diagnosis ought to be made by a qualified health care skilled.

Finally, although we have moved beyond the unhelpful debate about whether ADHD is real and have established best diagnostic and prescribing practice, there remains to be much work to be done in reducing stigma and changing negative community attitudes towards ADHD.

Let’s hope that in the future we are going to find a way to higher cultivate diversity and difference and not only see it as a deficit.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

Health matters: WNBA star Napheesa Collier on her commitment to women’s reproductive health

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Minnesota lynx

Napheesa Collier will not be only a WNBA superstar for the Minnesota Lynx and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, but additionally the mother of her daughter Mila and an advocate for women’s reproductive health rights.

It recently decided to partner with Opill®, the primary and only every day contraceptive pill available over-the-counter within the United States. This breakthrough represents a major step forward in women’s health care by providing a convenient and accessible contraceptive option. With Opill, women not need to visit health care facilities for prescriptions, making it easier than ever to take control of their reproductive health.

The collaboration relies on Opill®’s long-standing partnership with the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). “One of the reasons Opill® partnered with the WNBA is the great passion of players who use their platform to support causes they believe in,” said Leila Bahbah, leading women’s health brand at Perrigo within the US. “Napheesa exudes this passion, and together we plan to educate and empower people to take control of their reproductive health.”

Collier advocates for girls and says she is willing to have conversations, even in the event that they are difficult. “I just truly believe in everything they do at Opill®. I believe it’s important to talk to people who may become pregnant and to women about the reproductive health and contraceptive options available to them,” Collier tells ESSENCE.

He continues: “I want people to know that if they want contraception, Opill® is a great option. It is the first over-the-counter drug approved by the FDA. It is inexpensive, available. You don’t need a prescription to get it. I think that’s a key thing in today’s climate.”

Collier notes that within the off-season, he tries to travel to various colleges to talk to students about their reproductive freedoms. “Talking about this topic is essential to remove the stigma as it should not be considered a shameful topic or something that should not be discussed openly. My mother was a nurse, so it was casual to talk about it in our house, and I want to pass it on to other people too, so I’m very excited about it,” she says.

In the present political climate, many ladies with daughters are concerned about their future and reproductive health. Collier, included. “Especially because I am the mother of a young girl, it is very important to me to be able to raise her in an atmosphere where she knows her reproductive rights and health, that she has access to affordable health care and contraception if she wants it and that she can ask me these questions and have open conversations.”

Collier continues: “It’s back to education. Again, I think it’s harmful that we can’t have open conversations about birth control and other issues that are usually taboo. I think it’s harmful. I think this does a lot of harm to women. It hurts. This is harmful to our society. Being able to talk about these issues and empowering women to learn about their rights and bodies creates a safer and healthier society.”

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

Yes, despite what you’ve heard on TikTok, you still need to use sunscreen

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Summer is nearly here. But as an alternative of using sunscreen, some TikTokers just do that encouraging followers throw it away and forgo sunscreen.

They argue that it’s healthier to forgo sunscreen to get the complete advantages of the sun.

Here’s what the science really says.

How does sunscreen work?

Due to the acute UV environment in Australia, most individuals with pale to olive skin or other risk aspects for skin cancer must accomplish that protect yourself. Applying sunscreen is a key approach to protecting areas that aren’t easily covered by clothing.

Sunscreens work by absorbing or scattering UV rays before they reach the skin and damage DNA or supporting structures corresponding to collagen.

In this photo I (Katie) apply sunscreen only to the appropriate side of my face. Sunscreens absorb and scatter UV light (right side), although it can’t be seen with the naked eye (left side). The photo on the appropriate also shows where sun spots (dark spots) accumulate on my skin and where I do not care to apply sunscreen evenly – under the attention, on the cheek and completely missing the ear.
The creator provided/UQ

When UV molecules hit DNA, the surplus energy can damage our DNA. This damage might be repaired, but when the cell divides before the error is repaired, it causes a mutation that may lead to skin cancer.

The energy of the UV particle (photon) causes the DNA strands to break and reconnect incorrectly. This causes a tumor within the DNA strand, which makes accurate copying difficult and might introduce mutations.
NASA/David Herring

The most typical skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Melanoma is less common but most definitely spreads throughout the body; this process known as metastasis.

Two against three At least the Australians will one skin cancer during their lives they usually reconcile 80% all cancers in Australia.

About 99% of skin cancers in Australia are attributable to overexposure to UV radiation.

Excessive exposure to UV radiation also affects the looks of the skin. UVA rays are able to penetrate deep into the skin, where they break down supporting structures corresponding to elastin and collagen.

This causes signs premature agingcorresponding to deep wrinkles, brown or white spots and broken capillaries.

Sunscreen may also help prevent skin cancer

Consistently used sunscreen reduces the danger of skin cancer and slows skin aging.

In Queensland studyparticipants either used sunscreen day by day for nearly five years or continued their usual use.

After five years, the danger of squamous cell cancer was reduced within the day by day group 40% compared to the second group.

Ten years later, the danger of developing invasive melanoma was reduced within the group of individuals taking the drug day by day 73%

Do sunscreens block the health-promoting properties of sunlight?

The answer is a little more complicated and involves a personalised risk-benefit trade-off.

First, the excellent news: spending time within the sun has many health advantages don’t rely under the influence of UV radiation and aren’t affected by the use of sunscreens.

A woman applies sunscreen
Sunscreens only filter out UV rays, not all light.
Ron Lach/Pexels

Sunscreens only filter UV rays, not visible light or infrared light (which we feel as heat). Importantly, a number of the advantages of sunlight are obtained through Eyes.

Visible light improves mood and regulates and possibly reduces circadian rhythm (which influences the sleep-wake cycle). myopia (myopia) in children.

Infrared light is being researched as a treatment for several conditions skin, neurological, psychiatric AND autoimmune disorders.

So what is the good thing about exposing your skin to UV radiation?

Sun exposure produces vitamin D, which is crucial for healthy bones and muscles.

Vitamin D deficiency is surprisingly common amongst Australians, peaking in Victoria at 49% in winter and lowest in Queensland at 6% in summer.

Fortunately, individuals who deal with sun protection can avoid vitamin D deficiency taking a complement.

Skin exposure to UV radiation could have advantages independent of vitamin D production, but these haven’t been proven. It may reduce the danger of autoimmune diseases corresponding to multiple sclerosis or cause the discharge of a chemical that may lower blood pressure. However, there aren’t enough details about these advantages to say whether sunscreen can be an issue.

What does this mean for you?

Exposure of the skin to UV radiation may provide some advantages that could be blunted by sunscreens. This determines whether it’s value giving up these advantages to avoid skin cancer how susceptible you have skin cancer.

If you have pale skin or other aspects that increase your risk of skin cancer, try to use sunscreen day by day on all days when the forecast UV index reaches 3.

If you have darker skin that rarely or never burns, you might want to skip using sunscreen on daily basis – although you’ll still need protection when you’re outdoors for prolonged periods of time.

For now, the balance of evidence suggests that it is healthier for people susceptible to skin cancer to proceed using sunscreen, supplementing with vitamin D as needed.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

Recipe for change: eliminating health disparities and economic empowerment – the essence

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Via Griffin/Getty Images

Throughout the 12 months, the Global Black Economic Forum held quite a few select conversations focused on solutions to the most pressing economic and social issues facing marginalized communities. One of those issues – too often missed – is the link between Black health and wealth. If we do not start eliminating health disparities and inequalities today, we cannot give you the chance to construct wealth for the future.

This intersection was the focus of an event we hosted in August as a part of our cooking talk series. It was held on Martha’s Vineyard, round the corner National Medical Scholarships (NMF), the Black World Economic Forum had the opportunity to satisfy with NMF’s unapologetic leader, Michellene Davis. Recognized by Modern Healthcare magazine as certainly one of the 25 most influential minority leaders in healthcare, Michellene’s profession has involved policy advocacy and social change.

Her organization is devoted to increasing the variety of Black, Indigenous and physicians of color through fellowships, service-learning programs, mentoring opportunities and clinical research leadership training.

The conversation revealed two easy and interconnected data points: In the next decade, the United States will experience:huge shortage of doctors while becoming a majority non-white nation. These two trends highlight the need for greater diversity on this field. Studies have shown that patients of color see racially and ethnically diverse physicians. Treatment results are frequently higher.

However, the percentage of black doctors in the US is growing at an alarmingly slow rate – it has only increased by 4% over the last 120 years.. In the face of conservatives’ regressive and destructive attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, there has never been a greater need for us to redouble these efforts. The more we are able to improve health outcomes, the higher we’ll give you the chance to seize and compete for economic opportunities in the future. Given the urgent need to deal with health care workforce disparities and their direct impact on Black economic outcomes, it’s equally essential to acknowledge the broader economic opportunities that may drive wealth creation in our communities.

The competition for certainly one of the best economic opportunities in the history of tourism and hospitality – the 2026 FIFA World Cup – was the focus of our other curated conversation. Organized round the corner East Point Congress and Visitors Bureau, we sat down with its president, Chantel Francois. In her position, she is responsible for the development of the tourism industry in the city of East Point, Georgia. Previously, she led economic development and tourism promotion efforts in Atlanta, Trinidad and Tobago.

Francois described how local businesses run by entrepreneurs of color can leverage global events like the FIFA World Cup to extend their brand visibility, increase sales, and even start their very own businesses. She emphasized the importance of partnerships with event organizers, teams and athletes in constructing company awareness. This cooperation can also be crucial as the city government works with many stakeholders to make sure the safety of tourists and maximum economic opportunities for the area people.

When it involves such major events, it is usually essential to instill a way of community pride in each sector wherein an organization competes. This pride translates into a robust bond with travelers that may make them proceed to interact with small businesses or spark curiosity in them to learn more about the community. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has the potential to place tens of millions of dollars into the pockets and communities of individuals of color, and it’s crucial for businesses to begin planning now in the event that they have not already.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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