Mental Attitude: Mid-Life Risk Factors for Dementia. An analysis of data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in
Communities Study revealed that obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension during middle age are each
associated with an increased risk for dementia later in life. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, May 2018
Health Alert: Fentanyl Driving Overdose Deaths in America. Drug overdose deaths in the United States
involving fentanyl-type drugs have increased from about 3,000 in 2000 to about 19,400 in 2016! The findings are not
that surprising to researchers since these drugs are about 50-times more potent than heroin and nearly 100-times
more powerful than morphine. Dr. Linda Richter from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse notes
these findings “solidly confirm what front-line healthcare and law enforcement professionals in towns and cities
across the country know from firsthand experience: deadly synthetic opioids like fentanyl are now the main drivers
of drug overdose deaths in the United States.” Journal of the American Medical Association, May 2018
Diet: Protein Supplements Timing. Should you consume protein supplements with meals or between meals?
Researchers recently assessed data from 34 studies and discovered that consuming protein supplements with meals is
more effective for weight control, while consuming protein supplements between meals can help increase body
mass. Nutrition Reviews, April 2018
Exercise: Fitness Helps Seniors Recall Words. Ever find yourself trying to recall a word that’s on the tip of your
tongue? In a study that included both seniors and young adults, researchers found that those with higher aerobic
fitness levels performed better on word recall tests. Scientific Reports, April 2018
Chiropractic: When to Seek Care for Low Back Pain. The majority of people will experience an episode of low
back pain at some point in their life. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends seeking treatment if
you have the following symptoms: pain that radiates down your leg below your knee; leg, foot, or groin numbness;
fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or weakness; difficulty going to the bathroom; low back pain caused
by an injury; pain so intense that you can’t move; and pain persisting or worsening after two weeks.
American Academy of Family Physicians, May 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Living in the Vicinity of a Farm May Prevent Allergies. Past research has shown that
children who grow up on farms develop fewer allergies, but what about people who live near farms? Researchers
surveyed 2,500 adults who lived in rural areas and found that those who resided within about 1,000 feet of livestock
were 27% less likely to have allergies compared to those who lived further away. The authors say the finding
supports the “hygiene hypothesis,” which states that exposing the immune-system to allergy triggers called antigens
actually helps prime the body against developing allergies. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, April 2018
Quote: “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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

Mental Attitude: Mid-Life Stresses Tied to Dementia Risk Later On… An analysis of data from four studies that
included nearly 40,000 people appears to indicate a possible connection between anxiety during middle age and a
diagnosis of dementia in old age. The authors of the analysis suggest that an abnormal stress response may speed
brain cell aging and breakdowns in the nervous system, creating a vulnerability to dementia. Senior researcher Dr.
Natalie Marchant explains, “Given the long time interval between the assessment of anxiety and the diagnosis of
dementia—on average greater than 10 years—the findings from our review indicate that moderate to severe anxiety
may be a potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia.” BMJ Open, April 2018
Health Alert: Obesity Risk Increases Among Sleep-Deprived Kids. A review of 42 studies that included over
75,000 children revealed that those who got less than the recommended amount of sleep for their age were 58%
more likely to become overweight or obese than kids who got adequate sleep. Study co-author Dr, Michelle Miller
explains, “The results showed a consistent relationship across all ages, indicating that the increased risk is present in
both younger and older children… The study also reinforces the concept that sleep deprivation is an important risk
factor for obesity, detectable very early on in life.” Sleep, April 2018
Diet: Fish and Legumes May Help Delay Menopause. Women who consume a diet rich in fish and legumes may
delay the onset of menopause. In this study, researchers found that females who consumed one additional daily
portion of oily fish or fresh legumes (like peas and beans) began menopause more than three years later than women
who ate fewer daily servings of fish or legumes. The researchers conclude, “Our findings confirm that diet may be
associated with the age at natural menopause. This may be relevant at a public health level since age at natural
menopause may have implications on future health outcomes.”
Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, April 2018
Exercise: Get Active to Prevent Health Issues. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to a host of physical and mental
woes. According to the National Library of Medicine, inactive adults have an elevated risk for obesity, heart disease,
high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis.
National Library of Medicine, May 2018
Chiropractic: Sitting Too Long Linked to Chronic Back Pain. According to a new study that involved 15,000
Korean adults, sitting for more than seven hours per day is significantly associated with an increased risk for chronic
low back pain. Additionally, the researchers observed that participants with poor fitness had an even greater risk for
low back pain in relation to the amount of time they spent sitting. Spine, April 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D Important for Cancer Survivors. Among a sample of 434 head and neck cancer
patients, researchers found that those with a vitamin D deficiency were almost twice more likely to experience a
cancer recurrence than patients with healthy vitamin D levels. Laryngoscope, May 2018
Quote: “Success is attaining your dream while helping others to benefit from that dream materializing.”
~ Sugar Ray Leonard

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

Mental Attitude: Body Weight and Dementia Risk. While being overweight is linked to a number of poor health
outcomes, being underweight in old age can have a detrimental effect on the brain. In this study, which looked at
data from the Gothenburg Birth Cohort Studies, researchers found that seniors with a body mass index under 20 had
a greater risk for dementia than participants who maintained a healthy body weight during old age.
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, May 2018
Health Alert: Marijuana and Tobacco Smoke Exposure Tied to Elevated ER Visit Risk. Children from homes
in which an adult smokes either tobacco or marijuana are 24% more likely to have visited an emergency room in the
previous year and twice as likely to have been diagnosed with an ear infection. The researchers say the findings
should not be a surprise, as second-hand smoke has been linked to health problems in children, including upper
respiratory infections, ear infections, and asthma. Lead researcher Dr. Adam Johnson writes, “I think it’s going to get
more and more prevalent as more states across the country start legalizing [marijuana], because it’s a big business,
and there’s a lot of push to legalize recreational marijuana use.” Pediatric Academic Society, May 2018
Diet: Teens Drinking Less Soda, But More Sport Drinks. An analysis of data from surveys completed by
teenagers in 2010 and 2015 found that while fewer adolescents are drinking soda, there has been a slight uptick in
sugary sport drink consumption. The researchers note that most kids do not need such drinks even if they are
physically active and would benefit from simply drinking water. Pediatrics, May 2018
Exercise: School Kids Not Getting Enough Exercise. University of South Carolina researchers report that among a
group of 1,570 elementary school students, only 9.3% of girls and 10.4% of boys engaged more than the
recommended 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day.
American Journal of Preventative Medicine, May 2018
Chiropractic: Keyboard Musicians Often Have Musculoskeletal Pain. According to a recent research review,
anywhere from 25.8% to 77% of keyboard musicians suffer from musculoskeletal pain in one or more body sites,
with the wrists and hands being the most affected, followed by the neck and shoulders. Further analysis showed that
playing for more than 60 minutes at a time without a break and practicing for more than 20 hours a week both
increased the risk of musculoskeletal discomfort among keyboard musicians. PM&R, April 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Five Steps to Living Longer. Americans can add a decade to their life expectancy with just a
handful of healthy habits. The findings from two studies that followed the health habits and lifestyles of over
123,000 health professionals starting in the 1980s revealed that the five key factors for improving longevity include
not smoking, eating healthy, exercising regularly, maintaining a normal weight, and drinking only in moderation.
Circulation, April 2018
Quote: “Time changes everything except something within us which is always surprised by change.”
~ Thomas Hardy

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

Mental Attitude: Money Worries Have Americans Anxious. A nationwide poll of more than 1,000 adults
revealed that 39% of respondents are more anxious than they were a year ago, with finances, safety, and health
topping the list as sources of anxiety. American Psychiatric Association, May 2018
Health Alert: Illnesses Tied to Ticks and Mosquitoes Soaring in US. Diseases transmitted by ticks and
mosquitoes in the United States (US) have more than tripled over the past decade from about 27,000 cases in 2004 to
over 96,000 cases in 2016. Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) adds, “Zika, West Nile, Lyme, and chikungunya—a growing list of diseases caused by the bite of an infected
mosquito, tick or flea— have confronted the US in recent years, making a lot of people sick. And we don’t know
what will threaten Americans next.” The report reveals the need for an increased effort to both combat the spread of
these pests and better educate the public how to prevent bites. CDC Vital Signs Report, May 2018
Diet: Eating More Produce Lowers Depression Risk. An analysis of data from 18 published studies found that
each 100-gram increase in daily fruit and vegetable intake reduces an individual’s risk for depression by 3%.
British Journal of Nutrition, May 2018
Exercise: Can Exercise Make Your Heart Younger? In this study, researchers found that mice that ran the
equivalent of 3.1 miles (5 km) per day generated about 4.5 times more new heart muscle cells than mice that
abstained from exercise. The investigators report that these findings demonstrate how exercise can increases the
heart’s capacity to regenerate. Researcher Dr. Anthony Rosenzweig notes, “Maintaining a healthy heart requires
balancing the loss of heart muscle cells due to injury or aging with the regeneration or birth of new heart muscle
cells. Our study suggests exercise can help tip the balance in favor of regeneration.”
Nature Communications, April 2018
Chiropractic: Shoulder Strength Affected By Posture. A recent study assessed the effect of various sitting
postures on the external rotator muscle strength of the shoulder. Among a group of 100 participants, researchers
observed that shoulder external rotator strength declined 8% following five minutes of sitting in a forward head
rounded shoulder posture. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, February 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Early Breast Screening May Reduce Need for Aggressive Treatments. Early breast
cancer screening may translate into smaller tumors and less aggressive breast cancer treatments. In this study,
researchers found that women whose last mammogram was 25 months or more before their breast cancer diagnosis
were 50% more likely to need chemotherapy, 32% more likely to have a mastectomy, 66% more likely to need
lymph nodes removed, and had larger tumors than those who more recently underwent a breast cancer screening.
Study author Dr. Elisa Port notes, “There are multiple benefits of mammography in terms of early detection. Not
only do we save lives, but we reduce the likelihood of needing more aggressive treatment.”
American Society of Breast Surgeons, May 2018
Quote: “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” ~ Alan Kay

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