Are
today’s teenagers more stressed than ever before? Chiropractic clinic –
Luck’s Yard in Milford, Surrey – thinks they are. Tone Tellefsen Hughes,
Chiropractor and owner of the Clinic, is providing advice and treatment for
more and more teenagers who are soon to be facing exams and need help
with muscular pain in the shoulder and back – a common symptom of stress.
Elizabeth
is 16 and lives in Surrey. About a year ago, she started getting pain in her
shoulders which got worse when she was working long hours at the computer. It
got to the point where she had to stop working altogether and sit with a hot
water bottle on her shoulder and back. She decided to seek help at Luck’s Yard.
Elizabeth
says:
“I
found that as I started to spend longer hours on my computer studying for exams
and doing controlled assessments, I was less active and I started to get really
stiff muscles in my shoulders and back. Once I started treatment with my
chiropractor, it became clear that my problems were caused by posture and
hunching over my computer too much. The treatment I have had has really helped
to relieve the tension that I had before and I find I can concentrate better
now that I am not preoccupied with the muscular pain I had before.”
Tone
Tellefsen Hughes, owner of Luck’s Yard clinic said:
“Over
the past twenty years, I have treated many teenagers suffering from muscular
pain caused by bad posture and stress. The symptoms worsen usually around exam
season and are exacerbated by long hours of revision and working at the
computer on controlled assessments."
It
is important not to sit at your computer for too long but to get up and stretch
every 30-40 minutes or so. Use an egg timer or your mobile phone to set up a
reminder for this.
Chiropractic treatment can be really effective for relieving muscular symptoms
relating to stress.
My
advice and treatment tips for stressed teenagers would be to:
• Make sure you have a good work station set-up for your studying.
• The chair needs to be adjustable, supportive in the lower back and come under
the desk, ensuring that you are encouraged to sit upright. It needs to be the
right height for you. The worst study posture is when you sit hunched up in bed
or on a low sofa.
• The computer screen should be in front of you and at eye level. If it is too
low, put it on a box or a copy of the Yellow Pages.
• Make sure you have good lighting and use glasses if you have prescription
lenses.
• If you work on a lap-top, I would suggest that you get a docking station and
external key-board and a mouse. These are not expensive, but will encourage a
good study posture.
• It is even more important to exercise during exam periods and even a quick
walk, swim or run for 30 minutes will help relax the muscles and clear the
mind.
• Make sure you get enough sleep, and try using a shaped neck pillow for
comfort.
• Nutritionally, it is really helpful to eat three meals a day and make sure
you have a snack in between and hydrate with water. The worst thing you can do
could be to drink too many caffeinated energy drinks, as they may affect your
sleep.
For
more information check out the new App on iTunes called ChiroMoves Collection or the Luck's Yard Facebook page as we have several exercise pod-casts which can be downloaded
and used for stretches when you need a break.
Brain boosting foods for exam times
How to keep energised during the day:
The brain requires large amounts of
energy to help you learn and retain information. If you don’t eat
properly whilst revising you will be depriving your brain of nutrients which
can leave you unable to concentrate and easily distracted.
However, you can help yourself to
minimise fatigue and boost energy by adopting the following habits:
Always eat breakfast: Preferably include some high-protein foods such as
eggs which can help you feel full for longer and
balance blood sugar levels. If you are one of those people who can’t face
too much breakfast in the mornings, try some yoghurt sprinkled with nuts and
seeds and fresh fruit. Whiz it up into a smoothie if that helps it go
down!
Never skip lunch: Skipping lunch means your blood sugar
levels will remain low throughout the afternoon and continue to drop leaving
you not only tired, but also unable to concentrate, irritable and hungry.
Always eat protein-rich foods at
lunchtime: Try chicken, meat, tuna, eggs, beans or
pulses, nuts, seeds or cheese. Protein-rich foods appear to either help to
block the production of sleep-inducing serotonin or increase levels of other
brain chemicals which make us feel more alert and increases our ability to
concentrate.
Avoid sugar and sugary foods to perk you
up: A bar of chocolate and can of cola will
rapidly boost blood sugar levels to give you a quick energy boost. But the
effects will be short lived. Your blood sugar levels will drop just as rapidly,
leaving you right back where you started.
Stay hydrated throughout the day: Being even slightly dehydrated will make
you tired and listless with poor concentration. Don’t wait until you feel
thirsty before drinking either – by the time thirst kicks in you are already
dehydrated. The key is to keep drinking regularly throughout the day. Aim for
6-8 glasses of water daily – more if it’s hot or you’re exercising.
If possible, do some
exercise at lunchtime: If you can’t manage to exercise at
lunchtime, take a 10-minute walk when tiredness hits, preferably outside. The
fresh air will help you feel more alert. Plus, a quick brisk walk will improve
your circulation and help you breathe more deeply so you take in more oxygen –
an essential ingredient for the brain.
FOODS FOR INCREASING
ENERGY LEVELS
Iron rich foods: important for energy
production.
Red meat, pulses, nuts, seeds, dark green leafy
vegetables – eat with Vitamin C foods (see below) to help get the most
out of vegetarian sources of iron.
B vitamin foods: help to give you a
steady increase in energy instead of rollercoaster highs and lows. B
vitamins are needed for efficient metabolism. Brown rice, millet,
barley, pulses (beans and lentils), seeds and nuts calm nerves and support adrenal function. Other whole grains such as rye
and whole wheat. Also found in red meat, chicken and dairy.
Vitamin C: strengthens immune system;
makes collagen to keep bones strong and helps convert food into energy. Strawberries, broccoli, kiwi fruit, peppers,
watercress, cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes.
Magnesium foods: important for the heart
muscle and nervous system and for energy production. Nuts, dark green leafy vegetables, fish,
seeds, whole grains and cereals.
Coenzyme Q10: present in all human
tissues and organs. Helps the provision of energy for all human
cells. Our ability to produce CoQ10 decreases with age. Sardines, mackerel, spinach, pork,
sesame seeds, walnuts.
FOODS THAT CAN DECREASE
ENERGY LEVELS
Sugar can contribute
to feelings of fatigue: Too much sugar can encourage energy highs
and lows leaving you feeling fatigued and lacking in energy.
Caffeine may also cause fatigue: creates a “caffeine buzz” which is followed by
another “energy-crash”. Eliminating caffeine and sugar from
the diet for a couple of weeks can help make a big difference to
energy levels. Remember that caffeine is also found in ‘energy’
drinks as well as coffee and tea.
Avoid eating very large meals: digesting food can be hard work and make you
feel very sleepy especially during the day.
At lunch, thick vegetable soups are easier to digest than a large
meal. Add beans and pulses for extra protein.
Sleep
and well being! Sleep and learning!
In 2013 we asked parents of children
between the ages of 0-16 to complete a sleep survey to see whether children had
difficulty getting to sleep and their ability to stay asleep during the night. We divided the children into 3 age
groups: babies and toddlers, primary and secondary school children. We have received many replies and have
collated the information.
Common effects of lack of sleep
The most common affects of waking for
both sexes and all age groups were:
- Irritability
- Low energy levels
- Ability to concentrate
- Family relationships
Exposure to screens
The 10-13 age group had more access to
media in their bedrooms including TVs, and computer access where they were
using social media such as YouTube or equivalent and Facebook.
There is an increasing interest in the
sleep patterns of both adults and children and how it affects our health in
both the short and long term.
Research from Harvard Medical School has
shown that energy efficient LEDs in light bulbs, computer screens, phones are
harmful to the wake sleep cycle.
TVs, laptops, hand held devices are rich
in blue light. This affects light sensors in the retina which are tuned
to night-day cycle. Artificial light inhibits sleep-promoting neurons
(brain cells) and the hormone melatonin which aid sleep, and activate neurons
that boost alertness.
Dr Karrie Fitzpatrick from Northwestern
University in Illinois, states: “having computer screens held close to your
face exposes you to more light than watching a TV that is on the opposite side
of room”. This proximity tells the brain to stay awake and resets
circadian rhythm resulting in disturbed sleep.
Sleep and learning
Lack of sleep leaves pupils more
emotionally volatile, potentially disruptive and physically struggling to
learn.
However the good news is that loss of
learning can be reversed providing the sleep deprivation has not become
extreme. An average of 7-9 hours per night should be able to restore the
functionality of accumulating, processing and being able to recall memories.
Research based on 90,000 pupils in
primary/secondary schools in more than 50 countries found that internationally
on average pupils who have more sleep achieve higher in maths science and
reading.
The researchers believe that prevalence
of computers and mobile phones in childrens’ bedrooms are primarily to blame
for sleep deprivation resulting in this decreased ability to learn.
Sleep and health
Till Roenneberg, a psychologist from the
University of Munich found that exposure to light in the evenings was
exacerbated by the fact that many children get little natural light during the day. It seems that children are sleeping 1.2 hours less on weeknights
than a century ago. The research concluded that insufficient sleep may contribute
to ADHD because children become hyperactive when they have too little
sleep resulting in difficulty focussing attention.
Long term sleep deprivation contributed
to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and possibly
neuro-degenerative disease such as Alzheimers.
Derk-Jan Dijk, professor of sleep/psychology
at the University of Surrey revealed lack of sleep affects activity pattern of
more than 700 genes resulting in an increased risk of cardiovascular disease
and obesity. He found that lack of sleep alters gene activity in
human blood cells making some less active. Research in sleep disorders
show the importance of sleep in memory and consolidating information.
Without sleep the brain struggles to absorb and retain ideas thus linking
an association between sleep and academic performance.
The Childrens’ Anxiety institute in the
US state that children and teens need a lot of sleep with adolescents needing
about nine to ten hours a day. Many parents don’t realise that once
children approach puberty, their internal “sleep clock” resets, signaling them
to go to bed later; however, that doesn’t mean they need less sleep. It
just means that they may be incapable of getting to sleep at an early hour.
How do sleep habits affect stress and
anxiety levels?
- Sleep Deprivation Increases Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
When children and teens are deprived of
sleep, the physical symptoms associated with anxiety also intensify. Headaches,
nausea, and hyperactivity are common responses in sleepy children.
Furthermore, children who lack the
necessary sleep experienced a decreased degree of physical coordination.
- Sleep Disturbances Interfere with the Ability to
Control Emotions
There is a direct link between sleep
deprivation and depression and anxiety. Although depression may lead to
excessive sleep in some individuals, studies have shown that children who are
deprived of sleep are also at increased risk of depression. Sleep deprivation
also makes children and teens irritable and easily frustrated, with emotions
that fluctuate up and down. Children who accumulate a sleep debt are more
likely to have a negative self-image than those who are well rested.
- Sleep Deprivation Leads to Poor Decision Making
When children don’t get enough sleep
they often become impatient, which leads to poor decision making. Poor impulse
control is also associated with lack of sleep, which often leads to acting out
behaviours.
- Sleep Disturbances Lead to Sleepiness in School
There’s no doubt about it; sleepiness in
school is a major problem for many children and teens alike. With the inability
to focus, children are unable to perform optimally academically.
- Sleep Deprivation That Occurs on a Regular Basis
May Be Sleep Anxiety
Sleep anxiety is a problem for 40
million Americans alone, and many children suffer from it as well. Also known
as insomnia, your child may suffer from sleep anxiety if he or she has trouble
falling asleep, wakes up frequently during the night, wakes up too early, or is
fatigued after what appears to be a “good night’s sleep.” If a child regularly
has sleep difficulties, sleep anxiety may be an underlying factor. The question
is whether child anxiety leads to sleep anxiety or whether sleep anxiety is a
contributing factor to general feelings of anxiety.
2005 study published in the Archives of
General Psychiatry states that anxiety disorders emerge early in life:
the median age of onset is 11, according to the study. Rates of depression
spike in adolescence, too.
Prof Ronald Dahl, a leading researcher
in paediatric sleep, from the University of California, Berkeley says: “We
think that healthy, optimal sleep may be a buffer against developing anxiety
and depression in kids.”
Regular bedtimes and cognitive
development
The study, published in the Journal of
Epidemiology and Community Health, examined more than 10,000 children who are
taking part in the Millennium Cohort Study – a long-term study of children born
in the UK between September 2000 and January 2002.
The research was drawn from regular
surveys and home visits made when the children were three, five and seven to find
out about family routines, including bedtimes.
When children were three, almost one in
five had irregular bedtimes but the figure reduced to less than one in 10 when
the children were older.
By the age of seven, more than half the
children went to bed regularly between 7.30pm and 8.30pm.
They found that seven-year-old girls who
had irregular bedtimes had lower scores on all three aspects of intellect
assessed compared to children who went to bed at a regular time. But the effect
was not found in boys.
Non-regular bedtimes at age three were
associated with lower reading, maths and spatial awareness scores in both boys
and girls.
Girls who had never had regular bedtimes
at ages three, five and seven had significantly lower reading, maths and
spatial awareness scores than girls who had had consistent bedtimes. For boys
this was the case for those having non-regular bedtimes at any two ages.
But they also found that irregular
bedtimes by the age of five were not associated with poorer brain power in
girls or boys at the age of seven.
“Sleep has a crucial and complex role in
the maintenance of health and optimal function,” the authors wrote.
“Inconsistent bedtime schedules might
impact on markers of cognitive development in two ways, via disruptions to
circadian rhythms and/or sleep deprivation and associated effects on brain
plasticity.”
“Our findings suggest that inconsistent
bedtimes, especially at very young ages and/or throughout early childhood, are
linked to children’s cognitive development.
“Relations between inconsistent bedtimes
and aspects of early child development may have knock-on effects for health and
broader social outcomes throughout the lifecourse.
Consultant paediatrician Dr Robert
Scott-Jupp, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: “At
first glance, this research might seem to suggest that less sleep makes
children less intelligent, however, it is clearly more complicated than
that. Other factors such as family income, parents’ level of education and mental health
with this research confirm a strong link between social disadvantage and
late bedtimes.
“Researchers did go to great lengths to
try to allow for this statistically yet still found the relationship between
lack of sleep and development was apparent – and more so for girls.
“While it’s likely that social and
biological brain development factors are inter-related in a complex way, in my
opinion, for school children to perform their best, they should all, whatever
their background, get a good night’s sleep.”
Strategies to encourage healthy sleep in
kids
- Set a regular bedtime and wake time, even on
weekends. Children and teens who go to bed at the same time each
night and wake up at the same time every morning sleep better and have
fewer night wakings. Studies also show that consistent bedtimes
encourage cognitive development with children displaying fewer
behavioural problems and performing better in school.
- Make the bedroom a dark and quiet oasis for
sleep. No homework in bed.
- Create a calming bedtime routine. A consistent
routine (10 to 15 minutes long) – brushing teeth, changing into pyjamas
and reading a book – helps children go from alert and active to a quieter
state, giving them the ability to fall asleep on their own.
- For younger kids: a bath and story. For older
kids: Reading or listening to mellow music. We recommend John
Levine’s Alphamusic (www.silenceofmusic.com)
- Limit caffeine consumption, especially after 4
p.m. ie fizzy drinks, chocolate etc
- Ban technology (TV, web surfing, texting) in the
half hour before bed. These activities are stimulating. The light from a
computer can interfere with the production of the sleep-promoting hormone,
melatonin. Encourage reading instead.
- Don’t send kids to bed as punishment or allow
them to stay up late as a reward for good behaviour. This delivers a
negative message about sleep.
- Exercise and access to fresh air and natural
daylight can help improve sleep patterns.
References:
YJ* Kelly, JAJ Kelly, A
Sacker: J Epidemiol Community Health 2011; 65:Suppl
2 A39-A40 doi:10.1136/jech.2011.143586.88
John Levine at Alphamusic: www.silenceofmusic.com/
Tone Tellefson Hughes, Luck's Yard Clinic.