Health Alert: Common Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Appears Riskier for Women. Ablation is a surgical
procedure that creates scarring within the heart in an attempt to restore a normal heart rhythm in patients with atrial
fibrillation. An analysis of data concerning nearly 59,000 atrial fibrillation patients treated with ablation revealed
that female patients were more likely to experience intermittent atrial fibrillation, as well as heart palpitations, chest
pain, fatigue, and dizziness. Cardiologist Dr. James Freeman adds, “This study is a call to arms to continue efforts to
mitigate the risk of these procedures and continue to try to improve the safety profile for women.”
Heart, October 2022
Diet: Unhealthy Diet Linked to Depression. Kynurenic acid is a normal byproduct of the metabolism of
tryptophan, which is known to affect neurophysiological and neuropathological processes. A recent study that
included 169 adults found that those who consumed a Western-style diet had lower levels of kynurenic acid and a
higher risk for depression than participants who consumed a healthier diet. Neuroscientist Dr. Edwin Lim explains,
“Western-style diets high in fat, sugar, and processed foods were already known to increase the risk of depression,
but this is the first time a biological link involving the kynurenine pathway has been established… People from the
group eating an unhealthy diet had lower levels of [kynurenine acid] and more severe symptoms of depression. This
indicates that [kynurenine acid] may help to protect us against depression.” Frontiers in Nutrition, October 2022
Exercise: Physical Education Classes Help Kids Move More, Sit Less. The current research suggests that
children and teens who take physical education classes are not only more likely to meet physical activity guidelines,
but they also spend less time engaged in sedentary behaviors. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, October 2022
Chiropractic: Mobilization Helps Knee Osteoarthritis Patients. In this study, researchers observed that Maitland
mobilization—a manual therapy provided by doctors of chiropractic—is an effective intervention for improving pain
and function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, October 2022
Mental Attitude: Weight Loss After Parkinson’s Diagnosis Often Signals Mental Decline. Researchers
monitored 358 Parkinson’s disease patients and found that those who lost weight experienced faster cognitive
decline than the patients who maintained their weight or gained weight. Neurology, October 2022
Wellness/Prevention: Even Small Weight Gain Tied to Knee Trouble. A systematic review that included twenty
studies concluded that gaining just eleven pounds increases the risk for osteoarthritis of the knee by up to 33%. The
finding is important as people tend to put on an extra 2.2 pounds each year as they age.
International Congress on Obesity, October 2022
Quote: “There is love enough in this world for everybody, if people will just look.” ~ Kurt Vonnegut

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

Health Alert: Being Overweight or Obese Can Elevate Stroke Risk. According to a recent systematic review
that looked at data from 24 studies that included more than 5.7 million total participants, being overweight or
obese can increase the risk for stroke by up to 47%. Journal of Neurology, December 2022
Diet: Kids Snack More When Sleep-Deprived. Following an analysis of data from the Daily Rest, Eating and
Activity Monitoring (DREAM) study, researchers report that sleep-deprived children are more likely to
consume sugary-rich snacks than their peers who get adequate sleep. The findings offer one explanation as to
why insufficient sleep is linked to childhood obesity. International Congress on Obesity, October 2022
Exercise: Benefits of Regular Exercise. The University of Rochester Medical Center reports that exercise
provides the following benefits: improves blood circulation, blood cholesterol levels, sleep quality, and selfimage; increases vitality, muscle strength, enthusiasm, and optimism; helps manage stress and a healthy blood
pressure; aids in weight loss; fights anxiety and depression; releases tension; and prevents bone loss.
University of Rochester Medical Center, November 2022
Chiropractic: Manual Therapies Helps Patients with Non-Specific Low Back Pain. A systematic review
that included 30 randomized-controlled trials concluded that manual therapies—such as spinal manipulation,
the primary form of treatment used by doctors of chiropractic—are an effective treatment option for patients
with non-specific low back pain, or low back pain with no underlying disease or pathology, like an infection or
osteoporotic fracture. Cureus, August 2022
Mental Attitude: How Sleep Helps Create Memories That Last. Past research has demonstrated that lack of
sleep can affect the ability to form memories. In a recent study, researchers observed that as the brain cycles
between slow-wave and rapid-eye-movement sleep, the hippocampus relays events of the previous day to the
neocortex where general knowledge-type memories are stored.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, October 2022
Wellness/Prevention: Caring for a Minor Burn. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these tips for
treating minor burns at home: hold the burned area under cold running water for five minutes to reduce pain and
swelling; never ice or rub a burn, and do not pop a blister that forms as a result of a burn; cover the area with a
clean bandage that won’t stick to the burn; gently wash the area on a regular basis with water and soap; and
avoid ointments unless recommended by your healthcare provider.
American Academy of Pediatrics, November 2022
Quote: “Blind commitment to a theory is not an intellectual virtue: it is an intellectual crime.” ~ Imre Lakatos

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

Health Alert: Fatty Liver Patients at Elevated Risk for Heart Failure. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
(NAFLD) is a condition that occurs when fat accumulates in the liver from causes other than excessive alcohol
consumption, and it is associated with a number of poor health outcomes. An analysis of data from the National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey has found that NAFLD patients had a 3.5 times increased risk for heart
failure and twice the risk of early death during a 13-year time frame.
Current Problems in Cardiology, December 2022
Diet: Gardening May Be Healthier for Seniors Than Exercise. According to an analysis of data from the
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, older adults who maintain a garden eat a healthier diet and have a
lower risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and early death than their peers who regularly exercise.
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, October 2022
Exercise: Find a More Active Friend. A recent experiment found that when sedentary individuals have social
interactions with more active people, they become more active in the long term. The findings suggest that people
looking to increase their physical activity levels should spend more time interacting with people who already lead
active lives. PLOS ONE, October 2022
Chiropractic: Manual Therapies for Post-Operative Elbow Stiffness. For patients with post-operative elbow
stiffness, a recent study found that both instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization and muscle energy technique are
effective interventions for improving pain intensity, range of motion, and function. Doctors of chiropractic utilize
these and other manual therapies when managing musculoskeletal disorders of the elbow and other areas of the body.
Journal of Manual Manipulative Therapy, September 2022
Mental Attitude: Oxygen Therapy May Help Treat Alzheimer’s. The current research suggests that hypoxia—a
condition characterized by low levels of oxygen in body tissues—can affect several pathological processes that are
associated with Alzheimer’s such as amyloid-beta metabolism, tau phosphorylation, autophagy, neuroinflammation,
oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and mitochondrial and synaptic dysfunction. An article recently
published in the journal Neural Regenerative Research speculates that oxygen therapy could improve oxygen levels
in the body, potentially slowing or even reversing Alzheimer’s progression.
Neural Regenerative Research, January 2023
Wellness/Prevention: Lack of Sleep Elevates Risk for Illness and Early Death. Following an analysis of the
sleep routines of nearly 8,000 middle-aged and older adults, researchers found that compared with sleeping seven
hours a night, averaging five hours or less each night increases the risk for multiple illnesses by up to 40% and can
raise the risk for early death by 25%. PLOS Medicine, October 2022
Quote: “Happiness does not lie in happiness, but in the achievement of it.” ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky

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

Health Alert: Many Parents Have Leftover Meds at Home. A recent survey of 2,000 parents of children under
the age of 18 revealed that half have leftover or expired medications in the home. To reduce the risk for prescription
drug misuse by kids and teens, experts recommend properly disposing of unused medications.
University of Michigan, October 2022
Diet: Polyphenol Intake Linked to Better Cardiovascular Health in Adolescents. Polyphenols are micronutrients
with antioxidant properties found abundantly in whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, red wine, and cocoa.
Examinations of 1,326 teenagers revealed an association between higher polyphenol levels in urine samples and
better cardiovascular health. Scientific Reports, October 2022
Exercise: Digital Nudges Can Encourage More Exercise. In a recent experiment, researchers observed that
“digital nudges” such as text messages, app alerts, or emails in the form of motivational messages had a positive
effect on increasing physical activity levels among normally sedentary individuals.
Journal of Association of Information Systems, October 2022
Chiropractic: Manual Therapies Benefit Patients with a Lateral Ankle Sprain. A systematic review of data
from three randomized-controlled studies concluded that a combination of manual therapies and specific exercises is
more effective for improving range of motion, pain, and function in patients with an acute lateral ankle sprain than
specific exercises alone. Doctors of chiropractic often use such an approach when managing an acute lateral ankle
sprain patient. Journal of Clinical Medicine, August 2022
Mental Attitude: Video Gaming Associated with Higher Cognitive Performance. A study that included 2,000
children revealed that those who play video games for three or more hours a day scored higher on cognitive, impulse
control, and working memory assessments than kids who do not play video games. The National Institute on Drug
Abuse’s Dr. Nora Volkow adds, “This study adds to our growing understanding of the associations between playing
video games and brain development… Numerous studies have linked video gaming to behavior and mental health
problems. This study suggests that there may also be cognitive benefits associated with this popular pastime, which
are worthy of further investigation.” JAMA Network Open, October 2022
Wellness/Prevention: Caregivers Need to Take Care of Themselves. The American Heart Association offers the
following recommendations for caregivers to better manage their own health and wellbeing: indulge in something
calming and relaxing on a daily basis, such as walking or yoga; set aside time just for yourself daily; and pay
attention to your emotional health and seek counseling and support if needed.
American Heart Association, October 2022
Quote: “If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.” ~ George S. Patton

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