ADULT ADHD

 I’M DR. DREW, AND HERE’S TODAY’S ONE-MINUTE CLINIC:

 ALTHOUGH ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER, OR A-D-H-D, WAS ONCE CONSIDERED A CONDITION KIDS ARE PLAGUED BY, IT’S NOW RECOGNIZED AS SOMETHING THAT CAN AFFECT PEOPLE OF ANY AGE. APPROXIMATELY 4 PERCENT OF ADULTS HAVE A-D-H-D, WHICH CAN MANIFEST IN SYMPTOMS SUCH AS: 

• MEMORY ISSUES,
• AN INABILITY TO RELAX OR FOCUS,
• DIFFICULTY COMPLETING TASKS,
• POOR LISTENING SKILLS, AND
• IMMATURITY AND IMPULSIVENESS

 ACCORDING TO JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE PROFESSOR DAVID GOODMAN, AN EXPERT IN ADULT A-D-H-D, MOST PATIENTS ELECT TO ALLEVIATE THE CONDITION WITH MEDICATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THERAPY, WHICH CAN BE VERY EFFECTIVE.

 MEDICAL EXPERTS AREN’T SURE WHAT CAUSES A-D-H-D, BUT THINK IT COULD BE GENETIC; OR RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

UNLIKE OTHER PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS SUCH AS DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, A-D-H-D DOESN’T BEGIN IN ADULTHOOD, SO IN THE MAJORITY OF CASES, SYMPTOMS HAVE MOST LIKELY BEEN PRESENT SINCE CHILDHOOD.

ONLY QUALIFIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS CAN ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE ADULT A-D-H-D, SO IF YOU HAVE SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS MENTIONED, YOU SHOULD WORK WITH YOUR DOCTOR TO DESIGN THE BEST TREATMENT PLAN FOR YOU.

I’M DR. DREW, AND THAT’S TODAY’S ONE-MINUTE CLINIC.

PEACE OF MIND

I’M DR. DREW, AND HERE’S TODAY’S ONE MINUTE CLINIC:

THE DALAI LAMA ONCE SAID THAT “EVEN MODERN MEDICAL RESEARCHERS HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT PEACE OF MIND IS VITAL TO GOOD HEALTH. EXPERIMENTS SHOW THAT IT IS EASIER FOR THOSE WHO PRACTICE LOVE AND COMPASSION TO REGAIN A PEACEFUL STATE OF MIND AFTER BEING AGITATED.”

AS SOMEONE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, I MUST AGREE.

WHEN A SEEMINGLY NEGATIVE SITUATION ARISES, YOU HAVE A CHOICE: YOU CAN DWELL ON IT ALL DAY AND LET NEGATIVE THOUGHTS SWIRL AROUND IN YOUR HEAD, OR YOU CAN GET OVER IT AND RETURN TO A PEACEFUL STATE OF MIND.

ONE CHOICE WILL KEEP YOU IN HELL; THE OTHER WILL BRING YOU DOWN TO  EARTH—WHICH ISN’T SUCH A BAD PLACE MOST OF THE TIME.

SO RELAX, TAKE A DEEP BREATH, AND COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS RATHER THAN YOUR TROUBLES.

NOT ONLY WILL YOUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH IMPROVE, BUT YOU WILL FIND THAT THE PERSON STARING BACK AT YOU IN THE MIRROR IS SOMEONE YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO HANG OUT WITH DURING THE DAY.

 I’M DR. DREW, AND THAT WAS TODAY’S ONE MINUTE CLINIC.

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LIVE TO THE FULLEST

I’M DR. DREW, AND HERE’S TODAY’S ONE MINUTE CLINIC:

THE RECENT DEATH OF APPLE CO-FOUNDER STEVE JOBS AT THE AGE OF 56 GAVE ME PAUSE, AS I’M SURE IT DID YOU.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE SMARTEST, MOST SUCCESSFUL MEN ON THE PLANET, WITH ACCESS TO THE BEST MEDICAL CARE IN THE WORLD, YET HE DIED IN HIS PRIME.

THE LESSON HERE ISN’T THAT MONEY CAN’T BUY EVERYTHING—IT’S THAT WE NEED TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW WHEN OUR OWN TIME IS COMING.

IT’S TRUE THAT NONE OF US GETS OUT OF HERE ALIVE, BUT MOST PEOPLE ASSUME THEY’RE GOING TO LIVE TILL THEY’RE SENIOR CITIZENS.

SINCE THAT SIMPLY ISN’T THE CASE, WE ALL NEED TO APPRECIATE EVERY MOMENT WE’RE ALIVE AND TELL OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS THAT WE APPRECIATE THEM.

LIVING EACH DAY AS IF IT’S OUR LAST DOESN’T MEAN THAT WE SHOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE AND NOT GET AN EDUCATION OR SAVE MONEY FOR THE FUTURE . . . IT JUST MEANS THAT WE SHOULD MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY DAY.

 I’M DR. DREW, AND THAT WAS TODAY’S ONE MINUTE CLINIC.

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DIETING

I’M DR. DREW, AND HERE’S TODAY’S ONE MINUTE CLINIC:

IF YOU HAVE AN ENTIRE BOOKCASE FILLED WITH EXPENSIVE DIET BOOKS, I’D LIKE TO HELP YOU SAVE SOME MONEY.

THE BOOK-PUBLISHING INDUSTRY ISN’T GOING TO BE VERY HAPPY WITH ME FOR SAYING THIS, BUT WHEN YOU KEEP BUYING THOSE DIET BOOKS, YOU’RE NOT LOOKING FOR A WAY TO EFFECTIVELY LOSE WEIGHT… YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A MAGIC PRESCRIPTION FOR EATING AS MUCH AS YOU WANT . . . WHILE STILL LOSING WEIGHT…

SORRY…IT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!

YOU PROBABLY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO TO ACHIEVE YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS GOALS . . .  YOU’RE JUST NOT DOING IT.

BASICALLY, WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS:  MINIMIZE YOUR CONSUMPTION OF SIMPLE CARBOHYDRATES SUCH AS TABLE SUGAR, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, AND SWEETENED SOFT DRINKS; AND MAXIMIZE YOUR INTAKE OF COMPLEX CARBS SUCH AS WHOLE GRAINS, VEGETABLES, AND LEGUMES.

ALSO, LIMIT YOUR CALORIE INTAKE BY EATING SMALLER PORTIONS AND EXERCISING ON A REGULAR BASIS.

IT’S REALLY QUITE SIMPLE—AND I’VE JUST SAVED YOU $25 ON THAT NEW DIET BOOK. WHY NOT SPEND IT ON SOME HEALTHY FOOD?!

 I’M DR. DREW, AND THAT WAS TODAY’S ONE MINUTE CLINIC.

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COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

I’M DR. DREW, AND HERE’S TODAY’S ONE MINUTE CLINIC:

THIS IS THE SEASON WHEN HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS START THINKING ABOUT WHICH COLLEGE THEY’RE GOING TO APPLY TO . . . AND STRESSING ABOUT WHETHER THEY’LL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THEY DO APPLY.

IT’S CHALLENGING ENOUGH FOR A STUDENT TO FILL OUT NUMEROUS APPLICATIONS, WRITE ALL THOSE ESSAYS, AND THEN WAIT TO SEE WHETHER THEY GET THE BIG ENVELOPE—SIGNIFYING AN ACCEPTANCE—OR THE SMALL ONE—USUALLY A REJECTION.

BUT THEY SHOULDN’T ALSO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEIR PARENTS PROJECTING THEIR OWN DESIRES ON THEIR KIDS.

DR. MICHAEL MANTELL, A SAN DIEGO PSYCHOLOGIST, SAYS THAT IT’S APPROPRIATE FOR PARENTS TO SHARE THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT COLLEGES WITH THEIR KIDS, BUT MOM AND DAD NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THE EXPERIENCE BELONGS TO THEIR CHILDREN, NOT THEM.

SO PARENTS, RELAX, LET THE PROCESS PLAY OUT ORGANICALLY, AND JUST BE HAPPY THAT YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER IS EVEN INTERESTED IN GOING TO COLLEGE.

INSTEAD OF BEING SO CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THEY GO, YOU SHOULD BE MORE WORRIED ABOUT HOW YOU’RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT.

I’M DR. DREW, AND THAT WAS TODAY’S ONE MINUTE CLINIC.

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MELANOMA

I’M DR. DREW, AND HERE’S TODAY’S ONE-MINUTE CLINIC:

You may be aware that ultraviolet radiation exposure—that is, UV rays from the sun—present a risk for contracting cutaneous melanoma—one of the most commonly diagnosed skin cancers in the U.S.

But you might not know that survivors of other forms of cancer are at an increased risk for developing this type of skin cancer.

A recent study published in the Archives of Dermatology reportS that individuals with a previous melanoma diagnosis were at THE highEST risk FOR developING cutaneous melanoma.

Those also at risk are survivors of prostate cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, breast cancer, lymphoma, and other types of skin cancer.

Some of the characteristics associated with better survival include being female, married, and under 45 at the time of diagnosis; as well as having no history of cancer spreading to other locations in the body.

So if you have suffered from cutaneous melanoma, you need to be continually monitored by your physician, because when it comes to this form of cancer, a previous diagnosis puts you at an increased risk for another occurrence.

I’M DR. DREW, AND THAT WAS TODAY’S ONE-MINUTE CLINIC.

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EXPIRED MEDICATIONS

I’M DR. DREW, AND HERE’S TODAY’S ONE-MINUTE CLINIC:

NOW THAT WE’RE IN A NEW YEAR, IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO CLEAR OUT ALL THOSE EXPIRED MEDICATIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE STORED IN YOUR HOME AND ELSEWHERE.

SINCE YOU MOST LIKELY KEEP ASPIRIN, IBUPROFEN, AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS NOT ONLY IN MEDICINE CABINETS, BUT ALSO IN PURSES, CARS, OFFICES, AND OTHER LOCATIONS, YOU NEED TO CHECK ALL OF THE EXPIRATION DATES.

NOW WHILE IT’S TRUE THAT SUCH MEDICATIONS CAN REMAIN POTENT IF USED A FEW MONTHS AFTER THEIR EXPIRATION DATES, THEIR EFFECTIVENESS ALSO DEPENDS ON THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY’RE STORED.

THAT IS, THEY DEGRADE MORE QUICKLY UNDER WARM, MOIST CONDITIONS OR WHEN STORED ON A WINDOW LEDGE OR ABOVE A STOVE.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY HAS ALSO FOUND THAT MEDICATIONS SUCH AS NITROGLYCERINE, INSULIN, AND ANTIBIOTICS DEGRADE MORE QUICKLY THAN OTHERS.

THIS MEANS THAT IF THESE DRUGS ARE USED PAST THEIR EXPIRATION DATE, THERE CAN BE SERIOUS RISKS FOR THOSE WITH HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, AND OTHER CONDITIONS.

SO DON’T TAKE CHANCES. DISCARD YOUR EXPIRED MEDICATIONS AND REPLACE THEM NOW.

I’M DR. DREW, AND THAT WAS TODAY’S ONE-MINUTE CLINIC.