Courtesy of: Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

Health Alert: Plastics May Contribute to Obesity. A lab analysis of commonly used plastic products revealed that a third contained chemicals known to interfere with human metabolism and contribute to fat cell development. Study co-author Dr. Martin Wagner adds, “Our experiments show that ordinary plastic products contain a mix of substances that can be a relevant and underestimated factor behind overweight
and obesity.”                                                                  Environmental Science & Technology, January 2022 

Diet: Diet May Increase IBD Risk. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affect an estimated 3.1 million adults in the United States. An analysis of 14 years of data concerning over 125,000 adults found that a high intake of snacks and prepared meals combined with a low
intake of fruit and vegetables is linked to an elevated risk for Crohn’s disease. Meanwhile, a diet with a high intake of red meat, poultry, and processed meat is associated with an increased risk for ulcerative colitis.                                        Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis, December 2021

Exercise: Other Ways Exercise Benefits Kids. In addition to better fitness, the current research suggests that engaging in at least 300 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each week can improve a child or teen’s self-esteem, self-image, self-efficacy, ability to manage stress, and likelihood to engage in other healthy behaviors.                                            Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, March 2022

Chiropractic: Manual Therapy for TMD Patients. A review of data from six studies found that manual therapies—such as those utilized by doctors of chiropractic—applied to the craniomandibular region of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can result in improvements in both pain and maximum mouth opening.                                                       Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, December 2021

Mental Attitude: Weight May Affect Thinking Skills. There’s an abundance of research regarding the many poor outcomes associated with obesity from an increased risk for type 2 diabetes to an elevated risk for heart attack. Now, a new study that included 9,200 adults suggests that obesity may also cause the brain to age faster, which can hasten cognitive decline. JAMA Network Open, February 2022

Wellness/Prevention: Screen Time Before Bedtime is Bad for Young Kids. A recent experiment involving 36 preschool-aged children found that increased exposure to screens and other lights before bedtime could significantly reduce melatonin levels, which can hinder a child’s ability to get a restful night’s sleep.                                                                              Journal of Pineal Research, January 2022

Quote: “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” ~ Anais Nin

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

Courtesy of: Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

Health Alert: Pregnancy Complications Can Lead to Problems Later in Life. Using data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register, researchers estimate that pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, eclampsia, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, and preterm birth may elevate a woman’s risk for cardiovascular disease later in life, even after adjusting for obesity, smoking, and comorbidities.
Journal of the American Heart Association, January 2022
Diet: Individuals with Epilepsy Should Skip Energy Drinks. A meta review of 50 studies found limited evidence that caffeinated energy drinks might trigger seizures in patients with epilepsy.
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, February 2022

Exercise: HIIT and Blood Pressure. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a form of exercise that involves short intervals of near-maximal effort such as sprinting or stair climbing separated by intervals of moderate-intensity exercise, such as jogging or fast walking. A meta-analysis of ten studies found that HIIT is as effective as moderate-intensity continuous training at improving blood pressure in older adults.
Experimental Gerontology, February 2022

Chiropractic: Nearly a Third of Young Teens Have Recent Back Pain. Questionnaires completed by 1,278 schoolchildren between the ages of 10 and 15 years revealed that 31% experienced low back pain in the preceding three months. Treatment of low back pain in children and teens is common in chiropractic clinics.                                                                     Revista Española de Salud Públic, December 2021

Mental Attitude: Stigma Against Depression May Be Decreasing. Compared with twenty years ago, fewer American adults are willing to admit they would avoid individuals with depression. However, the beliefs that alcohol dependence is due to “bad character” and people with schizophrenia are “dangerous” have become more common.                               JAMA Network Open, December 2021

Wellness/Prevention: Meditation May Strengthen Immune System. Among a group of 100 people, those who participated in an eight-day retreat that involved meditation for ten hours a day experienced increased expression of 220 immune-related genes that persisted for up to 90 days. While such retreats aren’t practical for the majority of the population, the findings suggest that meditation may play a role in
improving immune function.                                           Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, December 2021

Quote: “Keep cool; anger is not an argument.” ~ Daniel Webster

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

Courtesy of: Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

Health Alert: Prediabetes Linked to Several Poor Outcomes. Prediabetes is a term used to describe elevated blood sugar levels that have not yet reached the threshold for diabetes diagnosis. An umbrella review of 95 meta-analyses found evidence that prediabetes is associated with an increased incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, and dementia.                    Diabetologia, February 2022

Diet: How Red Meat Increases Cardiovascular Disease Risk. New research suggests that microbes in the digestive tract convert carnitine—an ammonium compound found in red meat—into trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which is a molecule known to promote atherosclerosis and blood clot formation. Nature Microbiology, December 2021

Exercise: Exercise Protects the Muscles, Bones, and Joints. A review of data from the 1999-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey revealed that meeting fitness guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week can reduce the risk for sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and
osteoarthritis in middle-aged and older adults.                Experimental Gerontology, February 2022

Chiropractic: Overactive Bladder and Low Back Pain. Evaluation of 72 women, half with overactive bladder syndrome, revealed that those with an overactive bladder had reduced lumbopelvic stability and a greater risk for low back pain, poor sleep quality, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. The findings suggest that treatment options to improve lumbopelvic stability, such as chiropractic care, may benefit women with overactive bladder syndrome.                                                              Somatosensory & Motor Research, December 2021

Mental Attitude: Teens Spend Four Hours a Day Online. Interviews with over 5,000 teenager-parent pairs revealed that adolescents average about 3.9 hours of leisure screen time a day. Past research has shown that excessive screen time can increase the risk for poor outcomes like depression, anxiety, inattention, poor sleep, and physical inactivity. Academic Pediatrics, December 2021

Wellness/Prevention: How a High-Fat Diet Can Promote Poor Dental Health. An animal study found
that mice on a high-fat diet experienced an increase in immune cells called myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) that can develop into osteoclasts, which increase bone destruction and can lead to tooth loss.
Journal of Dental Research, December 2021

Quote: “Where there is no vision, there is no hope.” ~ George Washington Carver

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

Courtesy of: Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

Health Alert: Good Oral Health May Have Cardiovascular Benefits. Following a review of data from
the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort concerning nearly 53,000 hypertensive patients, researchers report that participants who developed five or more dental caries during an eleven-year time frame were 37% more likely to have a stroke or heart attack. On the other hand, those who brushed at least twice a day reduced their risk for poor cardiovascular outcomes by 12%.
Journal of Hypertension, February 2022

Diet: Why Some Love Black Coffee and Dark Chocolate… New research suggests that individuals who
prefer their coffee black and chocolate dark carry genes that are associated with more efficient metabolization of caffeine, which speeds up the time it takes to provide an increase in mental alertness.
Scientific Reports, December 2021

Exercise: Benefits of Resistance Training for Senior Men. For older men, a recent study found that twelve weeks of whole-body resistance training can improve leg extension and leg press performance, increase muscle mass, cut body fat, improve walking ability, and reduce inflammatory biomarkers in the blood.                                                                      Experimental Gerontology, February 2022

Chiropractic: Spinal Alignment Linked to Low Back Pain. Examinations of 1,491 adults revealed that those with low back pain were more likely to have exaggerated sagittal (from the side) spinal curvature. The findings suggest that spinal malalignment may be a contributing factor for back pain. Doctors of chiropractic focus on improving spinal alignment to reduce spinal pain and disability.
Scientific Reports, October 2021

Mental Attitude: Social Engagement Protects the Brian. During a four-year study, researchers observed that older adults with mild cognitive impairment who socialized in a greater number of environments were less likely to progress to dementia.                                                                                Alzheimer’s Disease and Associated Disorders, January 2022

Wellness/Prevention: Safety Tips for Snow Shoveling. For many, winter means shoveling snow. Since this activity can increase one’s risk for back injury and heart attack, Traveler’s Insurance recommends the following: warm up beforehand, push rather than lift, choose your shovel wisely, take frequent breaks, keep up with the snowfall, wear layers, and stay hydrated.                                                                                  Traveler’s Insurance, December 2021

Quote: “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” ~ William James

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

Courtesy of: Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

Health Alert: Dementia Cases to Triple in Next 30 Years. Experts project that the number of dementia patients worldwide will increase to 152 million by 2050, up from 57 million in 2019, largely due to the aging populace in richer countries.                                                                                        Lancet Public Health, January 2022

Diet: Benefits of Intermittent Fasting Go Beyond Weight Loss. A review of data from 11 studies found that intermittent fasting (restricting eating to a limited window each day or not eating one or two days a week, for example) is not only effective for weight loss but it can also improve cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose readings.                           JAMA Network Open, December 2021

Exercise: How Exercise Protects Against Fatty Liver. According to a recent study, exercise training improves mitochondrial function and regulates important enzymes of glucose and fructose degradation in the liver, which may explain how exercise helps reduce the risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Molecular Metabolism, December 2021

Chiropractic: Many Misbeliefs Persist About Back Pain. Questionnaires completed by 3,724 adults revealed that many people still retain false beliefs about low back pain, which not only increases their risk for the condition but can also lower their chances for recovery. Some of these myths include the idea that imaging tests can always identify the cause of low back pain; bed rest should be the mainstay of therapy; individuals with back pain should take it easy and limit activity; back pain will get worse; and surgery is needed for disk herniation. Physiotherapy International Research, October 2021

Mental Attitude: Weak Grip May Suggest Dementia Risk. Researchers use handgrip strength to estimate an individual’s overall fitness level. A systematic review of data from 16 studies has concluded that poor handgrip strength is also associated with a nearly two-times increased risk for dementia.
Geroscience, January 2022

Wellness/Prevention: Preventing Obesity in Kids. Healthline reports that the following can help reduce the prevalence of obesity in the pediatric population: breastfeed infants, if possible; eat healthy foods as a family; encourage eating slowly and only when hungry; limit unhealthy foods in the house; encourage physical activity; limit screen time; ensure proper sleep habits; and know what children are eating outside
the home.                                                                                Healthline, December 2021

Quote: “When a deep injury is done us, we never recover until we forgive.” ~ Alan Paton

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

Courtesy of: Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

Health Alert: Overactive Bladder Linked to Falls in Seniors. Scientists conducted an experiment in which older adults with an overactive bladder were asked to walk under normal conditions, while performing a distracting mental task, and while needing to urinate. The investigators observed that both the need to urinate and mental distraction resulted in similar changes in gait that can increase the risk for a fall.
Lead author Dr. William Gibson writes, “This is pretty good evidence that people with incontinence are being distracted by their bladders, which means that they’re less able to concentrate on walking… If you’re a family physician looking after someone who is having problems with falls, one of the things that should
be asked is, ‘Are you also having problems with your bladder?’ If so, then what can be done about that?”
PLOS ONE, December 2021

Diet: Food Choices Can Protect the Brain. Assessments of 845 older adults revealed that a high intake of fruit, vegetables, and plant-based foods may protect the brain against cognitive impairment and dementia.
Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, October 2021

Exercise: Team Sports Cut Depression Risk. Following an analysis of data from the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey, researchers report that participating in team sports can reduce one’s risk for depression by up to 48%.                    Journal of Affective Disorders, January 2022

Chiropractic: Lumbar Disk Degeneration and Paraspinal Muscle Mass. Magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) of 504 middle aged adults revealed an association between lower paraspinal muscle mass and a greater degree of disk degeneration in the lumbar spine. Rehabilitation exercises focused on improving spinal muscle strength are often part of the chiropractic approach for managing low back pain in patients with degenerative disk disease. Journal of Clinical Orthopedic Trauma, September 2021

Mental Attitude: Multiple Concussions and Stroke. Among a group of 979 retired professional football players over the age of 65, researchers observed that those had sustained ten or more concussions in their lifetime were five times more likely to have suffered a stroke.                                                           Stroke, January 2022

Wellness/Prevention: Cataract Surgery May Reduce Dementia Risk. New research suggests that older
adults with cataracts who undergo cataract surgery are 29% less likely to develop dementia than those who
do not have surgery to correct cataracts.                                  JAMA Internal Medicine, December 2021

Quote: “Wrinkles will only go where the smiles have been.” ~ Jimmy Buffett

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

 

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Health Alert: Air Pollution Increases Gestational Diabetes Risk. Using data from the Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study, researchers report that increased exposure to air pollutants in the six months before pregnancy and during the first trimester elevate the risk for gestational diabetes mellitus by as much as 30%.                                                          Environmental Research, March 2022

Diet: Magnesium Is Important. Magnesium is vital for regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and for making protein, bone, and DNA. The current research suggests that most American adults do not consume adequate amounts of magnesium in their diet. Dietary sources of magnesium include legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, fortified breakfast cereals and other fortified foods, milk, yogurt, and some other milk products.
National Institutes of Health, December 2021

Exercise: Exercising During Mid-Life May Pay Dividends Later. Examinations of physically active middle-aged adults revealed they had more elastic arteries than their sedentary peers and the flexibility of their arteries was comparable to those of physically active young adults. The findings are important because arterial stiffness is linked to a greater risk of stroke and dementia risk later in life.
Journal of Applied Physiology, November 2021

Chiropractic: Low Back Pain Linked to Falls and Collisions in Older Adults. A study that included 1,127 older adults found that those with persistent low back pain were more likely to either experience a serious fall or be involved in a motor vehicle collision in the following 15 years.
Journal of Applied Gerontology, November 2021

Mental Attitude: Higher Heart Rate Linked to Greater Risk of Dementia. New research suggests that older adults with a resting heart rate above 80 beats per minute (bpm) have a 55% higher risk for developing dementia over the following twelve years than seniors with a resting heart rate between 60 to 69 bpm.                                                                                  Alzheimer’s & Dementia, December 2021

Wellness/Prevention: Ads for Healthy Eating Work on Kids. New research suggests that if children are exposed to advertising that promotes healthy eating, they are more likely to meet daily recommendations for fruit, vegetable, and whole grain intake.                                                                                      Appetite, January 2022

Quote: “Circumstances do not determine a man, they reveal him.” ~ James Lane Allen

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Health Alert: Marijuana May Interrupt Sleep. An analysis of data from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that marijuana users are 34% more likely to experience insufficient sleep and 56% more likely to report sleeping too much. Senior study author Dr. Karim Ladha writes, “I think [the results] were somewhat surprising because, in our mind, anecdotally cannabis seems to
help with sleep, but … the evidence to support that notion is just not there yet.”
Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, December 2021

Diet: Low Protein Intake Linked to Lower Muscle Mass in Older Women. Examinations of 164 older women revealed a relationship between failure to consume adequate amounts of protein and an increased risk for sarcopenia, a disease associated with the loss of skeletal muscle mass during the aging process that elevates the risk for falls, functional decline, frailty, and early death.
Nutrición Hospitalaria, December 2021

Exercise: Regular Exercise Reduces Risk of Pneumonia. The current research suggests that individuals
who regularly exercise may have both a reduced risk for developing pneumonia and for death from pneumonia should they develop the condition.                                              GeroScience, November 2021

Chiropractic: Sagittal Misalignment Linked to Back-Related Disability. An evaluation of x-rays of 343 adults with low back pain revealed that those with a greater degree of sagittal (from the side) misalignment between the legs, pelvis, and lower back were more likely to report higher levels of low back pain and disability.                                                           Journal of Orthopedic Science, November 2021

Mental Attitude: Hearing Loss is a Risk Factor for Dementia. Following an analysis of data from the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System from 2007-2017, researchers report that hearing loss can increase an individual’s risk for dementia by up to 63%.
Otology & Neurotology, January 2022

Wellness/Prevention: Avoiding the Common Cold. The Cleveland Clinic offers the following tips to reduce one’s risk for the common cold: wash your hands regularly; avoid touching your face; clean frequently used surfaces; strengthen your immune system by getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating a healthy diet; and stay home when sick to avoid spreading a cold.                                                                                           Cleveland Clinic, November 2021

Quote: “No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

 

Courtesy of: Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

Health Alert: Migraines Linked to Alzheimer’s. Following an analysis of data from five cohort studies that included a total of 249,303 participants, researchers estimate that individuals with a history of migraine headaches may have up to a 2.49 times increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, January 2022

Diet: Fruits, Veggies, and the Gut Microbiome. Using data from the Multiethnic Cohort-Adiposity Phenotype Study, researchers report that a high intake of fruit and vegetables is associated with greater diversity of the gut microbiome, which is linked to a reduced risk for several chronic diseases.
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, January 2022

Exercise: A Short Run Can Give the Brain a Boost. According to a recent study, engaging in just ten minutes of moderate-intensity running can increase blood flow to areas of the brain that are key to regulating mood, working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control.                                        Scientific Reports, November 2021

Chiropractic: Back Pain Common Among ICU Nurses. A systematic review of 21 studies published in the last 20 years found that 76% of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses experience at least one episode of low back pain each year, a rate substantially higher than is observed in the general population. Low back pain is the most common condition treated by doctors of chiropractic.                                                                                  Nurses in Critical Care, November 2021

Mental Attitude: Many Drinkers Think They Are Okay to Drive. In this study, researchers observed that around half of young adult drinkers are unable to determine when their blood alcohol concentration is above the legal limit to drive, which can place them at risk for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. Study leader Dr. Kai Hensel writes, “In countries with legal alcohol limits, it’s usually the driver who makes a judgment about how much they’ve drunk and how fit they are to drive. But as we’ve shown, we are not always good at making this judgment. As many as one in two people in our study underestimated how drunk we are — and this can have devastating consequences.”                                                         Harm Reduction Journal, December 2021

Wellness/Prevention: Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Depression Risk. The results from a recent study suggest that engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, reducing the intake of high-carb, low nutrient foods, and improving sleep quality can reduce or prevent depression in overweight or obese men.
Journal of Affective Disorders, December 2021

Quote: “There are no secrets that time does not reveal.” ~ Jean Racine

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Health Alert: Nearly 7% of Kids Have Suffered a Head Injury or Concussion. Using data from the 2020 United States National Health Interview Survey, researchers report that 7% of children exhibited signs of concussion or brain injury, but only 4% had received a doctor’s diagnosis.                              NCHS Data Brief, December 2021

Diet: A Sulfur Microbial Diet May Increase Colorectal Cancer Risk. A diet characterized by a high intake of low-calorie beverages, French fries, red meat, and processed meat combined with a low intake of fruit, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains may promote the growth of sulfur-metabolizing bacteria populations, which researchers have linked to an elevated risk for colorectal cancer.                                             JAMA Network Open, November 2021

Exercise: Get Fit at Work. The National Institutes of Health offers the following tips to incorporate more physical activity into the workday for individuals with desk jobs: take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk during your lunch break, walk and talk with a co-worker instead of sending an e-email, park farther away from your office, and join your company’s fitness center, if available.                                                                                     National Institutes of Health, November 2021

Chiropractic: Using a Soft Cervical Collar After Whiplash Increases Risk of Persistent Symptoms. A
retrospective observational study that included 2,162 whiplash associated disorder (WAD) patients from two emergency rooms found that 25.5% of patients who used a soft cervical collar returned to the emergency room within three months, compared to only 6.1% who did not wear a soft cervical collar. The findings suggest that the use of a soft cervical collar in the management of WAD is a risk factor for persistent symptoms.
Healthcare, October 2021

Mental Attitude: Social Relationships May Be Important for a Healthy Lifestyle. A study that included
over 1,000 adults revealed that those who believed they could rely on their friends and family for support had lower levels of inflammation in the body, which has been associated with a reduced risk for chronic disease. The findings suggest that maintaining a positive social network may be an important key to healthy living.
Brain, Behavior and Immunity, November 2021

Wellness/Prevention: Tips to Prevent Acne. To keep acne at bay, WebMD offers the following tips: keep your face clean, moisturize, use makeup sparingly, watch what you use in your hair, keep your hands off your face, stay out of the sun, eat a healthy diet, exercise daily, and manage your stress levels. If the problem persists, consult with a dermatologist for other treatment options.                                                                    WebMD, November 2021

Quote: “The limits of the possible can only be defined by going beyond them into the impossible.”
~ Arthur C. Clarke

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna