Health Alert: Secondhand Smoke Puts Kids at Risk for Hospitalization. New research suggests that
children from smoking households are more likely to visit an urgent care center or be admitted to a hospital than
kids from smoke-free homes. Lead author Dr. Ashley Merianos notes, “Despite major progress in tobacco
control, about four in ten children remain exposed to tobacco smoke… This exposure places developing
children at higher risk for many health problems, including respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchiolitis
and pneumonia.” PLOS ONE, March 2021
Diet: Slow Down at Mealtime. Using data from two ongoing studies, researchers report that individuals
identified as fast eaters tend to consume more calories per meal and are more likely to gain weight over time
than slower eaters. Clinical Obesity, January 2021
Exercise: Exercise May Slow Cognitive Decline in Parkinson’s Patients. Among a group of 173 patients
with early Parkinson’s disease, researchers observed that those with a sedentary lifestyle experienced a greater
decline in cognitive function over the following two years than participants who regularly exercise.
Neurology, March 2021
Chiropractic: Manipulation for Treatment of Lumbar Disk Herniation. A study that included 67 lumbar
disk herniation patients revealed that six spinal manipulative therapy treatments spread over two weeks not only
resulted in improvements in pain and function, but also in the curvature of the lumbar spine. Spinal
manipulation is the primary form of treatment utilized by doctors of chiropractic for musculoskeletal conditions
of the spine. China Journal of Orthopeadics and Traumatology, January 2021
Mental Attitude: Teens Who Are Online a Lot Are More Likely to Become Cyberbullies. A survey of 428
adolescents revealed that teenagers spend an average of seven hours a day online. Additionally, the more time a
teen is on the Internet each day, the greater the chance they will engage in cyberbullying behaviors.
Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling, March 2021
Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D Deficiency Too Common in Hip Fracture Patients. Blood tests collected
from 268 brittle hip fracture patients revealed that almost 90% were vitamin D deficient, and half of these
individuals were severely deficient. Because vitamin D is important for healthy bones, the findings suggest that
improving vitamin D status in the elderly could reduce their risk for serious hip fracture.
Orthopedic Surgery, March 2021
Quote: “May you live every day of your life.” ~ Jonathan Swift

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

Health Alert: Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy and Low Vitamin D? Painful peripheral neuropathy
is a common long-term complication in patients with type 2 diabetes. An analysis of blood samples from 483
type 2 diabetics revealed that those with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy were three times more likely to
have severe vitamin D deficiency, leading researchers to suggest that low vitamin D status may be a risk factor
for the condition. Frontiers in Nutrition, March 2021
Diet: Cocoa Flavanols Boost Memory? In a recent clinical trial involving 211 healthy middle-aged and older
adults, researchers observed that participants provided with a cocoa flavanol supplement for twelve weeks
performed better on a list-learning task than members of a placebo group. Scientific Reports, February 2021
Exercise: Exercise Provides Mental Health Benefits for Those with Prostate Cancer. New research
suggests that both resistance training and aerobic exercise are effective for reducing anxiety and depression in
prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy.
Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases, February 2021
Chiropractic: Manual Therapy Aids in Management of Neck Pain. Among a group of 60 patients with neck
pain, researchers observed that those treated with the combination of manual therapies and physiotherapy
modalities experienced greater improvements in pain and disability than patients treated with physiotherapy
alone. Doctors of chiropractic often address neck pain with a multimodal approach that may include manual
therapies, modalities, exercises, and nutritional recommendations.
Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, January 2021
Mental Attitude: Academic Performance and ADHD. Researchers monitored the academic progress of 400
university students and found that those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had about a half
grade lower GPA than students without the condition. Additionally, students with ADHD were less likely to
graduate. The finding suggests that students with ADHD may need greater academic support to help them
succeed in school. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, February 2021
Wellness/Prevention: How to Prevent Falls in the Winter Months. American Bone Health offers the
following tips to help you stay on your feet when presented with snowy, icy, or wet surfaces: wear shoes with
good traction, dress warm, be careful getting out of your car, don’t rush, pay attention to surfaces, stay alert for
black ice, and keep your driveway and walkways clear. American Bone Health, March 2021
Quote: “Truth is the cry of all, but the game of few.” ~ George Berkeley

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

Health Alert: Lack of Sleep Raises Dementia Risk. Using data from the National Health and Aging Trends
Study, researchers estimate that older adults who sleep five or fewer hours a night are two times more likely to
be diagnosed with dementia or die in the following five years than participants who sleep an average of seven to
eight hours a night. Aging, February 2021
Diet: Mediterranean Diet Linked to Reduced Obesity Risk. A review of data from 143 studies concluded
that the Mediterranean diet—an eating pattern focused on eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, olive oil, and
whole grains while avoiding red and processed meats, dairy, saturated fats, and refined sugars—is associated
with a reduced risk for obesity in adults. Public Health Nutrition, February 2021
Exercise: Home Gym Essentials. Fitness experts from Self magazine recommend the following essential items
for building an affordable home gym: an exercise mat, resistance bands, kettlebells, dumbbells, a full-length
mirror, a jump rope, and a gym ball. Self, March 2021
Chiropractic: Spinal Manipulation for Tension-Type Headaches. Tension-type headache patients treated
with the combination of spinal manipulation and exercise experienced greater improvements with respect to
headache frequency and severity than those treated with either myofascial release of the suboccipital muscles or
exercise alone. Doctors of chiropractic commonly use a combination of spinal manipulation and specific
exercises when managing patients with tension-type and other forms of headache.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, January 2021
Mental Attitude: Early Life Mental Health Issues Can Affect Physical Health in Adulthood. An analysis
of long-term health data concerning over 1,000 individuals whom researchers monitored for several decades
revealed that participants with a history of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues as children
experienced sharper declines in sensory, motor, and mental function as they aged. The findings suggest that
improving the mental health of kids and teens may provide life-long benefits. JAMA Psychiatry, February 2021
Wellness/Prevention: Health & Wellness Tips for All. The Guadalupe Regional Medical Center offers
several small tips for improving one’s health and wellness: schedule a wellness check and stick to it, get yearly
eye exams, eat at least one fruit and vegetable at every meal, spend one entire day on you, schedule regular
dental exams and cleanings, drink at least two glasses of water per day, give up soft drinks, and get physically
active. Guadalupe Regional Medical Center, March 2021
Quote: “Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything.” ~ Wyatt Earp

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

Health Alert: Chronic Heartburn Increased Risk for Some Cancers. Gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD) occurs when the stomach contents, especially acid, leak into the esophagus. In a review of data
concerning a half-million middle aged and older adults, those with GERD had nearly a two-times increased risk
for cancers of the larynx and esophagus. Cancer, February 2021
Diet: Dietary Pattern that Benefits the Heart and Mind. The current research suggests that a diet rich in
fruits and vegetables, particularly berries and leafy greens, with a limited intake of saturated fat and animal
products is associated with a reduced risk of neurocognitive decline and healthy function of the left ventricle of
the heart. British Journal of Nutrition, February 2021
Exercise: Getting Physically Active and Sitting Less Reduces Diabetes Risk. An analysis of accelerometer
data and blood samples collected from 660 seniors revealed that the combination of regular moderate-tovigorous physical activity and less sedentary time is associated with improved glucose metabolism, which may
lower the risk for type 2 diabetes. Translational Sports Medicine, February 2021
Chiropractic: Exercise to Address Increased Thoracic Kyphosis Benefits Neck Region. Thoracic
hyperkyphosis is a term used to describe an exaggerated curvature of the upper back, which can affect the
muscles and soft tissues in the neck, leading to cervical pain and disability. A study that included 24 thoracic
hyperkyphosis patients revealed that corrective exercises were more effective for improving sagittal posture,
cervical muscle strength and endurance, and cross-sectional area of the deep cervical muscles than traditional
resistance training and physical therapy. Doctors of chiropractic often utilize a combination of manual therapies
and corrective exercises to address abnormal spinal curvature. Scientific Reports, February 2021
Mental Attitude: Work Performance Poor for “Night Owls.” Following a review of long-term lifestyle and
health data concerning over 12,000 adults, researchers report that about 1 in 10 individuals habitually stay up
too late and they tend to underperform at work in comparison with their peers who get sufficient sleep each
night. Occupational & Environmental Medicine, February 2021
Wellness/Prevention: Risk Factors for Poor Quality Sleep. Questionnaires completed by 1,300 middle-age
adults revealed that one-in-ten regularly experience poor quality sleep. Risk factors for poor sleep quality
include poor diet, excessive stress, chronic back pain, chronic respiratory disease, and depression.
Preventative Medicine Reports, December 2020
Quote: “Dreams come true; without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them.” ~ John Updike

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

Health Alert: Vaping Marijuana May Pose More Serious Risk to Teen Lungs. A survey of nearly 15,000
teenagers revealed that those who vaped marijuana products were more likely to experience symptoms of lung
injury, such as wheezing, than their peers who vaped nicotine products or smoked either cigarettes or marijuana.
Journal of Adolescent Health, March 2021
Diet: Fish May Cut Frailty Risk. Frailty is a condition characterized by weakness, slowness, physical
inactivity, self-reported exhaustion, and unintentional weight loss. An analysis of data from the Kyoto
University Rheumatoid Arthritis Management. Alliance (KURAMA) cohort suggests that eating fish twice a
week is associated with a reduced risk for frailty in older adults. Scientific Reports, March 2021
Exercise: Golfing Offers Benefits for Those with Parkinson’s. Past research has shown that exercise can
improve balance and mobility in patients with moderate Parkinson’s disease. A new study found that
Parkinson’s patients who golfed for one hour twice a week experienced similar benefits as patients in a Tai Chi
group. However, those in the golfing group were nearly three times more likely to continue exercise in that
manner at the conclusion of the study. American Academy of Neurology, April 2021
Chiropractic: Restoring Cervical Lordosis Reduces Neck Pain and More. Treatment to restore cervical
lordosis and correct anterior head translation in 110 athletes with chronic nonspecific neck pain resulted in
improvements in pain, disability, autonomic nervous system function, and cervical sensorimotor control.
Doctors of chiropractic often use a multimodal approach to improve cervical posture in patients with chronic
neck pain. Journal of Athletic Training, February 2021
Mental Attitude: Social Media Time Tied to Suicide Risk Among Teen Girls. Researchers tracked social
media habits of nearly 500 teenage girls and found that those who spent two or more hours per day on social
media at age 13 and increased their use over time had an elevated risk for suicide over the following decade.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence, February 2021
Wellness/Prevention: Don’t Skip a Mammogram. A study that looked at health data concerning more than
549,000 women found that those who showed up for their two routine screening exams before their breast
cancer diagnosis were 50% less likely to die from the disease during the next decade than women who missed
their mammograms. Radiology, March 2021
Quote: “Your world is a living expression of how you are using and have used your mind.” ~ Earl Nightingale

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