Health Alert: One-in-Ten Home Colon Cancer Tests Are Unusable. Due to factors including inadequate stool
specimens, incomplete labeling, old specimens, and leaking or broken containers, researchers estimate that about
10% of at-home colon cancer tests sent to a lab are unusable. The study highlights the need for improved patient
education, test-tracking procedures, and timely follow-up to address breakdowns in the screening process and
enhance the effectiveness of at-home screening tests for colon cancer.
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, December 2023
Diet: New Salt Substitute Formula Can Help Reduce High Blood Pressure. The National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute reports that a new salt formulation that is 75% sodium chloride and 25% potassium chloride can relax
the walls of the arteries, lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk for hypertension.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, December 2023
Exercise: How Exercise Inhibits Fat Infiltration in Muscles… Myosteatosis is a term used to describe the
accumulation of fat in skeletal muscles, which can negatively affect physical function and health-related quality of
life. In a recent study, researchers observed that exercise increases the expression of the PGC-1alpha gene, which
improves mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, inhibiting the fibro-adipogenic progenitors that drive fat accumulation
in muscles. Journal of Physiology, December 2023
Chiropractic: Treatment for Cervical Radiculopathy. A systematic review that included eight studies concluded
that neural mobilization is an effective treatment option for mobility, pain, disability, and functional activity in
patients with cervical radiculopathy. Doctors of chiropractic frequently use neural mobilization as part of a
multimodal approach when managing cervical radiculopathy cases.
Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, September 2023
Mental Attitude: Fear of Serious Illness Can Shorten Life. Illness anxiety disorder is a chronic mental health
condition in which a person excessively worries about having a serious, undiagnosed medical illness, despite having
little or no medical evidence to support it. According to a recent study that looked at long-term data concerning more
than 45,000 adults found that individuals with illness anxiety disorder were not only more likely to die from
circulatory or respiratory diseases during the 24-year study, but they died at younger ages (up to five years) than
participants without the mental health condition. JAMA Psychiatry, December 2023
Wellness/Prevention: Steps for Healthy Brain Ageing. To reduce the risk for dementia, The University of
Connecticut offers the following tips: exercise regularly, eat a heart-healthy diet, manage your blood pressure,
protect against head injuries, don’t smoke, avoid excessive alcohol intake, address hearing loss, and keep an active
social life. University of Connecticut, December 2023
Quote: “Successful people are simply those with successful habits.” ~ Brian Tracy

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