Health Alert: Don’t Use Tap Water for Nasal Rinse. Individuals with sinusitis and allergic rhinitis often find
relief using a nasal rinse—like a neti pot. However, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
remind users to use sterile water and avoid using tap water. The primary reason is that tap water may contain
microbes like the amoeba Acanthamoeba that can lead to a severe and potentially deadly infection.
Emerging Infectious Diseases, March 2024
Diet: Nutrition Education Benefits Adolescents. A recent literature review found that not only do nutrition
education interventions help teens make healthier food choices, but they may also experience an improved selfimage. Frontiers in Nutrition, March 2024
Exercise: Physical Activity Reduces Atrial Fibrillation Risk in Type 2 Diabetics. Past research has shown that
type 2 diabetics are at elevated risk for developing atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder that can lead to stroke,
heart failure, and other cardiovascular complications. In a recent study, researchers observed that diabetics who
engaged in at least 214 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity a week had a lower incidence of atrial
fibrillation than less active diabetes patients. Cardiovascular Diabetology, March 2024
Chiropractic: Chiropractic Care for Trigeminal Neuralgia. This case study involved a 55-year-old female with
trigeminal neuralgia that failed to respond to conventional treatment. A chiropractic examination revealed joint
dysfunction at several levels of the cervical and thoracic spine, as well as trigger points in the trapezius and levator
scapulae muscles. The patient underwent a multimodal treatment plan that included spinal manipulative therapy,
mechanical cervical traction, and focused radial shockwave therapy that led to a significant reduction in her
symptoms that maintained at a six-month follow-up appointment. The authors conclude, “The lasting nature of the
pain reduction provides a compelling argument for the long-term benefits of chiropractic intervention in the
management of [trigeminal neuralgia].” Cureus, February 2024
Mental Attitude: Depression Linked to Increased Heart Risks in Women. University of Tokyo researchers
analyzed data concerning 4.2 million adults and found among women, depression is associated with an elevated risk
for heart issues like heart attack, stroke, angina, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.
American College of Cardiology, March 2024
Wellness/Prevention: Warning Signs of Colorectal Cancer. The Mayo Clinic notes that the incidence of
colorectal cancer is on the rise in adults under age 50. Warning signs for this type of cancer include abdominal pain,
diarrhea, blood in bowel movements, and iron deficiency anemia. Individuals experiencing these symptoms should
contact their healthcare provider. Mayo Clinic, March 2024
Quote: “I believe that fate is choices – it’s not chance.” ~ Wayne Newton

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

Health Alert: Early-Life Tobacco Exposure May Set Stage for Type 2 Diabetes. New research suggests that
individuals exposed to secondhand smoke during gestation or early life have up to a 22% elevated risk for type 2
diabetes in adulthood, while those who start smoking during adolescence may be up to 57% more likely to develop
type 2 diabetes. American Heart Association, March 2024
Diet: Healthy Diet May Keep Muscles Strong. An analysis of dietary questionnaire data collected from 528
middle-aged and older adults revealed an association between greater adherence to a healthy eating pattern, such as
the Mediterranean diet, and both a stronger grip and greater muscle mass in the arms and legs. The findings suggest
that consuming a healthy diet may preserve muscle mass in aging adults. European Journal of Nutrition, April 2024
Exercise: Carrot or Stick? In a recent study, researchers observed that a system offering small rewards for meeting
physical activity recommendations and small penalties for non-compliance resulted in more significant
improvements in exercise behavior than a reward-only or penalty-only system. Leiden University, February 2024
Chiropractic: Conservative Treatment for Tennis Elbow. For patients with lateral elbow tendinopathy, a
systematic review that included twelve studies found that a conservative treatment plan that includes manual therapy,
electrotherapy, and exercise may provide greater long-term benefits and a lower risk of recurrence than
corticosteroid injections. Doctors of chiropractic often manage patients with tennis elbow using such a multimodal
approach. Shoulder Elbow, March 2024
Mental Attitude: Establish a Cognitive Baseline. Experts from Northwestern Medicine recommend individuals
begin undergoing cognitive assessments at midlife to both establish a baseline and to measure their thinking and
memory skills over time. Neuropsychologist Dr. Sandra Weintraub notes, “All of us go to the doctor every year, and
we know our blood pressure and heart rate, our sugar levels and bone density… But at no time are we ever told what
our baseline cognitive functioning is. Because we know aging can bring potential problems with your thinking
abilities, it is very important to know how a person is functioning even in their 50s or 60s. That way when those agerelated changes start to occur, we have a baseline to know if you have changed or not.”
Northwestern University, February 2024
Wellness/Prevention: Greenspace Access and Dementia. Using data from the Healthy Brain Project, researchers
observed that greater access to green spaces is associated with a reduced risk for dementia for residents of
socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. The findings suggest that measures to make parks and natural
spaces easier to access could reduce the incidence of dementia in less affluent areas.
Preventative Medicine Reports, March 2024
Quote: “Winning isn’t everything. Wanting to win is.” ~ Jim “Catfish” Hunter

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

Health Alert: Shortage of Primary Care Providers Leading to More Emergency Surgeries. Primary care
providers (PCP) are essential for identifying health issues early on when they’re easier to manage. However, in areas
with a PCP shortage, individuals are more likely to seek care for health issues once they’ve progressed to the point
of requiring emergency treatment, which may lead to worse outcomes, including complications. The findings
highlight the need for greater access to healthcare services for individuals in underserved areas.
Health Affairs, March 2024
Diet: Healthy Diet Can Aid in Stress Management. The Mediterranean diet is an eating pattern focused on fruit,
vegetables, nuts, fish, olive oil, and whole grains while avoiding red and processed meats, dairy, saturated fats, and
refined sugars. A study that looked at data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study found that greater
adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern is associated with greater resilience to stress among middle-aged and
older adults. Nutrition Research and Practice, April 2024
Exercise: Yoga Provides Unique Cognitive Benefits for Women at Risk for Alzheimer’s. According to a recent
study, older women at risk for Alzheimer’s disease who participated in a yoga intervention experienced greater
improvements with respect to subjective memory complaints, brain connectivity, and anti-inflammatory gene
expression than women who performed memory training exercises. Translational Psychiatry, February 2024
Chiropractic: Treatment for Mechanical Neck Pain. Mechanical neck pain is a term used to describe neck pain
that results from the application of stress or strain on the anatomical structures of the neck. A recent study that
included 78 mechanical neck pain patients found that a treatment plan that included a combination of manual
therapies and therapeutic exercises—an approach commonly used by chiropractors—provided significant
improvements with respect to pain, disability, and function. Physical Therapy, March 2024
Mental Attitude: After-School Activities Can Harm Teen Mental Health. While parents are often advised to
encourage their teenagers to participate in afterschool sports and other activities to bolster their college resume and
facilitate healthy social growth, a recent study found that overloading a teen’s schedule can have detrimental effects
on their mental health and academic performance. Economics of Education Review, March 2024
Wellness/Prevention: Green Spaces Lower Osteoporosis Risk. Using data from the UK Biobank study,
researchers report that residents of neighborhoods with more greenery may have a 5% lower risk for osteoporosis.
The researchers speculate this may be due to the effect greenspaces can have on reducing air pollution, which can
benefit bone health, as well as an increase in physical activity that previous studies have associated with greater
access to parks and natural spaces. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, March 2024
Quote: “To begin, begin.” ~ William Wordsworth

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

Health Alert: Oral Bacteria Linked to Accelerated Colon Tumor Growth. Researchers from the Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Center report that when swallowed, a subtype of the common oral bacteria Fusobacterium
nucleatum, called Fna C2, can accelerate tumor growth in the colon and may contribute to up to 50% of colon cancer
cases. It’s hoped this discovery will help scientists craft more effective treatments for colon cancer.
Nature, March 2024
Diet: Unhealthy Diet Before Surgery May Impair Memory. Ohio State University researchers report that rats fed
a diet high in unhealthy fats in the time leading up to surgical procedure experienced increased inflammation in the
brain that hindered their memory during recovery. On the other hand, rats given a supplement of omega-3 fatty acids
did not experience any post-surgical cognitive impairment. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, February 2024
Exercise: Exercise Boosts Beneficial Hormone in Breast Milk. Adiponectin is a metabolic hormone that helps
regulate glucose levels and fatty acid breakdown. In a recent study, researchers observed that new mothers who
engaged in vigorous exercise experienced an increase in adiponectin in their breast milk that can benefit the
metabolism of their offspring, potentially reducing the risk for childhood obesity.
Frontiers in Nutrition, December 2023
Chiropractic: Two Manual Therapies That May Benefit Patients with Knee Pain. When trigger points affect the
function of the gluteus medius muscle, it can lead to altered gait, reduced hip stability, misalignment of the patella,
and increased force on the knee, all of which can contribute to patellofemoral pain syndrome. A recent study found
that for patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome associated with gluteus medius trigger points, positional release
technique and myofascial release technique–two manual therapies that may be provided by doctors of chiropractic—
are effective treatments for improving pain, function, strength, pressure pain threshold, and quality of life when
combined with exercise therapy. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, February 2024
Mental Attitude: Social Life During Middle Age Can Protect Against Dementia. Using data from the
Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, researchers report that strong social relationships during midlife are
associated with a reduced risk for dementia over the following three decades. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, April 2024
Wellness/Prevention: Self-Help Techniques for Acute Insomnia. Researchers at Northumbria University report
that the following self-help techniques may benefit individuals with new-onset insomnia: keep the bedroom cool,
dark, and quiet; maintain a sleep diary to track when you go to bed and wake, as well as if you get up in the middle
of the night and how long before you fall back asleep; only use the bedroom for sleep; establish a wind-down routine
in the hour before bedtime; and try word games or visualizations to help you fall asleep. SLEEP, March 2024
Quote: “If you avoid failure, you also avoid success.” ~ Robert Kiyosaki

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