ADHD affects 1 in 9 kids in US, new report reveals: ‘Shame and stigma’

Diagnoses of ADHD continue to rise among U.S. youth, affecting one in every nine U.S. kids.

Approximately 11.4% of U.S. children (7.1 million) have received an ADHD diagnosis at some point, and 10.5% (6.5 million) currently have the disorder, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Researchers analyzed data from the 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), which measured the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnoses among kids between 3 and 17 years of age.

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The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology on May 22.

"Pediatric ADHD remains an ongoing and expanding public health concern, as approximately one million more children had ever received an ADHD diagnosis in 2022 than in 2016," the researchers wrote.

Among the children who currently have the disorder, more than 58% have moderate or severe ADHD, and nearly 78% have at least one other disorder, the study found.

Around half of the children are taking some form of medication for their ADHD, and nearly 45% have received behavioral treatment in the past year.

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Just over 30% had not received any treatment for ADHD, the study also found.

"The prevalence of diagnosed ADHD varies by sociodemographic factors," the researchers wrote. 

"It is more common in boys, children living in lower-income households, children with public health insurance and children living in rural areas."

Dr. Tasha M. Brown, a New York child psychologist and owner and founder of TMB Psych Services, said the findings did not surprise her.

"There is so much more conversation around mental health and what symptoms of ADHD look like," Brown, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. 

"As a result, I think parents and caregivers are more aware of what to look for, and they are reaching out to providers for answers and a diagnosis sooner rather than later."

There are also many more factors affecting children’s mental health, Brown said — "especially dealing with the impact the pandemic has had on schooling, activities and friendships … As a result, we are seeing more children presenting with hyperactivity and attention and impulsivity."

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Dr. Lisa Sheinhouse, director of community programs at Ohel Children's Home and Family Services in New York, agreed that there is more awareness and education about neurodivergent disorders like ADHD and autism. 

"Our society has learned to let go of the shame and stigma around these diagnoses, and that's empowered parents to become more informed and ask for help," Sheinhouse, who was also not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

For parents who have children with ADHD, it is important to think about the ways in which their child’s ADHD symptoms are impacting their overall functioning, Brown said.

"For many children, symptoms of impulsivity, inattention and/or hyperactivity significantly impact their functioning in the school setting," she noted. 

"Therefore, I advise parents to check in with teachers to make sure their child is receiving the appropriate accommodations in the classroom setting."

Parents should also focus on creating and maintaining structure in the home and supporting ongoing routines for a child with ADHD, Sheinhouse added. 

"This is important because a child with ADHD can be triggered by plans suddenly changing, especially without explanation," she told Fox News Digital. 

"You can teach your child executive functional skills like time management and provide tools (like apps) to help them remember things, stay on time and feel independent."

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Medication isn't always necessary and shouldn't be the first solution, according to Sheinhouse. 

"However, never say never, because sometimes it's something to consider to give your child better function. Medication is another tool in the toolbox and should be a personal decision based on the child."

While medication management can be a "game changer" for some kids with ADHD, Brown noted, it can be a "hard decision" for parents. 

"We do know that the research is clear that medication management in combination with mental health treatment is the most effective," she said.

"I advise parents to speak with a psychiatrist who specializes in working with children and adolescents about their medication management options."

Overall, Brown said, early intervention is key to helping kids thrive.

"If parents think that their child is struggling with attentional difficulties, it is crucial that they reach out for support," she said. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors requesting further comment.

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What to know about the new 'FLiRT' COVID variants

The so-called FLiRT variants of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that cause COVID-19 have been the dominant forms of the virus circulating this year globally, according to the World Health Organization.

The moniker FLiRT is an acronym for the locations of the mutations the variants share on the virus' spike protein. One of them, called KP.2, has become the most commonly circulating variant in the United States over the past month, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Here is what you need to know about FLiRT.

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The FLiRT variants, which also include KP.2's "parental" lineage JN.1, have three key mutations on their spike protein that could help them evade antibodies, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Aaron Glatt, chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside, New York, and a spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America said he has not seen evidence of an uptick in disease or hospitalizations, based on the data he tracks and experience with his own patients.

"There have been some significant changes in the variants, but I think in recent times it's not been as important, probably because of the immunity many, many people already have" from prior illness and vaccination.

CDC data suggests that COVID-related hospitalizations have trended downwards in recent weeks and the number of patients in emergency departments who have tested positive for COVID has been about flat for the past month.

Data suggests that COVID rates are also down year-over-year. The rate of COVID hospitalizations is less than half than a year earlier, and the amount of the antiviral Paxlovid currently being prescribed for COVID-19 is down around 60% from last year, according to analyst notes.

The current vaccines should still have some benefit against the new variants, Glatt said.

Since 2022, health regulators have asked vaccine makers to design new versions of the COVID-19 vaccines to better target circulating variants. Last month, Europe's regulator said vaccine makers should target the JN.1 variant. U.S. experts and regulators will meet to discuss vaccine design on June 5 after having postponed the meeting from May 16 in order to have more time to "obtain surveillance data and other information."

Makers of vaccines based on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology - Pfizer with partner BioNTech, and Moderna - say they are waiting for the June 5 meeting before settling on the design of their next vaccines.

Novavax, which makes a more traditional protein-based vaccine that takes longer to manufacture, has begun producing a shot targeting JN.1 consistent with recommendations from European regulators.

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5 myths about schizophrenia, according to a mental health expert: ‘Huge stigma’

About 1% of Americans, or nearly 3.5 million people, are affected by schizophrenia — yet the mental disorder remains highly stigmatized and misunderstood, experts say.

The reason, according to Brooke Kempf, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner based in Indiana, is a general lack of knowledge about schizophrenia.

"People may see somebody hallucinating and think, ‘That is schizophrenia,’ when there's so much more to the illness," she told Fox News Digital in an interview. 

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"It’s important for people to recognize that schizophrenia is a diagnosed and treatable medical condition."

For World Schizophrenia Day, Kempf shared some of the most common myths and misconceptions surrounding the disorder.

Here's a look at five. 

One of the greatest and "most harmful" myths is the notion that people living with schizophrenia are "scary" or "violent," Kempf said.

"There is a long history of conflating TV or movie characters who are behaving in odd, confusing or frightening ways with a diagnosis of schizophrenia," she said. 

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"However, we have to remember that these are made-up, dramatized situations. A diagnosis of schizophrenia doesn't have anything to do with what we see on the screen."

When patients with schizophrenia experience an acute episode — perhaps having delusions or hearing voices — they might behave differently than they typically would, sometimes seeming angry or violent.

"The person is likely experiencing something within themselves that they might be arguing about or responding to, but they aren't targeting anything toward another person," Kempf said.

When symptoms are managed with medication, "you would probably have no idea of their diagnosis," she noted.

"Through my long history of working in community mental health and hearing their stories, I know that people living with schizophrenia are good, caring, loving people," Kempf said. 

"They are more likely," she added, "to be the victim of a violent crime than the perpetrator of one."

There is a misconception that people with schizophrenia have multiple personalities, which could be because the Greek word "schizophrenia" means "split mind," Kempf noted.

"However, people with schizophrenia do not have split personalities," she said. 

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"They might have different behavioral characteristics when they're ill and experiencing an episode, but it's not because they have a split personality."

This assumption is completely false, according to Kempf.

"If the illness isn't well managed and continues to progress, or they have repeated relapses, patients will lose gray matter in their brains, and their cognitive function may decline," she told Fox News Digital.

"But that does not mean they're not intelligent."

Some patients may experience cognitive decline in the early stages of the disease — referred to as the "prodromal phase," Kempf said — but early diagnosis and intervention can help prevent that.

Kempf said she has worked with a multitude of "very successful individuals who also happen to live with schizophrenia."

In many cases, she noted, people can no longer see the "highly intelligent individual" behind the disease.

"As long as individuals with schizophrenia get the proper treatment — ideally with a long-acting injectable (LAI) medication — they can keep their symptoms controlled and function very well," Kempf said. 

Schizophrenia consists of what is clinically termed "positive" and "negative" symptoms, Kempf noted.

"Delusions and hallucinations, as well as changes in behavior and thoughts, are considered positive symptoms," she said. 

Patients experiencing these symptoms may hear voices or have extra thoughts, delusions or fixed false beliefs, the expert explained. 

"Hallucinations are not just hearing voices," Kempf said. "They can occur in multiple ways based on our senses — seeing, hearing, smelling or feeling things."

Negative symptoms are when people lose interest in the world around them, withdraw or don't take an interest in everyday social interactions, according to Kempf. 

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"Patients with schizophrenia may get labeled as ‘lazy,’ or they don't seem as put together," she said. "But it's not about laziness. The person's brain doesn't connect these things as being important."

People with schizophrenia may also experience what are referred to as "psychomotor" symptoms, Kempf said — they might seem abnormally slow, and their speech and thought processes can be somewhat delayed or disorganized.

"Unfortunately, if these negative symptoms continue and there isn't treatment, they can impact cognitive functioning."

Hospitalization for a person experiencing acute schizophrenia symptoms is usually very short, according to Kempf. 

"In an inpatient setting, for someone having an episode of schizophrenia, the average length of stay may be about five days," she said.

"If a patient doesn't respond to medication and can’t function safely on their own, they might have to go to a longer-term, higher-level setting."

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Today, health care providers aim to give people with schizophrenia community-based services so that they're able to function on their own, Kempf noted.

This might mean supporting them with employment services and housing opportunities to ensure that they have an affordable and safe place to live. 

"Some patients continue to live with their family members; some might live in a group home," Kempf said.

From a medical perspective, schizophrenia has different levels of severity, the expert noted. 

"But, again, if managed well, with early intervention, an individual can remain high-functioning and live independently," she said. 

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"Our goal is the least structured environment possible, enabling the person to live a normal life where they can work, grocery shop and drive on a day-to-day basis." 

Ultimately, Kempf said, schizophrenia should be viewed as a disease, not a choice. 

"While schizophrenia is a mental health diagnosis, it should be thought of no differently than a physical health diagnosis of diabetes, heart disease or kidney disease," she said.

"It just impacts a different organ: the brain."

Other brain disorders, such as epilepsy, tend to be more accepted by society, she said — but there is still a "huge stigma" surrounding diseases like schizophrenia, "probably because of the fear of the unknown."

"It is treatable, and both medication and support services are available," she told Fox News Digital. 

"We all have a role to play in helping to dispel myths, foster understanding and reduce stigma," she continued. 

"People living with this disease deserve to be treated like human beings and with the same care we would provide someone diagnosed with a physical illness."

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Fish oil supplements linked to greater first-time heart attack risk in study: ‘Not universally good or bad'

Taking fish oil supplements could raise the risk of heart attack and stroke, a new study suggests.

Among healthy people, regular use of fish oil was found to make them more susceptible to developing heart disease and stroke for the first time, the study found.

Among those who had existing heart disease, however, fish oil consumption was shown to slow the progression of cardiovascular disease and reduce the risk of mortality.

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Researchers analyzed nearly 12 years of data for more than 415,000 participants from the UK Biobank study; the participants ranged in age from 40 to 69.

"Regular use of fish oil supplements might be a risk factor for atrial fibrillation and stroke among the general population, but could be beneficial for progression of cardiovascular disease from atrial fibrillation to major adverse cardiovascular events, and from atrial fibrillation to death," the researchers wrote in the study, which was published in The BMJ (British Medical Journal).

"Further studies are needed to determine the precise mechanisms for the development and prognosis of cardiovascular disease events with regular use of fish oil supplements."

Dr. Jim Liu, a cardiologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, who was not involved in the study, pointed out that there has been conflicting data about whether or not fish oil or omega 3 fatty acids can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

"This study appears to echo the same sentiment that there is still some uncertainty about their relation to heart health," he told Fox News Digital. 

"Similar to previous studies, I think this study indicates that fish oil is not necessarily universally good or bad for all."

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Whether or not fish oil is beneficial or harmful depends on an individual's specific underlying health conditions, he said — such as a history of heart attack or atrial fibrillation, and on other factors such as dosing and different formulations of the substance. 

"Previous studies have shown that certain formulations of fish oil can help reduce cardiovascular events in people with elevated triglycerides and previous cardiovascular events," Liu noted.

"Overall, this is yet another study that reminds us that there is still a lot that needs to be investigated when it comes to fish oil and heart disease."

Tanya Freirich, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Charlotte, North Carolina, who practices as The Lupus Dietitian, also was not involved in the study but offered insights.

"In this study, there was a slightly increased association between healthy people who took fish oil and developing atrial fibrillation and stroke, whereas for those people who took the fish oil after being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, there was a slightly decreased association and risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke," she told Fox News Digital.

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"Overall, I would say to take these results with a grain of salt, as it was a prospective study."

A prospective study monitors what people self-report and their eventual health outcomes over time, she noted — versus a control study, where similar people are placed in two groups and one group takes the fish oil while the other does not. 

"We don't know about the population of healthy participants and why they decided to take fish oil," Freirich said. 

"Perhaps they have a family history of heart disease, or other lifestyle features that are contributing to their risk of developing atrial fibrillation and stroke outside of the fish oil supplement."

As a registered dietitian, Freirich said she recommends most people get their omega 3s from food sources such as salmon, sardines, tuna, ground flaxseed, chia seeds, walnuts and almonds. 

"Many people do not get enough omega 3 fatty acids in their diet, and this can be a great way to consume healthy fats while also benefiting from protein and sources of fiber," she said.

When preparing meals, replacing a serving of red meat with fatty fish can promote heart health by decreasing the intake of saturated fats and increasing the intake of omega 3s, according to Freirich. 

"Making small changes to your diet over time can have big benefits in reducing your overall cardiovascular risk," she advised.

"Always discuss your supplement use with your medical care providers, as some may be unnecessary or even increase your risk for poor health outcomes."

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Michelle Routhenstein, a New York-based preventive cardiology dietitian at EntirelyNourished.com, agreed that prior research has indicated that taking high doses of fish oil supplements could potentially elevate the risk of atrial fibrillation — while regularly consuming fatty fish four to five times a week may lower that risk. 

"We need to recognize that when it comes to fish oil — and many other foods and supplements — more or a concentrated dose isn't necessarily better," Routhenstein, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. 

"It is also important to note that not all fish oil supplements are created equal. Factors like dosage, quality and additional ingredients can influence cardiovascular health outcomes."

To determine the potential benefits of fish oil and the appropriate dosage, Routhenstein recommended consulting with a registered dietitian specializing in heart disease.

Fox News Digital reached out to the study researchers for more detail, as well as several manufacturers of fish oil supplements requesting comment on the findings.

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Half of Americans not equipped to provide life-saving treatment in a crisis, poll finds

Only half the people in the U.S. feel they could be helpful in an emergency situation, a new poll found.

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center surveyed a national sample of 1,005 Americans, finding that only 51% of them knew how to perform hands-only CPR if needed.

In cases of serious bleeding, only 49% said they could assist, and 56% said they would be equipped to help someone who was choking.

The data was collected via phone and email from April 5 to April 7 of this year.

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"The key takeaways from our survey are that patient outcomes would improve if the general public learned some basic life-saving measures in the areas of hands-only CPR, choking rescue and bleeding control," Nicholas Kman, M.D., emergency medicine physician at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and clinical professor of emergency medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, told Fox News Digital.  

"We can save lives while we wait for first responders to arrive."

"For every minute that passes, the chance of survival drops, and if they do survive, there’s less chance of a good neurologic outcome."

Data shows that 70% to 80% of cardiac arrests occur in the home and 20% happen in a public place, according to Kman.

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"Outcomes are poor when the arrest is unwitnessed at home," he told Fox News Digital.  

"Just think, the person with the medical emergency could be your loved one in your house. You may have to provide life-saving treatment until first responders arrive."

Based on the survey findings, Kman advised the public to get trained in life-saving measures — particularly hands-only CPR, choking and serious bleeding.

"Look for training that may be offered through community days at hospitals, schools, libraries, community organizations, religious institutions, volunteer groups, festivals and sporting events," he suggested.

Organizations and websites such as the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association and Stop The Bleed may offer these courses for free or low cost, Kman noted.  

After learning the skills, it’s important to practice them, the doctor said.

"We would love the public to learn how to do hands-only CPR and practice the skill of doing CPR every six weeks," Kman said.

"As with any skill, practice builds confidence. If we don’t practice it, we lose that skill."

The OSU survey did have some limitations, Kman acknowledged.

"The survey was a convenience sample of a cross-section of Americans," he told Fox News Digital. 

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"Most demographics were equally represented, but different regions do better at this than others, and their cardiac arrest results and survival reflect that," he continued. 

"States and countries that prioritize training the public have higher survival rates."

Dr. Kenneth Perry, an emergency department physician in South Carolina, was not involved in the survey but said he was surprised that more people don’t feel unprepared.

"Even for medical professionals, having a medical emergency occur without preparation can be a very stressful event," he told Fox News Digital. 

"It is very important for people to have basic lifesaving skills."

The easiest and most helpful skill that people should learn is how to operate an automated external defibrillator (AED). These are located in many public places, such as gyms, malls and even some public walkways, according to Perry.  

"These devices are the best way to save a person who is suffering from cardiac arrest," he said.

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"If the person has an abnormal heart rhythm that can be brought back to normal with electricity, this device will save that patient."

This is a very time-sensitive process, however — it must happen as early as possible, the doctor advised. 

"Early defibrillation is directly correlated with the best outcomes for patients who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest."

Ultimately, Kwan, said, "we're responsible for each other."

"When you’re trained in these lifesaving skills, you’ll know how to recognize the signs that someone needs help and buy time until the responders can get there."

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Heart attacks during election year, plus lupus myths and life support decisions

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CHEMICAL CULPRITS – Americans may be breathing in cancer-causing chemicals while driving, recent research suggests. Doctors weigh in on the potential risk. Continue reading…

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Disrupted sleep, plus nightmares could be linked to autoimmune diseases, experts say

Those who experience vivid nightmares and odd hallucinations might have an underlying autoimmune disease, a new study suggests.

An international research team led by scientists at the University of Cambridge and King’s College London explored the potential link between nightmares and hallucinations and systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases. 

The study, published in March 2024 in the journal eClinicalMedicine, included 676 people with lupus and 400 people from the medical field, as well as interviews with 69 people living with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, SWNS reported. 

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Those with autoimmune diseases were asked about the timing of their neurological and mental health symptoms, such as disrupted sleep, hallucinations, depression and loss of balance. 

Of the 29 symptoms listed, the participants were asked to rank such symptoms in the order in which they occurred relative to their disease flare-ups.

The study found that three in five people experienced "vivid" and "distressing" nightmares that involved being trapped, attacked or falling — resulting in disrupted sleep.

One-third of those immune-compromised participants said they noticed the trend over a year before their lupus onset. 

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Lupus is defined as "a disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs," according to the Mayo Clinic. 

One in four participants stated that they noticed hallucinations — although 85% said they didn’t experience the symptoms until the disease onset or later. 

Three in five people with lupus and one in three with other rheumatology-related conditions said they noticed an uptick in sleep disruptions just before their hallucinations would begin, according to SWNS. 

The lead author of the study, Dr. Melanie Sloan of the University of Cambridge, noted in the study that in many cases, patients and doctors will not discuss mental health or neurological symptoms in relation to these diseases.

"It’s important that clinicians talk to their patients about these types of symptoms and spend time writing down each patient’s individual progression of symptoms," she said. 

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Misdiagnosis was also mentioned in the study, as some participants said lupus and other autoimmune diseases were overlooked at first, SWNS reported. 

For example, a participant from Scotland was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder at age 18 before being diagnosed with lupus at 19.

"It was all very close together," the participant said — noting that it was just a six-month period between "when my borderline personality disorder got under control and my lupus got under control," SWNS said. 

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Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a California-based chief medical adviser for Sleepopolis, was not involved in the study but shared reaction to the findings with Fox News Digital. 

Dasgupta, who is quadruple-board certified in pulmonary, sleep, internal and critical care medicine, said the study supports the perspective that a "high prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as headaches, mood and fatigue" are commonly linked to patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). 

SLE is a "chronic disease that can affect any organ, including the nervous system," Dasgupta noted.

"This study also supports the fact that patients with SLE are subject to complications of its treatment, including steroid-related psychosis," he added.

Sleep issues are common in people with SLE, said Dasgupta, with over half of patients experiencing restlessness, poor sleep quality and difficulty falling asleep. 

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"These issues can be caused by pain, medication effects and the disease’s impact on the brain," he said. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the eClinicalMedicine journal for further information. 

Sleepoplis consists of a team of writers, product reviewers and sleep experts who provide reviews and sleep health content, per the company’s website. 

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