Mental Attitude: Deep-Voiced Politicians May Have an Advantage at the Polls. If they want to get more votes, both male and female politicians may want to practice speaking with a deeper voice. Researchers surveyed 800 adults regarding hypothetical candidates and found that deeper-voiced candidates garnered 60% to 76% of the votes. Study co-author Dr. Casey Klofstad writes, “We think of ourselves as rational beings, but our research shows that we also make thin impressionistic judgments based on very subtle signals that we may or may not be aware of.” PLOS ONE, August 2015
Health Alert: Bigger Families Mean More Sickness. Being part of a big family boosts the risk of passing on viral infections that cause colds, flu, and other respiratory infections. In a recent study, researchers found viral infections were present in childless households an average of three to four weeks a year. In homes with one child, viral infections were present for 18 weeks a year and the number jumped to 45 weeks a year in homes with six children. Study co-author Dr. Carrie Byington writes, “A lot families go through wave after wave of illness. In fact, some of the kids we monitored had symptoms for 20 to 25 weeks in a row… This study helps us to understand what is normal in young children, and can help us determine when illness should be a cause for concern.” Clinical Infectious Diseases, August 2015
Diet: Meat Intake May Influence a Man’s Fertility. A new study concerning couples undergoing vitro fertilization treatment has found that males who consume a lot of processed meats have lower fertilization rates than men whose diet contains few, if any, processed meats. Researcher Dr. Natan Bar-Chama writes, “Decreasing processed-meat consumption can now be added to the list of recommendations — such as to stop smoking, decrease alcohol consumption and lose weight — that we can offer to men prior to fertility treatments to optimize outcomes.” Fertility & Sterility, August 2015
Exercise: Even a Little Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Benefits Those Over 60. An analysis of published research suggests that just a little moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every week can curb the risk of early death among those over the age of 60. Though current recommendations call for 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, the data suggests that performing as little as half of the recommended amount can provide health benefits for older adults. The authors conclude, “Based on these results, we believe that the target for physical activity in the current recommendations might be too high for older adults and may discourage some of them… The fact that any effort will be worthwhile may help convince those 60% of participants over 60 years of age, who do not practice any regular physical activity, to become active.” British Journal of Sports Medicine. August 2015
Chiropractic: Should You See a Chiropractor First? Swiss researchers contacted 719 patients who initially visited either a doctor of chiropractic (DC) or medical doctor (MD) for either spinal, hip, or shoulder pain. The patients who sought care from a DC first reported higher scores for both satisfaction with the care they received as well as the outcome of care. The researchers add that the total costs associated with patients who sought chiropractic care were four-times lower than those who sought medical care first. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, August 2015
Wellness/Prevention: Signs of Heat Stroke. Heat stroke occurs when the body’s heat-regulating system fails to work properly due to high temperature. Potential heat stroke symptoms include having a body temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) or higher, confusion, irritability, becoming red or flushed, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing, headache, rapid heart rate, seizures, and becoming comatose. Mayo Clinic, August 2015
Quote: “Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.”
~ Lucille Ball

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