Mental Attitude: Screen Time Tied to Speech Delay. An analysis of data concerning nearly 900 young children revealed that for
each 30-minute increase in time a child spends on a smartphone, tablet, or electronic device at 18 months of age, they have a 49%
elevated risk for expressive speech delay. According the American Academy of Pediatrics, expressive language is the ability to
convey feelings and information. Of concern to the researchers is that 20% of the children in the study spent an average of 28 minutes
per day in front of a screen. Pediatric Academic Society, May 2017
Health Alert: Sunscreen Use May Cause Vitamin D Deficiency. Sunscreen is key to protecting our skin from the damaging effects
of the sun, but a new study suggests that using sunscreen could lead to vitamin D deficiency. In this study, researchers found that
using sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher could reduce the body’s vitamin D-3 production by 99%. Based on the findings, the
researchers suggest that individuals should avoid sunscreen use when exposed to midday sun for up to 30 minutes twice weekly in
order to increase and maintain normal vitamin D levels. Co-author Dr. Kim Pfotenhauer adds, “People are spending less time outside
and, when they do go out, they’re typically wearing sunscreen, which essentially nullifies the body’s ability to produce vitamin D.
While we want people to protect themselves against skin cancer, there are healthy, moderate levels of unprotected sun exposure that
can be very helpful in boosting vitamin D.” Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, May 2017
Diet: A Specific Antioxidant May Help the Arteries of Diabetics. The antioxidant called resveratrol—which is found in red wine,
peanuts, and berries—may improve the health of blood vessels in people with type 2 diabetes. According to the results of a new study,
researchers have found that resveratrol supplements lessened artery stiffness in some diabetic individuals. Among a group of patients
who each had an exceptionally stiff aorta at the start of the study, researchers found that 100mg daily doses of resveratrol reduced
stiffness nearly 5% in just two weeks. Increasing the dose to 300mg per day for the next two weeks reduced stiffness by 9%.
American Heart Association, May 2017
Exercise: Avoid These Common Exercise Errors. To reach your exercise goals, the American College of Sports Medicine
recommends avoiding these seven mistakes: failing to keep a journal to monitor your progress, losing track of your goals, strengthtraining
the same muscles on consecutive days, breathing incorrectly during exercise, not eating enough protein, getting distracted
during your workout, and ignoring flexibility and balance training. American College of Sports Medicine, May 2017
Chiropractic: Myofascial Release Protocol Reduces Chronic Low Back Pain. Myofascial release (MFR) is a hands-on technique
that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. A
study recently investigated the effects of MFR on pain and disability in patients suffering from chronic low back pain (CLBP). The
study included 54 participants with nonspecific CLBP who either received four sessions of myofascial treatment lasting 40 minutes or
a sham treatment (similar to taking a placebo in a drug trial). The researchers found that participants in the myofascial group reported
significant improvements in pain and disability compared with those in the sham group. Myofascial release is often utilized by
chiropractors to manage many musculoskeletal conditions. Spine, May 2017
Wellness/Prevention: Dropping Weight Can Save Your Knees. Losing a few extra pounds may take a load off your knees.
Researchers collected data on 640 obese and overweight people who had mild osteoarthritis or were at risk of it. Investigators found
that obese and overweight people who lost 5% or more of their weight over four years experienced less degeneration of their knee
cartilage compared with individuals whose weight remained stable. Furthermore, patients who lost 10% of their body weight
experienced even slower cartilage degeneration. Radiology, May 2017
Quote: “Life changes in the instant. The ordinary instant.” ~ Joan Didion

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