Mental Attitude: Heart Diagnosis, Depression, and Death. In this study, researchers assessed the mental health of 24,000 adults recently diagnosed with coronary artery disease and found about 15% suffered from depression—an amount that is significantly higher than the general population. Furthermore, half of those with depression died over the following decade compared to 38% of those without depression. American College of Cardiology, March 2017
Health Alert: Osteoarthritis Linked to Stroke. Taiwanese researchers report that patients living with osteoarthritis (OA) have an elevated risk for stroke. Using data from Taiwan’s Longitudinal Health Insurance Database, researchers found that patients with mild to moderate OA have a 95% higher risk for stroke when compared to those without OA. Additionally, the risk of stroke is nearly four-times greater for those with severe OA. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, March 2017
Diet: Staying Satisfied on a Vegetarian Diet. Contrary to what many believe, a vegetarian meal doesn’t have to leave you hungry and unsatisfied. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, veggie-based foods that can help you feel full include: lean, low-fat proteins, such as beans; veggie pizza or pasta with vegetables; vegetarian lo mein or lasagna; bean burritos or tofu stir-fry; and soy or vegetarian sausages, burgers, and hot dogs.
United States Department of Agriculture, March 2017
Exercise: Regular Yoga May Ease Depression Symptoms. Researchers randomly assigned 30 people with major depressive disorder to partake in either a “high-dose” or “low-dose” yoga program. The high-dose group participated in three 90-minute yoga classes each week along with home practice, while the low-dose group engaged in two 90-minute yoga sessions each week in addition to home practice. The researchers found that those who took three weekly yoga classes had fewer depressive symptoms than those in the “low-dose” group, but they added that even two classes a week provided positive mental health benefits. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, March 2017
Chiropractic: Soft Tissue Manipulation Benefits COPD Sufferers. A new study measured the immediate effect of soft tissue manual therapy on the lung function of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The researchers measured residual volume, inspiratory capacity, and oxygen saturation (SpO2) of twelve severe COPD participants immediately before and after administration of a soft tissue manual therapy protocol (STMTP) designed to address changes in the accessory respiratory muscles and their associated structures. The results showed a decrease in residual volume and an increase in inspiratory capacity and SpO2. The study reveals that a single application of an STMTP can produce immediate improvements in lung function in patients with severe and very severe COPD.
International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, February 2017
Wellness/Prevention: Make an Emergency Plan for Allergic Reactions. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that needs to be treated right away. Creating an emergency plan is key to protecting a child from a deadly allergic reaction, especially when they’re at school. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a plan should include: a simple explanation of symptoms that indicate a serious allergic reaction; guidance on when to use epinephrine; a customized plan for your child’s allergies, as well to any school regulations and local laws that may apply; keep the plan easy to understand for caregivers; and keep copies of the plan at your child’s school, daycare, and after-school care facility.
American Academy of Pediatrics, March 2017
Quote: “The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are.”
~ Marcus Aurelius

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