Health Alert: Prostate Cancer Increases Blood Clot Risk. An analysis of data on more than 550,000 men
revealed that those with prostate cancer had a 50% greater risk for developing a venous thromboembolism (VTE)
within five years of their initial diagnosis, especially within the first six months. The research team hopes the
findings will help healthcare providers become more aware of the risk and help ensure a timely VTE diagnosis.
BMJ Open, May 2022
Diet: Omega-3s Help Keep Arteries Flexible. According to a study that included 6,124 older adults, a higher
intake of omega-3 fatty acids is associated with increased arterial elasticity, a sign of good cardiovascular health.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, June 2022
Exercise: Exercise Tips During Pregnancy. Studies have shown that physical fitness can confer benefits to both a
mom-to-be and her unborn child. The United Kingdom’s National Health Service offers the following tips for
exercise during pregnancy: always warm up before exercising and cool down afterward; try to keep active on a daily
basis—30 minutes of walking each day can be enough, but if you cannot manage that, any amount is better than
nothing; avoid any strenuous exercise in hot weather; drink plenty of water; if you go to exercise classes, make sure
your teacher is properly qualified and knows that you’re pregnant; give swimming a try because the water will
support your increased weight; and be careful when performing exercises that involve a greater fall risk, such as
cycling. National Health Service, May 2022
Chiropractic: Effective Treatment for Cervicogenic Dizziness. A systematic review that included 13 studies
found that the combination of manual therapies and specific exercises is an effective approach for managing
dizziness that originates from dysfunction in the cervical spine. Doctors of chiropractic often use manual therapies
like spinal manipulation and mobilization in combination with exercises in the management of musculoskeletal
disorders of the cervical spine. Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy, April 2022
Mental Attitude: Eye Trouble Can Lead to Lower Cognitive Test Scores for Seniors. In a recent experiment,
researchers asked 24 older adults with normal vision to take both visual and oral cognitive tests with and without
goggles that simulate age-related macular degeneration. Investigators found that when the participants experienced
impaired vision, their performance on vision-based cognitive assessments fell. Study leader Dr. Anne MacNamara
adds, “A mistaken score in cognitive tests could have devastating ramifications, leading to unnecessary changes to a
person’s living, working, financial, or social circumstances.” Scientific Reports, May 2022
Wellness/Prevention: Greening Up Cities Could Save Lives. Following an analysis of government mortality data
and greenness data from satellite imagery, researchers estimate that about 1,500 early deaths among seniors could be
prevented each year by increasing greenery in urban environments. Frontiers in Public Health, May 2022
Quote: “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” ~ Vince Lombardi

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

Health Alert: Poor Sleep Can Impact a Soon-To-Be Mom’s Mental Health. New research suggests that nearly
30% of expectant mothers experience poor quality sleep, which can double their risk for antepartum depression,
antepartum anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The findings suggest that steps to maintain good
sleep hygiene may have a protective effect on a pregnant woman’s mental health.
Maternal Child and Health Journal, July 2022
Diet: Maternal Diet Can Affect Child’s Birth Weight. An analysis of data collected from 260 new mothers
revealed that a diet pattern characterized by a high intake of cereals and breads, coffee and tea, and processed fats is
associated with an increased risk for both low and excessive birth weight for the baby.
Maternal Child and Health Journal, July 2022
Exercise: Stay Fit! Using data from the Generation 100 Study, researchers report they have identified an association
between higher cardiorespiratory fitness and greater structural complexity in key areas of the brain normally affected
by advancing age. Neuroimage, August 2022
Chiropractic: Manual Therapies Plus Stabilization Exercises for Chronic Neck Pain. Among a group of 58
patients with chronic neck pain and mobility deficits in the upper cervical spine, researchers found that the
combination of spinal manipulative therapy, mobilization therapy, and stabilization exercises targeting the upper
cervical spine led to improvements in pain and range of motion that were not observed in participants in a
stabilization exercise-only group. Doctors of chiropractic often manage chronic neck pain using a multimodal
approach that can include spinal manipulation, mobilization, and stabilization exercises. Life (Basel), May 2022
Mental Attitude: Big Increase in Teen Hospitalizations for Mental Health Issues. According to a new study, the
number of teens admitted to the hospital for suicidal ideations or suicide attempts increased by 60% between 2019
and 2020. Researchers also observed a significant increase in admissions for depression, anxiety, eating disorders,
substance abuse, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Hospital Pediatrics, May 2022
Wellness/Prevention: A Pet Dog May Shield Children from Crohn’s Disease. Crohn’s disease is a form of
inflammatory bowel disease characterized by inflammation in the digestive tract that can result in abdominal pain,
severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition. An analysis of data on nearly 4,300 people enrolled in the
Crohn’s and Colitis Canada Genetic, Environmental, and Microbial project found that having a family dog during
childhood is associated with a healthier gut microbiome later in life. Senior author Dr. Williams Turpin notes, “Our
study seems to add to others that have explored the ‘hygiene hypothesis,’ which suggests that the lack of exposure to
microbes early in life may lead to lack of immune regulation toward environmental microbes.”
American Gastroenterological Association, May 2022
Quote: “It is love, not reason, that is stronger than death.” ~ Thomas Mann

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

Health Alert: Vaping Increases Annual Healthcare Costs. The University of California, San Francisco School of
Nursing reports that annual healthcare costs for vape users are more than $2,000 higher than non-tobacco users. Lead
study author Dr. Yingning Wang writes, “Healthcare costs attributable to e-cigarette use are already greater than our
estimates of healthcare costs attributable to cigar and smokeless tobacco use…This is a concerning finding, given
that e-cigarettes are a relatively new product whose impact is likely to increase over time.”
Tobacco Control, May 2022
Diet: Omega-3s and Post-Surgical Recovery. A systematic review that included ten studies found that for
gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients undergoing surgery, a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids is associated with
less inflammation following surgery and a shorter hospital stay. Food Chemistry, Molecular Sciences, March 2022
Exercise: Outdoor Fitness Ideas. Experts from the American Fitness Professionals and Associates list the
following ways to get fit outside during summer: try paddleboarding, go hiking, take a bike ride, play beach
volleyball, go trail running, do some high-intensity interval training at the track, try outdoor yoga, strength train at
the park with body weight exercises, go swimming, or join an outdoor fitness class.
American Fitness Professionals and Associates, May 2022
Chiropractic: Recommendations for Acute Cervical Radiculopathy. An expert panel concluded that because the
risk-benefit ratio for surgery is less favorable for cervical radiculopathy, conservative treatment options (like
chiropractic care) should be the initial treatment approach for the condition. The panel recommends patient
education, spinal manipulative therapy, and foraminal opening exercises in the acute stage; individualized physical
activity including supervised motor control, specific exercises, and/or neurodynamic mobilization in the subacute
stage; and general aerobic exercise, focused strength training, and postural and ergonomic education in the chronic
stage. Physical Therapy, May 2022
Mental Attitude: Insomnia in Midlife Can Spell Memory Issues in Retirement. University of Helsinki
researchers report that individuals with long-term insomnia symptoms in midlife are more likely to experience
difficulties with memory, learning, and concentration during old age. Researcher Dr. Tea Lallukka adds, “Based on
our findings, early intervention tackling insomnia symptoms, or measures aimed at improving the quality of sleep
would be justified.” Journal of Aging and Health, May 2022
Wellness/Prevention: Smoke Detector Management. The American Red Cross offers the following tips for
installing smoke detectors in the home: mount smoke alarms throughout the house, including bedrooms, and
hallways outside bedrooms; make sure children know what a smoke detector sounds like and what to do if they hear
one; perform monthly tests on the alarms; change batteries annually; replace smoke detectors every ten years; and
never turn off a smoke detector. American Red Cross, May 2022
Quote: “Begin, be bold, and venture to be wise.” ~ Horace

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

Health Alert: Excessive Drinking Can Reduce Disease-Free Years. According to a study that analyzed data
from twelve cohort studies with over 120,000 total participants, individuals who drink more than 14 units of
alcohol a week (approximately seven to eight bottles of beer or glasses of wine, or 14 single servings of spirits)
may experience up to six fewer years of life free from chronic disease.
The Lance Regional Health, Europe, May 2022
Diet: Negative Effects of a High-Fat Diet. A recent animal study found that within 16 weeks, rats on a highfat diet developed hypertension, insulin resistance, and a decreased sensitivity of the tubuloglomerular feedback
(TGF) mechanism, which is important for kidney function.
American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, May 2022
Exercise: Many Kids in Daycare Don’t Get Enough Exercise. Investigators observed 96 childcare centers
and 131 Head Start programs and found the majority failed to provide kids with the recommended 180 minutes
a day of physical activity of any intensity, including 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise.
Pediatrics, May 2022
Chiropractic: Mobilization and Exercise for Shoulder Pain. Among a group of 23 patients with shoulder
pain lasting longer than six weeks, those treated with a combination of glenohumeral mobilization with
movement and shoulder exercises—an approach often used by doctors of chiropractic—experienced meaningful
improvements in shoulder pain, disability, and range of motion within one month.
Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapeutics, February 2022
Mental Attitude: Age Determines Risk Factors for Dementia. Using data from the Framingham Heart Study,
researchers report the following are age-associated risk factors for dementia: hypertension at age 55, heart
disease at age 65, and a history of diabetes or stroke after age 70. Lead author Dr. Emer McGrath writes,
“Dementia is a complicated disease and risk prediction scores need to be tailored to the individual…Our
findings support the use of age-specific risk prediction scores for dementia instead of a one-size-fits-all
approach.” Neurology, May 2022
Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D, Sleep, and Post-Stroke Depression. Following a review of health records
of 223 stroke patients, researchers report that individuals with vitamin D deficiency and poor sleep who suffer a
stroke have an increased risk for post-stroke depression when compared with stroke patients with good sleep
hygiene and healthy vitamin D status. Journal of Affective Disorders, July 2022
Quote: “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of
your life; define yourself.” ~ Harvey Fierstein

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