Health Alert: Colon Cancer Hits the Poor and City Dwellers the Hardest. An analysis of data
concerning nearly 27,000 colon cancer patients in the United States revealed that colon cancer-related
mortality rates are higher in both urban environments and in areas with below-average per capita incomes
than in more affluent suburbs. The findings reveal that more effort is needed to provide access and remove
barriers to care to reduce colon cancer’s impact on society.
American Society of Clinical Oncology, January 2020
Diet: Vitamin D Supplement May Help with Diabetic Neuropathic Pain. Among a group of 57 type 2
diabetics, those given a vitamin D supplement reported improvements with respect to both neuropathic pain
symptoms and balance. Journal of Pain Research, January 2020
Exercise: Physical Activity Can Help Regulate Your Appetite. According to a new study that monitored
the calorie consumption of 130 adults on a weight loss diet, engaging in regular exercise reduces the risk of
overeating at a meal by over 50%. Health Psychology, January 2020
Chiropractic: Musculoskeletal Factors in the Elderly. Examinations of 279 older adults revealed that
seniors who are free of musculoskeletal pain are more likely to have to following characteristics: healthy
weight; stronger back muscles, greater physical ability, better balance with eyes closed, greater lumbar
range of motion, and normal lumbopelvic alignment and sagittal posture.
Biomed Research International, November 2019
Mental Attitude: Ways to Deal with Sadness. To manage the feelings of sadness that come with the end
of a close relationship or the death of a loved one, experts advise the following: allow yourself to be sad
and cry if you feel like you need to; listen to music or spend time with family and friends; think about the
context of the sad feelings; remember that emotions are changing and will come and go; and know when
sadness turns into depression and get help if this happens. Gundersen Health Systems, January 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Low Vitamin D Status and COPD Progression. Chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease that makes breathing difficult, and it is one of the leading causes
of death in the United States. The results of a study involving 151 male COPD patients revealed that severe
vitamin D deficiency is associated with more rapid progression of emphysema.
Respiratory Medicine, January 2020
Quote: “Time is the fairest and toughest judge.” ~ Edgar Quinet

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

Health Alert: Diabetic Pregnancies May Lead to Hearing Risk in Offspring. Using data from the
Audiological and Genetic Database, researchers estimate that children of diabetic pregnancies have an elevated
risk for bilateral and sensorineural hearing loss.
International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, February 2020
Diet: Diet Linked to Breast Cancer Survivability. An analysis of data from the Women’s Health Initiative
Modification clinical trial found that breast cancer patients who adopted a low-fat diet that emphasized an
increased intake of vegetables, fruits, and grains were more likely to survive the next two decades than women
who continued their usual diet. Journal of Clinical Oncology, February 2020
Exercise: Plyometric Training May Reduce ACL Injury Risk. Past research suggests that poor dynamic
balance and knee proprioception can increase an athlete’s risk for a non-contact anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL) injury. In this study, researchers observed that female badminton players who participated in a six-week
plyometric training program experienced improvements with respect to both dynamic balance and knee
proprioception. Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, December 2019
Chiropractic: Manual Therapies for Low Back Pain. A myofascial trigger point is a hyperirritable spot
found in skeletal muscle that is associated with chronic pain conditions, including chronic low back pain. In this
study, researchers compared the effect of three manual therapies—manual pressure release, strain counterstrain,
and integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique—on 48 patients with chronic low back pain and observed
that each were effective at deactivating trigger points and improving low back pain and disability. Doctors of
chiropractic often incorporate several manual therapy interventions when treating patients with chronic low
back pain, depending on the patient’s unique case and needs.
Journal of Alternate and Complimentary Medicine, February 2020
Mental Attitude: PTSD Tied to Earlier Death. An assessment of data concerning 64,000 emergency
responders and civilians exposed to the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001 revealed that those
who developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had a 54-64% increased risk for early death over the
following fifteen years. JAMA Network Open, February 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Many Kids and Adults Have Low Vitamin D Status. According to the European
Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 30% of children and 60% of adults worldwide have either low or
deficient vitamin D levels. The current research suggests that low vitamin D status is associated with several
poor health and developmental outcomes. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, February 2020
Quote: “A man’s friendships are one of the best measures of his worth.” ~ Charles Darwin
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Health Alert: Asthma Linked to Heart Rhythm Disorder. The results of a thirteen-year study involving
6,615 adults suggest that individuals with persistent asthma have a 50% elevated risk for developing atrial
fibrillation, which is a common heart rhythm disorder that is known to significantly increase the risk of
stroke. Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, February 2020
Diet: An Egg a Day Is Okay. New research concludes that there is no association between egg intake and
higher blood cholesterol or associated cardiovascular risk factors. Cardiologist Dr. Guy Mintz notes, “This
very large study has clearly demonstrated that people can have one egg a day without any cardiovascular
consequences.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 2020
Exercise: Aerobic Exercise Training May Enhance Brain Function. Cognitively normal but sedentary
adults with either a family history or genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease who participated in a six-month
aerobic exercise training program experienced improvements in brain glucose metabolism and executive
function skills, both of which are associated with a reduced risk for cognitive decline.
Brain Plasticity, January 2020
Chiropractic: Post-Whiplash Headaches. A review of findings from 44 published studies concluded that
60% of whiplash patients will experience headaches within one week of their injury and up to 38% may
continue to report headaches up to one year later. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to evaluate headaches
and other symptoms associated with whiplash injuries. Pain, January 2020
Mental Attitude: Strong Support Network Is Key to Cancer Recovery for Women. Among a group of
1,400 postmenopausal women with either colon or rectal cancer, researchers observed that having a strong
social support network is associated with up to a 58% reduced risk of death from colorectal cancer.
Cancer, January 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Hoarse Voice? For the most part, the causes of hoarseness—a raspy or strained
voice—are not serious and usually resolve within a few weeks. The Cleveland Clinic offers these probable
causes of hoarseness: a common cold or an upper respiratory infection, using your voice too much or too
loudly, gastroesophageal reflux, smoking, allergies, thyroid problems, and trauma to the voice box. If
symptoms fail to resolve within two weeks, consult with your family doctor.
Cleveland Clinic, January 2020
Quote: “Rudeness is a weak imitation of strength.” ~ Eric Hoffer
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Health Alert: Many Seniors Could Benefit from Visiting an Optician. Vision tests of nearly 1,200 older
adults revealed that 61% could significantly improve their vision by getting prescription glasses or
changing the power of their current lenses. Acta Ophthalmologica, January 2020
Diet: Less Protein in the Diet May Benefit Cardiovascular Health. An analysis of dietary information
and blood samples of over 11,000 adults revealed an association between a diet containing fewer sulfur
amino acid-containing foods—such as meats, dairy, nuts, and soy—and a reduced risk for cardiovascular
disease. Lancet EClinical Medicine, February 2020
Exercise: Exercise’s Effect on the Brain. Researchers monitored the brains of 128 people after
performing aerobic exercise at varying intensities and observed that the greatest changes in
neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to rewire or modify its neural connections—occurred with 20 minutes of
interval training or 25 minutes of continuous moderate aerobic exercise.
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, October 2019
Chiropractic: Manual Therapy Improves Sit-to-Stand Tasks. Among a group of 40 adults with low
back pain, researchers observed that application of spinal manipulation and mobilization to the lumbar
spine and pelvic region improved performance on sit-to-stand assessments. The study reveals the effect that
manual therapies can have on neuromuscular control and movement in populations suffering from low back
pain. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, January 2020
Mental Attitude: Adverse Childhood Experiences Linked to Dementia. A review of data concerning
17,315 Japanese seniors found that those who experienced three or more adverse childhood experiences
(ACEs) had a 78% increased risk for developing dementia. Examples of ACEs include abuse (physical,
sexual, emotional), neglect (physical, emotional), witnessing domestic violence, substance abuse or mental
illness in the household, and the loss of a parent (separation, divorce, incarceration, death).
JAMA Network Open, February 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D and Ovarian Cancer. The current research indicates that low vitamin D
status is associated with an increased risk for ovarian cancer. Cells, February 2020
Quote: “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to
your former self.” ~ Ernest Hemingway
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Health Alert: Sleep Apnea Linked to Fatty Liver Disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is
a condition that occurs when fat accumulates in the liver from causes other than excessive alcohol
consumption. An analysis of data concerning 33,045 adults revealed that individuals with obstructive sleep
apnea have a 78% increased risk for NAFLD. BMC Gastroenterology, February 2020
Diet: Americans Throw Away a Lot of Food. According to a study that looked at the food purchasing
and consumption behavior of nearly 4,000 families in the United States, about a third of food is thrown out
at a cost of $1,866 each year per household. Study author Dr. Edward Jaenicke writes, “Our findings are
consistent with previous studies, which have shown that 30% to 40% of the total food supply in the United
States goes uneaten—and that means that resources used to produce the uneaten food, including land,
energy, water and labor, are wasted as well.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics, January 2020
Exercise: Exercise Could Boost Video Game Performance. While it’s generally believed that playing
video games and exercise are antagonistic activities, new research suggests that gamers who engage in 15
minutes of intense cardiovascular activity prior to a gaming session perform better than their peers who
typically refrain from exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, January 2020
Chiropractic: Spinal Pain Is Very Common. A survey of 5,397 middle-aged adults revealed that 54%
had experienced an episode of low back pain in the previous twelve months, while 23.6% had mid-back
pain and 29.1% had neck pain in the same time frame. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, February 2020
Mental Attitude: Many Teens Dislike High School. Questionnaires completed by nearly 22,000 high
schoolers across the United States revealed that 75% routinely experience boredom, anger, sadness, fear,
and/or stress while at school. Journal of Learning and Instruction, January 2020
Wellness/Prevention: How to Deal with a Flea Infestation. To prevent, reduce, or eliminate a flea
infestation, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends the following: check carpets, cushioned
furniture, and cracks and crevices daily; steam clean carpets regularly and pay extra attention to areas
where pets sleep; wash all pet bedding and family bedding every two weeks; use a flea comb on your pet to
expose adult fleas; and keep your pets indoors as much as possible.
Environmental Protection Agency, January 2020
Quote: “If you can dream it, you can do it.” ~ Enzo Ferrari
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.