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Health Alert: Sleep Apnea and Cognitive Impairment. Cognitive assessments completed by 218 individuals—roughly half with diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea—revealed an association between more severe sleep apnea symptoms and worse cognitive function.
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine, October 2020

Diet: Sugar Consumption While Breastfeeding May Affect Cognitive Development of Child. New research
that looked at data concerning 88 mother-child pairs revealed that a high maternal intake of sugary beverages during the first month of breastfeeding was associated with poorer cognitive development in her offspring at age two. Researcher Dr. Michael I. Goran writes, “Breastfeeding can have so many benefits… but we’re seeing that breast milk is influenced by what moms eat and drink even more than we realized.”
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, October 2020

Exercise: Early Sports Helps Girls Reduce ADHD Symptoms Later. A study that included nearly 1,500 children revealed that girls who consistently participated in organized sports were less likely to develop attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD) symptoms than their peers. No such link was noted in boys.                                                                     Preventative Medicine, October 2020

Chiropractic: Daily Musculoskeletal Pain Common Among Seniors. Questionnaires completed by 14,155
older men and women revealed that about half experience moderate-to-intense musculoskeletal pain on most days, often in the lower back, knees, and upper back. Nearly a third reported that their pain regularly interfered with their sleep, walking, and daily activities.                                                    Journal of Aging and Health, September 2020

Mental Attitude: Money Worries Increase Risk of Suicide Among Those with ADHD. According to a new
study, adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to develop financial difficulties, which places them at an elevated risk for suicide. Study co-author Dr. Theodore Beauchine notes, “The impulsivity found in ADHD is predisposing to suicide. And if you have a lifetime of financial problems that can lead to a sense of hopelessness… Hopelessness combined with impulsivity is a really bad combination and may increase the risk of suicide.”             Science Advances, September 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Strict Rules About Tobacco Products Reduces Teens Likelihood to Use Them. A
study that included over 23,000 teenagers revealed that adolescents are up to 26% less likely to use tobacco products when parents had set strict rules on the matter.                    Pediatrics, October 2020

Quote: “The groundwork of all happiness is health.” ~ Leigh Hunt

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: Glass-Topped Tables Pose Risks. Between 2009 and 2015, more than 3,200 individuals required trauma care for injuries associated with glass-topped tables, with the majority involving young adults and children under the age of seven. Experts note that at least half of these injuries were linked to faulty design or construction, suggesting that improved safety standards could substantially reduce the risk
of injury associated with glass-topped tables.                  American Journal of Surgery, September 2020

Diet: Can a Healthy Diet Reduce Heart Risks in Obese Adults? New research that looked at long-term health and dietary data concerning over 79,000 adults found that adopting a Mediterranean-style diet can mitigate some, but not all, of the cardiovascular risks associated with obesity.
PLOS Medicine, September 2020

Exercise: Exercise Can Help Diabetics Live Longer. A survey of 4,859 adults found that diabetics who met exercise guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week had a 32% lower risk for early death than those classified as physically inactive.
European Association for the Study of Diabetes, September 2020

Chiropractic: Spinal Manipulation for Lumbar Radiculopathy? For patients with subacute or chronic
lumbar radiculopathy, spinal manipulative therapy—a form of treatment provided by doctors of chiropractic—may be an effective intervention for improving back and leg pain, perceived disability, spinal range of motion, and performance on the straight leg raise test (a common diagnostic for radiculopathy).
American Journal of Medicine, September 2020

Mental Attitude: Marijuana Use During Pregnancy Has Mental Impact on Children. Using data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study, researchers estimate that in utero exposure to cannabis is associated with an elevated childhood risk for depression, anxiety, impulsivity, social problems, and lower cognitive performance.                          JAMA Psychiatry, September 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Rest or Massage Helps Reduce Stress. According to a recent study, ten minutes of either rest or massage are effective at psychological and physiological stress. Lead study author Dr. Maria Meier writes, “We are very encouraged by the findings that short periods of dis-engagement are enough to relax not just the mind but also the body.” Scientific Reports, September 2020

Quote: “Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.”
~ Bill Keane

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: Many Women Are Unaware of Heart Attack Risk. The American Heart Association reports that, between 2009 and 2017, the percentage of women who knew that heart disease was the top killer of women fell from 65% to 44%.                                                                                       Circulation, September 2020

Diet: Vitamin E May Be Vital for Nervous System Development. The result of a recent animal study showed that the offspring of zebra fish with vitamin E deficiency exhibited malformed brains and nervous systems. Researcher Dr. Maret Traber writes, “This is totally amazing—the brain is absolutely physically distorted by not having enough vitamin E.”    Scientific Reports, September 2020

Exercise: HIIT Is a Good Idea for Type 2 Diabetics. 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 recent study showed that type 2 diabetics who participated in an eight-week HIIT program that included cycling and rowing experienced significant improvements in insulin sensitivity, aerobic fitness, and body composition.
Diabetologia, September 2020

Chiropractic: Thoracic Mobilization for Shoulder Pain? For patients with subacromial impingement syndrome, a recent study showed that the combination of specific exercises and joint mobilizations targeting the mid-back resulted in greater improvements in thoracic kyphosis, upper trapezius muscle tone, and shoulder range of motion than either treatment alone. The finding suggests that dysfunction in the thoracic spine may play a role in subacromial impingement syndrome, and such issues may need to be addressed to achieve a satisfactory treatment outcome.                                                                 Healthcare, September 2020

Mental Attitude: Just the Right Amount of Sleep is Vital for Brain Health. Using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging and the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, researchers report that sleeping fewer than four hours or more than ten hours a night is associated with a faster progression of cognitive decline over time than sleeping seven hours a night.
JAMA Network Open, September 2020

Wellness/Prevention: The High Cost of Smoking. The current research suggests that individuals who are smokers at age 45 can expect to live about five fewer years than their nonsmoker peers.
Urology of Virginia, September 2020

Quote: “Don’t hold on to the past; it won’t help in moving forward. Dare to dream big.” ~ Rajeev Suri

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: Fatty Liver a Common Issue with Type 1 Diabetics. A review of data from 20 published studies showed that approximately 20% of adult type 1 diabetics will develop non-alcoholic fatty liver disease—a condition that occurs when fat accumulates in the liver from causes other than excessive alcohol consumption.                                                                Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, December 2020

Diet: Whole Grains May Reduce Colorectal Cancer Risk. Using data from the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study, researchers estimate that a diet rich in whole grains may reduce an individual’s risk for colorectal cancer by up to 16%.  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, September 2020

Exercise: Fitness May Reduce Risk for Hospital Readmission. According to a study that looked at the health history of 580 hospitalized diabetic patients, those who lived a sedentary lifestyle were more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within one month, six months, and one year than physically active patients.
BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, October 2020

Chiropractic: Manual Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritic Knee Pain. Among a group of 46 rheumatoid arthritis patients with knee pain, those treated with ten sessions of manual therapy (joint mobilization and post isometric relaxation) experienced a greater reduction in knee pain than participants who received a standard exercise intervention. The research team recommends further studies to determine the role of manual therapy techniques, such as those provided by doctors of chiropractic, in the management of rheumatoid arthritis patients with musculoskeletal pain.
Evidence Based Complimentary Alternative Medicine, August 2020

Mental Attitude: Declining Physical and Mental Health Increases Fall Risk. Seniors with co-occurring physical frailty and cognitive impairment are 3.5 times more likely to experience two or more falls over a three-year period than their more physically and mentally robust peers.
European Journal of Neurology, October 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Early Bedtime Best for Diabetics? Questionnaires completed by 635 type 2 diabetics revealed that those who went to bed late and woke up later in the morning were more likely to have an excessively sedentary lifestyle, which places them at an elevated risk for several poor health outcomes.                                                                              BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, July 2020

Quote: “Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.”
~ William Penn

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: Hypertension Common in Midlife. Among a group of 2,930 middle-aged adults participating in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Disparities in Stroke study, researchers observed that 42% developed hypertension over a nine-year period. However, they found each of the following health indicators/behaviors could reduce one’s risk for high blood pressure by up to 6%: healthy weight and diet, regular exercise, and normal blood glucose and cholesterol readings. Journal of the American Heart Association, September 2020

Diet: Omega-3s May Help Fight Depression in Soon-To-Be and New Moms. An analysis of data from 18 randomized controlled studies found evidence that consuming an omega-3 fatty acid supplement may aid in the treatment or prevention of perinatal depression.                                                                 Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, September 2020

Exercise: Physical Activity at Work Important to Health. According to a recent study that assessed the fitness and physical health of young adults, those who primarily worked at a desk were more likely to have poor fitness, a large waist circumference, and an increased risk for obesity. On the other hand, participants in the construction industry exhibited superior back flexibility, trunk lifting scores, and aerobic capacity. The findings suggest that workplace interventions to increase physical activity in the office environment could lead to
improvements with respect to both fitness and physical health among those who spend their day at a computer workstation. International Journal of Forensic Engineering and Management, January 2020

Chiropractic: Spinal Manipulation Improves Soccer Kicking Strength. In a recent experiment involving former varsity levels soccer players, researchers observed a significant increase in ball velocity and peak activation of the knee extensor muscles among participants after a single application of spinal manipulative therapy.                                                               Journal of Strength Conditioning Research, August 2020

Mental Attitude: PTSD May Increase Dementia Risk. Following a review of findings from eight studies that included long-term data concerning nearly 1.7 million adults, researchers report that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may increase the risk for dementia by 55%.                                                    British Journal of Psychiatry, September 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Quit Smoking for a Healthier Gut. During the last decade, several studies have demonstrated that a healthier gut microbiome is associated with a reduced risk for a variety of poor health outcomes. In a study that included 36 smokers who participated in a twelve-week smoking cessation program, researchers observed that abstaining from cigarettes led to positive changes in the population of bacteria in the gut, which may result in a host of secondary health benefits for those who quit smoking.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, September 2020

Quote: “No one is ever ordinary.” ~ Tanith Lee

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: Diabetes Increases Fall Risk. An analysis of data from the Danish National Patient Register revealed that seniors with a history of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes had both a higher fall risk and an increased risk for serious injury in the event of a fall.                                                                              Current Drug Safety, September 2020

Diet: Benefits of Fiber. Not only does dietary fiber increase satiety and slow the absorption of nutrients into the body, but it also nurtures bacteria in the digestive tract that release short-chain fatty acids associated with a reduced risk for inflammatory diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, September 2020

Exercise: Weight Gain May Hinder Grades. Researchers monitored the health and academic performance of 1,802 students for two school years and observed that those with a normal weight at baseline who became overweight by the conclusion of the study were more likely to experience a decline in their grades than participants who maintained a healthy weight.
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, September 2020

Chiropractic: Frailty Linked to Back Pain. Frailty is a condition characterized by weakness, slowness, physical inactivity, self-reported exhaustion, and unintentional weight loss. A study that included 602 seniors with low back pain found that those classified as frail (19.5%) or at risk for frailty (59.2%) had significantly higher pain and disability scores than physically robust participants, which only accounted for 21.3% of participants.                                                                        Canadian Journal on Aging, August 2020

Mental Attitude: Can ADHD Predict Adult Car Crash Risk? In the study, researchers analyzed data on 642 young adults and found that those who had been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as children were 45% more likely to have been involved in automobile collision than those participant without a history of ADHD.
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, August 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Honey Can Soothe a Cough. A review of data from fourteen clinical trials found that consuming honey may be more effective at combatting coughing spells than over-the-counter cough syrups in adults and children over the age of one. Lead review author Dr. Hibatullah Abuelgasim notes that given the mostly benign nature of honey, “it’s reasonable to try it—especially if it replaces potentially harmful alternatives.”                                                            Evidence-Based Medicine, August 2020

Quote: “Risk will always be a part of life. It’s how we recognize this and deal with it that matters.”
~ Thomas H. Cook

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: E-Scooters Injuries Increasing Significantly. According to a new study, emergency room visits for injuries associated with electronic scooter, or e-scooter, use doubled between 2018 and 2019. Study coauthor Dr. Eric Wagner writes, “These injuries are increasing and they aren’t benign. Many of them are fractures, many of them are head injuries, and some of the head injuries require hospital admission, which means that they’re very severe.” The findings suggest that increased regulations and safety education are needed to protect e-scooter riders in light of their growing popularity in metropolitan areas.
JAMA Network Open, August 2020

Diet: Vitamin C Important for Muscles. Using data from the EPIC Norfolk Study concerning more than 13,000 older adults, researchers report that participants with a higher intake of vitamin C were better able to retain their skeletal muscle mass as they aged than those with a diet featuring fewer vitamin C-rich foods.
Journal of Nutrition, August 2020

Exercise: Fitness Trackers May Promote Exercise Among MS Patients. New research suggests that multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who use a fitness tracker are more likely to have relapsing-remitting MS, less disability, higher income, and higher rates of employment than those who do not use fitness trackers.
Disability & Health Journal, July 2020

Chiropractic: Extremity Manipulation Reduces Postural Sway. In a study that included adults between 21
and 40 years of age, researchers found that the application of manipulative therapy, a form of treatment provided by doctors of chiropractic, to the upper and lower extremities resulted in a reduction in postural sway. Because postural sway may suggest impaired balance and an increased risk for falls, the research team recommends replicating the study with older men and women.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, August 2020

Mental Attitude: Another Reason Not to Smoke During Pregnancy. A review of data from ten studies found that maternal prenatal tobacco use may increase the risk for bipolar and depressive disorders in their offspring by up to 44%. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, September 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D Supplement May Benefit Some Pregnancies. For expectant mothers with low vitamin D status, a recent literature review suggests that taking a 600 IU/day vitamin D3 supplement may improve fetal development and reduce the risk for small-for-gestational-age, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and gestational diabetes.                               Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology, October 2020

Quote: “The life given us, by nature is short; but the memory of a well-spent life is eternal.” ~ Cicero

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: A Link Between Temporomandibular Disorder and Sleep Apnea? Following a review of data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, researchers report that patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were 2.5 times more likely to have temporomandibular disorders (TMD) than individuals without a history of OSA. The findings suggest that OSA may be a risk factor for TMD, and
patients presenting for TMD should be screened for OSA.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, August 2020

Diet: Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Benefit NAFLD Patients. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a
condition that occurs when fat accumulates in the liver from causes other than excessive alcohol consumption. A review of data from 22 randomized control trials revealed that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can significantly reduce fat in the liver while also improving blood lipid levels.                   Nutrients, September 2020

Exercise: Should People with Heart Disease Exercise? New guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology recommend that individuals with heart disease should engage in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week in addition to strength training at least three times a week if they also have hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or are obese. European Society of Cardiology, August 2020

Chiropractic: Diabetics More Likely to Have Chronic Neck/Back Pain. Using data from the Spanish National Health Survey 2017, researchers estimate that adults with type 2 diabetes have a 19% increased risk for chronic low back pain and a 34% elevated risk for chronic neck pain.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, September 2020

Mental Attitude: Poor Kidney Health May Affect the Brain. Researchers tested the kidney function of over 2,600 young adults every five years for two decades and found that those who received treatment for serious kidney-related issues on at least one occasion scored lower on cognitive assessments at midlife than participants with normal kidney function. Neurology, September 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Lifestyle Choices Reduce Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease. An analysis of data concerning 2.5 million adults from 16 countries found that adopting the following lifestyle choices can reduce the risk for chronic kidney disease by up to 22%: vegetable-rich diet, higher potassium intake, regular exercise, less alcohol consumption, reduced salt consumption, and not smoking.
Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, September 2020

Quote: “The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.” ~ B. B. King

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: Cardiovascular Disease and Depression. An analysis of data concerning over 100,000 adults found that individuals with depression have a 64% elevated risk for ischemic heart disease and a 94% higher risk for stroke. On the other hand, men and women with cardiovascular disease had nearly double the risk for subsequent depression.                British Journal of Psychiatry, August 2020

Diet: Cutting Carbs May Protect Your Eyes. Glaucoma is a condition that damages the optic nerve and is one of the leading causes of vision loss in people over the age of 60. An analysis of diet and health data on 185,000 health professionals found that maintaining a long-term diet low in carbohydrates and high in vegetable sources of fat and protein was linked to a 20% reduced risk of primary open angle glaucoma with early
paracentral visual loss. Researcher Dr. Louis Pasquale writes, “It’s important to note that a low-carbohydrate diet won’t stop glaucoma progression if you already have it, but it may be a means to preventing glaucoma in high-risk groups… If more patients in these high-risk categories—including those with a family history of glaucoma—adhered to this diet, there might be fewer cases of vision loss.”                                                              Eye, July 2020

Exercise: Just One Hour… Among a group of 24 seniors at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, researchers observed that reducing sedentary behavior by one hour a day led to significant long-term improvements in both peripheral vascular function and cerebral blood flow.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, August 2020

Chiropractic: Neck and Shoulder Pain? Questionnaires completed by 1,000 adults intended to represent the general population revealed that nearly half (45%) of those reporting significant neck pain also had shoulder/arm pain. The findings suggest the conditions often co-occur, and dysfunction in both areas may need to be addressed in order to achieve a successful treatment outcome.                                                                        Asian Spine Journal, July 2020

Mental Attitude: Concussions Increase Risk of Several Brain Conditions. Using 25 years of data concerning over 186,000 adults, researchers report that a history of concussion is associated with an elevated risk for: attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression, anxiety, Parkinson’s disease, or dementia.
Family Medicine and Community Health, July 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Inflammatory Biomarker May Suggest Heart Failure Risk. In a new study, researchers discovered that people with higher levels of GlycA in their blood—an indicator of inflammation— had a significantly increased risk for heart failure.                                                          Circulation, July 2020

Quote: “If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you’ll never enjoy the sunshine.” ~ Morris West

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: Low Zinc Intake? Among a group of 142 female university students, researchers identified an association between low dietary zinc intake and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, short sleep duration, and daytime dysfunction.                                                             Biological Trace Element Research, August 2020

Diet: Is Chocolate Heart Healthy? A review of data from six studies that included more than 336,000 participants found that eating one or more servings of chocolate per week could reduce the risk for heart disease by up to 10%.                        European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, July 2020

Exercise: Low Fitness Linked to Depression. Grip strength is often used in scientific research as an indicator
of physical function/fitness. In a study that included 867 teens and young adults, researchers observed an association between weak grip and an increased risk for depressive symptoms. The findings add to a growing body of research linking physical and mental health.                                                                                   BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, July 2020

Chiropractic: Managing Chronic Neck Pain. In a recent clinical trial, researchers observed that neck-specific exercises and manual therapies are both effective interventions to address chronic, nonspecific neck pain, with manual therapies leading to faster improvements in pain perception and therapeutic exercises resulting in a swifter improvement in neck pain-related disability. Doctors of chiropractic often use a combination of manual therapies and therapeutic exercises for the management of chronic neck pain.                                    Trials, July 2020

Mental Attitude: Visual Memory and Alzheimer’s. New research suggests that declines in visual memory may become apparent in seniors at risk for Alzheimer’s disease before the onset of clinical symptoms. This finding may help in the creation of assessments for identifying future cases of Alzheimer’s disease much earlier than current methods.  Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, August 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Banning Flavored Cigarettes Reduced Smoking Among Young Americans. A comparison of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2002 and 2017 revealed a 43% decline in smoking among teens and a 27% decline in smoking among young adults, which experts credit to the banning of flavored cigarettes in 2009. Study leader Dr. Matthew Rossheim writes, “This shows incredible promise for future comprehensive bans of flavored tobacco products, including those in e-cigarettes, which to-date have received significant exemptions… Policymakers should take note of the evidence from this study and pass legislation to extend flavor bans to other tobacco and nicotine products.”
Journal of Adolescent Health, July 2020

Quote: “The best thing to do now, is to do the very best you can.” ~ Allen Drury

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna