Mental Attitude: Risk Factors for Depression in Old Age. Researchers monitored 11,553 seniors for four
years and observed that 22.3% developed depressive symptoms during this time. Further analysis identified the
following late-life risk factors for depression: inadequate sleep, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, arthritis, and
chronic digestive disorders. The risk for depression was also slightly higher among women and those living in
rural areas. BMJ Open, September 2019
Health Alert: Don’t Let Children Wander Alone in Parking Lots. Observations of 125 young children and
their parents as they navigated a parking lot revealed that half of kids got out of the vehicle before an adult, 67%
of children lacked proper supervision at some point during the walk, and nearly 90% walked beyond an arm’s
reach of an adult. Researcher Dr. David Schwebel writes, “The safety risks in parking lots are already
dangerous. We observed that parents pay less attention to their children in these parking lots, even further
elevating the risk.” Journal of Safety Research, August 2019
Diet: Added Sugars Linked to Hypertension. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is common among
seniors and is linked to a number of negative health outcomes. In a study that looked at the dietary intake of 128
older adults, researchers identified an association between higher added-sugar intake and elevated blood
pressure readings. Nutrients, September 2019
Exercise: Sedentary Lifestyle Doubles Early Mortality Risk. Following a two-decade study involving a
group of 23,146 men and women, researchers concluded that participants who led a sedentary lifestyle were
2.7-times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease and twice more likely to die from any cause than those
who regularly exercised. World Congress of Cardiology, August 2019
Chiropractic: Neck Angles, Muscles, Pain and Smartphone Use. According to a new study in which
researchers monitored neck muscle activity at various neck flexion angles while participants used their
smartphone, bending the neck forward more than 15 degrees is associated with increased muscle activity in the
neck. The findings suggest that individuals, especially those with neck pain, should limit neck flexion while
using electronic devices. Ergonomics, August 2019
Wellness/Prevention: Prevent Painful Kidney Stones. The National Kidney Foundation reports that about
10% of people will develop a kidney stone during their lifetime. To help prevent kidney stones, the foundation
recommends the following: drink enough water, especially when exercising; pair oxalate-rich foods with
calcium-rich foods; and cut back on dietary salt. National Kidney Foundation, September 2019
Quote: “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” ~ Jim Rohn

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

Mental Attitude: Depression and Vitamin D Status. The results of a recent study involving military personnel
suggest there’s a link between vitamin D deficiency and an elevated risk for depression, particularly for those
stationed at higher latitudes. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, September 2019
Health Alert: Parental Asthma May Increase ADHD Risk in Kids. An analysis of data concerning the first
twenty years of life of nearly one million Danes suggests that children born to asthmatic mothers may have up to a
41% increased risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), while having a father with asthma is
associated with a 13% elevated risk for ADHD. The study authors conclude, “These results support theories
regarding shared genetic and environmental risk factors having a role in the development of ADHD.”
Brain, Behavior, & Immunity, August 2019
Diet: Ketogenic Diet Helps Controls Seizures in Infants. The ketogenic diet triggers ketosis, which is a metabolic
process in which the body breaks down fats and proteins and transforms them into energy for the body. This
particular diet has been documented to be an effective treatment for school-aged kids and adults with epilepsy, but
what about younger children? In a recent study involving 109 children with epilepsy under the age of three,
researchers observed that nearly 20% achieved complete seizure control after three months on a ketogenic diet and
almost 40% experienced significant seizure reduction (greater than 50%), with more favorable results among kids
whose epilepsy had a genetic origin. Scientific Reports, August 2019
Exercise: A Brisk Walk Is Better Than a Slower Walk… Researchers observed that adults with metabolic
syndrome—a cluster of conditions associated with an elevated risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes—who
engaged in a walking program that focused on taking 12,000 steps a day at a pace of 103 steps per minute burned
more fat and experienced greater improvements with respect to their high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting
glucose, and triglyceride levels than participants who walked 12,000 steps a day at a slower pace.
BMC Public Health, September 2019
Chiropractic: Office Workers and Musculoskeletal Disorders. Among a group of 400 office employees working
at an insurance company, researchers observed that musculoskeletal complaints were quite common, particularly in
the neck (57.2%), lower back (46.2%), shoulders (38.5%), and upper back (28.5%). Further analysis identified the
following risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal pain: awkward posture, body mass index, job demand, upper
arm use, and infrequent rest breaks. Doctors of chiropractic can effectively treat many of these musculoskeletal
conditions and can offer stretching and ergonomic advice to reduce the risk of recurrence. Work, August 2019
Wellness/Prevention: Caring for a Torn Nail. Tearing a nail can be very painful. To treat a torn nail, the
University of Wisconsin suggests the following: trim or file any sharp edges and trim off the detached part of a large
tear, soak your finger or toe in cold water for 20 minutes after trimming, and apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly
and cover the area with a nonstick bandage. University of Wisconsin, August 2019
Quote: “The best intelligence test is what we do with our leisure.” ~ Laurence J. Peter

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

Mental Attitude: Posting Selfies May Cause Negative Social Perception. In this study, college students were
asked to rate the Instagram profiles of students from another university. The participants rated those who posted
posed photos taken by someone else as more likeable, more successful, having greater self-esteem, and being more
outgoing. However, students who posted a lot of selfies were regarded as less likeable, less successful, less
adventurous, and more insecure. Journal of Research in Personality, August 2019
Health Alert: Older Americans Often Not Equipped to Stay Safe During Hurricanes. Interviews with over
2,200 adults over the age of 50 revealed that less than one-third had an emergency kit that could sustain them at
home or that they could take with them in the event of an evacuation, and only one-quarter had a backup power
supply in the event of a power failure. University of Michigan, September 2019
Diet: Nuts May Lower Risk of Fatal Heart Attack and Stroke. Over the course of a twelve-year study involving
5,432 adults, researchers observed that participants who ate nuts at least twice a week had a 17% reduced risk of
death from cardiovascular disease. Study author Dr. Noushin Mohammadifard explains, “Nuts are a good source of
unsaturated fat and contain little saturated fat… They also have protein, minerals, vitamins, fiber, phytosterols, and
polyphenols which benefit heart health.” European Society of Cardiology, August 2019
Exercise: Complex Exercises May Be Better for the Brain… Researchers found that participants who played
badminton for ten minutes scored better on executive function assessments than they did after taking a ten-minute
run. The findings suggest that engaging in more complex forms of exercise may have a greater benefit on the brain
than jogging and other simple exercise routines. PLoS One, September 2019
Chiropractic: Mobilization and Stretching Are Both Useful for Frozen Shoulders… 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 observed that both scapular
mobilization and manual posterior capsule stretching are effective for improving range of motion in the shoulder
joint of patients with stage III AC. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to offer both types of treatment for patients
with AC and often use both in order to achieve optimal results.
Journal of Musculoskeletal & Neuronal Interactions, September 2019
Wellness/Prevention: Reduce the Risk for Norovirus Infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) notes that Norovirus is the most common cause of foodborne diarrhea and vomiting. To help reduce the risk
for such an infection, the CDC suggests the following: wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, carefully
wash fruits and vegetables before eating them, cook oysters and shellfish thoroughly before consumption, do not
prepare food or care for others when you are sick, clean and disinfect surfaces regularly, and wash soiled laundry
thoroughly. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 2019
Quote: “Happiness is a direction, not a place.” ~ Sydney J. Harris

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

Mental Attitude: A History of Exercise Reduces Postpartum Depression Risk… Postpartum depression affects
about one in five new mothers. A review of data from sixteen published studies found that women who exercise
before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and following the birth of their child had a lower risk for postpartum
depression than new moms with poor fitness levels. Medicine (Lithuania), September 2019
Health Alert: Is There a Link Between Blood Pressure and Breast Cancer? Past studies have demonstrated that
high levels of a protein called GRK4 can cause high blood pressure. In a recent study, researchers detected the
GRK4 protein in breast cancer cells but not in normal breast cells. Researcher Dr. Vesna D. Garovic writes, “While
previous studies have shown that breast cancer risk is increased in hypertensive women, this study adds to the
current knowledge by providing the molecular mechanisms that underlie this association.”
American Heart Association, September 2019
Diet: Pumpkin Pulp and Seeds Reduce Blood Pressure in Animal Study. Rats fed a diet that included pumpkin
pulp and seeds for eight weeks had blood pressure 20% lower than rats on a control diet. Researcher Dr. Soweto
Thomas notes, “With the animal model we can never really fully say that what we see is exactly what is going to
happen in a human trial… But there is a slew of dietary intervention studies that have shown that, overall, a healthy
diet can make real changes in someone’s health.” Journal of the American College of Cardiology, September 2019
Exercise: Exercise Can Boost Exam Grades. Among a group of 86 primary school students in the United
Kingdom, researchers observed that the children who were physically active tended to perform better on reading,
writing, and mathematics assessments than their sedentary peers.
Journal of Physical Activity Research, October 2019
Chiropractic: Conservative Care Offers Benefits to Chronic Back Pain Sufferers. Kinesiophobia, or fear of
movement, is common occurrence among patients with musculoskeletal pain and can increase the risk for prolonged
pain and disability. A review of data from 60 published studies revealed that manual therapies reduced fearavoidance beliefs among patients with chronic back pain. Doctors of chiropractic often utilize manual therapies and
other conservative treatment options to reduce pain and improve function in patients with chronic back pain and
other musculoskeletal disorders. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, August 2019
Wellness/Prevention: How to Treat Tonsillitis. Inflammation of the tonsils is called tonsillitis, which can
sometimes resemble the flu. Symptoms usually resolve in three to four days, but there are things that can be done to
relieve symptoms in the meantime. The National Health Service recommends the following when treating tonsillitis
at home: get plenty of rest, enjoy cool drinks to soothe the throat, take pain medicine, and gargle with warm
saltwater. National Health Service, September 2019
Quote: “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” ~ Nelson Mandela

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