Health Alert: One-in-Four Young Adults Do Not Have a Close Relationship with Their Dad. Using data
from two nationally representative surveys, researchers report that 26% of young adults are estranged from their
fathers, while 6% are estranged from their mothers. Journal of Marriage and Family, December 2022
Diet: Walnuts Can Be a Good Snack for College Students. A recent study found that university students who
consumed a half cup of walnuts each day experienced improvements in their mental health, metabolic health,
and sleep quality. Nutrients, November 2022
Exercise: Aerobic Exercise Benefits Perimenopausal Women. Among a group of 289 perimenopausal
women, researchers observed that those who participated in an eight-week aerobic exercise intervention
experienced improvements with respect to depression, anxiety, and sleep quality.
Frontiers in Psychiatry, November 2022
Chiropractic: Manual Therapy Helps Patients with Hip Osteoarthritis. A systematic review that included
ten studies concluded that long-axis distraction, mobilization, and thrust manipulation—treatments provided by
doctors of chiropractic—are effective interventions for reducing pain and range of hip motion in patients with
osteoarthritis of the hip. Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy, December 2022
Mental Attitude: Adverse Childhood Experiences Can Have Lifelong Effect on Mental Health. Following
a review of data from two longitudinal studies, researchers report that kids who experience four or more adverse
childhood experiences (ACEs) are 2.65 times more likely to be diagnosed with depression in adulthood.
Examples of ACEs include abuse (physical, sexual, emotional); neglect (physical, emotional); witnessing
domestic violence, substance abuse, or mental illness in the household; and the loss of a parent (separation,
divorce, incarceration, death). Journal of Affective Disorders, February 2023
Wellness/Prevention: Be Cautious of Drug and Food Interactions. The American Academy of Family
Physicians offers the following tips to avoid potentially harmful food and drug interactions: read medication
labels before using and ask the pharmacist or your healthcare provider about anything you do not understand;
read interaction precautions, instructions, and warnings on medication labels; unless instructed otherwise, drink
a full glass of water when taking medication; unless your healthcare provider instructs you to do so, don’t split
or break apart medication pills or capsules or mix medications with food or hot drinks; make sure your doctor
and pharmacist are aware of all medications, vitamins, and supplements you are currently using; and don’t take
medications with alcohol. American Academy of Family Physicians, January 2023
Quote: “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.” ~ George Burns

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

Health Alert: Sleep Apnea and Sudden Cardiac Arrest. With the aid of the Cardiac Arrest Pursuit Trial with
Unique Registry and Epidemiologic Surveillance database, researchers calculate that obstructive sleep apnea
increases the risk for sudden cardiac arrest in individuals without coronary artery disease by 62%.
Yonsei Medical Journal, January 2023
Diet: Does Intermittent Fasting Have a Role in Type 2 Diabetes Treatment? In a recent experiment, 20 of 36
type 2 diabetics who engaged in three months of intermittent fasting—restricting eating to a limited window each
day or not eating one or two days a week, for example—reported a complete remission of type 2 diabetes with many
of the remaining patients able to reduce their medication use to manage their blood sugar levels. The findings
suggest that intermittent fasting may have a role to play in type 2 diabetes management; however, patients should
consult with their doctor before making a change to their diet.
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, December 2022
Exercise: Any Level of Moderate-to-Vigorous Exercise Benefits Childhood Cancer Survivors. Individuals who
survive childhood cancer have an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease. However, a recent study that included data
from the US National Health Interview Survey (2009-2018) found that engaging in any amount of regular moderateto-vigorous physical activity is associated with a lower cardiovascular disease risk. Unfortunately, a third of
childhood cancer survivors don’t engage in any moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Cancer, February 2023
Chiropractic: Weak Core and Lumbar Lordosis Linked to Low Back Pain Risk. Among a group of 27
collegiate dancers, researchers found that those with greater spinal curvature in the lower back (lumbar lordosis) and
lower core muscle endurance were more likely to develop low back pain during a four-month time frame. Doctors of
chiropractic commonly address abnormal posture and core muscle weakness when managing patients with low back
pain. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science, September 2022
Mental Attitude: Volunteering May Help Combat Stress and Depression. During a six-year study, researchers
observed that while higher levels of stress increase the risk an individual will develop depression that requires
treatment, volunteer work appears to mitigate this risk.
International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, December 2022
Wellness/Prevention: Take Care of Your Skin. The American Academy of Dermatology offers the following tips
for healthy skin: apply sunscreen before heading outdoors; don’t smoke; find ways to manage stress; perform regular
self-exams for cancer; wash your face when you wake, before you go to bed, and whenever you sweat; and avoid
scrubbing your skin. American Academy of Dermatology, January 2023
Quote: “Knowledge is power.” ~ Francis Bacon

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

Health Alert: Sleep Apnea, Asthma, and CPAP. For individuals with both asthma and obstructive sleep
apnea, a recent study found that treatment with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device led to
patient-reported improvements in asthma symptoms in 51.5% of participants. Sleep Medicine, January 2023
Diet: Mediterranean Diet Tied to Lower Preeclampsia Risk. Preeclampsia is marked by a sudden increase in
blood pressure, protein in the urine, or other problems during pregnancy, which can cause serious health
problems for mothers and babies if left untreated. Researchers report that participants in the Nulliparous
Pregnancy Outcomes Study who closely adhered to the Mediterranean diet—an eating pattern rich in fruits,
vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, olive oil, and raw nuts—at the time of conception had a 28% lower risk
for preeclampsia. JAMA Network Open, December 2022
Exercise: Building Bigger Biceps. The American Council on Exercise notes that concentration curls may be
the best exercise for building the biceps as it isolates the bicep muscle more than other common exercises such
as cable curls, barbell curls, chin-ups, EZ curls, incline curls, and preacher curls. To perform a concentration
curl, sit with the upper arm pressed against the inside of the thigh, slowly raising and lowering the weight.
American Council on Exercise, January 2023
Chiropractic: Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Can Hinder Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment. In this study,
researchers observed that patients under treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee with co-occurring lumbar spinal
stenosis experienced slower improvement with respect to knee pain than participants without a lumbar spine
condition. The findings highlight the importance of examining the whole patient to identify issues outside the
area of chief complaint that may contribute to the patient’s condition, something doctors of chiropractic are
trained to do. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open, November 2022
Mental Attitude: Diabetes and Dementia Risk. Using data from the UK Biobank study, researchers report
that type 2 diabetes diagnosis before age 50 can double an individual’s risk for dementia. The research team
notes that type 1 diabetics also have a similar increased risk for the degenerative neurological condition.
Diabetic Medicine, February 2023
Wellness/Prevention: Are You Dehydrated? As temperatures drop, the more obvious signs of dehydration
may be less apparent. The Baylor College of Medicine notes the following are signs of dehydration in cold
weather: headache; cracked lips; dry skin and mouth; fatigue; dizziness and/or lightheadedness; difficulty
concentrating; and less frequent urination and darker urine color. Baylor College of Medicine, December 2022
Quote: “There is no such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day.” ~ Alexander Woollcott

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

Health Alert: More Kids Are Accidentally Ingesting Weed Edibles. Researchers report that poison control
centers received over 3,000 calls related to children under age six ingesting marijuana edibles in 2021, usually at
home—a 14-fold increase compared to 2017. Pediatrics, January 2023
Diet: Mediterranean Diet May Improve Fertility. The Mediterranean diet is 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. A recent literature review found that greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet is
associated with improved menstrual cycle regularity, embryo quality, live birth rates, sperm quality, and
endometriosis-related measures. Obstetrician/gynecologist Dr. Alex Robles writes, “I recommend that all patients
trying to conceive consider incorporating some Mediterranean dietary elements into their lifestyle… There is no
significant downside risk to doing so, and the potential benefits could be substantial.”
Nutrients, December 2022
Exercise: Silly Walking May Help You Meet Physical Activity Targets. According to a recent experiment,
inefficient walking—such as the silly high-step walk of John Cleese featured in an episode of Monty Python’s
Flying Circus—may burn calories 2.5 times faster than usual walking. Researchers calculate that vigorously
inefficient walking for 11 minutes a day may be enough to meet weekly physical activity guidelines.
BMJ, December 2022
Chiropractic: Treatment for Myofascial Trigger Points. A myofascial trigger point is a hyperirritable spot found
in skeletal muscle that is associated with chronic pain conditions. A systematic review that included 37 studies
concluded that manual therapies—such as those provided by doctors of chiropractic—are an effective intervention
for reducing pain and pain sensitivity in patients with myofascial trigger points.
Clinical Journal of Pain, December 2022
Mental Attitude: Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients at Risk for Depression. Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic
inflammatory disease that can cause spinal vertebrae to fuse, making the spine less flexible. An analysis of data
concerning 5,825 ankylosing spondylitis patients and 25,984 age-matched controls found the condition is associated
with a 60% increased risk for major depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, February 2023
Wellness/Prevention: Greener Neighborhood, Better Sleep. Following an analysis of ten years of data concerning
3,925 adults, researchers report that living in neighborhoods with more vegetation and access to parks and natural
environments is associated with a reduced risk for obstructive sleep apnea.
Science of the Total Environment, December 2022
Quote: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” ~ Jackie Robinson

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