Health Alert: Naps and A-Fib Risk. Atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) is a common heart rhythm disorder that can lead to
stroke, heart failure, and other cardiovascular complications. A recent study that included more than 20,000 adults
revealed that regularly napping for less than 30 minutes a day may cut the risk for A-Fib by up to 56%; however,
participants who typically nap for longer than a half hour a day have up to a 90% increased risk for A-Fib.
European Society of Cardiology, April 2023
Diet: Full-Fat Yogurt May Benefit Adults with Prediabetes. Prediabetes is a term used to describe elevated blood
sugar levels that have not yet reached the threshold for a diabetes diagnosis. In a recent study, researchers observed
that middle-aged and older prediabetics who consumed three servings of full-fat yogurt a day for three weeks
experienced a drop in their fasting glucose levels sufficient to bring them into the normal range. The finding runs
contrary to usual recommendations for prediabetics, which favor low- or non-fat dairy options.
American Physiological Summit, April 2023
Exercise: What to Do When Need a Break from Working Out. It’s common for individuals who regularly
workout to experience periods of exhaustion, poor performance, and prolonged soreness. When this happens, experts
from Florida International University recommend putting workouts on hold and switching to other physical activities
you enjoy. When returning to your routine, ease into it and take additional rest days as needed.
Florida International University, April 2023
Chiropractic: Managing a Lumbar Disk Herniation with Radiculopathy. A recent study found that the
combination of Mulligan’s mobilization and neurodynamic mobilization is an effective treatment for improving
functional mobility and quality of life in patients with chronic lumbar disk herniation that radiates pain into the leg.
Doctors of chiropractic are trained in the application of several manual therapies for the management of lumbar disk
herniation with radiculopathy, including those used in this study.
Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, March 2023
Mental Attitude: Hearing Aids May Lower Risk for Dementia. Past research has shown hearing loss to be a risk
factor for dementia, due to several factors that include depression, social isolation, and reduced mental stimulation.
Using data from the UK Biobank study, researchers estimate that untreated hearing loss may increase an individual’s
risk for dementia by 42%. However, the research team notes that addressing hearing loss with a hearing aid appears
to completely mitigate this risk. Lancet Public Health, April 2023
Wellness/Prevention: Greenery May Improve Longevity. Following an analysis of data from the 2008-2014
Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, researchers note that seniors who live in neighborhoods with more
greenery not only experience a greater sense of subjective wellbeing, but they may also live longer lives.
Environmental Research, June 2023
Quote: “Time is your friend; impulse is your enemy.” ~ John C. Bogle

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

Health Alert: Fatal Falls Among Seniors Have Skyrocketed. In the last 20 years, the number of seniors who have
died from fall-related injuries has increased from 10,100 deaths in 1999 to 36,500 deaths in 2020. While the
population of older adults has increased in that time frame from 35 to 55 million, this does not account for the 3.65
times rise in fall-related deaths. Rather, experts point out that more seniors are surviving serious medical issues,
which may leave them more frail and prone to falls. Older adults also take more medications now than they did 20
years ago, which can interact and cause dizziness and other side effects that may affect balance.
Journal of the American Medical Association, May 2023
Diet: Maternal Diet May Influence Taste Preferences in Offspring. In a recent animal study, researchers
observed that pregnant rats fed a high-fat diet gave birth to pups with a taste for salt. The research team hypothesizes
that high-fat intake may stimulate the expression of a gene that modulates salty taste sensitivity. The findings
demonstrate how food choices during pregnancy can affect an offspring’s early development.
Scientific Reports, April 2023
Exercise: The Right Sports Bra Can Help Women Run Better. Researchers from the Breast Biomechanics
Research Center at the University of Memphis have identified an association between improved support from a
sports bra and greater stiffness of the knee joint when running, which can result in better running performance and a
lower risk for injury. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, April 2023
Mental Attitude: Is the Mind-Body Connection Built into the Brain? Washington University School of Medicine
researchers note that parts of the brain that control movement are linked to networks involved in executive function
skills as well as the control of involuntary bodily functions, like blood pressure and heart rate. They believe this may
help to explain why anxiety makes some people want to pace back and forth, why stimulating the vagus nerve may
alleviate depression, and why people who exercise regularly have a more positive disposition. Nature, April 2023
Chiropractic: Wrist Manipulation Helps Patients with Tennis Elbow. For patients with lateral epicondylitis—
also known as tennis elbow—a recent study found that manipulative therapy applied to the wrist may improve grip
strength. The finding suggests that dysfunction in the wrist may contribute to tennis elbow, and the wrist should be
evaluated in patients seeking care for the condition. Journal of Hand Therapy, March 2023
Wellness/Prevention: Natural Green Spaces May Help Reduce Childhood Allergies. Using data from the
Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) cohort study, researchers report that living in areas
with more natural greenspaces during infancy is associated with greater gut bacteria diversity and a reduced risk for
sensitivity to some allergens. mSystems, April 2023
Quote: “It’s always too early to quit.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale

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

Health Alert: Childhood Asthma Linked to RSV During Infancy? Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a
seasonal lower respiratory tract infection that affects most children by age two. In a recent study that included
more than 1,900 children, researchers found that those who contracted RSV after their first birthday were 26%
less likely to develop asthma by age five. The Lancet, April 2023
Diet: Healthier Beverage Choices May Add Years to Lives of Diabetics. New research suggests that
exchanging one sugary drink a day with coffee, tea, low-fat milk, or plain water can reduce the risk of early
death in type 2 diabetics by up to 18%. BMJ, April 2023
Exercise: Golf Is Good for Arthritis Sufferers. A survey of 459 golfers with osteoarthritis revealed that that
over 90% rated their health as good, very good, or excellent, compared with just 64% of non-golfer
osteoarthritis patients. The data also show that golfers are three times less likely to report severe psychological
distress. Experts note that golfing is a low-impact physical activity that involves plenty of walking and
opportunities for social interaction, which can benefit physical and mental health.
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, April 2023
Mental Attitude: Study Reveals Secrets of Reading. According to a recent study, two networks in the brain
activate when reading: one neural pathway focuses on processing individual words while the other works to
derive meaning from the combined words in a sentence.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, April 2023
Chiropractic: Upper Cervical Manual Therapy Benefits TMD Patients. A systematic review and metaanalysis that included eight randomized controlled trials concluded that mobilization and manipulative therapy
applied to the upper cervical spine reduces jaw pain and improves maximal mouth opening in patients with
temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The finding adds to a growing body of research establishing a connection
between TMD and disorders of the cervical spine, of which doctors of chiropractic are well-equipped to
manage. Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation, March 2023
Wellness/Prevention: The MIND Diet Works to Reduce Dementia Risk. The Mediterranean-DASH
Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet is an eating pattern that is intended to slow or delay the
neurodegenerative decline observed in Alzheimer’s disease patients. A systematic review that included eleven
studies concluded that greater adherence to the MIND diet can reduce the risk of dementia by up to 17%.
JAMA Psychiatry, May 2023
Quote: “We all have the extraordinary coded within us, waiting to be released.” ~ Jean Houston

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

Health Alert: New Drug Combo Flagged as Emerging Threat. The combination of fentanyl and the
veterinary tranquilizer xylazine has been designated by the United States Office of National Drug Control
Policy as an emerging threat. Federal officials note that in addition to all the dangers that come with fentanyl
use—such as respiratory failure—xylazine can also lead to necrosis of tissues near injection sites, and there’s no
known cure for an overdose. Associated Press, April 2023
Diet: Diet May Influence Inattention in Kids with ADHD. Among a group of 134 elementary school-aged
children with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), researchers observed that kids with
a lower intake of fruit and vegetables tended to have a harder time maintaining attention than those with a more
produce-rich diet. Nutritional Neuroscience, June 2023
Exercise: Walking Benefits Multiple Sclerosis Patients. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central
nervous system in which the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord resulting in symptoms such as
numbness, tingling, mood changes, memory problems, pain, fatigue, blindness, and paralysis. In a recent
experiment, researchers observed that patients in the early stages of MS who engaged in a 16-week walking
program experienced meaningful improvements in motor processing speed.
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, April 2023
Chiropractic: Spinal Manipulation Recommended for Acute Low Back Pain. For acute non-specific low
back pain with or without radiculopathy, several clinical practice guidelines recommend spinal manipulative
therapy as a frontline treatment option. Spinal manipulation is the primary form of treatment provided by
doctors of chiropractic. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, March 2023
Mental Attitude: Autism Linked to Higher Rates of Mental and Physical Illness in Old Age. A pair of
studies recently presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Autism Research revealed that
seniors with autism spectrum disorder are at elevated risk for heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), osteoarthritis, anemia, glucose dysregulation, self-harm, loneliness, social isolation, and lower
quality of life. International Society for Autism Research, May 2023
Wellness/Prevention: More Greenspace, Less Childhood Asthma. In a study that included 16,605 children
living in a major city, researchers identified an association between neighborhood greenspace and up to a 23%
reduced risk for childhood asthma. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, May 2023
Quote: “I have made mistakes but I have never made the mistake of claiming that I have never made one.”
~ James Gordon Bennett

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