WEEKLY HEALTH UPDATE from your Rio Vista Chiropractor, 12-4-2023

Health Alert: Concussion Linked to Brain Issues Later in Life. In a recent animal study, researchers
observed that a mild-traumatic brain injury sustained during adolescence resulted in ongoing signs of
neuroinflammation and oxidative stress that persisted into middle age in rats, which manifested as impaired
cognitive function, anxiety, and depression. Frontiers in Neuroscience, October 2023
Diet: Fiber Could Help Chemotherapy Patients. “Chemo brain” refers to thinking and memory problems
caused by an inflammatory response in the body to chemotherapy treatment. In a recent study, researchers
found that increasing fiber intake in patients undergoing chemotherapy led to positive changes in their gut
microbiome, which reduced inflammation in the brain by up to 50%, likely due to the effect gut bacteria have
on regulating the immune system. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, October 2023
Exercise: Activity Key to Preventing Alzheimer’s. The glymphatic system is important for maintaining
cognitive health by removing the waste products from the brain that can contribute to Alzheimer’s and other
neurodegenerative conditions. The function of the glymphatic system is mediated in part by the health of the
cardiovascular system, highlighting the importance for engaging in regular physical activity.
Nature Neuroscience, June 2023
Chiropractic: Fascia Tightness and Neck Pain. Tightness of the fascial tissues in the neck often contribute to
neck pain and disability. In a recent study that included 52 chronic neck pain patients with fascial tightness,
researchers found that manual therapies to address adhesions in fascial tissue—such as those provided by
doctors of chiropractic—led to improvements in both neck pain and range of motion.
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, October 2023
Mental Attitude: Job Worries Keeping People Up at Night. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine
recently surveyed more than 2,000 American adults and found that nearly three-quarters of those polled have
lost sleep or experienced poor-quality sleep related to worries about losing their job or the state of the economy
as a whole. Academy of Sleep Medicine, October 2023
Wellness/Prevention: Lifestyle Improvements to Combat Chronic Disease. To better manage chronic
disease, researchers recommend focusing on improvements in the following areas: nutrition, sleep health, stress
management, physical activity, social connections, and risky behavior avoidance/reduction.
HSS Journal, November 2023
Quote: “The imagination is the golden pathway to everywhere.” ~ Terence McKenna

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