Health Alert: Smog Linked to Parkinson’s & Alzheimer’s Risk. New research suggests that even small increases
in fine particulate matter air pollution where an individual lives can lead to an elevated risk for a first hospital
admission for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
The Lancet Planetary Health, October 2020
Diet: Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Improve Prognosis Following Heart Attack. Among a group of 944 consecutive
acute myocardial infarction patients, researchers observed that those with higher omega-3 fatty acid serum levels
were less likely to experience major adverse cardiovascular events, readmission for cardiovascular causes, or death
from any cause in the following three years. The findings suggest that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids may offer
cardioprotective benefits. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, November 2020
Exercise: Short Sleep May Impair Physical Function in Seniors. Grip strength is often used in scientific research
as an indicator of physical function/fitness. Assessments of 121 older adults revealed an association between sleep
duration and stronger grip strength. The findings suggest that strategies to improve sleep in seniors could lead to
improved physical function. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, November 2020
Chiropractic: Forward Head Posture Linked to Chronic Headaches? A review of data from twelve published
studies found that chronic primary headache patients were more likely to exhibit forward head posture than
individuals without a history of headache. The findings suggest that abnormal cervical posture could play a role in
the headache process. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to identify forward head posture and prescribe corrective
exercises. Pain Medicine, October 2020
Mental Attitude: Pregnancy-Related ADHD Risk Factors… An analysis of data from 35 published studies
identified evidence that the following are associated with an elevated risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) in children: maternal pre-pregnancy obesity; pre-eclampsia; smoking during pregnancy; and maternal
acetaminophen use during pregnancy. Lancet Psychiatry, November 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Uterine Fibroids Common for Women. Uterine fibroids are common noncancerous
growths that usually appear during childbearing years. Common signs and symptoms include heavy menstrual
bleeding, menstrual periods that last longer than a week, pelvic pressure or pain, frequent urination, difficulty
emptying the bladder, constipation, and back or leg pain. If you suffer from these symptoms you should contact your
healthcare provider for an evaluation and treatment options. Mayo Clinic, October 2020
Quote: “When you see a roadblock or challenge as an opportunity, it is amazing how you are already halfway
there.” ~ Frances Hesselbein
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Health Alert: Asthma Meds Weaken Bones? Researchers have identified a potential link between oral
corticosteroid usage by patients with asthma and an elevated risk for osteoporosis and serious bone fractures.
Thorax, October 2020
Diet: High Flavanol Diet May Lower Blood Pressure. Evaluations of health and diet data concerning over 25,000
adults revealed that those with the highest intake of flavanols—compounds found in many fruits and vegetables, as
well as wine, tea, and chocolate, that have antioxidant properties—had a blood pressure reading 2 to 4 mmHg lower
than those who consumed the lowest amount of flavanols. Scientific Reports, October 2020
Exercise: Exercising One Arm Can Benefit the Other. New research suggests that if an arm becomes
immobilized due to injury, it can lose up to 28% of its muscle mass within four weeks. However, a recent
experiment found that performing eccentric exercises with the opposite arm could significantly reduce muscle loss in
the affected extremity. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Sports Science, September 2020
Chiropractic: Spinal Pain in High School Students. Examinations of 273 teenagers revealed that about one in six
(16.12%) had spinal pain. Further analysis showed the following characteristics are associated with an elevated risk
for spinal pain in teens: physical inactivity, obesity, central adiposity, and misalignment of the lumbar spine. Doctors
of chiropractic often approach spinal pain in adolescents with a combination of manual therapies, specific exercises,
and healthy lifestyle advice. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, October 2020
Mental Attitude: Healthcare Usage in Early Infancy May Signal Autism, ADHD Risk. A review of the
electronic health records of nearly 30,000 children revealed an association between an increased frequency of doctor
and hospital visits during the first year of life and a later diagnosis of either autism spectrum disorder or attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Lead author Dr. Matthew Engelhard adds, “This study provides evidence that
children who develop autism and ADHD are on a different path from the beginning… We have known that children
with these diagnoses have more interactions with the healthcare system after they’ve been diagnosed, but this
indicates that distinctive patterns of utilization begin early in these children’s lives. This could provide an
opportunity to intervene sooner.” Scientific Reports, October 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Cancer Screenings May Encourage a Healthier Lifestyle. An analysis of data from five
published studies revealed that individuals are more receptive to lifestyle interventions on the importance of a
healthy diet and exercise following a colorectal and breast cancer screening.
Cancer Causes & Control, November 2020
Quote: “Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.” ~ Will Rogers
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Health Alert: Heated Tobacco May Pose Threat to Heart Health. Tobacco products that heat but do not burn
tobacco to release a tobacco-flavored vapor that contains nicotine are marketed as a substitute for e-cigarettes or
traditional cigarettes. An analysis of nearly 50 human and rodent studies showed that such inhalants were associated
with high blood pressure, reduced dilation of blood vessels, stiffening of arteries, increased heart rate, and reduced
heart function. American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology, October 2020
Diet: Vitamin D May Delay Frailty? Frailty is a condition characterized by weakness, slowness, physical
inactivity, self-reported exhaustion, and unintentional weight loss. Past research has shown that low vitamin D levels
are associated with an increased risk for frailty among older adults. In a recent study, researchers observed that mice
given a supplement to achieve and maintain vitamin D levels at the higher end of the healthy range were
significantly less likely to become frail than those with low vitamin D status. Nutrients, October 2020
Exercise: Physical Activity Is Important for Kids’ Bone Development. An examination of 804 preteens found
that engaging in 1.5 hours of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day is important for healthy bone
development. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, July 2020
Chiropractic: Myofascial Release for Neck Pain. Tightness of the suboccipital muscles at the back of the skull is
often experienced by patients with chronic neck pain. A study that included 58 chronic neck pain patients found that
myofascial release therapy, a form of treatment provided by doctors of chiropractic, applied to the suboccipital
muscles is effective for reducing neck pain intensity and improving cervical mobility. Spine, November 2020
Mental Attitude: Mom’s Thyroid May Influence ADHD in Kids. An analysis of data concerning nearly 330,000
mother-child pairs revealed an association between low thyroid hormone levels during the first trimester of
pregnancy and up to a 28% greater risk for a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in her
child. American Journal of Perinatology, October 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Sleep Helps Ease Effects of Trauma. The results from a recent animal study showed that
rats that increased sleep time following a traumatic experience were less likely to develop ongoing fear symptoms
than rats that either maintained their sleep schedule or slept less. Lead author Dr. William Vanderheyden concludes,
“Basically, our study has found that if you can improve sleep, you can improve function… This highlights that there
is a time-sensitive window when—if you intervene to improve sleep— you could potentially stave off the negative
effects of trauma.” Scientific Reports, October 2020
Quote: “I can’t imagine a person becoming a success who doesn’t give this game of life everything he’s got.”
~ Walter Cronkite
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Health Alert: A Third of Seniors Prescribed Inappropriate Medications. The American Geriatrics Society
reports that during a recent four-year timeframe, 34% of individuals over the age of 65 received a potentially
inappropriate prescription, which increased their risk for a visit to the emergency room by 26% and hospital
admission by 17%. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, October 2020
Diet: Western Diet May Impair Sense of Smell. The Western-style diet is characterized by high-fat and high-sugar
intake and has been linked to several adverse health outcomes. A recent study found that mice fed a Western-style
diet were more likely to experience impaired odor detection, odor-related learning, and olfactory memory than
rodents on a standard diet. ACS Chemical Neuroscience, October 2020
Exercise: Exercise Benefits Hypertensive Patients. Patients under treatment for high blood pressure who
participated in a twelve-week combined aerobic and resistance training exercise program experienced improvements
in systolic blood pressure and endothelial function, as well a reduction in biomarkers for low-grade inflammation.
The findings suggest that aerobic and resistance training should be emphasized in the management of hypertension.
Journal of Hypertension, December 2020
Chiropractic: Mobilization or Manipulation for Cervicogenic Headaches? According to a study that included 45
patients with headaches caused by dysfunction in the neck, both mobilization and manipulation are effective
interventions for improving pain, disability, and cervical range of motion. Doctors of chiropractic often use both
approaches when managing cervicogenic headache patients.
Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, November 2020
Mental Attitude: Teachers May Be Key to Adult Mental Health. An analysis of data on nearly 20,000 young
adults revealed that those who characterized their relationships with teachers during adolescence as “supportive”
were less likely to have mental health challenges than their peers who experienced a difficult relationship with their
teachers during middle school and high school. School Psychology, October 2020
Wellness/Prevention: Should Colon Cancer Screening Start at Age 45? Current guidelines recommend that
people aged 50 to 75 get screened for colon cancer, which prevents about 25 deaths per 1,000 screenings. However,
because the current data shows an increase in colon cancer cases among those aged 45 to 49 years, the United States
Prevention Services Task Force is considering a recommendation for starting colon cancer screening at age 45,
which could prevent at least one death for every 1,000 people screened.
United States Preventive Services Task Force, October 2020
Quote: “Happiness does not lie in happiness, but in the achievement of it.” ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.