Mental Attitude: Many Concussion Patients Are Left Wondering… Researchers surveyed 831 patients who suffered a
concussion or mild-traumatic brain injury (TBI) and found that only 47% received educational materials about TBI from
their doctor following their diagnosis. About a third of the patients in the study experienced three or more moderate-tosevere
concussion symptoms within the proceeding three months but only half had a follow-up visit with a healthcare
provider. JAMA Network Open, May 2018
Health Alert: Second-Hand Smoke Exposure Increases Miscarriage Risk. An analysis of data concerning 5.7 million
Chinese women found that non-smokers in households with one or more smokers have a 17% greater risk of miscarriage
than women in smoke-free homes. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, June 2018
Diet: Eat More Plant-Based Foods to Help Stay Thin. Among a group of over 9,600 older adults, those with a diet rich
in plant-based foods had a significantly lower average BMI and fat mass index scores than participants with a more
traditional Western-style diet. Lead author Dr. Zhangling Chen adds, “Our study suggests that a more plant-based and less
animal-based diet beyond strict adherence to vegan or vegetarian diets may be beneficial for preventing
overweight/obesity in middle-aged and elderly populations.” European Congress on Obesity, May 2018
Exercise: HIIT is As Enjoyable As Traditional Exercise. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) involves multiple short
bursts of intense exercise and is known to offer many health benefits. In this study, researchers recruited 30 inactive men
and women who had never tried HIIT before. Participants then completed both high-intensity and traditional moderateintensity
exercise programs and then rated each on a multi-point pleasure-displeasure scale. Despite reporting higher
levels of displeasure during the HIIT sessions, participants subsequently rated both forms of exercise as equally enjoyable
and 79% later went on to perform HIIT on their own. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, May 2018
Chiropractic: Common Characteristics for Back Pain and Sciatica. Back pain is highly prevalent and associated with
significant disability and work absenteeism worldwide. Investigators recently performed a systematic review and
identified the following risk factors for both low back pain and sciatica: advancing age, poor general health, physical
stress on spine, and psychological stress. With the exception of age, the other characteristics are potentially modifiable
and should be addressed to help reduce the risk of future episodes of low back pain and/or sciatica.
Spine Journal, May 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Protect Your Eye Health. Vision problems tend to increase as one ages, but there are things you
can do to help protect your eye sight: have a medical eye exam by age 40, when early signs of disease may begin without
any symptoms; find out what your family history is for inherited eye diseases; eat a healthy diet that’s low in fat and high
in fruits, vegetables, fish, and whole grains; don’t smoke, as it increases the risk of eye diseases, such as cataracts and agerelated
macular degeneration; and remember to wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV damage while
outside. American Academy of Opthalmology, May 2018
Quote: “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” ~ Maya Angelou
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.