Mental Attitude: Memory Complaints May Indicate Increased Dementia Risk Decades Later. Women who complain of poor memory may be at an increased risk for dementia later in life. In a recent study, researchers found that older women who had memory complaints at the start of the data collection period had a 70% greater risk of being diagnosed with a memory and thinking disorder nearly twenty years later. Furthermore, women who reported memory problems at the mid-point of the study were 90% more likely to be diagnosed with a cognitive impairment over the following decade. The findings provide further evidence that memory complaints should receive closer attention, as they may be an early sign of more severe memory and thinking problems later in life.
Neurology, October 2015
Health Alert: Too Much TV Linked to Increased Risk of Death. Currently, 80% of adults in the United States watch at least 3.5 hours of television per day. This is alarming as a new study links the hours spent watching TV to increased risks for eight of the major causes of death. The study found older adults who watched TV for three to four hours per day were 15% more likely to die from any cause during the 15-year study than those who spent less time in front of the television. The researchers add that individuals who watched seven or more hours of TV per day were 47% more likely to die during the course of the study than those who seldom watch TV. Lead researcher Dr. Sarah K. Keadle writes, “Our results fit within a growing body of research indicating that too much sitting can have many different adverse health effects.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine, July 2015
Diet: What Are the Benefits of Potassium? This essential mineral offer benefits to your heart, muscles, kidneys, and nervous system. The University of Maryland Medical Center says the potential benefits of potassium include improved bone health, lower blood pressure, and reduced stroke and heart attack risk. Potassium can be found in food such as potatoes, bananas, nuts, citrus, and avocados. University of Maryland Medical Center, October 2015
Exercise: Exercise Could Help Women Delay Preventive Mastectomy. A new study finds that regular physical activity may delay drastic preventative measures, such as a mastectomy, among women at high risk for breast cancer. The study involved 139 premenopausal women who were at high-risk for breast cancer due to either genetic mutations or family history. They were divided into three exercises groups: a “low-dose” group that performed 150 minutes of treadmill exercise per week, a “high-dose” group that exercised 300 minutes a week, and a control group that exercised for less than 75 minutes per week. After five months, the control group showed a 20% increase in estrogen-sensitive breast tissue, while the low- and high-dose groups saw reductions of estrogen-sensitive breast tissue of about 8% and 12%, respectively. The authors suggest that women who have an elevated breast cancer risk should consider performing 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity per day, five days per week.
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, October 2015
Chiropractic: Musculoskeletal Pain Common Among Dental Hygienists! Surveys completed by 500 dental hygienists in the state of California found 96% suffer from some form of musculoskeletal pain. Those who reported their pain levels as moderate or severe were more likely to work on more than eight patients a day and use proper posture less than 50% of the time when compared with those only reporting mild pain levels or none at all. Journal of Dental Hygiene, October 2015
Wellness/Prevention: Eliminate These Bad Habits to Sleep Better! Just a few bad habits can affect sleep quality. The National Sleep Foundation lists the following sleep-stealing practices you should avoid: consuming caffeine within six hours before bedtime; drinking alcohol or eating a large meal or snack before bed; insufficient exercise; having a TV or other technology in the bedroom; and sleeping late during weekends. National Sleep Foundation, October 2015
Quote: “Happiness is not a possession to be prized, it is a quality of thought, a state of mind.” ~ Daphne du Maurier

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