Mental Attitude: Too Much TV/Social Media Increases Depression Risk for Teens. New research that
looked at the mental health status of 4,000 Canadian teenagers suggests that adolescents who spend an aboveaverage amount of time on either social media or watching TV are more likely to experience depressive
symptoms. JAMA Pediatrics, July 2019
Health Alert: Improving Good Cholesterol Levels May Reduce Diabetes Risk. When it comes to reducing
the risk for type 2 diabetes, the results of a new study suggest that individuals should also pay attention to their
high-density lipoprotein (HDL or the “good” cholesterol) levels. In particular, a review of five years of data
concerning 5 million adults found that individuals with low HDL cholesterol readings had up to a 20%
increased risk for type 2 diabetes. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, August 2019
Diet: Tart Cherry Juice Is Good for the Brain. According to a new study involving 34 seniors, participants
who drank 16oz of tart cherry juice daily for twelve weeks experienced improvements related to both cognitive
function and subjective memory. Lead author Dr. Sheau Ching Chai writes, “The potential beneficial effects of
tart cherries may be related to the bioactive compounds they possess, which include polyphenols, anthocyanins
and melanin. They may also be related to tart cherry’s potential blood-pressure lowering effects, outlined in a
previous study we conducted in the same population, as blood pressure can influence blood flow to the brain.”
Food & Function, July 2019
Exercise: Kids with More Friends Are More Active. Among a sample of about 200 Canadian middle-school
students, researchers observed that kids with more friends tended to be more physically active.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, August 2019
Chiropractic: Headache and Low Back Pain Linked? A review of data from several studies, including one
that included over 400,000 participants, found that individuals with persistent low back pain have an elevated
risk for primary headache disorders. Both conditions are commonly treated in chiropractic offices, often with
spinal manipulation, exercises, and nutritional recommendations. Journal of Headache and Pain, July 2019
Wellness/Prevention: Relaxation Techniques to Reduce Stress. Stress is a normal part of life, but long-term
stress can lead to digestive issue, headaches, sleep disorders, and other health issues. The National Center for
Complementary and Integrative Health notes that relaxation techniques can help release tension and reduce
stress. Recommended relaxation techniques include the following: deep breathing, guided imagery, progressive
relaxation, meditation, and yoga. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, July 2019
Quote: “We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.” ~ John Dryden

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

Mental Attitude: Trees Promote Mental Well-Being? Questionnaires completed by nearly 47,000 citydwelling adults revealed that living in a neighborhood with more tree cover is associated with less
psychological distress and better general health. JAMA Network Open, July 2019
Health Alert: Diabetes Increases Heart Failure Risk. A review of health records concerning more than 12
million adults indicates that individuals with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes have an elevated risk for heart
failure, especially female diabetics. Diabetologia, July 2019
Diet: Too High / Too Low Blood Sugar Is Bad for the Heart. The results of a twenty-year study involving
nearly 10,000 Chinese adults suggest that having a resting blood glucose reading that is either too high (≥126
mg/dl) or too low (<60 mg/dl) is associated with double the risk for cardiovascular disease-related mortality. Chronic Diseases & Translational Medicine, June 2019 Exercise: Exercise During Pregnancy Can Boost Baby’s Health. Children born to women who engaged in aerobic exercise during pregnancy appear to have better motor skills at one month of age than kids whose mothers did not exercise during their pregnancy. The researchers speculate that exercise may aid fetal brain development by boosting the flow of blood and oxygen to the womb. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, August 2019 Chiropractic: Back Pain Linked to Pelvic, Hip, and Knee Dysfunction… Examinations of forty young adults, half of whom had low back pain, revealed that those with back pain were more likely to exhibit increased pelvic tilt, knocked knees, and reduced hip extension. Though the study was unable to determine the nature of the relationship between low back pain and such alterations, these findings highlight the importance of examining the whole patient and not just focusing on the area of chief complaint; otherwise, treatment may not yield a satisfactory outcome for the patient. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, August 2019 Wellness/Prevention: Keep Your Teen Driver Safe. Safe Kids Worldwide reports that six teens are killed in motor vehicle accidents every day in the United States. To help prevent these accidents, the organization encourages parents of new drivers to do the following: be a good role model when driving; always use a seatbelt; set clear expectations about your family's driving rules; define zero-tolerance rules for speeding, alcohol, and texting; limit the number of passengers allowed in the car with your teen; make sure your teen gets enough practice in a variety of road conditions. Safe Kids, August 2019 Quote: “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” ~ George Bernard Shaw I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Mental Attitude: Genetics Mostly to Blame for Autism. The results of a new study involving over two
million people from five countries suggest that autism spectrum disorder is 80% contingent on inherited genes.
Dr. Andrew Adesman, director of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Cohen Children’s Medical Center
in New Hyde Park, New York notes, “Although families are often most concerned about environmental risk
factors for autism, the reality is that genetic factors play a much larger role overall… [However,] this does not
mean that we can completely ignore the environmental risk factors and their interaction with the genetic risk
factors.” JAMA Psychiatry, July 2019
Health Alert: Smokers Have Higher Risk for Metabolic Syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by
a cluster of conditions—increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and
abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels—that elevates a person’s risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. A
review of data from the 2008 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that smokers
have an elevated risk for metabolic syndrome, and the risk is even greater among smokers who also drink
alcohol, even at moderate levels. Substance Use & Misuse, August 2019
Diet: Eat More Veggies! According to an analysis of data from nine published studies, individuals with a
higher daily vegetable intake have up to a 39% lower risk for liver cancer than adults who seldom eat
vegetables. Food & Function, July 2019
Exercise: Diabetes Linked to Too Much Sitting. A review of data from nine published studies that included
nearly 450,000 adults concluded that higher total sitting time per day is associated with an elevated risk for type
2 diabetes, regardless of physical activity levels. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, August 2019
Chiropractic: Whole-Body Vibration Linked to Work Absence. Among a group of 2,302 industrial workers
whom researchers monitored for four years, those with the greatest exposure to whole body vibrations (from
operating heavy equipment, for example) had a greater risk for back pain-related work absence. The findings
suggest that introducing controls to limit vibration exposure on the job site could help reduce the impact of back
pain on the workforce. Occupation and Environmental Medicine, August 2019
Wellness/Prevention: Play It Safe with Lightning. Though it’s safer to be indoors during a thunderstorm, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that you can still be at risk for lightning-related injury
in the home. To keep safe, the CDC recommends avoiding contact with tap water, electronic equipment, corded
phones, windows, doors, porches, and concrete. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, July 2019
Quote: “Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.” ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

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

Mental Attitude: Parents Who Belittle Their Kids May Be Raising Bullies. Interviews with more than 1,400
teens revealed that those subjected to derisive parenting were more likely to develop dysregulated anger, which
is often a sign of difficulty controlling emotions and puts teenagers at a higher risk for both bullying and for
becoming bully victims. Study senior author Dr. Daniel Dickson writes, “Implications from our study are farreaching: Practitioners and parents should be informed of the potential long-term costs of sometimes seemingly
harmless parenting behaviors such as belittlement and sarcasm… Parents must be reminded of their influence
on adolescents’ emotions and should take steps to ensure that adolescents do not feel ridiculed at home.”
Journal of Youth and Adolescence, July 2019
Health Alert: Dirty Air Contributes to Thousands of Deaths Every Year. Despite improvements in air
quality over the past three decades, a new study find that air pollution remains a major contributing factor for
lung disease, heart attacks, and strokes that kill over 30,000 Americans each year. Lead researcher Dr. Majid
Ezzati adds, “More stringent air pollution regulations in the [United States] have the potential to save tens of
thousands of deaths each year and improve the longevity throughout the country.” PLOS Medicine, July 2019
Diet: Plant-Based Diet Can Reduce Risk for Diabetes. Individuals who consume a mostly plant-based diet
have up to a 23% reduced risk for diabetes. JAMA Internal Medicine, July 2019
Exercise: Physical Activity Linked to Quality of Life in Teens? Over the course of a two-year study,
researchers observed that teenagers who became less physically active experienced a reduction in their healthrelated quality of life. American Journal of Human Biology, August 2019
Chiropractic: Improving Neck Curve Helps Patients with Cervical Disk Herniation. Among a group of
300 neck pain patients under the age of 40, researchers observed that those whose cervical lordosis improved
over time also experienced an increase in disk height in the neck and an improvement in the status of any
present cervical disk herniations. Studies show that chiropractic care can help to restore the cervical lordotic
curve, which can benefit patients with cervical disk issues. Medicine, August 2019
Wellness/Prevention: Beware of Signs of Heat Stroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list
the following signs of heat stroke: body temperature higher than 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39.4 degrees Celsius);
hot, red, dry, or damp skin; headache, dizziness, nausea, and confusion; a fast, strong pulse; and loss of
consciousness. If you think you or someone else is experiencing heat stroke, call emergency services and move
to a cooler place. Do not give them anything to drink. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, July 2019
Quote: “Celebrate the idea that you don’t fit in. Find your own fit. Stay unique.” ~ Betsey Johnson

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

Mental Attitude: Kids with ADHD May Be Less Prepared for School. Children with attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have less developed social, emotional, and language skills than their
peers without ADHD. The findings suggest that identifying and helping preschoolers with ADHD symptoms
could possibly reduce their struggles in elementary school. Pediatrics, July 2019
Health Alert: Deadly Cancers Often Get the Least Research Funding. According to a new study, research is
poorly funded for several common and/or deadly cancers, such as endometrial, liver and bile duct, cervical,
ovarian, pancreatic, and lung cancer. Study author Dr. Suneel Kamath notes, “The goal of this study is not to
divert funds away from cancers that are well-supported, but rather expand funding for other cancers that aren’t
getting enough support currently… These are all deadly and life-altering diseases that deserve our attention and
support.” Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, July 2019
Diet: Early Dinner? In a recent pilot study involving eleven adults, researchers observed that when participants
ate their dinner earlier in the afternoon and did not eat again until the next morning, their bodies were better
able to burn fat for energy and they had lower levels of the hormone ghrelin, which stimulates appetite. which
may help people eat less.” Obesity, July 2019
Exercise: Non-Exercisers at Greater Risk of Fatty Liver Disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
(NAFLD) occurs when fat builds up in the liver from causes other than excessive alcohol consumption. An
analysis of data from the 16,000-participant HUNT3 study found that the 20% of adults with the lowest physical
fitness levels were 17-18 times more likely to have NAFLD than the most active 40% of participants.
Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, April 2019
Chiropractic: Spinal Manipulation Improves Nervous System Function. A review of data from eighteen
published studies found evidence to suggest that high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation (a treatment
commonly provided by doctors of chiropractic) can improve autonomic nervous system function in both
symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Spine, August 2019
Wellness/Prevention: Reducing Risk of Foodborne Illness. Most foodborne illnesses can be prevented by
washing hands with warm water and soap after dealing with raw foods, using two or more cutting boards to help
prevent cross contamination, cleaning items with hot water and soap that are used to prepare meat, never
drinking out of the carton, reheating food at 165 degrees Fahrenheit (~73.89 degrees Celsius) or higher, and
defrosting frozen foods in the refrigerator or microwave. Wake Forest University, July 2019
Quote: “Sometimes it’s the detours which turn out to be the fruitful ideas.” ~ Roger Penrose
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.