Mental Attitude: Large Waist Size Could Mean Higher Risk for Cognitive Disorders. New research indicates a relationship between a greater waist size and lower levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)—a protein that supports the survival of existing neurons in the brain and encourages the growth and development of new neurons and synapses—that may hasten the development of dementia and other cognitive disorders. While it’s unclear how central adiposity influences BDNF, researchers suspect engaging in BDNF-promoting behaviors like regular exercise and eating a healthier diet may protect the brain function of adults with a larger waist circumference.
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, May 2016
Health Alert: Hepatics C May Triple Heart Attack Risk. Coronary atherosclerosis is a condition described by the hardening of the arteries in the heart, which can result in sudden blood clots or a heart attack. An analysis of ten published studies concludes that chronic hepatitis C infection can increase an individual’s risk for coronary atherosclerosis by nearly 300%. Public Health, May 2016
Diet: Many Report Better Mood After Dieting. According to a new study, going on a diet may improve your health, mood, and stress levels. The study involved 220 participants of whom nearly two-thirds were asked to restrict their daily calories by 25% for two years, while the other third ate whatever they wanted. Investigators found that participants restricting their calories experienced an improved mood, better quality of life, improved sleep, and better relationships than those who did not practice calorie restriction. JAMA Internal Medicine, May 2016
Exercise: Barefoot Running Good for the Brain. Brain function appears to be boosted by running without shoes. This study included 72 volunteers who were instructed to run either barefoot or while wearing shoes for about 16 minutes. The study found that after running barefoot, participants experienced about a 16% improvement in their working memory, or their ability to recall or process information. However, running in shoes did not result in the same immediate benefits to memory. The findings suggest that running barefoot requires greater mental intensity and use of working memory, which may explain this discrepancy. Study leader Dr. Ross Alloway writes, “If we take off our shoes and go for a run, we can finish smarter than when we started.” Perceptual and Motor Skills, May 2016
Chiropractic: Manual Therapies Reduce Pain & Disability. A recent study investigated both the short- and long-term benefits of manual therapy in the treatment of neck and back pain. Participants age 18 to 65 received twelve weeks of treatment that included spinal manipulation, spinal mobilization, stretching, and/or massage. At the conclusion of treatment, 64% reported improvement in pain intensity while 42% experienced improvements in pain-related disability. When investigators followed-up with these participants a year later, 58% continued to report improvements in pain intensity and 40% continued to note improvements in pain-related disability. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, April 2016
Wellness/Prevention: Too Much, Too Little Sleep Can Shorten Your Life. An analysis of 40 published studies that included over 2.2 million participants indicates that both too little and too much sleep per night may increase one’s risk for an early death. Compared with those who slept an average of seven hours per night, participants who slept six or fewer hours were 4-9% more likely to die prematurely while those who slept nine or more hours per night were more than 8% at risk of early death. According to the authors of the study, close to half of adults either sleep too much or too little each night. Sleep Medicine Reviews, March 2016
Quote: “Do one thing every day that scares you.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

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

Mental Attitude: Email-Based Interventions Improve Wellbeing. In this study, researchers found that participants who engaged with an email-based program aimed at improving their wellbeing experienced long-term improvements in their ability to handle stress, in their confidence in the future, and in the amount of physical activity they engaged in per week. The authors conclude, “Internet-based interventions are feasible for mental health promotion and should be available for people interested in improving their psychological well-being and lifestyle.” BMC Psychology, May 2016
Health Alert: Pesticide Exposure Possible Risk Factor for ALS. Exposure to pesticides may increase the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease)—a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that attacks the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that are responsible for voluntary muscle control. This study included 156 patients with ALS and 128 controls without the disease. The researchers found an association with an increased risk of ALS and both the presence of pesticides in the blood and residential and occupational pesticide exposure. This link was particularly strong for exposure to organochlorine pesticides, such as dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), methoxychlor, and benzene hexachloride. The authors of the study write, “Our findings identify classes of pollutants that increase the likelihood of ALS and therefore are modifiable disease risk factors.” JAMA Neurology, May 2016
Diet: Cutting Calories. To lose a pound a week, experts say you’ll need to cut 3,500 calories during that time frame. To reach this weekly goal, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests avoiding sweetened drinks and foods with added sugar, limiting fatty food consumption, snacking on raw vegetables, enjoying sliced fruits, avoiding alcohol, and drinking more water.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, May 2016
Exercise: Walking Is Good for Your Health. Enjoying regular walks can help keep you healthy without extra strain on your body. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, walking can offer the following benefits: a stronger heart, lower blood pressure, greater oxygen intake, slower loss of bone mass with age, slower onset of arthritis, improved muscle tone, less stress, improved sleep, improved mood, and improved attitude. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, May 2016
Chiropractic: Behavior & Low Back Pain. Low back pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder that can significantly affect individuals, business, and society. Identifying behavior-related factors that contribute to low back pain may help in the prevention and reduction of this potentially disabling condition. Based on data from the 2009-2012 National Health Interview Survey, investigators found links between self-reported lower back pain and leisure-time physical inactivity, current or former smoking, current or former alcohol drinking, short sleep duration, and obesity. The authors recommend that public health policy makers and clinicians consider addressing these factors to reduce the burden of low back pain on a societal basis.
Spine, April 2016
Wellness/Prevention: Breath Test Could Help Diagnosis IBS. Currently, there is no specific diagnostic test for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but researchers now claim they have discovered a combination of 16 different substances in the breath that can accurately identify individuals with IBS when measured together. Senior author Dr. Frederik-Jan van Schooten notes, “Now we know which chemicals in breath have diagnostic information that we can use to develop noninvasive tools to follow the disease and to steer therapeutic interventions.” Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, May 2016
Quote: “The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance. The wise grows it under his feet.” ~ James Oppenheim

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

Mental Attitude: Depression Affects Many Caregivers of the Critically Ill. According to new research, caregivers of critically ill patients often suffer from depression that lasts long after their loved one’s hospital stay ends. Researchers collected information on 280 caregivers of patients who had been in the ICU for seven days or longer. They then evaluated the caregivers a week after the ICU discharge and then again three, six, and twelve months later. Initially, 67% of caregivers had scores that indicated either depressive symptoms or clinical depression. While some improved over time, the researchers observed that 43% of the caregivers in their study continued to report either depressive symptoms or full-blown depression up to one year later.
New England Journal of Medicine, May 2016
Health Alert: Swaddling May Raise Risk of SIDS. The custom of swaddling infants to promote sleep by making them feel secure and calm may be linked to an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Researchers found that the risk of SIDS is greater among swaddled babies and the risk is increased for infants placed on their stomachs to sleep and for those old enough to roll over on their own. Lead author Dr. Anna Pease writes, “On a practical level what parents should take away from this is that if they choose to swaddle their babies for sleep, always place them on their back, and think about when to stop swaddling for sleep as their babies get older and more able to move.” Pediatrics, May 2016
Diet: Cleanse Naturally Through Diet. Are you looking for a way to “detox” your body safely and naturally? The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers advice on “cleansing” your body safely: drink plenty of fresh water, eat 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, eat plenty of whole grains, consider a supplement to ensure proper nutrients, and consume fermented foods or take a quality probiotic to support gut health. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, May 2016
Exercise: Can Exercise Reduce the Risk of Cervical Cancer? A new study reports that just 30 minutes of exercise per week has the potential to reduce a woman’s risk of developing cervical cancer. In this study, researchers looked at the physical activity levels of 128 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer and 512 women without the disease and found that after adjusting for a history of smoking, alcohol consumption, family history of cervical cancer, and body mass index, the women who did not perform at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per week were nearly 2.5 times more likely to develop cervical cancer than those who did. Senior author Dr. Kirsten Moysich adds, “We think that this study sends a powerful public health message: that a complete lack of exercise is associated with the greater likelihood of developing a serious disease. Our findings show that any amount of exercise can reduce cervical cancer risk.” Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease, May 2016
Chiropractic: Trigger Points & Women with Migraines. A trigger point is a hyperirritable spot in the tissue surrounding a muscle that many people commonly refer to as a “knot.” In this study, researchers examined the head, neck, and shoulder regions of 143 women with either episodic or chronic migraines and found they each had an average of three or four trigger points in those anatomical areas. The research team suspects that these trigger points may either trigger the onset of a migraine headache and/or contribute to head pain once a migraine attack has begun. The Clinical Journal of Pain, May 2016
Wellness/Prevention: Avoid Multitasking When Driving. The National Safety Council warns that talking on your phone or attempting to perform other tasks while driving can slow your response time and increase your risk for getting into a collision. They add that talking to someone in the car is different than talking to someone on the phone as passengers are much more aware of oncoming dangers than phone contacts—just make sure to keep both eyes on the road at all times.
National Safety Council, May 2016
Quote: “All great achievements require time.” ~ Maya Angelou

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

Mental Attitude: Don’t Blame Bad Behavior on the Full Moon. Many parents and teachers swear that children act differently when the moon is full, but new research suggests otherwise. The study tracked more than 5,800 kids across five continents over 28 lunar cycles. While the researchers found that nighttime sleep duration was about five minutes shorter around the time of a full moon compared with the new moon, they found no other significant changes in behavior among any of the children. Researcher Dr. Jean-Philippe Chaput notes, “Overall, I think we should not be worried about the full moon. Our behaviors are largely influenced by many other factors like genes, education, income, and psychosocial aspects rather than by gravitational forces.” Frontiers in Pediatrics, May 2016
Health Alert: FDA to Ban E-Cigarette Sales to Minors. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced it is banning the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. The new rules will also cover other alternative forms of tobacco such as cigars, hookah tobacco, and pipe tobacco. Additionally, regulations will require photo IDs to buy e-cigarettes and ban retailers from handing out free samples or selling them in vending machines. The FDA action has earned universal praise from medical associations, which have been concerned that e-cigarettes serve as a gateway to draw teens into a lifetime of smoking addiction. Food and Drug Administration, May 2016
Diet: Fruit Compounds Could Be Used to Treat Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and CVD. A supplement consisting of compounds derived from red grapes and oranges may offer a promising new treatment for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Researchers investigated the effects of a compound called trans-resveratrol (tRES), found in red grapes, and a compound found in oranges called hesperetin (HESP). The team found that participants with a BMI of more than 27.5 who took a supplement with these compounds experienced a reduction in insulin levels, improved insulin activity, better artery function, and reduced blood vessel inflammation. Study leader Dr. Paul Thornalley adds, “This is an incredibly exciting development and could have a massive impact on our ability to treat these diseases. As well as helping to treat diabetes and heart disease it could defuse the obesity time bomb.” Diabetes, May 2016
Exercise: Exercise Improves the Minds of Seniors. Older adults who participated in a 24-week aerobic exercise program experienced improvements in motor planning, thinking operations, attention, and concentration that were not observed in a control group of seniors who remained inactive. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, April 2016
Chiropractic: Physical Activity May Reduce Risk of Sciatica. According to a new meta analysis, leisure-time physical activity may reduce the risk of developing lumbar radicular pain, or sciatica. Researchers reviewed data from 18 published studies that included over 100,000 participants and found those who exercised at least one to three times per week were about 7% less likely to develop sciatica, while those who engaged in physical activity more than four times per week were up to 12% less likely to report radiating pain to one or both legs. The findings show that a common physical ailment can be reduced by simply staying active. European Journal of Pain, April 2016
Wellness/Prevention: Live Longer By Staying Lean. Two new studies indicate that staying trim throughout your life may increase your longevity, while being obese may do the opposite. The first study found that slim individuals had the lowest risk of dying over a 15-year period, while obese men and women had a greatest risk of early death. The second study found that gaining weight over time increases one’s risk of premature death. British Medical Journal, May 2016
Quote: “Have no fear of perfection—you’ll never reach it.” ~ Salvador Dalí

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