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Health Alert: Asthma Tied to Kids with Disabilities & Delays. An analysis of data collected from nearly 72,000 families revealed that children with hearing loss, cerebral palsy, and learning disabilities have a significantly elevated risk for asthma. Study co-author Dr. George Delclos writes, “These results support advising pediatricians to screen for asthma in children with disabilities, so that interventions can be started
sooner.”                                                                                            JAMA Network Open, June 2020

Diet: Best Protein-Rich Vegetables? In addition to legumes, experts consider the following vegetables to be good sources for plant-based protein: watercress, alfalfa sprouts, spinach, Chinese cabbage, asparagus, mustard and collard greens, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and cauliflower.             Medical News Today, June 2020

Exercise: Take Microbreaks! For desk-bound office workers, taking a microbreak every hour to perform a brief physical activity can reduce job stress and improve mood. Frontiers in Public Health, June 2020

Chiropractic: Fall Risk Among Patients with Severe Knee Osteoarthritis. Questionnaires completed by 259 knee osteoarthritis patients revealed an association between back pain intensity and an increased risk for falling. The findings suggest that treatment to manage co-occurring back pain—such as chiropractic care—may be necessary to reduce fall risk among patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee.
Clinical Rheumatology, June 2020

Mental Attitude: A Third of Dementia Cases Are Preventable? The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care reports that up to 35% of dementia cases could be prevented by staying mentally engaged; maintaining a healthy weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose reading; addressing midlife hearing loss and late-life depression; and staying socially active.
Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, July 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Garden Safety. Gardening is a great way to get physical activity, beautify the community, and provide fresh nutritious produce, while enjoying the outdoors. To stay safe while gardening, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following: wear protective gear
as needed, such as safety goggles, appropriate shoes, long pants, gloves, insect repellent, and sun screen with a SPF of 15 or greater; and make sure to drink water if you’re outside in hot weather for most of the day.                                                     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, June 2020

Quote: “The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.” ~ Eric Hoffer

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: Obesity in Middle-Age Linked to Dementia. New research that looked at long-term health
data concerning nearly 6,600 adults suggests that obesity at midlife is associated with a 31% increased risk for dementia in old age.                                                                               International Journal of Epidemiology, June 2020

Diet: Eating Fruits and Veggies Can Cut Diabetes Risk. Using data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study, researchers estimate that every 66 gram increase in daily fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with a 25% reduced risk for type 2 diabetes.          BMJ, July 2020

Exercise: Exercise Linked to Lower Sleep Apnea Risk. The results of a recent study that looked at lifestyle, medical, socio-demographic, and sleep health data concerning more than 155,000 adults suggest that even a modest increase in physical activity (such as walking for 20 additional minutes per day or
vigorously exercising for 8 additional minutes a day) can reduce the risk for obstructive sleep apnea by 10%.                          Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, June 2020

Chiropractic: Back Pain Common During Pregnancy. Questionnaires completed by 400 expectant mothers revealed that 75.3% had experienced back pain at some point in their pregnancy, particularly in the lumbar region during the third trimester. Nearly half of the women in the study (45.7%) reported that their back pain limited their daily activities. Doctors of chiropractic commonly treat low back pain arising from pregnancy with a combination of manual therapies and specific exercises.
Pain Management Nursing, June 2020

Mental Attitude: Lack of Sleep Can Take a Toll on the Brain. Otherwise healthy volunteers who slept two fewer hours a night for three nights in a row not only became less effective at performing tasks, but according to researcher Dr. Ingvild Saksvik-Lehouillier, “[Participants also] experienced a flattening of emotions…. They felt less joy, enthusiasm, attention and fulfillment.”                                                                                     Sleep, June 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Top Wellness Tips. The Physicians Medical Group of San Jose lists the flowing tips for better health and wellness: don’t start smoking, and if you’re a smoker, quit; see a doctor regularly; eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; exercise regularly; get adequate sleep; maintain a healthy weight; limit alcohol intake; practice good dental hygiene; become educated about health and wellness; and take care of your mental health.                    Physicians Medical Group of San Jose, June 2020

Quote: “A tiny change today brings a dramatically different tomorrow.” ~ Richard Bach

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Health Alert: Air Pollution Linked to Early Death. An analysis of long-term data concerning over 68.5 million Medicare enrollees suggests that tightening air quality standards in the United States from 12 μg/m3 of fine particulate matter to the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 10 μg/m3 could save over 140,000 lives over the following decade.                                                                                         Sciences Advances, June 2020

Diet: Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Benefit Expectant Mothers. Though further research is warranted, a review of data from 14 published studies found that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy may reduce the risk for preeclampsia and postpartum depression.
Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, July 2020

Exercise: The Many Benefits of Exercise. Harvard Medical School lists the following benefits of exercise: reduced risk for obesity, heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers; improved balance, mood, and mental function; stronger muscles; and healthier bones and joints.
Harvard Medical School, June 2020

Chiropractic: Manipulative Therapy Combined with Exercise Improves Outcomes. According to a study that included 90 patients with chronic non-specific neck pain, combining manipulative therapy with stretching and strengthening exercises led to greater improvements in pain, disability, and range of motion than exercises alone. Doctors of chiropractic often treat patients with chronic neck pain with an approach that combines manipulative therapies and specific cervical exercises.
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, April 2020
Mental Attitude: Repeated Head Impacts Linked to Depression Later in Life. A review of the health records of 13,323 individuals revealed that a history of both repetitive head impacts and traumatic brain injury is associated with an elevated risk for late-life depression.                               Neurology, June 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Urine Test Could Check Your Diet Quality. By analyzing levels of different metabolites in urine samples taken 24 hours apart, researchers have developed a test that measure the quality of an individual’s nutrition intake. Study co-author Dr. Paul Elliott notes, “Healthful diets have a different pattern of metabolites in the urine than those associated with worse health outcomes.”

Nature Food, June 2020Quote: “You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from.” ~ Cormac McCarthy

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: New Advice Regarding Familial Hypercholesterolemia. Individuals with a genetic
predisposition for elevated low-density lipoprotein (the “bad” cholesterol) levels have traditionally been instructed to reduce their consumption of saturated fats to lower their risk for heart disease. However, a team of heart disease and diet experts reviewed dietary guidelines for those with familial
hypercholesterolemia and failed to find any evidence supporting a low saturated fat diet. They concluded that following a low-carbohydrate diet is a more effective dietary strategy for this group of patients.
BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, July 2020

Diet: High-Fiber Diet May Benefit Kidney Function. An analysis of blood samples and dietary information regarding 468 adults suggests that high fiber intake is associated with better renal function.
BMC Nephrology, July 2020

Exercise: Weightlifting Strengthens the Nervous System. The reticulospinal tract descends from the
spinal cord from the brain and is mainly involved in locomotion and postural control. In a recent study, researchers observed that strength training can increase the response of the reticulospinal tract, which may be one way lifting weights improves athletic performance.                                              Journal of Neuroscience, June 2020

Chiropractic: Seat Incline and Spinal Alignment. Photographic analysis of twenty healthy volunteers using a variety of seat orientations revealed that a forward sloped seat is superior to both a flat and backward sloped seat for maintaining neutral spinal alignment and reducing forward head posture. The findings suggest a forward inclined seat pan may reduce an individual’s risk for developing spinal pain.
Medicine, July 2020

Mental Attitude: Diabetes, Sleep Disorders, and Dementia. Using data from the Korean Health Screening Cohort, researchers report that type 2 diabetics with a sleep disorder have a 46% higher risk for dementia than those without a sleep disorder.                                                                          Journal of Diabetes, July 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Exercise Benefits Sleep. Questionnaires completed by 114 healthy middle-aged
women revealed that those who regularly partake in aerobic exercise are more likely to both sleep at least seven hours a night and to awaken in the morning feeling rested.
Journal of Sports Medicine & Physical Fitness, July 2020

Quote: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” ~ Nelson Mandela

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: As a Nation’s Wealth Grows, So Do Men’s Waistlines. Using four decades of data concerning nearly 150 countries, researchers report that for every 1% increase in a nation’s per capita income, the obesity rate among men in the country rises 1.23%.                                                                       PLOS ONE, May 2020

Diet: Can Too Much Coffee Be Bad for Your Health? Researchers examined connections between genetics, habitual coffee consumption, and health conditions from a dataset that included over 300,000 adults in the UK Biobank and found that drinking six or more cups of coffee a day is associated with an
elevated risk of osteoarthritis, arthropathy, and obesity.      Clinical Nutrition, March 2020

Exercise: Exercise Cleans Muscles. According to a new study, an intense ten-minute bout of exercise increases the activity of the “death marker protein” called ubiquitin, which helps remove worn-out proteins from muscle tissue. Researcher Dr. Jørgen Wojtaszewski writes, “Basically, it explains part of
the reason why physical activity is healthy. The beauty is that muscle use, in and of itself, is what initiates the processes that keep muscles up to date, healthy, and functional.”
FASEB Journal, May 2020

Chiropractic: Manual Therapies for CTS. Among a group of 30 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), researchers observed that mechanical interface mobilization and nerve mobilization techniques are both effective treatments for improving nerve function and reducing pain and disability.
Doctors of chiropractic often utilize these manual therapy techniques along with other conservative treatment options for patients with CTS.                                                                      Caspian Journal of Internal Medicine, April 2020

Mental Attitude: Creative Art, Storytelling, and Mild Cognitive Impairment. A review of findings from 64 published studies found that participating in creative art or storytelling programs can improve brain function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.                                              Ageing Research Reviews, June 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Surprising Contributors to Heart Disease. WebMD notes that in addition to lack of exercise and a poor diet, the following are also associated with an elevated risk for heart disease: belly fat, dental problems, loneliness, long work hours, a history of migraines, shift work, and snoring.                                                                                    WebMD, June 2020

Quote: “We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once.” ~ Calvin Coolidge

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: Singing and Snoring. A review of findings from six published studies noted that people who frequently sing have a reduced risk for obstructive sleep apnea and snoring.
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, June 2020

Diet: Almonds Good for Vascular Health. During a six-week study, researchers observed that participants who replaced unhealthy snack foods with almonds experienced improvements in both endothelial function (the functionality of the thin membrane that lines the heart and blood vessels) and
their cholesterol readings.                                                     American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, May 2020

Exercise: Aerobic Exerc20ise May Benefit Asthmatics. An analysis of data from eleven published
studies concluded that aerobic exercise training can lead to improvements in both asthma control and
lung function.                                                                            European Respiratory Journal, April 2020

Chiropractic: Myofascial Therapy for Neck Pain. Among a group of 54 patients with mechanical neck pain, researchers observed that five sessions of myofascial release therapy were more effective at reducing pain and improving pain sensitivity than ten sessions of massage, ultrasound therapy, and
transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation. Doctors of chiropractic commonly use myofascial techniques in the treatment of many musculoskeletal conditions.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, April 2020

Mental Attitude: Mindfulness Improves Mood of MS Patients. Mindfulness is described as the ability to be fully present, aware of where you are, and calm about what’s going on around you. In a recent study involving 61 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, researchers observed that those who
received mindfulness training experienced improvements in cognitive function and mood regulation.
Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology, May 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Ways to Stay Healthy As You Age. WebMD offers five tips to remain healthy when getting older: eat more vegetables, fruits, nuts and whole grains while eating less butter, fatty meats, sugar, and salt; exercise for at least thirty minutes a day; go to bed and wake up at the same time every day; start a new hobby; and stay in contact with loved ones.                                                                                        WebMD, June 2020

Quote: “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” ~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: Oil & Gas Wells Linked to Low Infant Birth Weight. An analysis of nearly 3 million pregnancy outcomes from women living within six miles of an oil or gas well revealed that living within less than a mile of these types of wells is associated with a 40% increased risk for low birth weight.
Environmental Health Perspectives, June 2020

Diet: Warning Labels Could Reduce Soda Consumption. A review of findings from 23 published
studies suggests that adding health warning labels to soft drink packaging could reduce sugary drink intake. Study leader Dr. Anna Grummon writes, “Our findings suggest that sugary drink warnings help consumers better understand products’ healthfulness and encourage consumers to make healthier choices about what drinks to buy… These results highlight the potential usefulness of sugary drink warning policies in both
informing consumers and reducing consumption of unhealthy beverages like sodas, energy drinks and fruit flavored drinks.” American Society for Nutrition, May 2020

Exercise: Exercise Helps College Students Be More Resilient. University students who regularly exercise are less likely to be affected by depression, anxiety, or stress than their less active peers.
Frontiers in Psychology, May 2020

Chiropractic: Car Accidents and Back Pain. A systematic research review discovered that individuals involved in a motor vehicle collision may be more likely to develop back pain in the future than those who have not been in a car accident. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to evaluate and effectively treat
musculoskeletal injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents. Accident Analysis & Prevention, May 2020

Mental Attitude: Noise, Air Pollution, and Alzheimer’s. New research suggests that frequent exposure to elevated noise and carbon monoxide levels may lead to increased oxidative stress in the body, which may raise the risk for Alzheimer’s disease.                                                                                         Medical Gas Research, June 2020

Wellness/Prevention: How to Reduce Colorectal Cancer Risk. The American Cancer Society offers the
following tips to reduce colorectal cancer risk: eat more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains; limit intake of red and processed meats; get the recommended levels of calcium and vitamin D; avoid obesity and weight gain around the midsection; don’t smoke; and limit alcohol consumption.
American Cancer Society, June 2020

Quote: “Life is about timing.” ~ Carl Lewis

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: Inherited High Cholesterol May Signal Heart Trouble Earlier in Adulthood. Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited disorder that causes high cholesterol. Researchers report that individuals with this condition are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease before middle age; however, less than 10% of adults with familial hypercholesterolemia know they have it.
American Heart Association, June 2020

Diet: Calories Listed on Menus Offer Health Benefits. Because posting calories on menus leads consumers to make healthier food choices, researchers estimate that this practice may prevent nearly 15,000 cases of cardiovascular disease in the United States within five years.                                        Circulation, June 2020

Exercise: Another Way Exercise Helps the Brain. According to a new study, engaging in a twelveweek aerobic exercise program can increase cortical excitability, which can improve one’s ability to create mental imagery.                  Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, June 2020

Chiropractic: Neck Problems May Contribute to Migraines/TMD in Teens. Among a group of 314 teenagers with temporomandibular disorders (TMD), researchers observed that those with comorbid migraines were more likely to have abnormal cervical posture, trigger points in the trapezius muscles, and neck pain. The findings suggest that treatment to address cervical dysfunction may benefit
adolescents with co-occurring migraines and TMD.                 Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, June 2020

Mental Attitude: Gum Disease Linked to Dementia? Researchers reviewed data from twelve studies and concluded that individuals with a history of periodontal disease have a 38% increased risk for dementia.                                                    European Journal of Epidemiology, June 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Poor Vitamin D Status and Pre-Eclampsia. Approximately 2-8% of pregnant women develop pre-eclampsia, a condition marked by high blood pressure and other signs that a woman’s organs, such as the kidneys and liver, are not functioning properly. In a study that looked at
vitamin D status of 370 new mothers, 201 of whom had pre-eclampsia, researchers observed that vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy was associated with an elevated risk for both early- and latestage pre-eclampsia.                                              Clinical Laboratory, June 2020

Quote: “There’s no one to stop you but yourself.” ~ Dave Thomas

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: Playing a Wind Instrument May Protect Against Sleep Apnea. Though further research is advised, the current literature suggests that playing a wind instrument can increase blood oxygenation and
reduce the risk for obstructive sleep apnea.                                                    Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology, May 2020

Diet: Veggies Are Good for Blood Pressure. A review of health and dietary data concerning 10,660 middleaged men found that a greater intake of vegetables (especially raw vegetables) is associated with a lower risk for
hypertension.                                                                                                          British Journal of Nutrition, May 2020

Exercise: Even Light Exercise Can Benefit Those with Metabolic Syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions—obesity, high blood pressure, problematic cholesterol, impaired metabolic function, and
excessive waist circumference—that occur together and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. A review of data from a twenty-year study revealed that even light exercise is effective for reducing some of the risk associated with metabolic syndrome.                                                              European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, April 2020

Chiropractic: Combination Therapies for Trigger Point Pain. A myofascial trigger point is a hyperirritable spot in skeletal muscle that is associated with chronic pain conditions. In a recent study involving 60 individuals with neck pain and trigger points in the upper trapezius muscles, researchers observed that the combination of muscle energy technique and ischemic compression was more effective at improving both neck pain and muscle tenderness than conventional treatment. Doctors of chiropractic often use these and other manual therapies to treat patients with myofascial trigger points.                                                                                                                      Biomed Research International, March 2020

Mental Attitude: Ask Grandma to Dance. In a study involving 16 grandma-granddaughter pairs who danced for 10-15 minutes once a week, researchers observed that the grandmothers experienced an increase in positive feelings and a better mood, while the granddaughters noted they gained an improved perspective on aging. Additionally, the participants reported the dance sessions strengthened their relationship with one another.
Frontiers in Psychology, April 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Would You Use a “Smart Toilet”? Researchers are developing a “smart toilet” that contains a slew of technologies to detect disease markers in stool and urine, possibly before other symptoms manifest. The Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Brian Rubin explains, “We currently don’t have access to continuous genetic data that’s pouring out of feces and urine… But we do know that a variety of nucleic acids and proteins are secreted in urine and fecal material, and they do provide insight into what’s going on in the human body. It’s the kind of thing that could really take medicine to the next level.”                                                                                                                       Nature Biomedical Engineering, April 2020

Quote: “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” ~ John F. Kennedy

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna

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Health Alert: Secondhand Smoke Linked to Hypertension in Kids. Examinations of 3,579 children and teens revealed that those who lived in a household in which one or more person smoked were two times more
likely to have blood pressure in the hypertensive range than kids from nonsmoking homes.
Preventative Medicine, May 2020

Diet: Omega-3s May Protect Against Alcohol/Substance Abuse. Healthy omega-3 fatty acid serum levels are associated with better cardiovascular health and cognitive function, as well as reduced inflammation. In a recent article published in the journal Current Pharmaceutical Design, the authors speculate that improving omega-3
fatty acid levels during childhood and adolescence may reduce impulsivity and reward sensitivity, potentially lowering the risk for developing substance and alcohol abuse disorders.
Current Pharmaceutical Design, April 2020

Exercise: Staying Active May Aid in Afib Management. Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) is a common heart rhythm disorder that is known to significantly increase the risk of stroke. A study involving 3,333 Afib patients
revealed that participants who averaged fewer steps per day tended to experience more severe Afib-associated symptoms than those with a more active lifestyle.                                                                                                       Hearth Rhythm, May 2020

Chiropractic: Low Back Pain Is a Common Work Injury. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that three million non-fatal workplace illnesses and injuries took place in the United States in 2018, with low back pain listed as the most common complaint. While the prevalence of low back pain was greatest among physically demanding jobs like construction work, poor ergonomics, bad working postures, and
excessive vibration exposure have also been demonstrated to increase the risk for the condition.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 2020

Mental Attitude: Adults Often Delay Seeking Help for Eating Disorders. A survey of 300 young adults revealed that many with an eating disorder put off seeking treatment due to either denial, concerns of losing
control, or not understanding the severity of their condition.
International Journal of Eating Disorders, April 2020

Wellness/Prevention: Risk Factors for Sleeping Problems. The following factors are associated with an increased risk for either insufficient or poor quality sleep: an inconsistent eating schedule, low vegetable intake,
alcohol before bed, electronic device use in bed, high caffeine intake, dinner within two hours of bed time, lack of sunlight exposure in the morning, and weight gain.                                                                                                                Sleep Health, April 2020

Quote: “Happiness consists in activity. It is running steam, not a stagnant pool.” ~ John Mason Good

Your Napa Chiropractor Dr. Joseph T. Megna