Health Alert: The More Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Therapy, the Better. Following an analysis of Korean
National Health Insurance System data, researchers report that stroke survivors who participate in 40 or more
rehabilitation therapy sessions in the six months post-stroke are significantly less likely to die during that time frame,
especially those with severe strokes. Unfortunately, less than 20% of stroke patients in the dataset had such extensive
rehabilitation therapy and nearly two-thirds had no therapy at all. Stroke, August 2024
Diet: Saturated Vs. Unsaturated Fats. In a recent study, researchers observed that switching from a diet high in
saturated animal fats to a diet that favors plant-based unsaturated fats—like the Mediterranean diet—can improve the
composition of lipids in the blood, reducing the risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Nature Medicine, July 2024
Exercise: Leisure Sedentary Behavior and Musculoskeletal Disorders. According to a recent study, the more
time an individual spends engaged in sedentary behaviors, the greater their risk for cervical spondylosis,
intervertebral disk degeneration, non-specific low back pain, and sciatica.
Frontiers in Public Health, January 2024
Chiropractic: Lower Extremity Muscle Tightness and Chronic Low Back Pain. Examinations of 52 patients
with non-specific low back pain revealed those with tighter leg muscles, especially when coupled with greater
variation in muscle tightness between the dominant and non-dominant sides, were more likely to report higher levels
of pain intensity and disability in their lower back. The finding demonstrates the importance of examining the patient
beyond the area of chief complaint as issues in adjacent areas of the body may contribute to or even be an underlying
cause of the presenting issue. Work, February 2024
Mental Attitude: Narcissism May Fade with Age. A systematic review and meta-analysis of data from 51 studies
involving more than 37,000 participants revealed that agentic, antagonistic, and neurotic narcissism tends to decline
with age. Researcher Dr. Ulrich Orth adds, “One theory suggests that the social roles we take on in adulthood lead to
the development of more mature personality characteristics, including lower levels of narcissism.”
Psychological Bulletin, July 2024
Wellness/Prevention: There’s a Need for More Research on Chronic Illness Among Women. The National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has issued a statement on the importance of investing in more
studies into how chronic illnesses affect women differently, noting that a paucity of data on the topic can result in a
delay in effective treatment due to diagnostic challenges.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, July 2024
Quote: “Life has a practice of living you, if you don’t live it.” ~ Philip Larkin

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

Health Alert: Ancient Viruses May Be Spurring Modern-Day Cancers. It’s estimated that up to 8% of the
human genome is made up of endogenous retroviruses, bits of viral DNA from tens to millions of years ago that
have become embedded in our genetic code. While scientists have thought endogenous retroviruses are harmless, a
recent study found that one such virus, LTR10, is capable of activating nearby genes that aid in the survival of
colorectal and lung tumors. In a laboratory experiment, researchers observed that cancer treatments became more
effective after LTR10 had been neutralized in cancerous tissues samples. Further research is needed but the findings
suggest that targeting these ancient viral DNA fragments may someday prove to be a viable approach in cancer
treatment. University of Colorado, Boulder, July 2024
Diet: Not All Vegetarian Diets Offer the Same Benefits. Despite many studies espousing the benefits of switching
to vegetarian diet, researchers note there are several types of vegetarian diet and some may be healthier than others.
A study that included more than 150,000 adults found that some vegetarian diet patterns may be high in potentially
unhealthy processed food products, while others may have insufficient vitamin D intake or result in higher
triglyceride levels. Additionally, gene variations from individual to individual can influence how the body absorbs
certain nutrients, so those switching to a vegetarian diet may need to try different eating patterns to find which their
body responds to best. PLOS Genetics, July 2024
Exercise: Mini-Bursts of Exercise May Improve Sleep. Conventional wisdom states that exercise before bed can
negatively impact sleep. However, a recent study found that peppering in three-minute sessions of body weight
exercises in the evening can improve sleep duration without affecting sleep quality. The Conversation, July 2024
Chiropractic: Conservative Treatment for Lumbar Disk Herniation. A committee formed by the World
Federation of Neurosurgical Societies on the management of lumbar disk herniation recommends conservative
treatments as a first-line treatment approach in the absence of severe neurological deficits or cauda equina syndrome.
Doctors of chiropractic utilize many conservative treatment options for managing lumbar disk herniations.
World Neurosurgery X, February 2024
Mental Attitude: Late Cancer Diagnosis Is a Major Concern. University of Cambridge researchers report that in
a poll of 2,000 adults, 70% fear being diagnosed with cancer when it’s too far progressed for effective treatment.
University of Cambridge, July 2024
Wellness/Prevention: App May Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. A recent study found that app-based diabetes
prevention programs may be more cost-effective and even slightly superior to traditional in-person lifestyle
interventions for preventing prediabetes progression to type 2 diabetes. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, July 2024
Quote: “Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter.” ~ Izaak Walton

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

Health Alert: Adverse Childhood Experiences Can Set the Stage for Future Pain. Using data from the China
Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, researchers report they have identified an association between five or
more adverse childhood experiences—such as emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and emotional and physical
neglect—and a later risk for musculoskeletal pain. BMC Public Health, July 2024
Diet: Niacin-Rich Diet May Lower Stroke Risk. Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is an essential nutrient that
helps support cellular metabolism and plays a role in maintaining healthy skin, nerves, and digestion. An analysis of
data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted in 1999 and 2018 revealed an
association between a higher intake of niacin and a reduced risk for stroke. Foods rich in niacin include chicken
breast, tuna, salmon, brown rice, and peanuts. Frontiers in Nutrition, July 2024
Exercise: Eccentric-Only Resistance Training Can Lower Passive Muscle Stiffness. Eccentric-only resistance
exercises involve lengthening a muscle while it is under tension, typically during the lowering phase of a movement
(negative bicep curls, for example), helping to build strength, control, and resilience in the muscle. In a recent
experiment, researchers observed that participants who frequently performed eccentric-only stiff-leg deadlifts
experienced a reduction in the passive stiffness of the semimembranosus muscle—something previously thought to
only result from static stretching. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, July 2024
Chiropractic: Treat Knee Pain By Adjusting the Lumbopelvic Region? For patients with patellofemoral pain
syndrome, a recent meta-analysis of data from ten clinical trials found that manipulative therapy applied to the
lumbopelvic region is effective for reducing knee pain, especially when included as part of a multimodal treatment
approach. Doctors of chiropractic are well-versed in the use of manual therapies to manage musculoskeletal
conditions, including patellofemoral pain syndrome. Life (Basel), June 2024
Mental Attitude: An ICU Stay May Raise Risk for Later Mental Health Issues. An analysis of data concerning
more than 8,700 pediatric patients who had undergone treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU) revealed these
individuals had an elevated risk for various mental health disorders over the following decade, including posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and major
depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, July 2024
Wellness/Prevention: New Urine Test for Cervical Cancer? Scientists from Waseda University have developed a
urine test that can detect proteins produced by HPV 16, the virus strain responsible for most cervical cancers. With
further refinement, lead researcher Dr. Etsuro Ito notes, “This test could reduce the need for traditional Pap tests,
easing the screening process.” Microorganisms, July 2024
Quote: “There are opportunities everywhere, just as there have always been.” ~ Charles Fillmore

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

Health Alert: Tampons May Possess Lead and Other Harmful Metals. Laboratory tests of 30 tampons from 24
brand product lines revealed lead in all samples in addition to the presence of arsenic, barium, cadmium, and
mercury in several. Due to the potential for these metals to enter the bloodstream unfiltered by the liver, the findings
suggest a greater need for regulatory testing of tampon and other period products.
Environmental International, July 2024
Diet: Produce Intake Lowers Fatty Liver Risk. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition that
occurs when fat accumulates in the liver from causes other than excessive alcohol consumption, and it is associated
with several poor health outcomes. A meta-analysis of data concerning nearly 500,000 participants from eleven
studies found a higher intake of fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk for NAFLD by up to 22%.
Frontiers in Nutrition, June 2024
Exercise: Exercise Brain Boost Can Last for Years. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a form of exercise
that involves short intervals of near-maximal effort—sprinting or stair climbing, for example—separated by intervals
of moderate-intensity exercise—such as jogging or fast walking. University of Queensland researchers report that
among a group of old adults, those who volunteered for a six-month HIIT exercise program experienced
improvements in cognitive function that persisted for at least the next five years. Aging and Disease, July 2024
Chiropractic: Treatment for Chronic Sciatica. For individuals with pain radiating into the leg lasting longer than
three months due to disk herniation, a systematic review that included four studies found that conservative care
should the first-line course of treatment in the absence of neurological deficits or cauda equina syndrome.
Chiropractic care has been demonstrated to be an excellent treatment option for patients with chronic sciatica.
Cureus, May 2024
Mental Attitude: Poor Metabolic Health Linked to Depression Risk. Lipid accumulation product (LAP) is a
metric that multiplies waist circumference by triglyceride levels to estimate the risk for metabolic disease (higher
score equals greater risk). Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers report
that a higher LAP score is also associated with an elevated risk for depression. Frontiers in Psychiatry, July 2024
Wellness/Prevention: Respect Summer Heat Dangers. Experts from UT Southwestern Medical Center note more
than 120,000 people visit emergency departments each summer due to heat exposure, which unfortunately claims the
lives of more than 2,300 people annually. To stay safe during the summer season, it’s important to keep hydrated,
stay indoors during peak heat, and dress appropriately when you spend time in the sun.
UT Southwestern Medical Center, July 2024
Quote: “The first recipe for happiness is: avoid too lengthy meditation on the past.” ~ Andre Maurois

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