Health Alert: Sleep Apnea During Childhood Can Spell Heart Trouble for Teens. The result of an eight-year
study that included 421 children found that participants with sleep apnea before adolescence that did not improve
over time are at increased risk for high blood pressure as teens, which can set the stage for poor cardiovascular health
in adulthood. Study author Dr. Julio Fernandez-Mendoza adds, “Because most cases of sleep apnea go undiagnosed
in adults and children alike, the problem needs more attention. Sleep apnea and its risk factors should be screened
for, monitored and targeted early in life to prevent future cardiovascular disease.” JAMA Cardiology, June 2021
Diet: Food Choices for Strong Bones. According to a recent article, middle-aged and older adults who eat adequate
protein, fermented dairy products, and at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day are less likely to suffer
fractures associated with poor bone health. The Lancet. Diabetes & Endocrinology, July 2021
Exercise: Breathing Workout Can Lower Blood Pressure. High-resistance inspiratory muscle training involves
breathing through a handheld device to strengthen the diaphragm and other respiratory muscles. An experiment
involving 36 middle-aged and older adults found that performing this form of training for five minutes a day for six
weeks resulted in similar improvements in blood pressure as walking for 30 minutes a day or taking hypertension
medications. Participants also experienced improvements in endothelial function and reduced inflammation.
Journal of the American Heart Association, June 2021
Chiropractic: Sleep Disturbance and Low Back Pain in Postpartum Women. Assessments of 124 new mothers
revealed that low back and pelvic pain often accompany postpartum sleep disorders. While this study was unable to
determine the nature of this association, past research has shown that sleep disturbance and low back pain can have a
bi-directional relationship, and both conditions may need to be addressed concurrently to achieve a successful
treatment outcome. When appropriate, doctors of chiropractic team up with other healthcare providers to manage
patients with co-occurring musculoskeletal pain and sleep disorders. European Spine Journal, May 2021
Mental Attitude: Spanking Children Doesn’t Work and May Cause Harm. An analysis of over 60 studies
concluded that physical punishment increases child aggression and other behavior problems over time. Study coauthor Dr. Elizabeth Gershoff adds, “Physical punishment is harmful to children’s development and well-being.
There is no evidence that it has any positive outcomes whatsoever.” The Lancet, June 2021
Wellness/Prevention: Improving Blood Pressure Can Significantly Reduce Dementia Risk. Using data from the
National Health Insurance Service National Health Examinee cohort, researchers report that individuals with grade 1
hypertension (140-159/90-99 mmHg) who managed to bring their blood pressure down to an average of 131/81
mmHg over the following decade were half as likely to develop dementia as participants who failed to address their
hypertension. Journal of Hypertension, August 2021
Quote: “You are one of a kind and unique. Never forget that.” ~ Richard Simmons
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.