Mental Attitude: “Heading” a Soccer Ball May Be More Dangerous for Women. Several studies have linked heading
soccer balls with an increased risk for brain injury and new research suggests that the danger is even greater for female
athletes. In the study, researchers compared brain scans of 49 female and 49 male amateur soccer players who reported a
similar number of headings over the previous year (about 470 to 490) and observed far more extensive damage in the
brains of the female participants. Study leader Dr. Michael Lipton explains, “Researchers and clinicians have long noticed
that women fare worse following head injury than men, but some have said that’s only because women are more willing to
report symptoms… Based on our study, which measured objective changes in brain tissue rather than self-reported
symptoms, women do seem more likely than men to suffer brain trauma from heading soccer balls.” Radiology, July 2018
Health Alert: Smoking and Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is described as a serious mental health condition that can
involve hallucinations or delusions and symptoms of a mood disorder, such as mania and depression. A review of data
from twelve published studies indicates that smokers are twice as likely to develop the condition as nonsmokers.
Nicotine & Tobacco Research, August 2018
Diet: Healthy Diet Linked to Lower Cancer Risk. An analysis of dietary and health data concerning over 40,000 adults
suggests that greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet—which focuses on fruits, vegetables, grains, olive oil, fish, lean
meats, and nuts/seeds—is associated with up to a 12% lower overall cancer risk. Cancer Research, August 2018
Exercise: Muscle “Switch” May Determine Benefits of Exercise. Scientists have discovered a molecular “switch” that
may explain why some people benefit from aerobic exercise and strength training, while others do not. Using both animal
and human subjects, researchers discovered that a protein called C-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) helps to determine our
response to exercise. If JNK is activated during exercise, it stimulates skeletal muscle growth. If it’s not activated,
muscles will improve their adaptation for endurance and aerobic capacity. Further research is needed to determine JNK’s
implications in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and its possible role in building muscle to fight muscle-wasting
diseases. Nature Communications, August 2018
Chiropractic: Most Women Have Back Pain During Pregnancy. Questionnaires completed by 287 expectant mothers
revealed that 76% experienced back pain during their pregnancy. Additionally, the researchers found that nearly a third of
the participants in the study reported both back pain and pelvic girdle pain, with the risk for each increasing over the
course of the pregnancy. The research team adds that women with a previous history of back pain or pelvic girdle pain
have an elevated risk for experiencing such pain while pregnant.
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada, August 2018
Wellness/Prevention: How to Prevent Foot Blisters. Friction against the skin can lead to blisters on the feet, especially
when wearing ill-fitting shoes. To prevent foot blisters, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends the
following: wear socks that wick away moisture, make sure to wear shoes that fit properly, apply soft bandages to protect
problem areas, apply powder or petroleum jelly to reduce friction, and stop the current activity immediately if you have
foot pain or discomfort. American Academy of Dermatology, August 2018
Quote: “To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act.” ~ Anatole France

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

Mental Attitude: Stressed Workers May Not Benefit from Vacations. A survey of more than 1,500 working
Americans found that many people are unable to relax and enjoy their time away from the office. More specifically, when
participants returned to work after time off, 68% said they were in a better mood; 66% were energized; and 27% reported
feeling motivated and less stressed. Unfortunately, 40% said these feelings were gone within days and 21% never seemed
to relax, saying they felt tense or stressed while on vacation. American Psychological Association, June 2018
Health Alert: Premature Birth Linked to ADHD? Among a group of 113,227 Norwegian children, researchers
observed that those born prior to 34 weeks gestation were over 23% more likely to experience symptoms associated with
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by age eight. JAMA Pediatrics, June 2018
Diet: Folic Acid Supplementation in Foods May Reduce Psychosis Among Kids. Beyond protecting against birth
defects such as spina bifida, fortifying grains with folic acid may also improve fetal brain development and reduce the risk
of developing psychosis. Researchers reviewed 1,400 MRI brain scans of children who were born either before or after
folic acid fortification became mandatory in the United States in the late 1990s and found that those born after
fortification went into effect had significantly thicker brain tissue than those born in previous years. This group also had
delayed thinning of the cerebral cortex in regions linked to schizophrenia risk. Corresponding author Dr. Joshua Roffman
comments, “What we and others are showing is that prenatal folic acid may also confer protection against severe mental
illness in youth, which was not anticipated.” JAMA Psychiatry, June 2018
Exercise: Improves Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients… A review of data from 36 published studies concluded
that regardless of mode (aerobic, resistance, or a combination of both), exercise is both a safe and effective method for
improving quality of life in breast cancer patients. Supportive Care in Cancer, July 2018
Chiropractic: Conservative Treatment for CTS? Researchers reviewed data from ten published studies and concluded
that after one year, patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) reported similar improvements in pain and function
regardless of whether or not they underwent surgery or pursued more conservative treatment options. Conservative
chiropractic care for carpal tunnel syndrome often includes manual therapies (manipulation and mobilization) combined
with exercise, traditional wrist splinting, and nutritional recommendations. Hand, July 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Stay Safe While on Vacation. No one wants to take a trip to the hospital while they’re abroad.
The Food and Drug Administration recommends the following to keep you safe when traveling: avoid spending too much
time in the sun; check your medications before leaving on a trip to make sure you have enough; never pack medication in
your checked luggage; if you wear contacts, always use clean hands when putting them in and bring a spare pair; avoid
tattoo parlors in other countries that have different safety standards; and drink plenty of clean water and eat healthy foods.
Food and Drug Administration, June 2018
Quote: “Courage can’t see around corners but goes around them anyway.” ~ Mignon McLaughlin

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

Mental Attitude: Heart Failure Patients at Greater Risk for Dementia. After monitoring the health status of about
12,000 older adults for fifteen years, researchers found that those with a history of heart failure had up to a 60% increased
risk for developing dementia by the conclusion of the study. Journal of General Internal Medicine, July 2018
Health Alert: Diabetes Raises Cancer Risk. An analysis of data from 121 cohort studies involving over 19 million
participants indicates that diabetics have a 10% increased risk for a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. Additionally, among
cancer cases, diabetics have a slightly elevated risk for cancer-related mortality. Diabetologia, July 2018
Diet: Savory Foods May Be Key to Healthy Eating. In this study, researchers measured the inhibitory control, eye
movement, and brain activity of female participants while they made food choices and found that after consuming a
savory flavor-rich broth, those at risk for obesity consumed less saturated fat in their subsequent meal. Senior author Dr.
Miguel Alonso-Alonso writes, “Many cultures around the world advocate drinking a broth before a meal. Our study
suggests the possibility that people at high risk of obesity could benefit from an umami-rich broth before a meal to
facilitate healthy eating and healthy food choice.” Neuropsychopharmacology, March 2018
Exercise: Get Off Your Seat and Start Moving. A review of data concerning nearly 128,000 men and women showed
that individuals who normally sit for six or more hours per day have a 19% higher risk of early death than those who sit
fewer than three hours per day. Excessive sitting may also increase one’s risk for the following: some cancers; heart
disease; stroke; diabetes; kidney disease; suicide; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); lung disease; liver
disease; peptic ulcer and other digestive disease; Parkinson’s disease; Alzheimer’s disease; nervous disorders; and
musculoskeletal disorders. American Journal of Epidemiology, June 2018
Chiropractic: Manual Therapy for Cervicobrachial Pain? Cervicobrachial pain (CP) is described as pain that extends
from the neck into the shoulder and upper arm. In a recent study, researchers found that patients treated with mobilization
therapy, a form of treatment performed by doctors of chiropractic, for six weeks experienced improvements in both pain
and function. The research team concludes, “Our findings challenge the role of pharmacologic versus manual therapy as
possible treatments that may improve pain intensity and upper limb functionality in subjects with CP.”
Archives of Medical Sciences, June 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Getting Outside Is Good for Your Health. Spending time in nature can provide an individual
with significant and wide-ranging health benefits. An analysis of data involving more than 290 million people revealed
that routine exposure to green spaces can reduce the risk for type II diabetes, heart disease, premature death, premature
births, stress, and hypertension. Lead author Dr. Caoimhe Twohig-Bennett notes, “We hope that this research will inspire
people to get outside more and feel the health benefits for themselves. Hopefully our results will encourage policymakers
and town planners to invest in the creation, regeneration, and maintenance of parks and greenspaces, particularly in urban
residential areas and deprived communities that could benefit the most.” Environmental Research, July 2018
Quote: “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” ~ Ernest Hemingway

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

Mental Attitude: Siblings Can Ease Pain of Family Conflict. In this study, researchers interviewed children from 236
families and found that teens who had good relationships with their siblings experienced less distress when answering
questions about observed parental disagreements. Study co-author Dr. Meredith Martin writes, “We showed that having a
good relationship with a brother or sister reduced heightened vulnerability for youth exposed to conflicts between their
parents by decreasing their tendencies to experience distress in response to later disagreements between their parents.”
Child Development, June 2018
Health Alert: Heat Waves Raise Heart Attack Mortality Risk. A heat wave is a period of unusually hot weather
lasting several days in which temperatures exceed the historical average in the region. An analysis of data from 23
published studies indicates that heat waves may increase the risk of myocardial infarction-related death by up to 64%.
Environmental Pollution, October 2018
Diet: Eye Strain? Eat More Dark, Leafy Greens! Chinese researchers evaluated students from five universities and
found that participants with poor eyesight who consumed larger quantities of dark, leafy green vegetables in their diet had
a 40% reduced risk for eye strain. Examples of dark, leafy greens include spinach, broccoli, collard greens, kale, Swiss
chard, arugula, and bok choy. International Journal of Ophthalmology, June 2018
Exercise: Stronger Hips May Help Pitchers Stay on the Mound. In this study, researchers measured lower extremity
performance in 18 collegiate pitchers before and after a simulated game. While researchers observed no change in jump
squat performance following the 117-pitch session, the participants did experience a decline in their hip abduction and
adduction strength that may have affected their pitching velocity. The research team concludes, “Our findings suggest that
hip abduction and adduction strength are susceptible to fatigue owing to repetitive throwing motions and that hip
adduction strength, especially, is an important physical fitness factor for maintaining ball velocity during a game in
baseball pitchers.” Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, June 2018
Chiropractic: Factors That Increase Risk for Degenerative Disk Disease. Disks degenerate when they become
dehydrated, lose height, and the vertebrae on either side develop bony growths called osteophytes, which can cause or
exacerbate lower back pain. In this study, researchers compared data concerning 160,911 degenerative disk disease
(DDD) patients and 315,225 healthy controls and identified the following risk factors for the condition: tobacco use,
hip/knee osteoarthritis, overweight/obesity, and diabetes. Clinical Spine Surgery, July 2018
Wellness/Prevention: A Third of Women May Not Get Enough Sleep! Do you get 7-9 hours of sleep each night?
Among a sample of 9,749 Canadian women, researchers found that 38% did not get sufficient sleep. Previous research has
noted an association between insufficient sleep and an increased risk for accidents, poor cognitive performance,
cardiovascular disease, depression, weight gain, diabetes, and early death. Canadian Journal of Public Health, April 2018
Quote: “The man who realizes his ignorance has taken the first step toward knowledge.” ~ Max Heindel

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

Mental Attitude: Bright Future May Help Teens Avoid Violence. If teens are offered the possibility of a good future,
they may become more peaceful. A survey of 866 male teens in poorer neighborhoods showed that those who had a
positive outlook were less likely to say that they’d threatened somebody else or injured others with a weapon in the past
nine months. Based on the findings, researcher Dr. Alison Culyba writes, “Designing youth violence prevention
interventions to help teens develop a positive future orientation may be an important part of reducing violence
perpetration.” JAMA Pediatrics, June 2018
Health Alert: Lyme Disease-Carrying Ticks More Widespread Than Once Thought. A nationwide effort led by
scientists at Northern Arizona University has detected ticks that can carry Lyme disease and other tick-borne illness in
over 80 counties in the United States where such ticks had not previously been recorded. Researcher Dr. Nate Nieto notes,
“People should be aware of ticks and tick-borne disease, even when they may think there’s not a recorded incidence of a
tick in a county.” PLOS One, July 2018
Diet: Breastfeeding and Picky Eaters. According to a Danish study that included 236 boys and girls, the longer a child
exclusively breast feeds, the lower the chances they’ll be picky eaters when they move on to solid foods. In particular, the
researchers found that kids who exclusively breast fed for their first four/five months of life were almost three-times less
likely to exhibit picky eating behavior than children who breast fed for less than a month. PLOS ONE, July 2018
Exercise: Improved Access to Exercise Classes May Help Those with Lung Conditions. Using information gathered
from one-on-one interviews and focus groups, researchers report that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
patients are more likely to be physically active if they have routine contact with their healthcare provider, support from
their peers, and access to regular organized exercise sessions. Primary Care Respiratory Medicine, June 2018
Chiropractic: Taking Breaks Can Reduce Back Pain Risk for Office Workers. If you work in an office, taking breaks
can cut your risk for developing nonspecific lower back pain (NSLBP). In the study, researchers monitored the behavior
and health of 669 office workers over the course of a year and found that those who took more frequent breaks had a
lower risk for NSLBP, especially in light of more demanding work duties.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, July 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Check for Signs of Skin Cancer. The warmer months are a great time for people to check their
skin for signs of cancer. Dermatologist Dr. Katherine Gordon recommends looking for the following: moles that change,
have irregular shapes, or uneven edges; moles that are multi-colored, such as brown, tan, and black; moles that are raised;
moles that are large or have a diameter larger than the size of a pencil eraser; scales, itchiness, tenderness, or pain around
a mole; a sore that does not heal or recurs; and brown or black streaks under a nail.
UT Southwestern Medical Center, June 2018
Quote: “My main hope for myself is to be where I am.” ~ Woody Harrelson

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