Health Alert: Websites May Contain Incorrect Info on Antidepressants. Researchers reviewed articles from
39 informative websites from ten countries on the topic of antidepressant use and found that thirteen sites failed
to note that antidepressant use may increase suicide ideation, only two reported that antidepressants can increase
suicide risk, eleven did not warn patients of withdrawal effects, only five mentioned emotional numbing as a
side effect of antidepressant use, and only one suggested that antidepressants can be addictive. The authors
conclude, “The information was generally inaccurate and unhelpful and has potential to lead to inappropriate
use and overuse of antidepressants and reduce the likelihood that people will seek better options for depression
like psychotherapy.” International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine, March 2020
Diet: Inflammatory Diet During Childhood Linked to Depression. An inflammatory dietary pattern is
characterized by a high intake to meat, eggs, preserved/processed foods, and sugary drinks. A review of data
from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children revealed that kids with an inflammatory dietary
pattern at age nine were up to 21% more likely to have depression at age eighteen.
Brain, Behavior, & Immunity Health, February 2020
Exercise: Exercise Helps Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients. For patients with rheumatoid arthritis, engaging in
a regular exercise program is generally considered safe and can improve pain, function, fatigue, and mental
health. Current Opinion in Rheumatology, March 2020
Chiropractic: Chronic Neck Pain Can Affect the Mid Back. Examinations of 78 individuals (48 of whom
had chronic neck pain) revealed an association between chronic neck pain and abnormal thoracic spinal
curvature, reduce thoracic mobility, and impaired respiratory strength.
Annals of Rehabilitative Medicine, February 2020
Mental Attitude: TBI May Increase Stroke Risk Later in Life. A review of data concerning 132 individuals
treated for traumatic brain injury (TBI) between 2006 and 2010 revealed that those with more severe
concussions were significantly more likely to suffer an ischemic stroke in the following decade.
Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, February 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D Deficiency and Poor Pregnancy Outcomes. Vitamin D deficiency during
pregnancy is associated with an elevated risk for preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and preterm birth.
Journal of the Association of Physicians of India, March 2020
Quote: “You make mistakes. Mistakes don’t make you.” ~ Maxwell Maltz
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Health Alert: Weight Gain Dangerous to Lungs. While pulmonary function is expected to decline with
advancing age, the results of a study that monitored 3,700 adults for two decades found that weight gain over
time can hasten this process. Thorax, February 2020
Diet: The More You Know… Questionnaires completed by 438 college students revealed that those with
greater health literacy tended to consume more servings of fruits and vegetables per day than participants with
little knowledge of general health, health promotion, and disease prevention.
Journal of American College Health, March 2020
Exercise: Temporomandibular Dysfunction May Impair Aerobic Capacity. In this study, researchers
compared the peak oxygen consumption of 31 young women with temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) and
31 young women without the condition and observed that members of the TMD group had lower aerobic
capacity. Cranio, March 2020
Chiropractic: Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Common Among Elderly. Lumbar spinal stenosis is a debilitating
condition associated with the degeneration of the spine, which can have a wide range of symptoms including
back pain, leg pain, numbness and tingling in the legs, and reduced physical function. A review of data from 41
published studies found that the prevalence of lumbar spinal stenosis in the general population can range from
11%-39%, depending on diagnostic criteria. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to diagnosis degenerative
lumbar spinal stenosis and offer conservative treatment options such as spinal manipulation, exercise, and
nutritional counseling. European Spine Journal, February 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Can Sarcopenia Be Slowed or Reversed? Sarcopenia is a disease associated with the
loss of skeletal muscle mass during the aging process that affects around 12% of the elderly. The results of a
recent study suggest that consuming adequate amounts of protein and staying physically active can help
preserve skeletal muscle quality in seniors. Journal of Frailty and Aging, March 2020
Wellness/Prevention: How to Lift Heavy Things. To reduce the risk of injury when lifting heavy objects, the
University of North Carolina recommends the following: prepare for the weight; get as close to the object as
possible; keep your back straight and bend at the knees; get a good handhold, and do not twist while lifting.
University of North Carolina, February 2020
Quote: “Love cultivates hope; hope fertilizes resilience, and we can all be farmers of dreams”
~ George E. Miller
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Health Alert: Many Young Adults Have Bad Health Habits. An analysis of data from the National Health
and Nutrition Examination Survey found that less than half of young adults meet current exercise guidelines and
less than one in six consume the recommended intake of fruits and vegetables. Federal guidelines recommend
engaging in 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity and consuming five or more servings of fruits
and vegetables per day. Western Journal of Nursing Research, February 2020
Diet: Another Reason to Eat More Fruits and Veggies… Using data from the Genes Environment Interaction
in Respiratory Diseases study, researchers estimate that individuals who consume a flavonoid-rich diet are less
likely to experience non-allergic rhinitis. Public Health Nutrition, January 2020
Exercise: Physical Activity Keeps the Brain from Shrinking? Researchers used MRI scans to collect data on
the brain size of more than 1,550 seniors and found that the average brain size of the most active participants
was 883 cubic centimeters, compared to only 871 cubic centimeters among those leading more sedentary lives.
The researchers note that this difference is equivalent to nearly four years of brain aging.
American Academy of Neurology, April 2020
Chiropractic: Up to 1 in 5 Headaches Originate in the Neck! Cervicogenic headaches are described as
headaches caused by dysfunction in the neck. The current research suggests that cervicogenic headaches
account for 15-20% of chronic headache cases. Doctors of chiropractic commonly use manual therapies, such as
mobilization and manipulation, to treat cervicogenic headaches. Brain and Nerve, March 2020
Mental Attitude: Sleep Helps Teens Adjust to High School. In this study, researchers observed that ninth
graders who slept eight or more hours per night were better able to adjust to the academic and social rigors of
high school than freshmen with poor sleep habits. Michigan State University, February 2020
Mental Attitude: Healthy Heart When Young Leads to Healthier Brain Later. The results of a long-term
study regarding participants whom researchers monitored from age 24 through age 54 found that those with a
healthier heart at the start of the study performed better on memory and cognitive assessments three decades
later. Study author Dr. Farzaneh Sorond writes, “We’ve known that vascular risk factors such as high blood
pressure and high blood glucose levels are linked to cerebrovascular damage and problems with thinking skills
in older people, but this study shows that these factors may be linked decades earlier and injury may start much
earlier.” American Academy of Neurology, April 2020
Quote: “A good half of the art of living is resilience.” ~ Alain de Botton
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Health Alert: Persistent Concussion Symptoms and Sleep Apnea. Examinations of 51 patients with
persistent concussion symptoms revealed that 78% also had sleep apnea. Because sleep apnea reduces the
body’s ability to experience restorative sleep, the findings suggest that improving sleep quality in mildtraumatic brain injury patients may reduce the risk for ongoing concussion symptoms.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, March 2020
Diet: Mediterranean Diet May Lead to Healthier Aging. The Mediterranean diet focuses on eating fruits,
vegetables, nuts, fish, olive oil, and whole grains while avoiding red and processed meats, dairy, saturated fats,
and refined sugars. An evaluation of 143 elderly patients revealed that those who most closely followed the
Mediterranean diet were less likely to two or more chronic conditions.
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, February 2020
Exercise: Evening Exercise May Slow Glaucoma. Glaucoma is an incurable eye disease that causes an
increase in pressure inside the eye that damages the optic nerve, eventually leading to vision loss. In a study
involving 98 glaucoma patients, researchers observed that the disease progressed more slowly in those who
exercised during the evening. Eye and Vision, March 2020
Chiropractic: Stabilization Exercises and Chronic Neck Pain. An analysis of data from six randomized
controlled trials found that stabilization exercises can reduce pain and improve function in patients with chronic
neck pain. Doctors of chiropractic often incorporate such exercises in their treatment plans for chronic neck
pain patients in addition to spinal manipulation, mobilization, and other manual therapies.
Journal of Neurological Surgery, March 2020
Mental Attitude: Do Smartphones Exacerbate Headaches? A survey of 400 chronic headache sufferers
revealed that excessive smartphone use is associated with more frequent and more intense headaches. The
findings suggest that cutting back on smartphone use would benefit headache sufferers.
Neurology Clinical Practice, March 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Dietary Choices and Lung Cancer Risk. A review of data from 30 published studies
suggests that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, zinc, and vitamins B, C, D, and E is associated with a
reduced risk for lung cancer. The findings suggest that nutritional recommendations should be included in
smoking cessation programs. Tumori, March 2020
Quote: “It is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.” ~ Rene Descartes
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.