Health Alert: Vaping and Chronic Lung Disease. Researchers analyzed records from 2013 to 2016 on new lung
disease diagnoses and found that both traditional smoking and e-cigarette use are associated with an elevated risk for
chronic lung disease compared with nonsmokers (50% and 33%, respectively). The findings are important because
debate continues over whether e-cigarettes should be promoted as a safe tool for smokers looking to quit the habit.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, December 2019
Diet: Bad Diets Are Costly to Society. New research suggests that if adults in the United States adopted healthier
eating habits, it could save the country roughly $50 billion in healthcare-associated expenses for the treatment of
heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. American Heart Association, March 2020
Exercise: Gardening is Good for Your Body Image. A review of survey data revealed that gardeners have higher
levels of body appreciation and body pride, as well as higher levels of appreciation for their body’s functionality
compared with non-gardeners. Ecophysiology, March 2020
Chiropractic: Knee Stiffness Linked to Spinal Issue? Examinations of patients following total knee replacement
revealed that those who continued to report knee stiffness were more likely to have sagittal spinal malalignment. The
researchers suspect that postural abnormalities in the spine may lead to compensatory changes in the biomechanics
of the knee and a resulting reduction in range of motion. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to assess the whole
patient to identify any factors that may contribute to a patient’s chief complaint and treat them with conservative
options including manipulation, mobilization, specific exercises, modalities, and nutritional recommendations.
Journal of Arthroplasty, February 2020
Mental Attitude: Pets Are Truly Lifesavers for Seniors. Questionnaires completed by 35 senior pet owners
revealed that a third had considered suicide but cited caring for their pet as a reason to live. The findings suggest that
pet ownership for seniors may possibly prevent some suicides. Dr. Gary Kennedy, the director of geriatric psychiatry
for the Montefiore Health System in New York City writes, “Animals provide a presence and companionship. They
respond to your vocalizations. You feed them, groom them, and with a dog, walk them. There’s reciprocity and
companionship in the relationship.” Anthrozoös, March 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Cancer Prevention Tips. The Harvard School of Public Health reports that up to 75% of
cancer deaths in the United States can be prevented. The school offers these cancer prevention tips: avoid tobacco,
eat properly, exercise regularly, stay lean, limit alcohol intake, avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation, avoid
exposure to industrial and environmental toxins, avoid infections that contribute to cancer, make sleep a priority, and
get plenty of vitamin D. Harvard School of Public Health, March 2020
Quote: “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” ~ e. e. cummings

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

Health Alert: Suicide Rates Up 35% in Last 20 Years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
reports that the suicide rate in the United States increased from 10.5 to 14 per 100,000 persons between 1999 and
2018, with a much sharper increase in the past decade. The CDC adds that suicide risk is higher among men and
those living in rural areas. Dr. Jonathan Singer, the president of the board of directors of the American Association
of Suicidology writes, “No one knows why suicide rates are climbing… What we do know is that research on suicide
is underfunded, that there are many different pathways people take to become suicidal and to make the decision to
die… There’s a need for more folks to be trained in addressing suicide risk, particularly in rural areas, and a need for
more research.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 2020
Diet: A Healthy Diet May Reduce Risk for Poor Mental Health in Children. A review of findings from twelve
published studies found that kids who consume a healthy diet have a reduced risk for developing a mental health
condition during both childhood and adolescence.
Annals of the National Institute of Hygiene (Poland), January 2020
Exercise: Another Reason to Stay Fit! The corpus callosum is a band of nerve fibers that connects and helps
“integrate” functions between the left and right hemi-spheres of the brain. A review of findings from 20 published
studies identified an association between higher cardiorespiratory fitness and greater structural and functional
integrity in the corpus callosum. Physician and Sports Medicine, April 2020
Chiropractic: Trapezius Strengthening Benefits Neck Pain Patients. Among a group of 40 neck pain patients,
those who performed exercises to strengthen the lower trapezius muscles reported greater improvements in cervical
function and postural alignment. Doctors of chiropractic often use a combination of spinal manipulation,
mobilization, and exercises when treating patients with neck pain. Medical Science Monitor, March 2020
Mental Attitude: Bilingualism and the Brain. Past research suggests that speaking a second language may
preserve cognitive function later in life. In a new study, researchers looked at MRI brain images of bilingual and
monolingual seniors and observed that the brain scans of bilingual participants exhibited less shrinkage in the areas
of the brain associated with language processing and control. Brain Structure & Function, March 2020
Wellness/Prevention: New Biomarker May Help Detect Alzheimer’s Disease. The PHGDH gene is responsible
for the production of RNA and proteins that are critical for brain development and function, which typically declines
with age. In a recent study, researcher found that a sharp change in this RNA production later in life may precede
Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis by up to two years. The finding suggests that a blood test for these biomarkers may
help identify Alzheimer’s disease patients before they begin showing symptoms. Current Biology, March 2020
Quote: “Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn’t have the power to say yes.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

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

Health Alert: MAFLD? Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition that occurs when fat accumulates
in the liver from causes other than excessive alcohol consumption. In a recent article, researchers suggested changing
the name for this condition to metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in order to better
highlight the underlying causes of the disease such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, abnormal blood lipid levels,
being overweight, and having a large waist circumference. Liver International, April 2020
Diet: Special Diet Key to Managing Asthma. The ketogenic diet triggers ketosis, which is a metabolic process that
breaks down fats and proteins and transforms them into energy for the body. In a recent experiment, researchers
observed that when asthmatic mice consumed a ketogenic diet, they experienced a reduction in asthma symptoms.
Researcher Dr. Christoph Wilhelm writes, “The prevalence of asthma has increased dramatically over the last few
decades. Perhaps this is also related to an increasingly common high-sugar and high-fat diet.” The research team
now plans to investigate whether a ketogenic diet can benefit humans with asthma. Immunity, April 2020
Exercise: Exercise for Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by low bone mineral density, which
can increase the risk for fracture in the event of a fall. The current research suggests that individuals with
osteoporosis or those who are at risk for the condition should engage in resistance training to improve bone mineral
density and posture/balance training to reduce the risk for falls. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, April 2020
Chiropractic: Smartphone Use and Chronic Neck Pain. Among a group of 2,438 young adults with chronic neck
pain, researchers observed an association between excessive smartphone use and increased evidence of cervical disk
degeneration. The findings suggest that the poor posture individuals often adopt when using their electronic devices
may elevate the risk for cervical spondylosis. Doctors of chiropractic often use a combination of manual therapies
and specific exercises to reduce pain and improve function and posture in patients with chronic neck pain associated
with excessive smartphone use. Journal of Orthopaedic Science, March 2020
Mental Attitude: Diabetics Have Elevated Anxiety Risk. According to a new study that looked at nationwide data
from Taiwan’s national healthcare system, individuals with type 2 diabetes may be up to two times more likely to
report anxiety disorder within a ten-year timeframe. Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, April 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Prevention Tips for a Healthy Future. Heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are common
chronic diseases that are often preventable with regular screening and lifestyle changes. UnityPoint Clinic offers
these tips for a healthier life: take regular walks, eat a healthy diet rich in antioxidants, wash your hands frequently,
use sunscreen, get plenty of calcium and vitamin D for healthy bones, and get regular cancer screenings.
Unity Point Health, March 2020
Quote: “Forever is composed of nows.” ~ Emily Dickinson

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

Health Alert: Heavy Drinking Earlier in Life Can Have Long-Term Consequences. Using data from the
Whitehall II cohort, researchers identified a link between heavy alcohol intake before midlife and hypertension,
impaired liver function, increased stroke risk, a larger waist circumference, and a higher body mass index (BMI)
later in life, even if heavy drinking stopped before age 50. Addiction, March 2020
Diet: Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Help Schizophrenia Patients. The current research suggests that inflammation in
the brain may be the cause of some of the cognitive impairment observed in schizophrenia patients. In a study that
involved 72 individuals with schizophrenia, researchers observed that participants who consumed a daily omega 3
fatty acid supplement—which is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and brain health benefits—experienced
both a reduction in inflammatory biomarkers and an improvement in cognitive performance.
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, April 2020
Exercise: How Often Should You Exercise? The Department of Health and Human Services currently
recommends engaging in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic
activity per week in addition to strength training all major muscle groups at least twice a week.
Mayo Clinic, March 2020
Chiropractic: Effectiveness of Manual Therapy for Non-Specific Neck Pain. Among a group of 37 non-specific
neck pain patients treated with manual therapies, researchers observed that those who received treatment targeting
both the cervical and thoracic spine experienced greater reductions in pain and disability than participants who only
received treatment applied to the neck. JPMA, March 2020
Mental Attitude: Mental Health Issues After Delivery Reduce Odds of More Children. An analysis of data on
over 410,000 women who gave birth to their first child showed that those who developed conditions such as
depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia within six months postpartum were about 18% less likely to have additional
children. Study leader Dr. Xiaoqin Liu notes, “If they avoided another pregnancy due to fear of relapse, an important
clinical message to them is that prevention of relapse is possible.” Human Reproduction, March 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Prevent Osteoporosis. To reduce the risk for osteoporosis, experts from the Department of
Veterans Affairs recommend the following: eat foods rich in calcium, such as low-fat dairy, leafy green vegetables,
and sardines; ensure adequate calcium and vitamin D intake; perform weight-bearing exercises for 30 minutes, five
or more days a week; walk, dance, and weight train; know your family history; and consider having a bone density
screening test with your healthcare provider. Department of Veterans Affairs, March 2020
Quote: “Make life exciting, and you live longer.” ~ Stanley Marcus

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