Health Alert: Hypertension Common in Midlife. Among a group of 2,930 middle-aged adults participating in
the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Disparities in Stroke study, researchers observed that 42% developed
hypertension over a nine-year period. However, they found each of the following health indicators/behaviors
could reduce one’s risk for high blood pressure by up to 6%: healthy weight and diet, regular exercise, and
normal blood glucose and cholesterol readings. Journal of the American Heart Association, September 2020
Diet: Omega-3s May Help Fight Depression in Soon-To-Be and New Moms. An analysis of data from 18
randomized controlled studies found evidence that consuming an omega-3 fatty acid supplement may aid in the
treatment or prevention of perinatal depression. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, September 2020
Exercise: Physical Activity at Work Important to Health. According to a recent study that assessed the
fitness and physical health of young adults, those who primarily worked at a desk were more likely to have poor
fitness, a large waist circumference, and an increased risk for obesity. On the other hand, participants in the
construction industry exhibited superior back flexibility, trunk lifting scores, and aerobic capacity. The findings
suggest that workplace interventions to increase physical activity in the office environment could lead to
improvements with respect to both fitness and physical health among those who spend their day at a computer
workstation. International Journal of Forensic Engineering and Management, January 2020
Chiropractic: Spinal Manipulation Improves Soccer Kicking Strength. In a recent experiment involving
former varsity levels soccer players, researchers observed a significant increase in ball velocity and peak
activation of the knee extensor muscles among participants after a single application of spinal manipulative
therapy. Journal of Strength Conditioning Research, August 2020
Mental Attitude: PTSD May Increase Dementia Risk. Following a review of findings from eight studies that
included long-term data concerning nearly 1.7 million adults, researchers report that post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) may increase the risk for dementia by 55%. British Journal of Psychiatry, September 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Quit Smoking for a Healthier Gut. During the last decade, several studies have
demonstrated that a healthier gut microbiome is associated with a reduced risk for a variety of poor health
outcomes. In a study that included 36 smokers who participated in a twelve-week smoking cessation program,
researchers observed that abstaining from cigarettes led to positive changes in the population of bacteria in the
gut, which may result in a host of secondary health benefits for those who quit smoking.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, September 2020
Quote: “No one is ever ordinary.” ~ Tanith Lee

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

Health Alert: Diabetes Increases Fall Risk. An analysis of data from the Danish National Patient Register
revealed that seniors with a history of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes had both a higher fall risk and an
increased risk for serious injury in the event of a fall. Current Drug Safety, September 2020
Diet: Benefits of Fiber. Not only does dietary fiber increase satiety and slow the absorption of nutrients into
the body, but it also nurtures bacteria in the digestive tract that release short-chain fatty acids associated with a
reduced risk for inflammatory diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, September 2020
Exercise: Weight Gain May Hinder Grades. Researchers monitored the health and academic performance of
1,802 students for two school years and observed that those with a normal weight at baseline who became
overweight by the conclusion of the study were more likely to experience a decline in their grades than
participants who maintained a healthy weight.
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, September 2020
Chiropractic: Frailty Linked to Back Pain. Frailty is a condition characterized by weakness, slowness,
physical inactivity, self-reported exhaustion, and unintentional weight loss. A study that included 602 seniors
with low back pain found that those classified as frail (19.5%) or at risk for frailty (59.2%) had significantly
higher pain and disability scores than physically robust participants, which only accounted for 21.3% of
participants. Canadian Journal on Aging, August 2020
Mental Attitude: Can ADHD Predict Adult Car Crash Risk? In the study, researchers analyzed data on 642
young adults and found that those who had been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) as children were 45% more likely to have been involved in automobile collision than those participant
without a history of ADHD.
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, August 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Honey Can Soothe a Cough. A review of data from fourteen clinical trials found that
consuming honey may be more effective at combatting coughing spells than over-the-counter cough syrups in
adults and children over the age of one. Lead review author Dr. Hibatullah Abuelgasim notes that given the
mostly benign nature of honey, “it’s reasonable to try it—especially if it replaces potentially harmful
alternatives.” Evidence-Based Medicine, August 2020
Quote: “Risk will always be a part of life. It’s how we recognize this and deal with it that matters.”
~ Thomas H. Cook

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

Health Alert: E-Scooters Injuries Increasing Significantly. According to a new study, emergency room visits
for injuries associated with electronic scooter, or e-scooter, use doubled between 2018 and 2019. Study coauthor Dr. Eric Wagner writes, “These injuries are increasing and they aren’t benign. Many of them are
fractures, many of them are head injuries, and some of the head injuries require hospital admission, which
means that they’re very severe.” The findings suggest that increased regulations and safety education are needed
to protect e-scooter riders in light of their growing popularity in metropolitan areas.
JAMA Network Open, August 2020
Diet: Vitamin C Important for Muscles. Using data from the EPIC Norfolk Study concerning more than
13,000 older adults, researchers report that participants with a higher intake of vitamin C were better able to
retain their skeletal muscle mass as they aged than those with a diet featuring fewer vitamin C-rich foods.
Journal of Nutrition, August 2020
Exercise: Fitness Trackers May Promote Exercise Among MS Patients. New research suggests that
multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who use a fitness tracker are more likely to have relapsing-remitting MS, less
disability, higher income, and higher rates of employment than those who do not use fitness trackers.
Disability & Health Journal, July 2020
Chiropractic: Extremity Manipulation Reduces Postural Sway. In a study that included adults between 21
and 40 years of age, researchers found that the application of manipulative therapy, a form of treatment
provided by doctors of chiropractic, to the upper and lower extremities resulted in a reduction in postural sway.
Because postural sway may suggest impaired balance and an increased risk for falls, the research team
recommends replicating the study with older men and women.
Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, August 2020
Mental Attitude: Another Reason Not to Smoke During Pregnancy. A review of data from ten studies found
that maternal prenatal tobacco use may increase the risk for bipolar and depressive disorders in their offspring
by up to 44%. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, September 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D Supplement May Benefit Some Pregnancies. For expectant mothers with
low vitamin D status, a recent literature review suggests that taking a 600 IU/day vitamin D3 supplement may
improve fetal development and reduce the risk for small-for-gestational-age, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and
gestational diabetes. Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology, October 2020
Quote: “The life given us, by nature is short; but the memory of a well-spent life is eternal.” ~ Cicero

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

Health Alert: A Link Between Temporomandibular Disorder and Sleep Apnea? Following a review of
data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, researchers report that patients with
obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were 2.5 times more likely to have temporomandibular disorders (TMD) than
individuals without a history of OSA. The findings suggest that OSA may be a risk factor for TMD, and
patients presenting for TMD should be screened for OSA.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, August 2020
Diet: Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Benefit NAFLD Patients. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a
condition that occurs when fat accumulates in the liver from causes other than excessive alcohol consumption.
A review of data from 22 randomized control trials revealed that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can
significantly reduce fat in the liver while also improving blood lipid levels. Nutrients, September 2020
Exercise: Should People with Heart Disease Exercise? New guidelines from the European Society of
Cardiology recommend that individuals with heart disease should engage in a minimum of 150 minutes of
moderate-intensity exercise per week in addition to strength training at least three times a week if they also have
hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or are obese. European Society of Cardiology, August 2020
Chiropractic: Diabetics More Likely to Have Chronic Neck/Back Pain. Using data from the Spanish
National Health Survey 2017, researchers estimate that adults with type 2 diabetes have a 19% increased risk
for chronic low back pain and a 34% elevated risk for chronic neck pain.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, September 2020
Mental Attitude: Poor Kidney Health May Affect the Brain. Researchers tested the kidney function of over
2,600 young adults every five years for two decades and found that those who received treatment for serious
kidney-related issues on at least one occasion scored lower on cognitive assessments at midlife than participants
with normal kidney function. Neurology, September 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Lifestyle Choices Reduce Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease. An analysis of data
concerning 2.5 million adults from 16 countries found that adopting the following lifestyle choices can reduce
the risk for chronic kidney disease by up to 22%: vegetable-rich diet, higher potassium intake, regular exercise,
less alcohol consumption, reduced salt consumption, and not smoking.
Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, September 2020
Quote: “The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.” ~ B. B. King

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