Mental Attitude: Is Work Stress as Dangerous as Secondhand Smoke Exposure? Having a high-demand job that regularly places a lot of stress on an individual can result in a similar number of poor health outcomes as can regular exposure to secondhand smoke. Study author Dr. Joel Goh writes, “Unless and until companies and governments more rigorously measure and intervene to reduce harmful workplace stressors, efforts to improve people’s health – and their lives – and reduce healthcare costs will be limited in their effectiveness.” Behavioral Science & Policy Association, September 2015
Health Alert: Some High School Students Using E-Cigarettes to “Vape” Cannabis. A new report finds that some teens are using electronic cigarettes to vaporize cannabis instead of nicotine. These adolescents are replacing nicotine solution in their e-cigarettes with cannabis products such as hash oil, dried cannabis, and wax infused with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the active ingredient in cannabis. The researchers conclude, “These findings raise concerns about the lack of e-cigarette regulations and the potential use of e-cigarettes for purposes other than vaping nicotine.” American Academy of Pediatrics, September 2015
Diet: Reducing Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Improves HDL in Children. Researchers have found that reducing sugar-sweetened beverage intake among schoolchildren by a minimum of one serving per week can improve their HDL (good) cholesterol. They also note that high consumption of these beverages was linked to a lower intake of fruits and vegetables among the same age group. Senior author Jennifer Sacheck comments, “Importantly, not only are most sugar-sweetened beverages high in sugar and devoid of nutritional value, but they are displacing other foods and beverages that offer high nutritional quality, which are critical for children’s growth and development, further exacerbating the potential harmful health effects of sugar-sweetened beverages.” The Journal of Nutrition, September 2015
Exercise: Resistance Training Can Help Fibromyalgia Patients. Even though it seems counterintuitive to place physical stress on the muscles of patients with muscle pain, resistance training appears to have a positive effect on reducing the severity of symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia. Arthritis Research and Therapy, September 2015
Chiropractic: Back Pain and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Among a sample of 365 nurses, researchers found 59.7% had experienced back pain during the previous year. Those who had at least one episode of back pain during the preceding twelve months were significantly more likely to suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, a disease characterized by fatigue that is not improved by bed rest. The research team notes this is the first study to demonstrate a relationship between back pain and chronic fatigue syndrome in hospital employees. Agri, July 2015
Wellness/Prevention: Signs of Hypothyroidism. When your thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormone, it can lead to a condition known as hypothyroidism. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include feeling tired, being sensitive to cold, developing a hoarse voice and slowed speech, a decrease in pulse rate, developing coarse scaly skin and thicker hair, numbness in the hands and fingers, constipation, weight gain, headaches, confusion, depression, and signs of dementia.
University of Maryland Medical Center, September 2015
Quote: “Remember that failure is an event, not a person.” ~ Zig Ziglar

I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Mental Attitude: Sleep Apnea May Hurt Kids’ School Performance. Investigators have found that children with sleep-disordered breathing, such as sleep apnea, perform worse on language arts, math, and science tests than kids without such conditions. The findings come from a review of sixteen studies dealing with sleep apnea or related disorders in children and academic achievement. Lead author Dr. Barbara Galland writes, “Given the potential adverse consequences of sleep-disordered breathing on health, behavioral, and learning outcomes in children, it is important for parents and clinicians to recognize symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing.” Pediatrics, September 2015
Health Alert: Almost 50% of Adults in US Have Diabetes or Are at High Risk of Getting It. Nearly half of all American adults have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, claims a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers say that up to 14% of adults had either diagnosed or undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in 2011-2012, and approximately 38% had diagnosed or undiagnosed prediabetes. Journal of the American Medical Association, September 2015
Diet: Eat More Nutrient-Rich Foods. Taste is an important part of what makes food appealing, but opting for nutrient-rich foods is essential to give your body the fuel it needs to perform its best. The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests these nutrient-rich food choices: whole grains, a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables, lean protein such as fish, skinless poultry, beans, and low-fat dairy. American Academy of Family Physicians, September 2015
Exercise: Male Teens Who Exercise Think Better When They Grow Up. Using over thirty years of data from the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study, researchers found a significant association between greater teenage physical fitness levels among males and better cognitive function two decades later. According to the research team, “The results suggest a stimulating effect of adolescent physical activity in males on executive functions in adulthood, emphasizing the importance of an active lifestyle amongst adolescent males.” Journal of Physical Activity & Health, September 2015
Chiropractic: Chiropractic Rated High for Treatment of Dizziness and Balance Issues. Past research shows that about 30% of older adults experience dizziness and balance problems. A new study examining the types of treatment sought by patients with balance and dizziness complaints and the success of those treatments revealed that only 4.7% utilized chiropractic care. However, those patients who did see a chiropractor reported the highest treatment success rate for their dizziness and balance issues. The authors speculate that most dizziness and balance problems in older individuals may be caused by dysfunction in the neck that can be successfully addressed by chiropractic care. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, September 2015
Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D May Prevent Macular Degeneration in Some Women. Women who are deficient in vitamin D may be up to 6.7 times more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD) than women without who have healthy vitamin D levels. AMD is the leading cause of legal blindness, and it affects more than ten million Americans. The study’s lead author, Dr. Amy Millen writes, “Most people have heard that you should eat carrots to help your vision. However, there appear to be many other ways that adequate nutrition can support eye health. Having adequate vitamin D status may be one of them.”
JAMA Ophthalmology, August 2015
Quote: “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” ~ J.K. Rowling

I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Mental Attitude: Mental Health Care Is Vital But Often Tough to Get. A survey shows that most Americans believe mental health care is important, but they often think it is expensive and hard to obtain. Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention writes, “Progress is being made in how Americans view mental health and the important role it plays in our everyday lives. People see the connection between mental health and overall well-being, our ability to function at work and at home, and how we view the world around us. Respondents want to help a loved one by connecting them to the right mental health treatment and support.” Anxiety and Depression Association of America, September 2015
Health Alert: Cold Weather May Increase Stroke Risk for Some. The onset of cold weather may actually pose health risks for some individuals with a heart condition. A new study found colder weather can increase the risk of stroke for people with atrial fibrillation by as much as 20% when compared with their risk during the warmer months. Atrial fibrillation is a common condition in which the heart beats irregularly that affects about 9% of elderly individuals in the United States.
European Society of Cardiology, August 2015
Diet: Kids Eat Too Much Salt! Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say 90% of school children eat too much salt on a daily basis and one in six kids has hypertension. The CDC recommends the following strategies to help reduce your child’s salt intake: try different herbs and spices in place of salt, use “low sodium” or “no salt added” ingredients, eat more fruits and vegetables, and eat fewer processed foods. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 2015
Exercise: Bike-Related Injuries Are Up Among Older Americans. Between 1998 and 2013, bicycle injuries among those over 45 years of age jumped 81% and hospital admissions increased 66%. Lead researcher Dr. Benjamin Breyer writes, “As cyclists in the [United States] shift to an older demographic, greater attention is needed in injury prevention measures through improved infrastructure, such as bike lanes, use of personal protective equipment, such as helmets, as well as improved rider and motorist education.” Journal of the American Medical Association, September 2015
Chiropractic: Neck Pain and Episodic Migraines. Nearly 500 migraine headache sufferers were asked to track the presence of neck pain in relation to a headache episode to determine if it preceded the migraine or occurred at its onset. The researchers found 69.4% of participants reported neck pain either before or during a migraine episode. Of those, almost half had neck pain in the hours before their headache manifested. This suggests cervical dysfunction may play some role in the development of migraine headaches.
Journal of Headache and Pain, September 2015
Wellness/Prevention: Interventions to Help Reduce Sitting Time. Previous studies have shown a link between time spent sitting and cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and early death, even among those who regularly exercise. An analysis of 26 published studies found the most effective interventions for reducing sitting time were promoting sit-stand desks, encouraging people to keep a record of how much time they spend sitting each day, setting individual goals for limiting sitting time, using alarms to encourage people to get up and move around, and educating people on the health consequences of sitting too much.
Health Psychology Review, September 2015
Quote: “What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within the span of his little life by him who interests his heart in everything.” ~ Laurence Sterne
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.