Mental Attitude: Stigma of Autism Can Affect Psyche. Social stigma may play a significant role in depression, anxiety, and other
mental health issues experienced by individuals with autism spectrum disorder. In a study involving 111 autistic adults, researchers
found that 72% of psychological distress reported by participants was due to social stigma such as discrimination and rejection. Study
author Dr. Monique Botha writes, “We already suspected there would be a significant impact of discrimination on the mental health of
the autistic population, it’s just that no one’s really studied the impact of that before… The only thing we were surprised by was how
potentially strong a relationship there was… To put it colloquially, it blew our minds.” Society and Mental Health, October 2018
Health Alert: A Dangerous Synthetic Opioid Now Showing Up in Crack Cocaine. Fentanyl-laced crack cocaine is causing lifethreatening
overdoses. According to researchers, within a four-day period, 18 patients in a Philadelphia hospital were treated for an
apparent opioid overdose after using crack cocaine. Lead study author Dr. Utsha Khatri explains, “None of them had intended to use
opioids or fentanyl, but their drug testing as well as their clinical presentation argued they had been exposed to pretty high doses of
fentanyl.” Fentanyl has been increasingly found in drugs including heroin and cocaine, as well as methamphetamine, ketamine, and
counterfeit prescription pills. Emily Feinstein, the executive vice president of the Center on Addiction concludes, “We’re really in a
fentanyl epidemic right now… Overdose death rates are really driven by fentanyl.” New England Journal of Medicine, October 2018
Diet: Plant-Based Diets Are a Great Option for Type 2 Diabetics. A review of data from eleven clinical trials involving diabetics
has identified an association between adopting a plant-based diet and improved physical and emotional quality of life.
BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, October 2018
Exercise: Cardiorespiratory Fitness Linked to Vitamin D Levels. Among a group of 1,995 adults, researchers found that those
with higher vitamin D serum levels also tended to have better cardiorespiratory fitness than participants with sub-optimal vitamin D
readings. Researcher Dr. Amr Marawan adds, “Our study shows that higher levels of vitamin D are associated with better exercise
capacity… We also know from previous research that vitamin D has positive effects on the heart and bones. Make sure your vitamin
D levels are normal to high. You can do this with diet, supplements, and a sensible amount of sun exposure.”
European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, October 2018
Chiropractic: A Frozen Shoulder Causes More Than Pain. Adhesive capsulitis (AC), also known as frozen shoulder, is described
as a painful restriction of the shoulder’s range of motion and about 3% of adults will develop the condition in their lifetime. In this
study, researchers examined 148 adults, half of whom had AC, and identified a strong association between pain, anxiety, and sleep
disturbance among those with frozen shoulder. The findings suggest that anxiety and disturbed sleep are common among patients with
frozen shoulder and that conservative treatment, such as chiropractic care, aimed at reducing pain and improving range of motion may
also improve sleep quality and anxiety levels in patients with the condition.
Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, October 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Prevent Swollen Gums. Unhealthy gums are often swollen, red, and painful. Triggers for swollen gums
usually include poor dental care, malnutrition, poorly fitted dentures, or side effects of a medication. To prevent swollen gums, the
National Library of Medicine recommends the following: consume a balanced diet that includes a wide variety of fruits and
vegetables; skip foods that can lodge under the gums, such as popcorn or chips; avoid mouthwash that irritates your gums; brush and
floss your teeth regularly; and visit your dentist or periodontist a minimum of every six months.
National Library of Medicine, November 2018
Quote: “Fortune does favor the bold and you’ll never know what you’re capable of if you don’t try.” ~ Sheryl Sandberg
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Mental Attitude: Sleep Vital for Concussion Recovery in Kids. Among a group of 356 youth athletes who had suffered a
sport-related concussion, researchers observed that those who experienced trouble sleeping were not only less likely to recover
during the following 2-4 weeks but they also reported more severe symptoms. First author Dr. Jane Chung writes, “The
importance of good sleep quality is often underestimated in young athletes… Sleep is not only important for physical, mental,
and cognitive well-being, but also seems to play a pivotal role in the recovery of the brain following a sport-related
concussion.” American Academy of Pediatrics, November 2018
Health Alert: Instant-Soup Burns Sends Thousands of Kids to ER Yearly. Instant soups can provide a quick meal for kids,
but these food products can also lead to scalding burns. Researchers analyzed data from 2006 to 2016 and found that burns
associated with instant soups and noodles affect more than 9,500 children each year with about 40% of these burns occurring on
the torso. The investigators note these burns are most likely due to kids spilling hot soup or water on themselves when picking
up a hot container. American Academy of Pediatrics, November 2018
Diet: Cottonseed Oil May Help Lower Cholesterol. University of Georgia researchers have found that a high-fat diet enriched
with cottonseed oil significantly improved cholesterol profiles in 15 healthy, normal weight men who ate high-fat meals for five
days in two separate trials. Specifically, the participants experienced an average decrease of 8% in total cholesterol while on the
cottonseed oil diet, along with a 15% decrease in low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol), a 30% decrease in triglycerides, and
an 8% increase in high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol). Researcher Dr. Jamie Cooper adds, “One of the reasons these
results were so surprising is because of the magnitude of change observed with the cottonseed oil diet… To see this amount of
change in such a short period of time is exciting.” Nutrition Research, November 2018
Exercise: Exercise Can Reduce Effect of Some Musculoskeletal Pain Conditions During Pregnancy. Researchers analyzed
data from 32 studies that included over 52,000 pregnant women and found that while exercise did not reduce their risk for low
back pain, pelvic girdle pain, or lumbopelvic pain either during pregnancy or in the postpartum period, being physically active
did lessen the severity of these musculoskeletal conditions when they occurred. BMJ Sports Medicine, October 2018
Chiropractic: Manipulation & Exercise Helps Seniors with Neck and Back Pain. Back pain and neck pain are common
causes of disability among older adults. In this study, researchers observed that among a group of 182 seniors with back pain or
neck pain, those who participated in a twelve-week treatment program that involved a combination of spinal manipulative
therapy and rehabilitative exercise experienced significant improvements in disability.
Arthritic Care & Research, October 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Importance of Ear Wax. Ear wax is naturally produced in the ear canal. Over time, it gradually travels
to the opening of the ear, where it falls out or is removed when bathing. For some individuals, ear wax can build up in the ear,
impairing hearing and requiring removal by a healthcare provider. According to the Nemours Foundation, here are some of the
functions of ear wax: it protects and moisturizes the skin to help prevent dry and itchy ears; it contains special chemicals that
help prevent infection; and it acts as a shield for the eardrum, protecting it against dust, dirt, or other objects that enter the ear.
Nemours Foundation, October 2018
Quote: “Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas.” ~ Marie Curie
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Mental Attitude: Adversity Early in Life Affects Development. Examinations of 274 children and adolescents have uncovered a
link between physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and faster biological aging, including pubertal development and cellular aging.
Additionally, the researchers found that children exposed to other forms of early life adversity, such as neglect and food insecurity,
showed signs of delayed pubertal development. Senior author Dr. Katie McLaughlin adds, “[The findings] demonstrate that different
types of early-life adversity can have different consequences for children’s development.” Biological Psychiatry, November 2018
Health Alert: Gut Bacteria May Be Linked to Body Movement… Researchers from the California Institute of Technology have
discovered that when they changed the composition of gut bacteria in fruit flies, it had a corresponding effect on the locomotive
capabilities of the test subjects. While further research is necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms involved and if such
findings may carry over to humans, the findings suggest dietary modifications could one day aid in the treatment of movement
disorders, like Parkinson’s disease. National Institutes of Health, October 2018
Diet: Low-Fat Diet May Improve Cancer Survival? According to a new study involving mice, a simple dietary change could
potentially help increase the survival rate of obese children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Researchers discovered that when
obese mice with leukemia were switched to a low-fat diet, they were five times more likely to survive than subjects that continued to
consume a high-fat diet. Lead researcher Dr. Steven Mittelman adds, “The most exciting thing to me about this study is the fact that
this shows that a dietary intervention could potentially help us kill leukemia cells in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia…
The current treatments for leukemia are very toxic, so finding a way to use a healthy diet, without increasing the toxicity of therapy to
treat people with cancer, would be incredible.” Cancer & Metabolism, October 2018
Exercise: Only Three Percent of Children Reach Recommended Daily Activity Levels. In a study that included 807 children, aged
nine or ten, researchers found that although a third of the boys and girls in the study exercised an average of 60 minutes per day, only
3% did so every day. Researcher Dr. Lisa Price notes, “We don’t know whether averaging 60 minutes a day will be different in terms
of health outcomes compared to 60 minutes daily—more research is needed to look into this… We do know that most children aren’t
doing enough physical activity, and that this has consequences not just in childhood but in adulthood too.”
Journal of Physical Activity and Health, November 2018
Chiropractic: Sleep Troubles May Predict Chronic Widespread Pain. Over the course of an 18-year study, researchers observed
that participants who developed problems with initiating sleep, maintaining sleep, early awakening, and non-restorative sleep had
about double the risk for developing chronic widespread pain. Past research has uncovered a two-way relationship between poor sleep
and musculoskeletal pain, underscoring the importance of seeking care to manage conditions like neck pain and back pain as soon as
possible—rather than delaying treatment—in order to reduce the risk of disturbed sleep and subsequent chronic widespread pain in the
future. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, November 2018
Wellness/Prevention: When to Wash Your Hands. Frequent hand washing is an excellent way to prevent illness. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention notes that you should always wash your hands in the following instances: before, during, and after
preparing food; before eating food; before and after caring for someone who is sick; after using the bathroom, changing diapers, or
cleaning up a child who has used the bathroom; after blowing your nose, sneezing, or coughing; after touching an animal, their cage,
or their food or handling animal waste; after handling garbage; and if you have dirty hands.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, November 2018
Quote: “You cannot create experience. You must undergo it.” ~ Albert Camus
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

WEEKLY HEALTH UPDATE
Week of: Monday, December 3rd, 2018
Courtesy of:
Mental Attitude: Happy Memories As a Child Might Benefit Your Health Later. A multi-year study that monitored the
wellbeing of over 22,000 adults in their mid-40s found that participants who recalled receiving higher levels of affection from
their mother during childhood were more likely to have better physical health and fewer depressive symptoms in the present
day. Lead author Dr. William Chopik adds, “One might expect childhood memories to matter less and less over time, but these
memories still predicted better physical and mental health when people were in middle age and older adulthood.”
Health Psychology, November 2018
Health Alert: A Noisy Neighborhood May Raise Heart Disease Risk. Living in a noisy neighborhood may be more than just
annoying, it may raise the risk for serious heart issues. Among a group of 500 healthy adults, researchers found that those who
lived in areas with higher levels of ambient noise have up to a three-times greater risk for heart attack, stroke, or another major
cardiovascular event than participants from quieter areas. Further analysis showed that participants from noisier neighborhoods
tended to have greater activity in their amygdale (a region of the brain involved in stress regulation) and more inflammation in
their arteries, which has been associated with an elevated risk for cardiovascular problems. Lead researcher Dr. Azar Radfar
notes, “We are not the first group talking about noise and cardiovascular disease… What we really show here is the mechanism
linking noise to major adverse cardiovascular events.” American Heart Association, November 2018
Diet: Just One Energy Drink… Caffeine-loaded energy drinks are very popular, but a new study suggests that they may make
your blood vessels less efficient in the short term. Researchers examined the blood vessels of 44 healthy, non-smoking medical
students both before and after they consumed a 24-ounce energy and found that after finishing the energy drink, the internal
diameter of the participants’ blood vessels became dramatically smaller. Lead researcher Dr. John Higgins explains, “It’s more
work for the heart and less oxygen supply for the heart. This could explain why there have been cases where kids have had a
cardiac arrest after an energy drink.” American Heart Association, November 2018
Exercise: Physical Activity Protects the Heart. According to a new study that monitored the health status of over 65,000
middle-aged adults for a decade, regular exercisers have a reduced mortality risk for several cardiovascular outcomes, including
acute myocardial infarction, chronic ischaemic heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure,
cerebrovascular events, and aneurysm and peripheral vascular diseases. European Journal of Epidemiology, November 2018
Chiropractic: Cervical Spine Mobilization Results in Immediate Results. Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal
complaint that can be both costly and disabling. In this study, 40 neck pain patients received either cervical mobilization or a
motionless manual contact. Those in the mobilization group experienced improvements related to movement-associated pain, as
well as increased range of motion and velocity when turning the head. Mobilization is frequently used by doctors of chiropractic
to treat patients with neck pain and other musculoskeletal conditions. Musculoskeletal Science & Practice, October 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Getting Adequate Vitamin D. Vitamin D is vital for strong bones and a healthy immune system. The
Arthritis Foundation offers the following suggestions for boosting one’s vitamin D levels: get direct sunlight without sunscreen
for just 10 to 15 minutes every other day; eat 3 ounces of a fish rich in vitamin D, such as salmon or Atlantic mackerel, two to
four times a week; take a cod liver oil supplement; and eat vitamin D-fortified foods. Arthritis Foundation, October 2018
Quote: “A friend is a gift you give yourself.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.