With GCSEs and A levels just around the corner, exam season is nearly here. But are today’s teenagers more stressed than ever before? One 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 coming up to GCSEs and A levels 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 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 our App on iTunes called ChiroMoves Collection or our Facebook page as we have several exercise pod-casts which can be downloaded and used for stretches when you need a break. At Luck’s Yard we offer a specially tailored exercise and stretch programmes which can help to strengthen your posture and core stability.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 protein such as eggs which are high in protein that 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 most out of vegetarian source 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, nuts.  Calms nerves and supports 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.

At age 6-9 boys had a slight increased incidence of sleep problems but this gap has widened by the time they were aged 10-13.

For both boys and girls, the older age group found it more difficult to get to sleep.

Waking during the night was a minor problem at ages 6-9 but of those that did wake, the majority  woke only once.   As the children got older they were more likely to wake up more than 3 times a night than the younger age group.

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 900,00 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 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 realize 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 behaviors.

  • 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……….such as family income, parents’ level of education and mental health with this research confirming 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 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. The 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:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22209818

YJ* Kelly,  JAJ Kelly,  A Sacker: J Epidemiol Community Health 2011; 65:Suppl 2 A39-A40 doi:10.1136/jech.2011.143586.88

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704029704576087943126802036.html

http://www.surrey.ac.uk/fhms/research/centres/ssrc/currentresearch/index.htm

John Levine at Alphamusic: www.silenceofmusic.com/