Mental Attitude: Bullying May Affect the Brain. An analysis of the brain scans of nearly 700 teens found that those who had been victimized by bullies had reduced brain volume in two key regions of the brain associated with regulating motivation, attention, and emotional processing. Molecular Psychiatry, December 2018 Health Alert: Risk Factors for Early Childhood Obesity. Past studies have shown that kids who are overweight have an elevated risk for obesity in adulthood. In this study, researchers analyzed data concerning 502 three-year-old children and identified the following risk factors for obesity in early childhood: obesity in mother pre-pregnancy; high birth weight; formula feeding during the first year of life, high frequency of fast food consumption, and time watching TV or computer screens at age three. International Journal of Obesity, December 2018 Diet: Vitamin D and Asthma in Young Children… Data from two clinical trials suggests that for babies with deficient vitamin D levels, improving their vitamin D status (via supplementation in these studies) resulted in a reduced risk for asthma symptoms in early childhood. Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical, January 2019 Exercise: Try Dancing. Seniors who want to improve their fitness levels should consider dancing. In a small study involving thirty sedentary women over age 65, those who danced for an hour three times a week experienced similar improvements with respect to aerobic fitness, lower body muscle strength, and static balance as those who walked three hours a week. Experimental Gerontology, December 2018 Chiropractic: Long Work Hours Linked to Musculoskeletal Pain. Using data from the Fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey involving nearly 25,000 workers, researchers report that working over 40 hours a week is associated with up to a 40% increased risk for musculoskeletal pain in men and up to a 66% elevated risk for musculoskeletal pain in women. Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, December 2018 Wellness/Prevention: Preventing Chapped Lips. Chapped lips are more common during the winter months. To prevent dry chapped lips, the Mayo Clinic recommends the following: before going outside in cold weather, apply a lubricating lip cream or balm; avoid licking your lips; drink plenty of fluids; moisten the indoor air with a humidifier; avoid contact with irritants or allergens; and breathe through your nose instead of your mouth. Mayo Clinic, January 2019 Quote: “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.” ~ Stephen Hawking

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

Mental Attitude: Vision Loss Linked to Dementia. The results of a twelve-year study suggest that for seniors with a history of depression, loss of visual function (especially near sight) is associated with an elevated risk for dementia over the following four years. European Journal of Epidemiology, January 2019 Health Alert: Gestational Diabetes and Vitamin D. According to a new study, women with poor vitamin D status during their second trimester may have up to a 74% increased risk for gestational diabetes mellitus. Gynecological Endocrinology, January 2019 Diet: When Calorie Content Is Included… Seeing pictures of food with calorie information appears to change the way the brain responds to food. In this study, researchers recruited 42 undergraduate students to view food images with and without calorie information and then asked them to rate their desire to eat the food while in a functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner (fMRI). The research team observed that when presented with data on a food’s nutritional value, participants found the item less appetizing and they had a corresponding reduction of activity in the areas of the brain associated with satiety, desire, and inhibition. PLOS ONE, December 2018 Exercise: Less Screen Time, Move More! Surveys completed by nearly 25,000 middle schoolers revealed that those who spent more time engaged in physical activity and less time interacting with electronic devices scored higher on quality of life assessments than kids who spent more time with screens and less time moving their bodies. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, January 2019 Chiropractic: Spinal Degeneration Linked to Jaw Disorders. In a study that involved 120 patients with a temporomandibular disorder (TMD), researchers found that participants with neck pain exhibited a higher number of active trigger points in the masticatory and cervical muscles, greater forward head posture, and more severe degenerative changes in the cervical spine than TMD patients without neck pain. The findings reveal the role of cervical spine health and posture in relation to TMD. Doctors of chiropractic are well versed in the treatment of the cervical degeneration, posture, trigger points, and jaw disorders. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, December 2018 Wellness/Prevention: Sleep Apnea May Raise Risk for Dyslipidemia. While the underlying mechanisms are not yet understood, the current evidence suggests a link between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and elevated triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Internal Medicine (Czech), November 2018 Quote: “Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil.” ~ Baltasar Gracian

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

Mental Attitude: Caring for a Loved One Who Has Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Foundation suggests the following to help people cope with the grief and loss commonly experienced when a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease: face your feelings and accept them; prepare to have feelings of loss as dementia progresses; understand that no two people grieve in exactly the same way; talk with someone you trust about your feelings; stay involved in activities that you enjoy; join a support group; accept things that you cannot change; and take care of yourself. Alzheimer’s Foundation, January 2019 Health Alert: Vitamin D Status and Colorectal Cancer… An analysis of data from eleven studies that involved over 7,000 colorectal cancer patients identified an association between higher vitamin D serum levels and a better prognosis. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, December 2018 Diet: Omega-3s May Help NAFLD Patients. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs when excess fat builds up in the liver cells from causes other than excessive alcohol consumption. A new study found that consuming an omega-3 fatty acid supplement was effective at reducing liver fat in NAFLD patients. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, December 2018 Exercise: Limit Kids’ Access to Electronic Devices… Using data collected from parental surveys and fitness assessments, researchers report there’s a relationship between the number of electronic devices a child has access to in the home and their risk for poor aerobic fitness. Children, January 2019 Chiropractic: Seniors with Chronic Back Pain… New research suggests that older adults with chronic back pain often have other musculoskeletal pain conditions. Among a group of 839 seniors with persistent back pain, 93% had pain in at least one additional area and 69% had pain in two or more additional sites. The researchers add that they have identified an association between the number of body sites in which an individual had musculoskeletal pain and both greater back pain intensity and an elevated risk for falling. Pain Medicine, January 2019 Wellness/Prevention: Stroke Risks for Kids. The National Stroke Association reports that stroke remains among the top ten causes of death in children. The following are risk factors for stroke among youths: heart defects present at birth, sickle-cell disease, immune disorders, diseases of the arteries, abnormal blood clotting, head or neck trauma, mother’s history of infertility, infection in the amniotic fluid, and pregnancy-related high blood pressure in the mother. National Stroke Association, January 2019 Quote: “Idleness is to the human mind like rust to iron.” ~ Ezra Cornell

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

Mental Attitude: Hearing Checks Could Prevent Late-Life Depression. An analysis of health data concerning 5,239 men and women over age 50 revealed that those with mild hearing loss were almost twice as likely to have significant symptoms of depression. Furthermore, the researchers observed that elderly individuals with severe hearing loss were over four times more at risk for depression. The findings suggest that treatment of age-related hearing loss could be one way to head off late-life depression. JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, December 2018 Health Alert: Persistent Hot Flashes May Increase Breast Cancer Risk. According to a review of data concerning more than 25,000 women, there’s an association between persistent vasomotor symptoms (which includes symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats) lasting ten or more years and an elevated risk for breast cancer. Menopause, December 2018 Diet: Impulsivity Linked to Poor Diet/Eating Disorders. Among a sample of over 15,000 adults taking part in the NutriNet-Santé Study, those who scored high on assessments that measure impulsivity were significantly more likely to consume a poor quality diet, snack, and have an eating disorder. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, December 2018 Exercise: Aerobic Exercise Benefits. Experts from the Mayo Clinic report that aerobic activities (such and running, bicycling, and swimming) can benefit you in the following ways: keep excess pounds at bay; increase your stamina, fitness, and strength; reduce your health risks; manage chronic conditions; strengthen your heart; keep your arteries clear; boost your mood; and help you stay active and independent as you age. Mayo Clinic, January 2019 Chiropractic: Low Back Pain Linked to Depression. Among a group of 152 older adults, researchers found that those with a history of back pain scored higher on assessments used to measure depression. The findings suggest that low back pain may be a potential risk for increased depression in older adults and managing a patient’s back pain may provide mental health benefits. Rehabilitation Nurse, January 2019 Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D May Slow Diabetes Progression. In a study involving 162 patients with both prediabetes and vitamin D deficiency, those who took a high dose vitamin D supplement for six months experienced improved insulin sensitivity that significantly reduced their risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, December 2018 Quote: “Storms make trees take deeper roots.” ~ Dolly Parton

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