Courtesy of: Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna
Mental Attitude: Happy Memories As a Child Might Benefit Your Health Later. A multi-year study that monitored the wellbeing of over 22,000 adults in their mid-40s found that participants who recalled receiving higher levels of affection from their mother during childhood were more likely to have better physical health and fewer depressive symptoms in the present day. Lead author Dr. William Chopik adds, “One might expect childhood memories to matter less and less over time, but these memories still predicted better physical and mental health when people were in middle age and older adulthood.” Health Psychology, November 2018
Health Alert: A Noisy Neighborhood May Raise Heart Disease Risk. Living in a noisy neighborhood may be more than just annoying, it may raise the risk for serious heart issues. Among a group of 500 healthy adults, researchers found that those who lived in areas with higher levels of ambient noise have up to a three-times greater risk for heart attack, stroke, or another major cardiovascular event than participants from quieter areas. Further analysis showed that participants from noisier neighborhoods tended to have greater activity in their amygdale (a region of the brain involved in stress regulation) and more inflammation in their arteries, which has been associated with an elevated risk for cardiovascular problems. Lead researcher Dr. Azar Radfar notes, “We are not the first group talking about noise and cardiovascular disease… What we really show here is the mechanism linking noise to major adverse cardiovascular events.” American Heart Association, November 2018
Diet: Just One Energy Drink… Caffeine-loaded energy drinks are very popular, but a new study suggests that they may make your blood vessels less efficient in the short term. Researchers examined the blood vessels of 44 healthy, non-smoking medical students both before and after they consumed a 24-ounce energy and found that after finishing the energy drink, the internal diameter of the participants’ blood vessels became dramatically smaller. Lead researcher Dr. John Higgins explains, “It’s more work for the heart and less oxygen supply for the heart. This could explain why there have been cases where kids have had a cardiac arrest after an energy drink.” American Heart Association, November 2018
Exercise: Physical Activity Protects the Heart. According to a new study that monitored the health status of over 65,000 middle-aged adults for a decade, regular exercisers have a reduced mortality risk for several cardiovascular outcomes, including acute myocardial infarction, chronic ischaemic heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, cerebrovascular events, and aneurysm and peripheral vascular diseases. European Journal of Epidemiology, November 2018
Chiropractic: Cervical Spine Mobilization Results in Immediate Results. Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint that can be both costly and disabling. In this study, 40 neck pain patients received either cervical mobilization or a motionless manual contact. Those in the mobilization group experienced improvements related to movement-associated pain, as well as increased range of motion and velocity when turning the head. Mobilization is frequently used by doctors of chiropractic to treat patients with neck pain and other musculoskeletal conditions. Musculoskeletal Science & Practice, October 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Getting Adequate Vitamin D. Vitamin D is vital for strong bones and a healthy immune system. The Arthritis Foundation offers the following suggestions for boosting one’s vitamin D levels: get direct sunlight without sunscreen for just 10 to 15 minutes every other day; eat 3 ounces of a fish rich in vitamin D, such as salmon or Atlantic mackerel, two to four times a week; take a cod liver oil supplement; and eat vitamin D-fortified foods. Arthritis Foundation, October 2018
Quote: “A friend is a gift you give yourself.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna