Mental Attitude: Low Vitamin D Levels Make Stress More Difficult to Manage. Previous studies have noted that
vitamin D deficiency increases one’s risk for a number of negative health outcomes. Now, a new study involving mice
indicates that vitamin D deficiency also makes it more difficult to cope with stress. In the study, researchers fed mice
either a normal diet or a vitamin D-poor diet for ten weeks before exposing them to stressful situations. The research team
observed that the vitamin D-deficient mice had a greater vulnerability to stress, suggesting that vitamin D plays a role in
the stress response. Psychoneuralendocrinology, December 2017
Health Alert: Belly Fat Increases Emergency Surgery Issues. An analysis of the health records of 600 patients who
had emergency surgery showed that those with excess belly fat were five-times more likely to experience complications
and eight-times more likely to die than slimmer patients. The findings are important, as two thirds of Americans are
currently overweight or obese. American College of Surgeons, October 2017
Diet: Western Diet May Increase Risk of Diabetes. In a recent study involving rodents, researchers observed that a
high-fat diet could cause blood vessel damage and increased blood pressure—symptoms common in diabetics—within a
short period of time. Researcher Dr. Maria Alicia Carrillo Sepulveda writes, “Our findings suggest that short-term
exposure to the western diet can put individuals at risk for developing vascular damage long before the tell-tale signs of
diabetes are present. This may explain why some diabetics who successfully manage their blood glucose still experience
other cardiovascular diseases, like hypertension, even while receiving treatment.”
New York Institute of Technology, October 2017
Exercise: College Students Who Exercise Drink Less Alcohol. A new study that evaluated the lifestyles of 132
university students found a link between increased physical fitness and reduced alcohol consumption. This suggests that
programs aimed at encouraging increased physical activity could reduce alcohol consumption among college students.
Journal of Behavioral Medicine, December 2017
Chiropractic: Metabolic Syndrome Common Among Workers with Back Pain. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of
conditions that includes high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol
or triglyceride levels that occur together, increasing one’s risk for diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. A recent study
involving 656 healthcare workers who experienced an episode of lower back pain in the previous year found that those
with metabolic syndrome reported higher levels of disability related to their back pain. The findings suggest that
addressing metabolic syndrome may be an effective way to reduce disability due to low back pain.
International Journal of Occupation of Medical Environmental Health, November 2017
Wellness/Prevention: Healthier Lifestyle May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk in Women with Higher Genetic Risk.
Previous research indicates that women with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations have an elevated risk for developing
breast cancer. A pilot study involving 68 BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers indicates that the incidence of breast cancer
is lower among those who regularly exercise and refrain from smoking. The research team recommends a larger scale
study to confirm their findings. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, December 2017
Quote: “We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.” ~ Chuck Palahniuk

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

Mental Attitude: Spanking May Heighten Adult Mental Health Issues. The results of a new survey suggest that
individuals who were spanked as children face a greater risk for certain mental health problems later in life. The survey,
which included over 8,300 adults, revealed that 55% were spanked during childhood at least a few times each year. Those
who were spanked were 37% more likely to have attempted suicide and about 30% more likely to have abused drugs
during their lives. The findings add to previous research showing both the physical and mental health dangers of this form
of discipline. Researcher Dr. Andrew Grogan-Kaylor adds, “And there’s almost no literature suggesting spanking has
positive effects.” Child Abuse & Neglect, September 2017
Health Alert: 20% of Americans Still Use Tobacco. A government study has found that nearly one in five adults in the
United States still smoked tobacco in 2015. According to experts, smoking kills about 480,000 Americans each year and
more than 16 million people in the United States live with diseases caused by smoking. The report reveals the need for
more action to reduce tobacco use and its associated health consequences.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, November 2017
Diet: Menus with Calories Appear to Be Paying Off. Since the implementation of regulations and laws requiring many
restaurants around the United States to include caloric information next to menu items, researchers have found that calorie
counts per menu item have dropped an average of 15 calories and diners have consumed an average of 27 fewer calories
per meal—with overweight restaurant goers cutting 83 calories from their average meal! Lead researcher Dr. Natalina
Zlatevska writes, “In the same way that corporate or financial disclosure changes behavior, here we see the disclosure
effect changing the food environment.” Journal of Retailing, November 2017
Exercise: Aerobic Exercise May Benefit OCD Patients. Patients under care for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
who participated in a twelve-week supervised aerobic exercise program achieved greater improvements in regards to OCD
symptom severity, depression, and anxiety than patients who simply attended health education classes. The authors of the
study conclude, “The results of this preliminary study suggest that exercise and health-focused interventions may be
beneficial adjuncts to existing OCD treatment.” General Hospital Psychiatry, November 2017
Chiropractic: Musculoskeletal Problems Common in Construction Workers. A recent systematic review investigated
the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among construction workers and found that within a given year, more than
half (51.1%) could expect to experience an episode of lower back pain. Other common conditions experienced each year
by construction workers include knee pain (37.2%), shoulder pain (32.4%), wrist pain (30.4%), neck pain (24.4%),
ankle/foot pain (24.0%), elbow pain (20.3%), upper back pain (19.8%), and hip/thigh pain (15.1%).
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, October 2017
Wellness/Prevention: Self-Driving Cars Might Save Lives. The RAND Corporation reports that the introduction of
self-driving cars that are just 10% safer than human-driven cars could save hundreds of thousands of lives over the next
15 to 30 years. RAND Corporation report, November 2017
Quote: “You can only be afraid of what you think you know.” ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

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

Mental Attitude: Living in a Bad Neighborhood Linked to Cognitive Decline… After controlling for individual
factors, French researchers report that older women living in deprived neighborhoods appear to have a 1.29-times greater
risk for dementia and a 1.42-times increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, November 2017
Health Alert: Vitamin D Deficiency Increases Alzheimer’s Risk. Poor vitamin D levels have been linked with a
number of negative health outcomes. Now, a new study indicates that seniors with deficient vitamin D levels may have an
elevated risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The study used data from the French Three-City Bordeaux study concerning 916
non-demented seniors whom researchers followed for twelve years. They found that participants who consistently had
deficient vitamin D blood levels had a 2.85-times greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease than those who maintained
adequate vitamin D levels. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, November 2017
Diet: A Healthier Diet Could Reduce Pancreatic Cancer Risk for Some Women. In this study, researchers advised
over 46,000 overweight and obese women, aged 50 to 79, who normally consumed a high-fat diet to either eat less fat and
more fruits, vegetables, and grains or continue their normal diet. Fifteen years later, they found the women who received
education about eating a healthier diet had a 17% lower risk for developing pancreatic cancer than those who continued to
maintain a high-fat diet. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, November 2017
Exercise: Walk Your Way to Fitness. According to experts from the Mayo Clinic, regular brisk walking can help one
maintain a healthy weight; prevent or manage various chronic diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and
type 2 diabetes; strengthen bones and muscles; improve one’s mood; and improve one’s balance and coordination. They
add that the faster, further, and more frequent you walk, the greater the benefits you can achieve.
Mayo Clinic, November 2017
Chiropractic: Musculoskeletal Pain Is a Major Problem for Surgeons! An analysis of data provided by 312 surgeons
found that neck pain was the most common musculoskeletal complaint among respondents, followed by neck pain
(45.8%), back pain (42.3%), and shoulder pain (40.1%). The research team also identified the these work-related risk
factors for musculoskeletal pain among surgeons: time spent performing surgeries per week (>25 hours per week),
duration of each surgery (> 3 hours), years spent as a surgeon (>10 years), and hours spent in a standing position each day
(>4 hours). Applied Ergonomics, February 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Oral Cancer Signs & Symptoms. Oral cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancer cases each year
and it is often diagnosed between the age of 55 and 64. According to the American Dental Association, oral cancer
symptoms may include the following: a mouth sore or irritation that doesn’t resolve within three weeks; red or white
patches; a lump, rough spot on usually smooth areas of the mouth; unexplained ear or throat trouble; and frequent
hoarseness while talking. If you have these symptoms, please contact your healthcare provider.
American Dental Association, November 2017
Quote: “If you believe you can, you might. If you know you can, you will.” ~ Steve Maraboli

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

Mental Attitude: Sleep Apnea May Increase Alzheimer’s Risk. Past research has linked the accumulation of amyloid
plaque in the brain with the development of Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, researchers analyzed spinal fluid samples
from 208 older men and women without dementia and found signs that indicated the presence of brain plaque in the
samples taken from those with sleep apnea. This concerns researchers, as some estimates indicate that half of the elderly
population suffers from sleep apnea of varying severity. The findings suggest that treating sleep apnea could help reduce
the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, November 2017
Health Alert: Waiting Just a Month to Remove Melanoma Can Be Deadly. An analysis of data regarding over
153,000 adults found that postponing surgical treatment for more than 29 days led to lower survival rates for those
diagnosed with stage 1 melanoma. Researcher Dr. Brian Gastman writes, “We saw significantly worse prognoses and
outcomes for those surgically treated after 30 days of stage I melanoma diagnosis. Knowing for certain that a more
expedient time to surgery to remove an early melanoma improves the chances of survival is a game-changer in treating
this life-threatening skin cancer.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, October 2017
Diet: Certain Foods May Help Reduce Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain. According to a new report in the Frontiers of
Nutrition, foods such as pomegranates, dried plums, whole grains, ginger, turmeric, and olive oil appear to reduce
inflammation, which may benefit patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Frontiers in Nutrition, November 2017
Exercise: Is Biking to Work as Effective as Leisure Time Exercise? In this study, researchers assigned 130 overweight
people to one of four groups: a cycling group, a moderate-intensity leisure-time exercise group, a high-intensity leisuretime
exercise group, and a control group that did not exercise. The cycling group rode an average of 8.7 miles (14 kg) per
day, the high-intensity group exercised about 35 minutes per day, and the moderate-intensity group exercised for around
55 minutes a day. After six months, the researchers calculated that the total energy expenditure was the same in all three
exercise groups and all exercise participants lost between 9-10 lbs (4.08-4.53 kg). The findings suggest the riding a bike to
work would be a time-effective solution to lose weight and become more physically active.
International Journal of Obesity, October 2017
Chiropractic: On-Site Chiropractic Care Could Benefit Employers. A recent report explored the benefits of
employing a chiropractor part-time to provide on-site wellness care for one day each week. The investigators found that
employees who utilized on-site chiropractic care had work absenteeism rates lower than industry norms.
Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, September 2017
Wellness/Prevention: Reducing UV Radiation Exposure. Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a
significant cause of skin cancer. To minimize exposure, the American Cancer Society suggests the following: stay in the
shade during the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM when UV rays are the strongest; wear sunscreen when outside at all times;
wear clothes that cover most of your skin; wear a wide brimmed hat to protect you head, neck, and face; and wear
sunglasses that are designed block dangerous UV rays. American Cancer Society, November 2017
Quote: “Laughter is a sunbeam of the soul.” ~ Thomas Mann

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