Mental Attitude: Depression Common Among Those with COPD. Two new studies have revealed that patients struggling with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) may have an increased risk for developing depression. The first study followed COPD patients over a three-year period and found one in four participants reported persistent depressive symptoms. The second study found that 22% of Medicare patients with COPD had one or more psychological disorders. An expert not involved in the study, Dr. David Mannino, explains that depression makes it difficult for those with COPD to adhere to needed therapies, especially since they tend to blame themselves for developing the disease by smoking. CHEST, April 2016
Health Alert: High BMI & Waist Circumference Linked to Aggressive Prostate Cancer. A high body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference appears to increase the risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Researchers followed 141,896 men from eight European countries and found a 10% increased risk of high grade (aggressive) prostate cancer for every five point increase in BMI and a 13% increase for every ten cm (3.9 inch) increase in waist circumference. Additionally, they found a 14% higher risk for fatal prostate cancer with every five point increase in BMI, and 18% increased risk in every ten cm increase in waist circumference. They conclude, “The findings from this large prospective study show that the association between body size and prostate cancer is complex and varies by disease aggressiveness; men who have greater adiposity have an elevated risk of high grade prostate cancer and prostate cancer death.” European Association for the Study of Obesity, June 2016
Diet: Dietary Fiber May Be Key to Successful Aging. Consuming a diet rich in fiber may be the key to aging successfully. In this study, researchers defined successful aging as reaching old age both disease-free and fully functional. They analyzed data on 1,609 adults aged 49 years and older and found that participants who had the highest intake of fiber were nearly 80% more likely to age successfully over a ten-year period than those with the lowest fiber intake. The Journal of Gerontology, June 2016
Exercise: Majority of Weight Management Apps Not Certified or Proven to Be Effective. Many overweight and obese people turn to a multitude of smartphone apps to help them lose weight; however, new research claims that less than one half percent of the 3,013 apps identified by the researchers that focused on body weight, exercise, and calorie intake recording and monitoring have been developed by a certified health organization or university.
European Association for the Study of Obesity, June 2016
Chiropractic: Short Leg Associated with Lumbar Disk Herniation. A new study investigated the role of leg length discrepancy and the occurrence of lumbar disk herniation. It has long been theorized that inequality in leg length may lead to abnormal transmission of load across the vertebral endplates and degeneration lumbar spine and the disk space. The study included 39 subjects with leg length discrepancy and low back pain as well as 43 people with just low back pain. Investigators found a statistically significant association between leg length inequality and the occurrences of lumbar disk herniation. Further research is needed, but the findings suggest that addressing leg length inequality may reduce an individual’s risk of lumbar disk herniation. Journal of Cranioverterbral Junction & Spine, May 2016
Wellness/Prevention: Possible Link Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Breast Cancer. German researchers compared the vitamin D levels and mammographic findings of 1,103 women and found that women with malignant results were more likely to have deficient vitamin D levels than those with negative results. Though more research is necessary, this finding suggests vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the development of some types of breast cancer. Obstetrics and Gynecology, May 2016
Quote: “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” ~ Vincent van Gogh

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

Mental Attitude: Heart Failure Boosts Depression Risk! Heart failure appears to be a substantial risk factor for the
development of depression among adults over the age of 40. In this study, German researchers followed 66,497 heart failure
(HF) patients and a similar number of people without heart failure for five years and found participants in the HF group were
60% more likely to be diagnosed with depression during the course of the study. International Psychogeriatrics, June 2016
Health Alert: Changes in Sleep Affect the Heart. Lack of sleep and an abnormal sleep cycle may increase the risk of heart
disease. This study involved 26 healthy people who were restricted to five hours of sleep per night for eight days with either
fixed bedtimes or bedtimes delayed by 8.5 hours on half the nights. The researchers found the changes in sleep resulted in
higher daytime heart rates, with the greatest effect when sleep was both shortened and delayed. Additionally, they observed that
abnormal sleep patterns increased the levels of a stress hormone called norepinephrine that is known to narrow blood vessels,
raise blood pressure, and expand the windpipe. Hypertension, June 2016
Diet: Soon Processed Foods May Contain Less Salt. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a
draft of voluntary guidelines that aims to reduce salt content in processed and prepared foods. The FDA hopes the guidelines
will help reduce Americans’ daily salt intake to 3,000 mg in two years and 2,300 mg over the next decade. Currently,
Americans’ average salt intake is about 3,400 milligrams per day. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell writes,
“Many Americans want to reduce sodium in their diets, but that’s hard to do when much of it is in everyday products we buy in
stores and restaurants… Today’s announcement is about putting power back in the hands of consumers, so that they can better
control how much salt is in the food they eat and improve their health.” Food and Drug Administration, June 2016
Exercise: Is There a Better Way to Improve Muscle Strength? The results of a new study reveal that explosive contractions
less than one second in duration are an easier and less tiring way of increasing the strength and functional capacity of muscles.
The investigators say this method increases strength by assisting the nervous system in “switching on” and activating the trained
muscles. In comparison, traditional sustained contractions with heavier weights for longer than three seconds are actually a
more effective way of increasing muscle mass. Lead researcher Dr. Jonathan Folland explains, “Whereas traditional strength
training is made up of slow, grinding contractions using heavy weights which is quite hard work, this study shows that short,
sharp contractions are relatively easy to perform and a very beneficial way of building up strength. These short, explosive
contractions may also be beneficial to older individuals and patient groups such as those with osteoarthritis, who would benefit
from getting stronger, but are reluctant to undergo tiring sustained contractions.” Journal of Applied Physiology, June 2016
Chiropractic: Manipulation Better Than Injection for Disk-Related Neck Pain. Investigators compared the outcomes
(overall improvement, pain reduction, and treatment costs) of over one hundred patients with a symptomatic cervical disk
herniation who were either treated with spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) or imaging-guided cervical nerve root injection
blocks (CNRI). The results show improvement in 86% of the patients who received SMT versus improvement in only 49% of
the patients who received injections. The findings support the use SMT over injections blocks to treat a symptomatic cervical
disk herniation. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, April 2016
Wellness/Prevention: Do You Have Summer Allergies? You may think you have a summer cold, but summer allergies may
actually be to blame. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology lists the following warning signs of allergies:
dark circles below the eyes, swollen adenoids that cause the face to look tired and droopy, a nasal crease that forms on the
bridge of the nose, and breathing through the mouth due to nasal congestion.
American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, May 2016
Quote: “It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien

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

Mental Attitude: Lifestyle Changes May Help Kids with ADHD. Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) are often treated with medications; however, new research suggests that parents can also help their kids by promoting
healthy habits. Researchers looked at 184 children with ADHD and 104 without the condition and found that those with ADHD
were less likely to follow healthy behaviors recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Sleep
Foundation, and the United States Department of Agriculture such as: limiting screen time to less than two hours a day,
engaging in physical activity for at least one hour per day, limiting sugary beverage intake, obtaining nine to eleven hours of
sleep a night, and drinking seven to ten cups of water daily. Study author Dr. Kathleen Holton adds, “Many parents of children
diagnosed with ADHD do not want their children on medication. Having their children follow healthy lifestyle behaviors may
be an effective intervention, either alongside or in the place of traditional ADHD medications.”
Journal of Attention Disorders, May 2016
Health Alert: Being Fit Cuts Stroke Risk! After controlling for known risk factors for stroke like hypertension, diabetes
mellitus, and atrial fibrillation, a team of researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center reports that
men and women with greater cardiorespiratory fitness levels during midlife are more than 40% less likely to experience a stroke
than their sedentary peers. Stroke, June 2016
Diet: Foods that May Protect Against Pancreatic Cancer. Czech researchers report that the following foods appear to reduce
the risk of pancreatic cancer when eaten three or more times per week: cabbage, broccoli, onions, tomatoes, and carrots.
Klinika Onkologie, June 2016
Exercise: Aquatic Resistance Training Good for Knee Cartilage. According to a new study, postmenopausal women with
mild knee osteoarthritis can safely promote cartilage health and improve their aerobic fitness with intensive aquatic resistance
training. Participants in the study completed one hour of intensive aquatic lower limb resistance exercises three times a week for
four months. At the end of the study, researchers used a special MRI to evaluate the knee and found that high intensity aquatic
resistance training was sufficient to improve collagen orientation in articular cartilage. The significance of this study is that high
repetitions of low-impact aquatic resistance exercises can improve cartilage health and quality while also increasing
cardiovascular fitness. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, May 2016
Chiropractic: Back Pain & Pregnancy. Brazilian researchers report that back pain affects about two-thirds (68%) of women
either during or following a pregnancy, with the greatest risk during the second trimester. Additionally, they found symptoms
often worsened at night for 71% of the women in their study, and one in four developed back pain from prolonged standing.
Revista Brasileira de Anestesiologia, May 2016
Wellness/Prevention: Women Should Not Neglect Their Health. Being a wife and/or mother can be demanding, but women
need to make sure to take care of their own health as well. Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest
the following: seeing your doctor for regular check-ups, getting plenty of exercise, eating nutritious foods, staying mentally
healthy by findings ways to cope with stress, getting plenty of sleep, not smoking, using caution with prescription medications,
and protecting skin from harmful UV radiation. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, June 2016
Quote: “Life is a blank canvas, and you need to throw all the paint on it you can.” ~ Danny Kaye

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

Mental Attitude: Doctor Attire May Affect Patient Outcomes. In this study, participants were shown photos of dermatologists wearing different outfits, and 73% of participants preferred images of doctors wearing a white coat, followed by surgical scrubs at 19%, a suit at 6%, and casual clothing at 2%. The study authors note that patients quickly form opinions about a doctor during their initial encounter that can influence their confidence in the doctor’s treatment recommendations and that can affect their outcomes. JAMA Dermatology, June 2016
Health Alert: Air Pollution Can Make Blood Pressure Soar. A review of 17 studies from around the world has found a link between dangerous blood pressure and air pollutants, such as vehicle exhaust, coal burning, and airborne dirt or dust. The researchers explain that just a few days of increased air pollution can lead to more emergency hospital visits due to temporary spikes in blood pressure. Over the long term, those living with constant high levels of air pollution may end up with chronically high blood pressure. The findings are of great concern as high blood pressure is a key risk factor for stroke and heart disease, the number one cause of death worldwide. Dr. Gregg Fonarow, a professor of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles comments, “These findings suggest that strategies to effectively reduce exposure to air pollution may have cardiovascular benefits.” Hypertension, May 2016
Diet: Healthy Fats Don’t Boost Weight. According to new report, consuming a diet that includes healthy fats such as olive oil and nuts isn’t likely to cause weight gain. The study included more than 7,400 women and men who ate one of three meal plans: an unrestricted-calorie Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil; an unrestricted-calorie Mediterranean diet rich in nuts; or a low-fat diet intended to avoid all dietary fat. After five years, the researchers found that a diet with little fat did not result in more weight loss, but it did result in a greater likelihood of increased waist circumference, which is a risk factor for chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes. In a commentary that accompanied the study Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian notes, “Dietary guidelines should be revised to lay to rest the outdated, arbitrary limits on total fat consumption. Calorie-obsessed caveats and warnings about healthier, higher-fat choices such as nuts, phenolic-rich vegetable oils, yogurt, and even perhaps cheese, should also be dropped.” The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, June 2016
Exercise: Find Time for Fitness. The American Council on Exercise offers the following advice about how to squeeze in a few minutes of exercise during the day: take a walk around the block when you get home from work, park your car a little further from your office building, take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk for ten minutes without stopping when shopping, clean your home, work in the yard, exercise during your lunch or coffee break, and ask a co-worker to join you for a quick walk.
American Council on Exercise, May 2016
Chiropractic: Neck Trauma Linked to Jaw Pain! In this study, researchers followed up with individuals who had been seen in an emergency room for neck pain resulting from a car accident and found they were up to six times more likely to report jaw pain than their peers who had no history of neck trauma. This finding adds to previous research indicating a link between cervical trauma or injury and the development of orofacial pain. Journal of Dental Research, June 2016
Wellness/Prevention: Drink Fewer Sugary Soft Drinks. Consuming more than five sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages on a weekly basis may increase an individual’s risk for a heart attack. Researchers measured the coronary artery calcium levels of over 22,000 men and found those who consumed more than five sugary soft drinks per week were 70% more likely to have plaque build-up in their arteries, which is an early indicator for coronary heard disease. American Heart Journal, July 2016
Quote: “Sometimes you can see things happen right in front of your eyes and still jump to the wrong conclusions.”
~ Jodi Picoult

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