Mental Attitude: Depression Is a Risk for Teenagers with Epilepsy. In this study, researchers evaluated nearly 400 teens with epilepsy and found that 22% had depressive symptoms, 8% had moderate or severe depression, and another 5% had thought about or attempted suicide. American Epilepsy Society, November 2018 Health Alert: Insomnia Linked to Accelerated Cellular Aging. Telomeres are the molecular structures found on the ends of chromosomes that help keep them from deteriorating or sticking to neighboring chromosomes. In recent years, researchers have identified an association between reduced telomere length and many age-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. A new study that included nearly 1,000 Brazilian adults found a relationship between chronic insomnia and shorter telomere length. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, November 2018 Diet: Omega-3s May Reduce Risk of Early Birth. An analysis of data from past studies indicates that increased omega-3 fatty acid intake during pregnancy (from supplementation and/or diet) may reduce the risk for preterm birth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, November 2018 Exercise: Are Fit Teens More Likely to Finish College? Not only are teens who exercise more likely to work out in adulthood but a new long-term study suggests there’s an association between physical activity during adolescence and higher education attainment. Journal of School Health, January 2019 Chiropractic: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? When it comes to treating carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), what’s the best approach? In this study, researchers monitored the status of 128 women with clinically diagnosed CTS who underwent either conservative care or surgical carpal tunnel release. After one year, the researchers reported similar outcomes for members of both groups; however, the women in the conservative care group required less time off work and their treatment costs were about $3,000 lower than those who underwent the surgical procedure. The findings support the recommendation to exhaust conservative treatment options, such as chiropractic care, before electing for surgery, outside of an emergency situation. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, November 2018 Wellness/Prevention: Evade the Appearance of Aging. Wrinkles are a part of aging, but you can take steps you can take to keep your skin smoother for longer. To accomplish this, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends the following: use sunscreen daily on all exposed skin; avoid tanning; use a moisturizer; test makeup and skin care products to determine if you will have a reaction; and stop using products that sting or burn unless prescribed by a dermatologist. American Academy of Dermatology, December 2018 Quote: “The belief that there is only one truth, and that oneself is in possession of it, is the root of all evil in the world.” ~ Max Born

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

Mental Attitude: Grip Strength May Hint at Dementia Risk. In this study, researchers monitored 1,055 older Japanese adults for 24 years and found that participants who experienced a reduction in handgrip strength over time were up to 51% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia in their later years. Journal of Epidemiology, December 2018 Health Alert: Is More Green Space Good for the Heart? Though more research is necessary to understand the underling mechanisms at play, a five-year study has found that individuals living in neighborhoods with more green space appear to be less affected by stress, which may reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease. Journal of the American Heart Association, December 2018 Diet: High-Sodium Diet May Increase Risk for Heart Arrhythmia. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a condition characterized by an irregular heartbeat, which has been linked to both stroke and heart failure. A new study that monitored over 700 middle-aged men and women for an average of 19 years revealed a higher incidence of atrial fibrillation among those who consumed the most salt. Lead author Dr. Tero Pääkkö adds, “This study provides the first evidence that dietary salt may increase the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation, adding to a growing list of dangers from excessive salt consumption on our cardiovascular health.” Annals of Medicine, November 2018 Exercise: Anxious? Go Running. Among a group of 35 young adults with generalized anxiety disorder, researchers observed that running on a treadmill for 30 minutes resulted in an immediate reduction in participants’ anxious symptoms. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, December 2018 Chiropractic: Grip Strength Linked to Low Back Pain. A review of health data concerning 15,000 South Korean adults revealed that women over the age of 50 with a weaker grip (which may indicate lower fitness levels) were more likely to report chronic low back pain than those with a stronger grip. The findings suggest that maintaining an active lifestyle in middle and old age may reduce one’s risk for developing low back pain. PLOS ONE, November 2018 Wellness/Prevention: Skin Patch Might Tell if You’ve Been in the Sun Too Long. Scientists from Northwestern University report that individuals may soon be able to wear a small battery-free patch that can alert them when they are approaching an unsafe level of ultraviolet (UV) ray exposure. Researcher Dr. Steve (Shuai) Xu notes, “In the [United States], we’re in a skin cancer epidemic, which is driven by excessive UV exposure… Thus, this technology would be useful for the majority of individuals by empowering them to know how much UV they are actually getting.” Science Translational Medicine, December 2018 Quote: “The secret to keeping moving is keeping moving.” ~ Dick Van Dyke

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

Mental Attitude: Could a Childhood Infection Lead to Mental Health Issues? After reviewing the health records of more than one million persons, researchers report that individuals who had been hospitalized with an infection as children were 84% more likely to have received a diagnosis for one or more mental health conditions (schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, personality and behavior disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, or tics, for example) later in life. Lead researcher Dr. Ole Kohler- Forsberg writes, “The findings linking infections with mental disorders in the developing brain do add more knowledge to this growing field, showing that there exists an intimate connection between the body and the brain.” JAMA Psychiatry, December 2018 Health Alert: Air Pollution May Raise Diabetes Risk. A review of existing research suggests that individuals with greater exposure to air pollution may be at an elevated risk for impaired glucose metabolism, a condition known to precede type 2 diabetes. Current Epidemiology Reports, November 2018 Diet: Mediterranean Diet During Pregnancy Linked to Healthier Development in Children. According to a new study that followed 2,700 children until age four, those whose mothers most closely followed the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy were 32% less likely to experience an abnormal growth pattern through age four. Study author Dr. Dora Romaguera adds, “These results support the hypothesis that a healthy diet during pregnancy can have a beneficial effect for child development.” Journal of Pediatrics, November 2018 Exercise: Benefits Parkinson’s Patients. The current research suggests that physical exercise (such as aerobic exercises, treadmill training, dancing, traditional Chinese exercise, yoga, or resistance training) can improve both motor and non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s Disease. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology, December 2018 Chiropractic: Active or Static Stretching for Neck Pain? Among a group of 24 sedentary workers with neck pain, researchers found that both active and passive stretching resulted in similar improvements in range of motion, pain threshold, and perceived disability. Doctors of chiropractic commonly incorporate these types of stretches into their treatment plans for patients with neck issues. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, November 2018 Wellness/Prevention: Are You at Risk for AFib? Currently, 2.7 million Americans live with atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition characterized by an irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications. The American Heart Association lists the following risk factors for AFib: advanced age, high blood pressure, heart disease, drinking alcohol, family history, and sleep apnea. American Heart Association, November 2018 Quote: “The best revenge is massive success.” ~ Frank Sinatra

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

Mental Attitude: Standing Up to Bullies. In a study that included 450 sixth-graders and 446 ninth-graders, researchers observed that children with positive familial relationships were more likely to deem bullying behaviors as unacceptable and intervene in such situations. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, October 2018 Health Alert: Soaps, Shampoos May Be Pushing Girls into Early Puberty. Exposure to chemicals found in many personal care products appear to be linked to early puberty in girls. In this study, researchers observed that when a woman had double the amount of phthalates, parabens, or triclosan in her blood during pregnancy, her daughter would experience signs of puberty one or more months earlier than her peers who had less chemical exposure while in utero. Study author Dr. Kim Harley comments, “[Our] findings are consistent with what we know about the endocrine-disrupting properties of these chemicals… So, although we are not ready to say that early life exposure to these chemicals causes earlier puberty in girls, we have enough evidence to be concerned.” Human Reproduction, November 2018 Diet: Mediterranean Diet and Lower Cardiovascular Risk. The results of a twelve-year study suggest that women who most closely follow a Mediterranean-style diet (which focuses on a higher intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and olive oil, while limiting red meat and dairy consumption) have a 23-28% reduced risk for cardiovascular disease. JAMA Network Open, December 2018 Exercise: Physical Activity May Reduce Fall Risk for Seniors with Alzheimer’s. According to a new study, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients with higher cardiorespiratory fitness levels have better spatial navigation skills than less-fit AD patients. This suggests that promoting exercise can reduce the fall risk for patients with AD. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, November 2018 Chiropractic: Deep Neck Muscle Training for Neck Pain. The deep neck muscles, which help maintain cervical posture, are often weak or deconditioned in patients with neck pain. In this study, researchers observed that neck pain patients who engaged in deep cervical flexor training experienced improved neuromuscular coordination and head/neck posture—changes not seen in a control group that did not perform such exercises. Doctors of chiropractic commonly train patients with neck pain to perform deep neck muscle exercises as part of the treatment process. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, November 2018 Wellness/Prevention: Healthier Lifestyle Improves Breast Cancer Survival Chances. Among a group of 2,300 early stage breast cancer patients, those who most closely adhered to advice regarding eating a healthier diet and becoming more physically active were more likely to survive the disease. San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 2018 Quote: “Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.” ~ Margaret Mead

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

Mental Attitude: Certain Chemicals Tied to Language Delays in Children. A new study suggests that children may suffer a
delay in language development if their mothers come into frequent contact with chemicals called phthalates early in their
pregnancy. In a study that involved 1,370 pregnant women in Sweden and the United States, researchers found that children
with higher exposure to two phthalates (dibutyl phthalate and butyl benzyl phthalate) while in utero had up to a 30% increased
risk for language delay than kids with less phthalate exposure. JAMA Pediatrics, October 2018
Health Alert: FDA Bans Lead in Hair Dyes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that lead acetate will
no longer be approved as a hair color additive. Tom Neltner, the chemicals policy director at the Environmental Defense Fund,
explains, “In the last several decades, we’ve seen tremendous progress in reducing exposure to lead from major sources. Given
this progress and wide recognition that there is no safe level of exposure, it may seem unbelievable that common hair dyes
contain the neurotoxin—putting those who use the product and their children at risk… We now know that the approved use of
lead acetate in adult hair dyes no longer meets our safety standard.” The FDA notes that companies have twelve months to
reformulate hair dye products that contain lead acetate, which will put an end to the only remaining legal use of this neurotoxin
in cosmetic products in the United States. Food and Drug Administration, October 2018
Diet: Vitamin D Supplement May Help with Bedwetting. Nocturnal enuresis is a common urinary bladder problem in
younger children. In this study, researchers found that giving a daily vitamin D supplement to children with a history of wetting
the bed appeared to significantly reduce the number of wet nights experienced by 44.4% of the participants within two months.
Journal of Pediatric Urology, June 2018
Exercise: Exercise May Reduce Risk of Falls Among Alzheimer’s Patients. Among a group of 210 seniors with Alzheimer’s
disease, researchers observed that those who participated in a year-long exercise program had a lower risk of falling than
Alzheimer’s patients who did not exercise. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, October 2018
Chiropractic: Diabetes-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders. According to a new paper published in the European Journal of
Rheumatology, patients with diabetes mellitus have an elevated risk for a number of musculoskeletal conditions, including:
limited joint mobility syndrome, frozen shoulder/adhesive capsulitis, Dupuytren’s contracture, carpal tunnel syndrome, stiff
hand syndrome, flexor tenosynovitis, Charcot osteoarthropathy, gouty arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic
amyotrophy, diabetic muscle infarction, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, and osteoporosis. Doctors of chiropractic
commonly treat many of these conditions, often in conjunction with a patient’s medical provider, when appropriate.
European Journal of Rheumatology, October 2018
Wellness/Prevention: Child Fever Guidelines. Fever is generally not a concern, but some cases do require medical attention.
The Nemours Foundation recommends that you seek immediate care if your child shows the following behaviors or symptoms:
won’t stop crying; exhibits extreme irritability or fussiness; has trouble waking up; develops a rash or purple spots that look like
bruises; has blue lips, tongue, or nails; has a stiff neck; has a severe headache; is limp or refuses to move; has trouble breathing
that doesn’t improve when the nose is cleared; is leaning forward and drooling; has a seizure; and complains of moderate-tosevere
belly pain. Nemours Foundation, November 2018
Quote: “Celebrate what you want to see more of.” ~ Tom Peters
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.