Health Alert: In Utero Secondhand Smoke Exposure Can Lead to Breathing Problems… In a study that
included 476 children, researchers observed an association between greater exposure to secondhand smoke
while in the womb and reduced lung function at age six. American Thoracic Society, May 2021
Diet: Pea Flour Offers Benefits to Malnourished Children. New research suggests that adding cowpea flour
to food as a supplement to standard hospital care to address malnourishment in children can accelerate weight
gain while also improving the health of the gut microbiota, which can bolster the immune system.
Cell Reports Medicine, May 2021
Exercise: Stay Active and Sit Less. According to a new study, reducing sitting time and filling the day with
several hours of light physical activity can help an individual achieve many of the same benefits associated with
meeting physical activity guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week.
British Journal of Sports Medicine, May 2021
Chiropractic: Initial Course of Spinal Manipulation for Back Pain Reduces Adverse Drug Events. A
review of Medicare claims revealed that seniors who sought treatment for chronic low back pain in 2013 were
42 times more likely to experience an adverse drug event in the following five years if they initially chose
opioid analgesic therapy versus spinal manipulation therapy. The finding supports the use of chiropractic care as
an effective first form of treatment for chronic low back pain. Spine, April 2021
Mental Attitude: Most People with Alcohol Problems Don’t Get Treatment. Following a review of data
concerning over 210,000 American adults, researchers report that only 6% with a drinking problem received
treatment. However, the absence of care isn’t because people with drinking problems don’t see a healthcare
provider or have never been screened for such issues. It appears that patients are screened but the process ends
there. Lead author Dr. Carrie Mintz notes, “People with alcohol use disorders are hitting the health care system,
but we’re missing that opportunity.” Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, May 2021
Wellness/Prevention: What You Can Do to Improve Gut Health. Over the past 20 years, numerous studies
have identified an association between gut health and the immune system, mood, mental health, autoimmune
diseases, endocrine disorders, skin conditions, and some cancers. To improve one’s gut health, experts
recommend the following: manage stress, get plenty of quality sleep, eat a healthy diet featuring plenty of fruits,
vegetables, and dietary fiber; reduce intake of processed foods, stay hydrated, take a prebiotic or probiotic, and
avoid foods that upset the stomach. HealthLine, June 2021
Quote: “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.” ~ Truman Capote
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Health Alert: Despite Risks, Heart Disease Patients Often Keep Smoking. Among more than 2,600 adults
with a history of heart attack or stroke, researchers found that 30% were smokers and only a third of this group
had stopped smoking over the following four years, despite the majority knowing that smoking increases their
risk for future cardiovascular events. Journal of the American Heart Association, June 2021
Diet: Backyard Poultry Safety Tips. Raising chickens in the backyard is a becoming more popular in recent
years, but close proximity to fowl can also come with a risk for salmonella exposure. The Centers for Disease
Control offers the following tips for households raising chickens: always wash your hands for 20 seconds, keep
flock and flock supplies outside of the house, don’t let children under the age of five years have contact with the
birds, and don’t kiss the birds. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 2021
Exercise: HIIT Improves Spatial Memory. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a form of exercise that
involves short intervals of near-maximal effort such as sprinting or stair climbing separated by intervals of
moderate-intensity exercise, such as jogging or fast walking. A recent study found that HIIT may also improve
spatial memory to a greater degree than either endurance training or inactivity. Cerebral Cortex, May 2021
Chiropractic: 1 in 5 Adults Have Chronic Pain. Using data from the National Health Interview Survey,
researchers estimate that 20.5% of American adults experience activity-limiting pain daily or on most days,
most often in back, hip, knee, or foot. Chiropractic care is a common approach to managing chronic
musculoskeletal pain. Pain, April 2021
Mental Attitude: Life Satisfaction Linked to Reduced Risk of Pain and Disability. Researchers assessed
life satisfaction in 2,116 functionally independent older adults and found that those who rated their life
satisfaction as “high” were significantly less likely to develop disability over the following decade. The research
team posits that individuals with high life satisfaction may be more likely to engage in lifestyle behaviors
associated with a reduced risk for chronic disease and painful conditions. Age and Aging, June 2021
Wellness/Prevention: Maybe Colonoscopy After 75 Should Be Recommended? Current guidelines don’t
recommend colonoscopy after age 75, except for patients considered to be high risk for colorectal cancer.
However, an analysis of data on colon cancer cases and deaths from over 56,000 patients found that people who
had colon cancer screening after the age of 75 had a 39% lower risk of colon cancer and a 40% lower risk of
death from colon cancer, regardless of whether they had been screened at an earlier age. The findings suggest
that colonoscopy guidelines may need amending. JAMA Oncology, May 2021
Quote: “If fate means you to lose, give him a good fight anyhow.” ~ William McFee
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Health Alert: Fat Around the Heart Is Deadly. According to a study that reviewed CT scans of nearly 7,000
middle-aged and older adults whom researchers monitored for 17 years, there’s an association between fat
build-up around the heart and a significant increased risk for heart failure, even in individuals who are not
considered overweight. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, May 2021
Diet: “Yo-Yo” Dieting May Mean Sleep Issues. A year-long study that included 500 women found that those
with a history of yo-yo dieting (losing and regaining 10 pounds (4.53 kg)) were more likely to experience
insomnia, sleep apnea, and other sleep problems. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, May 2021
Exercise: Physical Activity Lowers Risk for Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke. An analysis of data collected
from nearly 100,000 individuals found that meeting current physical activity guidelines is associated with a
substantially lower risk for both atrial fibrillation and stroke. Lead author Dr. Shaan Khurshid writes, “Our
findings supported recommendations from the European Society of Cardiology, the American Heart
Association, and the World Health Organization for 150 minutes or greater of moderate to vigorous physical
activity per week.” European Heart Journal, May 2021
Chiropractic: Too Much Phone Use Nearly Doubles Risk of Neck Pain in Young Adults. Assessments of
nearly 5,000 young adults who are part of an ongoing study found that interacting with a smartphone for seven
or more hours a day can increase the risk for neck pain by nearly 80%. Past studies have shown that excessive
device use is associated with forward head posture, which can elevate the risk for pain in the neck, shoulders,
and upper back. Doctors of chiropractic often use a combination of manual therapies and specific exercises to
address forward head posture and neck pain. Public Health, June 2021
Mental Attitude: Dogs Can Help Stressed-Out College Students. Washington State University students who
participated in a program that focused exclusively on petting and interacting with therapy dogs experienced
significant improvements with respect to both their executive function skills and capacity to manage stress.
Aera Open, May 2021
Wellness/Prevention: Get a Colonoscopy at 45, Not 50? Due to an increase in adults being diagnosed with
colon cancer at younger ages, the United States Prevention Services Task Force now recommends that all adults
get their first colonoscopy at age 45 instead of age 50. Journal of the American Medical Association, May 2021
Quote: “We can know only that we know nothing. And that is the highest degree of human wisdom.”
~ Leo Tolstoy
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.

Health Alert: Osteoporosis Raises Risk of Hearing Loss in Women. Using data from the decades-long
Nurses Health studies, researchers estimate that women with osteoporosis have up to a 40% increased risk for
moderate-to-severe hearing loss, even if they’re taking medications to slow bone loss.
Journal of the American Geriatric Society, May 2021
Diet: Low-Salt Diet Good for Heart Health. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet
emphasizes eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, poultry, fish, and low-fat dairy while limiting the
intake of salt, red meat, sweets, and sweetened beverages. An analysis of blood samples collected from clinical
trial participants revealed that greater adherence to a low-sodium DASH diet is associated with a decline in
biomarkers linked to cardiac damage, inflammation, and stress.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, May 2021
Exercise: Exercise May Be Best Choice for Depressed Coronary Heart Disease Patients. A recent literature
review found that for coronary heart disease patients with co-occurring depression, exercise may be a more
effective tool for managing depression than antidepressants, psychotherapy, combined psychotherapy and
antidepressants, and collaborative care. Study author Dr. Frank Doyle explains, “Our findings further highlight
the clinical importance of exercise as a treatment as we see that it improves not only depression, but also other
important aspects of heart disease, such as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, in these patients.”
Psychosomatic Medicine, June 2021
Chiropractic: Sitting at Work Linked to Back/Neck Pain. Questionnaires completed by over 45,000 adults
revealed that sitting for more than 75% of the workday and not taking regular breaks not only increases the risk
for neck and back pain, but also for poor general health. BMC Public Health, May 2021
Mental Attitude: Shifting Sleep Up By One Hour May Reduce Depression Risk. New research suggests that
going to bed and waking an hour earlier can reduce one’s risk for depression by up to 23%, even though there’s
no difference in sleep duration. Additionally, shifting sleep/wake times forward by two hours can lower the risk
for depression by nearly 40%. JAMA Psychiatry, May 2021
Wellness/Prevention: Bedtime with a Pet May Help Kids Sleep. A study that included 188 children, aged 11
to 17, found that those who shared a bed with a pet were more likely to report high subjective sleep quality.
Sleep Health, May 2021
Quote: “The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark.” ~ Thomas Paine
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.