Should Teens With ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression Drink Energy Drinks and Coffee?
Do teens with ADHD, anxiety, or depression drink energy drinks or coffee? -Angela P.
Approximately 6.1 million children in the United States, or more than 9% of all children and adolescents, have been diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their lives. This condition, known as ADHD, causes inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Many children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD use stimulant medications such as Adderall and Ritalin. These drugs increase brain activity to prevent inattention and overwork.
Additionally, 6 in 10 children diagnosed with ADHD have at least one other mental, emotional or behavioral disorder, such as anxiety or depression. That’s why many of them use other types of prescription drugs.
Meanwhile, Monster, Red Bull and other energy drinks are often marketed to teenagers as ways to increase energy, physical activity and alertness. This is a concern due to the high caffeine content of these drinks.
Consuming too much caffeine overloads muscles, disrupts sleep, and can increase stress.
According to the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, teenagers should consume 100 milligrams of caffeine per day; This translates to two to twelve soft drinks.
But just one energy drink, especially coffee, can contain more than three servings of caffeine. Additionally, the high sugar content of many of these drinks can disrupt blood sugar levels, causing changes in brain chemistry and therefore contributing to mental health problems.
School also says teens should never use stimulants, regardless of whether they are taking prescription medications. But one-third of Americans ages 12 to 17 drink alcohol regularly.
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I believe that the consumption of energy drinks is particularly dangerous for teenagers who are taking medications for ADHD, anxiety, or depression due to the increased energy they receive. They also need to reduce their coffee consumption.
But the situation is even more complicated because there are indications that many young people use drugs unnecessarily.
There is evidence that many ADHD symptoms may be caused by other conditions, such as stress, certain medications, lack of sleep, and malnutrition. Medications that can cause these symptoms include medications designed to treat anxiety and depression.
As a nutritionist who studies the relationship between what people eat and their health, stress, and mental health, I believe many teens diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, and depression could benefit from dietary changes before taking medication.
One reason for this is that the brain develops during adolescence. Growth requires essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in many fish and not all young people get enough of them in their normal diet. Malnutrition can hinder this growth and development and contribute to poor thinking and mental health.
Perhaps even more concerning is that many teenagers and students use ADHD medications for non-medical reasons, without evidence of negligence. They often do this because they think the drug will help them perform better in school.
In summary, it is important for a young person using ADHD medication tostay away from stimulants while using the medication.
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Lina Begdache, Assistant Professor of Nutrition, Binghamton University, State University of New York
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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