Health Alert: Irregular Sleep Pattern Can Affect Health During Midlife. According to a recent study,
middle-aged adults who don’t maintain a consistent sleep schedule from night to night are more likely to
develop poor metabolic and cardiovascular health than their peers who go to bed around the same time.
Journal of Activity, Sedentary and Sleep Behaviors, January 2024
Diet: Omega-3 Fatty Acid-Rich Diet May Reduce Some Heart Risks. Dietary assessments of 443 ischemic
heart disease patients and 453 age-matched adults without a history of heart disease revealed an association
between a low intake of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and an increased risk
for ischemic heart disease. Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition, February 2024
Exercise: It’s Probably Okay to Lift Weights Before Basketball Practice. Contrary to popular belief that
lifting weights before basketball practice can affect shooting accuracy or mechanics, a recent experiment found
that resistance training beforehand had minimal, if any impact on shooting.
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, October 2023
Chiropractic: Neural Mobilization for Neck and Back Pain. A systematic review and metanalysis of data
from 39 clinical trials found that neural mobilization is an effective treatment for improving pain and disability
in patients with either neck pain or back pain. Doctors of chiropractic frequently use mobilization as part of a
multimodal approach for managing musculoskeletal disorders, including neck and back pain.
Clinical Rehabilitation, February 2024
Mental Attitude: Kindergarten Transition Is Important. New research suggests that children who make new
friends, adapt to schoolwork demands, and are able to collaborate with others during the first ten to fourteen
weeks of kindergarten scored higher on academic and social-behavioral tests at the end of their year than their
peers whose transition into kindergarten took longer. The findings suggest that kids who develop these key
skills before kindergarten enrollment may be better equipped for early success in school.
Early Childhood Research Quarterly, January 2024
Wellness/Prevention: Ultrasound Can Predict Preterm Birth Risks. With the aid of ultrasound, researchers
have been able to identify microstructural changes in the cervix that suggest an elevated risk for preterm birth,
even if it’s the woman’s first pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM, December 2023
Quote: “Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort.” ~ John Ruskin

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

Health Alert: Detergent Pod Poisoning Still a Threat for Kids. Despite the adoption of voluntary industry
standards, poison control centers throughout the United States continue to receive one call every 44 minutes
regard a child being harmed through inappropriate exposure to a liquid laundry detergent pod. Health experts
have recommended manufacturers take more steps to create child-resistant packaging, as well as reformulating
the detergent within the pods to be less toxic. Clinical Toxicology, January 2024
Diet: Plant-Based Diet May Affect Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes. While further studies are necessary, an
analysis of data concerning 65,872 pregnancies found that the women who identified as vegans were more
likely to develop preeclampsia, and their babies weighed an average of 240 grams less than the other offspring
from the study group. Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica, January 2024
Exercise: Try an Activity Tracker. Central Queensland University’s Dr. Corneel Vandelanotte notes that
activity trackers can act as a useful tool to help an individual become more physically active and to reach their
fitness goals. Dr. Vandelanotte adds that while there are sophisticated devices that can track resting heart rate,
heart rate during exercise, maximal heart rate, and VO2 max, a basic activity tracker that can monitor total steps
and activity minutes will suffice for most people. The Conversation, January 2024
Chiropractic: Smoking and Back Pain. Using data from the UK Biobank study, researchers report that
smoking is a risk factor for low back pain. On the other hand, quitting smoking can reduce one’s risk for low
back pain over time. Journal of Global Health, November 2023
Mental Attitude: Two Therapies Help Heart Failure Patients Who Suffer from Depression. Behavioral
activation psychotherapy is a form of therapy that focuses on activities a patient enjoys to help reduce their
depressive symptoms. A recent study that included 400 heart failure patients with depression found that
behavioral activation psychotherapy worked equally well for addressing depression as antidepressants, offering
a potential alternative for patients who don’t respond to such medications or prefer a non-pharmaceutical
approach. JAMA Network Open, January 2024
Wellness/Prevention: Benefits of Nose Breathing. In a recent experiment that included 20 young adults,
researchers found that those who breathed through their nose had a lower blood pressure reading than
participants who breathed through their mouths. The members of the nose breathing group also found it easier
to relax, suggesting nose breathing also benefits the autonomic nervous system.
American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, January 2024
Quote: “I wanna live ’til I die, no more, no less.” ~ Eddie Izzard

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

Health Alert: Global Burden of Smoking on Low Back Pain and Rheumatoid Arthritis… An analysis of
data collected from 192 countries found that smoking contributes to 84.5 million cases of low back pain and
11.3 million cases of rheumatoid arthritis each year. This accounts for an estimated $326 billion in direct
healthcare costs and lost productivity. Addiction, December 2023
Diet: Where to Eat a Healthy Lunch at Work… A survey of 622 workers from four companies in Tokyo
found the nutritional quality of lunches was highest when employees either ate a homemade lunch or a meal
prepared in the company cafeteria. On the other hand, when participants opted for take-out or dining at a
restaurant offsite, they were more likely to choose less healthy fare.
Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, January 2024
Exercise: Getting Active Slows Bone Loss. Using data from the PASSPORT study, researchers from the
University of Jyväskylä observed that sedentary older adults who participated in a yearlong exercise
intervention that combined progressive muscle strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility training experienced
a slower decline in bone mineral density in the femoral neck than their peers who remained physically inactive.
The findings suggest that even at an older age, it’s not too late to take action to reduce the risk for hip fracture.
Bone, January 2024
Chiropractic: Posture, Disability, and Chronic Low Back Pain. Among a group of 435 chronic low back
pain patients, researchers observed an association between abnormal sagittal (from the side) posture and greater
low back pain-related disability. Doctors of chiropractic often address postural faults in the management of
chronic low back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders. Spine Journal, November 2023
Mental Attitude: A Third of Those with Spondyloarthritis Have Anxiety Disorder. Questionnaires
completed by 12,713 arthritis patients revealed that around a third (34.5%) of spondyloarthritis patients suffered
from high levels of anxiety, and the risk is greatest among females, those under 55 years of age, and those
diagnosed within the previous three years. RMD Open, January 2024
Wellness/Prevention: Considering Spine Surgery? Get a Second Opinion. For patients considering spine
surgery, a recent study that looked at outcomes of 1,088 patients who received a second opinion found that only
34.7% underwent a surgical procedure in the next two years, while 60.8% were recommended to pursue a
conservative treatment approach (like chiropractic care). It’s estimated this saved each patient an average of
$6,705 in treatment costs. BMC Health Services Research, December 2023
Quote: “Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will.” ~ James Stephens

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

Health Alert: Shoveling Snow Can Trigger Heart Issues. The American Heart Association notes that the
exertion, cold air exposure, and breath-holding that often accompanies shoveling snow can result in potentially
dangerous increases in heart rate and blood pressure, especially for those with existing heart risks or low fitness.
If you must shovel snow, it’s recommended to start at a gradual pace and low-intensity, and to stop immediately
if any symptoms develop such as lightheadedness or chest pain. American Heart Association, January 2024
Diet: Less Omega-6 Fatty Acids, More Omega-3 Fatty Acids. In a recent animal study, researchers observed
that mice fed a diet with a lower ratio of omega-6 (from vegetable oils, for example) to omega-3 fatty acids
(from fish oils, for example) consumed fewer total calories, had better insulin tolerance, and gained less weight
than mice on a diet with a higher ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. The mice on the higher ratio diet also
exhibited higher levels of anxiety symptoms and inflammation in the brain.
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, February 2024
Exercise: Exercise May Reduce Pregnancy-Related Lumbopelvic Pain. Lumbopelvic pain is a common
complaint during pregnancy. However, a systematic review that included 16 studies found that women who are
physically active during pregnancy are less likely to experience lumbopelvic pain, and those who develop
lumbopelvic pain report lower pain intensity and disability levels than their sedentary peers.
Journal of Personalized Medicine, December 2023
Chiropractic: Commuting Time and Low Back Pain. Using data from the Korean Working Conditions
Survey, researchers found that workers whose typical commute exceeds 40 minutes are at elevated risk for low
back pain. However, among those who regularly exercise or participate in sports, the risk for low back pain did
not increase until the one-hour commute threshold. Industrial Health, November 2023
Mental Attitude: Overcoming a Phobia May Ease Other Fears. In a recent experiment that included 50
individuals with both a fear of spiders and a fear of heights, researchers observed that those who underwent
exposure therapy for arachnophobia also experienced a measurable improvement in their acrophobia.
Translational Psychiatry, January 2024
Wellness/Prevention: Be a Good Neighbor When the Ground is Icy. Icy conditions can increase the risk for
slip and fall injuries, which can be quite serious, even deadly, for older adults. In such times, the American
College of Surgeons recommends helping your older neighbors by offering to salt their pathways, shovel snow,
or escort them from their front door to their vehicle when they need to leave the home.
American College of Surgeons, January 2024
Quote: “Movement is life.” ~ Jules Verne

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