Mental Attitude: Autistic Kids “In Tune” with Mom’s Feelings. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
usually have trouble interpreting facial emotions, but a new study finds that some autistic kids are just as “in-tune”
with their mother’s expressions as kids without ASD. In the study, researchers had young children with and without
ASD view five facial expressions of both familiar and unfamiliar faces. The researchers observed that boys and girls
without autism were better able to read strangers’ expressions, especially negative emotions such as fear and
sadness. However, children with high-functioning autism read the emotions on their mother’s faces just as well as
kids without the condition. Based on the findings, the study’s authors recommend future large-scale studies to
determine if this effect also applies to expressions from other familiar individuals, such as fathers, siblings, and
classmates. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, March 2019
Health Alert: The Night Shift Is Tough on the Heart. In this study, researchers analyzed data concerning more
than 320,000 people and found that individuals who routinely work nights are 13% more likely to develop coronary
heart disease than daytime workers The cause of the increased risk is unknown, but the research team speculates that
disruption of the normal sleep-wake cycle, increased stress, and unhealthy lifestyles associated with shift work may
be factors for the increased risk. Occupational Medicine, March 2019
Diet: Red/Processed Meats and Colorectal Cancer Risk. A review of dietary data concerning over 600,000
middle aged men and women in the United Kingdom suggests that consuming more than 76 grams of red or
processed meat per day is associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer.
International Journal of Epidemiology, April 2019
Exercise: Exercise Improves Survival Odds for Cancer Patients. The results of a new study suggest that
exercising for at least one hour a day may improve the five-year survival rate of cancer patients by up to 15%.
Southern Medical Journal, April 2019
Chiropractic: Back Pain and Firefighters. Surveys completed by 430 firefighters revealed that those exposed to
higher levels of occupational stress were 52% more likely to report a musculoskeletal pain condition, with back pain
being the most common complaint. Int’l Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, March 2019
Wellness/Prevention: Keeping Pets Safe During Severe Weather. Keeping your pets safe during severe weather
events should be part of your family safety plan. The National Weather Service recommends bringing pets indoors
during storms, never leaving pets alone in the car during hot or cold weather, confining pets to one room in case of
flooding or wildfire, and making plans to care for pets in the event you must evacuate.
National Weather Service, April 2019
Quote: “Life is half spent before we know what it is.” ~ George Herbert
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Napa region.