Early exposure to smoke, lead increase ADHD risk – Time Magazine

Researchers are linking early childhood exposure to cigarette smoke to ADHD.  I’m not going to say I don’t believe in ADHD, because I know it to be a frustrating and serious disorder that affects all aspects of the lives of those who have it.  I will say, it is over diagnosed too many children are treated with serious medications like Ritalin and Dexedrine when they don’t have ADHD.

Also most of us have an 8 minute attention span, well those of us who grew up watching a lot of television, that is.  In TV land, you only have to pay attention for 8 minutes, then you get a break. Unfortunately the other 95% of life doesn’t work that way.  This creates a common problem.

You’ll see a lot of headlines and hear a lot of sound bites that mention ADD, but I have yet to come across anything linking it to watching excessive amounts of television.  ADHD is more noticeable than ADD as it has that trademarked hyperactivity element. (We all know that one person who can’t sit down.) Add to that the technological devices (ie. iPhone, iPod, etc.) that often cut our attention span to a third of its potential and we’ve got significant communication, efficiency and accuracy problems that permeate every realm.

Also by now I think we know cigarette smoke, trans fats and aspartame are to blame for all of our ailments, personality flaws and marital problems.