Health Alert: Cardiovascular Disease and Depression. An analysis of data concerning over 100,000 adults
found that individuals with depression have a 64% elevated risk for ischemic heart disease and a 94% higher
risk for stroke. On the other hand, men and women with cardiovascular disease had nearly double the risk for
subsequent depression. British Journal of Psychiatry, August 2020
Diet: Cutting Carbs May Protect Your Eyes. Glaucoma is a condition that damages the optic nerve and is
one of the leading causes of vision loss in people over the age of 60. An analysis of diet and health data on
185,000 health professionals found that maintaining a long-term diet low in carbohydrates and high in vegetable
sources of fat and protein was linked to a 20% reduced risk of primary open angle glaucoma with early
paracentral visual loss. Researcher Dr. Louis Pasquale writes, “It’s important to note that a low-carbohydrate
diet won’t stop glaucoma progression if you already have it, but it may be a means to preventing glaucoma in
high-risk groups… If more patients in these high-risk categories—including those with a family history of
glaucoma—adhered to this diet, there might be fewer cases of vision loss.” Eye, July 2020
Exercise: Just One Hour… Among a group of 24 seniors at increased risk for cardiovascular disease,
researchers observed that reducing sedentary behavior by one hour a day led to significant long-term
improvements in both peripheral vascular function and cerebral blood flow.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, August 2020
Chiropractic: Neck and Shoulder Pain? Questionnaires completed by 1,000 adults intended to represent the
general population revealed that nearly half (45%) of those reporting significant neck pain also had
shoulder/arm pain. The findings suggest the conditions often co-occur, and dysfunction in both areas may need
to be addressed in order to achieve a successful treatment outcome. Asian Spine Journal, July 2020
Mental Attitude: Concussions Increase Risk of Several Brain Conditions. Using 25 years of data
concerning over 186,000 adults, researchers report that a history of concussion is associated with an elevated
risk for: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression, anxiety, Parkinson’s disease, or dementia.
Family Medicine and Community Health, July 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Inflammatory Biomarker May Suggest Heart Failure Risk. In a new study,
researchers discovered that people with higher levels of GlycA in their blood—an indicator of inflammation—
had a significantly increased risk for heart failure. Circulation, July 2020
Quote: “If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you’ll never enjoy the sunshine.” ~ Morris West

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

Health Alert: Low Zinc Intake? Among a group of 142 female university students, researchers identified an
association between low dietary zinc intake and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, short
sleep duration, and daytime dysfunction. Biological Trace Element Research, August 2020
Diet: Is Chocolate Heart Healthy? A review of data from six studies that included more than 336,000
participants found that eating one or more servings of chocolate per week could reduce the risk for heart disease
by up to 10%. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, July 2020
Exercise: Low Fitness Linked to Depression. Grip strength is often used in scientific research as an indicator
of physical function/fitness. In a study that included 867 teens and young adults, researchers observed an
association between weak grip and an increased risk for depressive symptoms. The findings add to a growing
body of research linking physical and mental health. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, July 2020
Chiropractic: Managing Chronic Neck Pain. In a recent clinical trial, researchers observed that neck-specific
exercises and manual therapies are both effective interventions to address chronic, nonspecific neck pain, with
manual therapies leading to faster improvements in pain perception and therapeutic exercises resulting in a
swifter improvement in neck pain-related disability. Doctors of chiropractic often use a combination of manual
therapies and therapeutic exercises for the management of chronic neck pain. Trials, July 2020
Mental Attitude: Visual Memory and Alzheimer’s. New research suggests that declines in visual memory
may become apparent in seniors at risk for Alzheimer’s disease before the onset of clinical symptoms. This
finding may help in the creation of assessments for identifying future cases of Alzheimer’s disease much earlier
than current methods. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, August 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Banning Flavored Cigarettes Reduced Smoking Among Young Americans. A
comparison of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2002 and 2017 revealed a 43% decline in
smoking among teens and a 27% decline in smoking among young adults, which experts credit to the banning
of flavored cigarettes in 2009. Study leader Dr. Matthew Rossheim writes, “This shows incredible promise for
future comprehensive bans of flavored tobacco products, including those in e-cigarettes, which to-date have
received significant exemptions… Policymakers should take note of the evidence from this study and pass
legislation to extend flavor bans to other tobacco and nicotine products.”
Journal of Adolescent Health, July 2020
Quote: “The best thing to do now, is to do the very best you can.” ~ Allen Drury

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

Health Alert: Methanol-Based Hand Sanitizers Pose Dangers. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
warns not to use alcohol-based hand sanitizers that contain methanol or wood alcohol, as they can be toxic if
absorbed through the skin leading to nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, blindness, seizures, coma,
nervous system damage, and even death. The FDA is working to prevent these products from entering the
United States and is coordinating with manufacturers to recall such products.
Food and Drug Administration, July 2020
Diet: Certain Nutrients May Help Keep a Common Form of Vertigo at Bay. Benign paroxysmal positional
vertigo (BPPV) is described as a spinning sensation that is usually triggered by changing one’s head position. In
a recent study involving 900 BPPV patients, researchers found that taking a vitamin D and calcium supplement
twice a day reduced the incidence of vertigo episodes by 24%. Neurology, August 2020
Exercise: Resistance and Impact Training Benefit Those at Risk for Osteoporosis. Among a group of 47
patients at elevated risk for osteoporosis, those who took part in a six-month impact and resistance training
program experienced increased muscle strength and improved bone mineral density in the lumbar spine (3.8%)
and femoral neck (2.3%). Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, July 2020
Chiropractic: Hip Strengthening Aids in Low Back Pain Rehab. A review of data from five published
studies suggests that incorporating hip strengthening exercises into a low back pain treatment program can lead
to greater improvements in both low back pain and disability. This finding is not entirely surprising as past
research has shown that hip/pelvic and low back issues often co-occur. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to
assess and treat spine/hip conditions, often using manual manipulation, physiotherapy modalities, specific
exercises, and nutritional recommendations. Clinical Rehabilitation, July 2020
Mental Attitude: Factors for Midlife Mental Decline Risk. New research suggests that smoking,
hypertension, and type 2 diabetes are each significant risk factors for mental decline in middle age.
Neurology, July 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Five Ways to Keep Your Heart Healthy. To reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease,
the American Heart Association recommends: keep blood pressure under 120/80 mmHg and blood sugar under
100 mg/dl; maintain a healthy body weight and blood lipid levels; and keep a consistent sleep schedule
featuring six to nine hours of sleep a night. American Heart Association, July 2020
Quote: “There is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving.” ~ Henry Drummond

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

Health Alert: Long-Term Hypertension Damages Brain Vessels. A review of brain imaging and periodic
blood pressure readings of 1,686 adults during mid and late life revealed that the longer an individual was
hypertensive, the more likely they were to develop cerebral small blood vessel disease, which could increase the
risk for stroke and dementia. American Heart Association, July 2020
Diet: Plant-Based Diets Lower Blood Pressure. An analysis of data from 41 studies showed that adopting a
diet featuring ample servings of fruits and vegetables (DASH, Mediterranean, Vegetarian, Vegan, Nordic, etc.)
can lead to a reduction in blood pressure associated with a 14% lower risk for stroke and a 9% decreased risk
for heart attack. Journal of Hypertension, July 2020
Exercise: Breathing Exercises Benefit Sleep Apnea Patients. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated
with an elevated risk for heart failure, heart disease, and stroke. New research suggests that performing at-home
breathing exercises for six weeks can lead to significant improvements in respiratory and cardiovascular
function among older adults with OSA. Experimental Physiology, July 2020
Chiropractic: Cervicothoracic Junction Hypermobility and Neck Pain? Among a group of 42 neck pain
patients with cervicothoracic junction hypermobility, researchers observed that manipulative therapy applied to
the thoracic spine and mobilization therapy targeting the cervicothoracic junction both resulted in improvements
in neck pain and cervical range of motion. Doctors of chiropractic often use several forms of manual therapy,
including spinal manipulation and mobilization, in the management of neck pain.
Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, August 2020
Mental Attitude: Is It Sleep Trouble or ADHD? The result of a recent experiment found that children with a
sleep disorder may experience troubles with impulse control at levels that could suggest the presence of
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The researchers conclude, “This further adds to the discussion
on overdiagnosis of ADHD due to behavioral presentations of underlying sleep disorders.”
Journal of Attention Disorders, July 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Less Smoking and Drinking Reduces Hip Fractures. Hip fracture rates in the United
States have fallen substantially since the 1970s, and according to researchers, much of this improvement may be
due to significant drops in heavy drinking and smoking among the general population.
JAMA Internal Medicine, July 2020
Quote: “Goodness is the only investment that never fails.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

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