Health Alert: Signs of Adult Diabetes Risk Are Visible at Age 8. A study that monitored the health of
more than 4,000 participants found that unhealthy high-density lipoprotein (the “good” cholesterol) levels
at age 8 may signal that an individual is at an elevated risk for a type 2 diabetes diagnosis by age 25.
Diabetes Care, June 2020
Diet: Foods That May Reduce Risk for Breast Cancer. A systematic review of data from 48 published
studies reported the following foods/vitamins/compounds are associated with a reduced breast cancer risk:
vegetables, citrus fruit, mushrooms, calcium, folate, vitamin D, lignans, and carotenoids.
International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, July 2020
Exercise: Physical Inactivity Raises Cancer Mortality Risk. Among a group of 8,002 middle-aged and
older adults, researchers observed that the least active participants were 82% more likely to die from cancer
over the following five years than those with the highest physical activity levels.
JAMA Oncology, June 2020
Chiropractic: Chiropractic Care Increases Strength, Balance, & Endurance. After a four-week course
of chiropractic care, military personnel with back pain reported improved strength and endurance, as well
as a reduction in low back pain intensity and disability compared with patients on a waiting list who
received no treatment. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, June 2020
Mental Attitude: Intervention Can Reduce Heart Risks for Those with Mental Illness. Past research
has shown that individuals with serious mental illness have an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease. In a
recent study that involved 132 adults with serious mental illness, researchers found that when a counselor
and nurse guided participants to engage in a healthier lifestyle (stop smoking, eat a healthy diet, exercise,
etc.), their risk for heart attack or stroke fell by nearly 13% in the next decade.
JAMA Network Open, June 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Low Testosterone and Dysregulated Eating. Evaluations of 154 male college
students revealed an association between low testosterone levels and an increased risk for developing an
eating disorder. International Journal of Eating Disorders, July 2020
Quote: “People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.”
~ Edmund Hillary
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Health Alert: Asthma Tied to Kids with Disabilities & Delays. An analysis of data collected from nearly
72,000 families revealed that children with hearing loss, cerebral palsy, and learning disabilities have a
significantly elevated risk for asthma. Study co-author Dr. George Delclos writes, “These results support
advising pediatricians to screen for asthma in children with disabilities, so that interventions can be started
sooner.” JAMA Network Open, June 2020
Diet: Best Protein-Rich Vegetables? In addition to legumes, experts consider the following vegetables to
be good sources for plant-based protein: watercress, alfalfa sprouts, spinach, Chinese cabbage, asparagus,
mustard and collard greens, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and cauliflower. Medical News Today, June 2020
Exercise: Take Microbreaks! For desk-bound office workers, taking a microbreak every hour to perform
a brief physical activity can reduce job stress and improve mood. Frontiers in Public Health, June 2020
Chiropractic: Fall Risk Among Patients with Severe Knee Osteoarthritis. Questionnaires completed by
259 knee osteoarthritis patients revealed an association between back pain intensity and an increased risk
for falling. The findings suggest that treatment to manage co-occurring back pain—such as chiropractic
care—may be necessary to reduce fall risk among patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee.
Clinical Rheumatology, June 2020
Mental Attitude: A Third of Dementia Cases Are Preventable? The Lancet Commission on Dementia
Prevention, Intervention and Care reports that up to 35% of dementia cases could be prevented by staying
mentally engaged; maintaining a healthy weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose reading; addressing
midlife hearing loss and late-life depression; and staying socially active.
Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, July 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Garden Safety. Gardening is a great way to get physical activity, beautify the
community, and provide fresh nutritious produce, while enjoying the outdoors. To stay safe while
gardening, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following: wear protective gear
as needed, such as safety goggles, appropriate shoes, long pants, gloves, insect repellent, and sun screen
with a SPF of 15 or greater; and make sure to drink water if you’re outside in hot weather for most of the
day. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, June 2020
Quote: “The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.” ~ Eric Hoffer
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Health Alert: Obesity in Middle-Age Linked to Dementia. New research that looked at long-term health
data concerning nearly 6,600 adults suggests that obesity at midlife is associated with a 31% increased risk
for dementia in old age. International Journal of Epidemiology, June 2020
Diet: Eating Fruits and Veggies Can Cut Diabetes Risk. Using data from the European Prospective
Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study, researchers estimate that every 66 gram increase in daily
fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with a 25% reduced risk for type 2 diabetes. BMJ, July 2020
Exercise: Exercise Linked to Lower Sleep Apnea Risk. The results of a recent study that looked at
lifestyle, medical, socio-demographic, and sleep health data concerning more than 155,000 adults suggest
that even a modest increase in physical activity (such as walking for 20 additional minutes per day or
vigorously exercising for 8 additional minutes a day) can reduce the risk for obstructive sleep apnea by
10%. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, June 2020
Chiropractic: Back Pain Common During Pregnancy. Questionnaires completed by 400 expectant
mothers revealed that 75.3% had experienced back pain at some point in their pregnancy, particularly in the
lumbar region during the third trimester. Nearly half of the women in the study (45.7%) reported that their
back pain limited their daily activities. Doctors of chiropractic commonly treat low back pain arising from
pregnancy with a combination of manual therapies and specific exercises.
Pain Management Nursing, June 2020
Mental Attitude: Lack of Sleep Can Take a Toll on the Brain. Otherwise healthy volunteers who slept
two fewer hours a night for three nights in a row not only became less effective at performing tasks, but
according to researcher Dr. Ingvild Saksvik-Lehouillier, “[Participants also] experienced a flattening of
emotions…. They felt less joy, enthusiasm, attention and fulfillment.” Sleep, June 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Top Wellness Tips. The Physicians Medical Group of San Jose lists the flowing
tips for better health and wellness: don’t start smoking, and if you’re a smoker, quit; see a doctor regularly;
eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; exercise regularly; get adequate sleep;
maintain a healthy weight; limit alcohol intake; practice good dental hygiene; become educated about
health and wellness; and take care of your mental health. Physicians Medical Group of San Jose, June 2020
Quote: “A tiny change today brings a dramatically different tomorrow.” ~ Richard Bach
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Health Alert: Air Pollution Linked to Early Death. An analysis of long-term data concerning over 68.5
million Medicare enrollees suggests that tightening air quality standards in the United States from 12
μg/m3 of fine particulate matter to the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 10 μg/m3 could
save over 140,000 lives over the following decade. Sciences Advances, June 2020
Diet: Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Benefit Expectant Mothers. Though further research is warranted, a
review of data from 14 published studies found that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy
may reduce the risk for preeclampsia and postpartum depression.
Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, July 2020
Exercise: The Many Benefits of Exercise. Harvard Medical School lists the following benefits of
exercise: reduced risk for obesity, heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers; improved
balance, mood, and mental function; stronger muscles; and healthier bones and joints.
Harvard Medical School, June 2020
Chiropractic: Manipulative Therapy Combined with Exercise Improves Outcomes. According to a
study that included 90 patients with chronic non-specific neck pain, combining manipulative therapy with
stretching and strengthening exercises led to greater improvements in pain, disability, and range of motion
than exercises alone. Doctors of chiropractic often treat patients with chronic neck pain with an approach
that combines manipulative therapies and specific cervical exercises.
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, April 2020
Mental Attitude: Repeated Head Impacts Linked to Depression Later in Life. A review of the health
records of 13,323 individuals revealed that a history of both repetitive head impacts and traumatic brain
injury is associated with an elevated risk for late-life depression. Neurology, June 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Urine Test Could Check Your Diet Quality. By analyzing levels of different
metabolites in urine samples taken 24 hours apart, researchers have developed a test that measure the
quality of an individual’s nutrition intake. Study co-author Dr. Paul Elliott notes, “Healthful diets have a
different pattern of metabolites in the urine than those associated with worse health outcomes.”
Nature Food, June 2020
Quote: “You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from.” ~ Cormac McCarthy
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Health Alert: New Advice Regarding Familial Hypercholesterolemia. Individuals with a genetic
predisposition for elevated low-density lipoprotein (the “bad” cholesterol) levels have traditionally been
instructed to reduce their consumption of saturated fats to lower their risk for heart disease. However, a
team of heart disease and diet experts reviewed dietary guidelines for those with familial
hypercholesterolemia and failed to find any evidence supporting a low saturated fat diet. They concluded
that following a low-carbohydrate diet is a more effective dietary strategy for this group of patients.
BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, July 2020
Diet: High-Fiber Diet May Benefit Kidney Function. An analysis of blood samples and dietary
information regarding 468 adults suggests that high fiber intake is associated with better renal function.
BMC Nephrology, July 2020
Exercise: Weightlifting Strengthens the Nervous System. The reticulospinal tract descends from the
spinal cord from the brain and is mainly involved in locomotion and postural control. In a recent study,
researchers observed that strength training can increase the response of the reticulospinal tract, which may
be one way lifting weights improves athletic performance. Journal of Neuroscience, June 2020
Chiropractic: Seat Incline and Spinal Alignment. Photographic analysis of twenty healthy volunteers
using a variety of seat orientations revealed that a forward sloped seat is superior to both a flat and
backward sloped seat for maintaining neutral spinal alignment and reducing forward head posture. The
findings suggest a forward inclined seat pan may reduce an individual’s risk for developing spinal pain.
Medicine, July 2020
Mental Attitude: Diabetes, Sleep Disorders, and Dementia. Using data from the Korean Health
Screening Cohort, researchers report that type 2 diabetics with a sleep disorder have a 46% higher risk for
dementia than those without a sleep disorder. Journal of Diabetes, July 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Exercise Benefits Sleep. Questionnaires completed by 114 healthy middle-aged
women revealed that those who regularly partake in aerobic exercise are more likely to both sleep at least
seven hours a night and to awaken in the morning feeling rested.
Journal of Sports Medicine & Physical Fitness, July 2020
Quote: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” ~ Nelson Mandela
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.