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.