Health Alert: Mono May Raise Depression Risk. Following a review of data concerning 1.4 million adults born
between 1977 and 2005, researchers report that individuals with a history of infectious mononucleosis as children or
teenagers have up to a 40% elevated risk for depression in young adulthood.
Brain, Behavior, & Immunity, February 2021
Diet: Just One Salad a Week Benefits Oral Cancer Patients. Among 150 patients with oral cancer, researchers
observed that those who consumed at least one salad a week experienced slower cancer progression and had a higher
likelihood of surviving the disease. Nutrients, January 2021
Exercise: Take a Rest Day? Active individuals who suffer from persistent muscle pain or soreness, an inability to
finish a workout routine, or continued sluggishness following a workout are likely in need of a day off from the gym.
Rest days can offer the following benefits: reduces muscle pain and soreness, helps repair and build muscles,
replenishes the body’s energy stores, prevents injury, and allows the mind to rest.
Medical News Today, January 2021
Chiropractic: Nursing Students Suffer Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders. Questionnaires completed by
125 nursing students revealed that 104 (~83%) had musculoskeletal pain or discomfort in at least one body region,
most often in the lower back, neck, and shoulders. The findings reveal that undergraduate nursing students are at
greater risk of musculoskeletal disorders and there is a need for greater prevention and treatment options for this
group of students. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to diagnose and treat these disorders, often with a combination
of manual therapies, specific exercises, and ergonomic guidance. Health SA, December 2020
Mental Attitude: How Divorce Can Harm Kids. Interviews conducted with over 550 kids, ages 9 to 18, revealed
that exposure to conflict predicted a child’s fear that one or both parents would abandon them. Furthermore, children
who reported higher fear of being abandoned were more likely to report more mental health issues nearly a year
later. Based on the findings, the lead author says that parents need to make sure that their children know that even
though they are separated or divorced, they will continue to care for them to help reduce any fears of abandonment.
Child Development, January 2021
Wellness/Prevention: Should I Get a Calcium-Score Test? A non-contrast coronary calcium CT scan is used to
help detect calcium deposits in atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary arteries. The greater the buildup of calcium, the
higher one’s risk for future cardiovascular events. Doctors recommend this test for patients with the following traits:
family or personal history of coronary artery disease; males over age 45 and females over the age of 55; history of
smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, or high blood pressure; excess weight; and inactivity.
Cleveland Clinic, February 2021
Quote: “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

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

Health Alert: Air Pollution Can Affect Cognitive Function. Cognitive assessments completed by over 500
individuals at various stages of life revealed that those who grew up in areas with greater exposure to air pollution
experienced more severe cognitive decline than participants from less polluted neighborhoods. Lead author Dr. Tom
Russ writes, “For the first time we have shown the effect that exposure to air pollution very early in life could have
on the brain many decades later. This is the first step towards understanding the harmful effects of air pollution on
the brain and could help reduce the risk of dementia for future generations.”
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, February 2021
Diet: Bleeding Gums and Vitamin C. An analysis of 15 clinical trials found that low vitamin C status is associated
with bleeding of the gums, gingival bleeding, bleeding in the eye, or retinal hemorrhaging. Investigators also found
that increasing daily vitamin C intake helped people with low vitamin C plasma levels reverse these bleeding issues.
Nutrition Reviews, February 2021
Exercise: How to Make Exercise a Daily Habit. Harvard University offers the following tips to help make exercise
a daily habit: piece your workout together, such as getting 10 minutes in the morning, noon, and night; exercise with
a friend; take a walk during lunch; use a pedometer to keep track of steps and record daily totals; turn off the TV,
computer, and smartphone to reduce sitting time; break up sedentary time with stretching breaks; sign up for a
fitness class; and plan exercise into your daily schedule. Harvard University, February 2021
Chiropractic: Age and Low Back Pain Can Impair Balance. Proprioception is the body’s ability to sense where
its various parts are in relation to one another for purposes of movement and balance. Examinations of 151 adults of
varying ages with or without chronic low back pain revealed that chronic low back pain and advancing age are both
risk factors for reduced proprioception. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to diagnose and manage low back
conditions and provide exercise training to improve their joint position sense.
Frontiers in Neurology, December 2020
Mental Attitude: Social Media Addiction Can Reduce Quality of Life. A survey of 390 university students
revealed that about 1 in 5 (21.5%) met the criteria for social media addiction. Further analysis showed that these
individuals also had an elevated risk for poor sleep, poor academic performance, low levels of life satisfaction, and
depression. Frontiers in Public Health, January 2021
Wellness/Prevention: Working Outdoors May Lower Risk of Breast Cancer. New research suggests that women
who spend more of their working hours outdoors in the sun have a 17% lower risk for breast cancer after age 50.
Occupational & Environmental Medicine, February 2021
Quote: “I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn’t learn something from him.” ~ Galileo Galilei

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

Health Alert: Air Pollution May Affect Fertility. Particulate matter is a mixture of dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and
liquid droplets in the air and has been linked to an elevated risk for several poor health outcomes. According to a
new study that included over 2,200 women, living in areas with higher levels of particulate matter air pollution may
be associated with reduced ovarian reserve. Environmental Health and Preventative Medicine, February 2021
Diet: Green Mediterranean Diet for 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. An 18-month
study involving 294 NAFLD patients revealed that those who adopted the green Mediterranean diet—a version of
the Mediterranean diet in which meat is replaced with plant proteins—experienced a greater reduction of fat in the
liver than participants on the standard Mediterranean diet. Gut, January 2021
Exercise: Young Boys and Girls Become Less Active During Summer. While we often associate summer break
as a time for kids to go outside and play, a recent study found that six- to nine-year-old children spend about 50%
fewer minutes each day engaged in either moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity during this time.
Frontiers in Public Health, January 2021
Chiropractic: Does Smartphone Use Contribute to Musculoskeletal Pain? Questionnaires completed by 294
university students revealed that heavy smartphone users were more likely to experience pain in the neck, upper
back, and hands/wrists, especially those who met the criteria for smartphone addiction. The findings underscore the
importance of good posture when using electronic devices and seeking help if smartphone use interferes with one’s
ability to carry out their daily responsibilities. Korean Journal of Pain, January 2021
Mental Attitude: Touchscreens May Contribute to Distraction in Toddlers. Assessments of 40 children
conducted at 1.5 years and 3.5 years of age revealed that those who spent the most time using touchscreens each day
were less likely to resist distraction than kids who used electronic devices less often. JAMA Pediatrics, January 2021
Wellness/Prevention: Simple, Affordable Test May Curb Colorectal Cancer Deaths. Scientists have developed
a test called fecal immunochemical test (FIT) that may help identify individuals at risk for developing colorectal
cancer by finding traces of blood in stool. An examination of data on 3,890 patients who received the FIT showed
that of the 618 who tested positive for blood in their feces, 43 went on to be diagnosed with colon cancer within
twelve months. Meanwhile, only eight of those who tested negative received such a diagnosis over the next year.
Research leader Dr. Sarah Bailey writes, “[This] simple and inexpensive test performs exceptionally well in this
group of patients with low-risk symptoms, to quickly and accurately tell us who is likely to not have colorectal
cancer, and who should be referred for investigation.” British Journal of Cancer, January 2021
Quote: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” ~ Frederick Douglass

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

Health Alert: Endometriosis May Increase Some Pregnancy Risks. Endometriosis is a potentially painful
condition that occurs when the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. A review of findings from 39 studies revealed
an association between endometriosis and an increased risk for several adverse pregnancy outcomes, including
gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, placenta previa, placental abruption, cesarean section, and
stillbirth. Journal of Clinical Medicine, February 2021
Diet: Food Choices Can Affect Breast Cancer Survival. For breast cancer patients, the current data suggests that a
diet pattern featuring a high intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes and avoids added sugars, sugary
drinks, and calorie-dense foods is associated with increased survivability from the disease.
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention, February 2021
Exercise: Grip Strength May Identify Individuals at Risk for Heart Disease. Handgrip strength is a tool used by
researchers to estimate an individual’s overall fitness level. A study that reviewed health records of over 3,000
middle aged and older adults identified an association between reduced grip strength and greater calcium build-up in
the aortic artery, a risk factor for heart disease.
Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases, November 2020
Chiropractic: Sit-to-Stand Rotation and Low Back Pain. An experiment that included 24 individuals revealed
that standing with seated breaks at a 3:1 ratio may be an effective strategy for mitigating one’s risk for experiencing
back pain associated with prolonged standing. Ergonomics, December 2020
Mental Attitude: Regular Cannabis Use Linked to Declining IQ. A review of long-term data concerning over
6,000 individuals revealed that frequent cannabis use from adolescence onward is associated with a drop in IQ of
approximately two points by around age 40. Senior author Dr. Mary Cannon adds, “Previous research tells us that
young people who use cannabis frequently have worse outcomes in life than their peers and are at increased risk for
serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia. Loss of IQ points early in life could have significant effects on
performance in school and college and later employment prospects.” Psychological Medicine, January 2021
Wellness/Prevention: Winter Wellness Tips. The following tips may help one stay healthy during the colder
months: shift your sleep cycle earlier by one hour; take magnesium, which is a common deficiency; practice simple
breathing techniques to keep calm, focused, and energized; avoid drinking alcohol more than three days per week;
improve vitamin D status with sun exposure, diet, or supplementation; exercise; increase intake of omega-3 fatty
acids; take pre-biotics and probiotics; eliminate refined sugar and carbohydrates; and connect with others.
Forbes, January 2021
Quote: “What we spend our time on is probably the most important decision we make.” ~ Ray Kurzweil

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

Health Alert: Alcohol Contributes to Cancer Cases and Deaths. Excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor
for several cancers, and a recent study that analyzed information from the United States Cancer Statistics database
estimates that alcohol may be the primary driver of 4.8% of cancer cases and 3.2% of cancer deaths, or about 75,000
cases and 19,000 deaths per year in the United States. Cancer Epidemiology, January 2021
Diet: Fruits and Veggies Are Good for Kids’ Bones. The current research suggests that there’s an association
between a high intake of fruits and vegetables during childhood and stronger, healthier bones.
Nutrition, Exercise, & Lifestyle, February 2021
Exercise: Exercise-Related Benefits for College Students. A survey of 866 university students revealed that
regular exercise may provide the following benefits in young adults: earlier bedtime, faster bed-to-sleep time, and
improved sleep quality; a positive outlook on life; and reduced anxiety, anger, and depression.
Health, Education, & Behavior, February 2021
Chiropractic: Facet Joint Orientation Plays Role in Spondylolysis. Spondylolysis is a spinal condition that
involves a fracture or defect of the posterior portion of the vertebra that can lead it to slip forward, causing pain.
Advanced imaging of 68 junior athletes with back pain revealed that abnormal coronal (side to side) orientation of
the facet joint at the L4-5 level increased loading on the L5 pars interarticularis when bending backwards and
rotating, increasing the risk for spondylolysis. Doctors of chiropractic are skilled at detecting and treating
spondylolysis with conservative care and sometimes co-managing cases with specialists.
Journal of Physical Therapy and Science, December 2020
Mental Attitude: Many Adults Struggle with Mental Health Problems in Midlife. An analysis of data
concerning over 28,000 adults revealed that midlife was the period of time in which 1 in 5 experienced their highest
levels of psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety. Study co-author Dr. George Ploubidis explains,
“Midlife tends to involve a ‘peak’ in career, with middle-aged adults acquiring increasing responsibility as the
‘decision-makers’ in society, which is accompanied by reduced leisure time, and elevated job-related stress. Middle
age is also often associated with changes to family structure, which may be linked with mental health, such as empty
nest syndrome and rising rates of divorce. As people approach their 50s, they are also more likely to be parents and
simultaneously care for aging parents.” Psychological Medicine, January 2021
Wellness/Prevention: How to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk. To reduce the risk of breast cancer, the Mayo Clinic
recommends the following healthy habits: limit alcohol consumption, don’t smoke, exercise, limit duration of
hormone therapy, eat a healthy diet, and maintain a healthy weight. Mayo Clinic, February 2021
Quote: “A man’s friendships are one of the best measures of his worth.” ~ Charles Darwin

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