Health Alert: Smartphone Use Landing Users in the ER. Between 1999 and 2017, researchers estimate that more than
76,000 people visited emergency rooms in the United States for head, face, and neck injuries in relation to smartphone
usage. Lead researcher Dr. Boris Paskhover explains, “People are not paying attention and getting head and neck injuries
because they’re walking with a cellphone, and fall and break their nose or jaw.”
JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, December 2019
Diet: Most Expectant Mothers Don’t Get Enough Iron and Calcium. The results of a recent literature review suggest
that 91% of pregnant women have inadequate daily iron intake while 55% fail to consume enough calcium.
Maternal & Child Nutrition, December 2019
Exercise: How Exercise Boosts Oxygen to the Brain. Scientists have long assumed that blood is always saturated with
oxygen, but according to a recent study, this isn’t the case and may explain why exercise is linked to better brain function.
In the study, researchers monitored respiration, neural activity, blood flow, and brain oxygenation of mice using a
treadmill and found that increased respiration led to greater amounts of oxygen in the blood, thus providing more oxygen
to the brain. Based on the results, researchers conclude that respiration provides a dynamic pathway for modulating
cerebral oxygenation. Nature Communications, December 2019
Chiropractic: Chronic Neck Pain Affects Shoulder Muscle Activation. Using surface electromyography to assess
multiple muscles in the neck and shoulder region, researchers observed increased onset delays in the anterior and middle
deltoid and a peak delay in the upper trapezius muscle among participants with chronic neck pain that were not observed
in those without a history of neck pain. The findings suggest that neck pain may be associated with dysfunction in the
shoulder and may need to be addressed to achieve an optimal outcome for patients with neck pain, shoulder pain, or both.
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, October 2019
Mental Attitude: Vaping Linked to Depression. Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
survey concerning more than 890,000 adults, researchers estimate that current e-cigarette users are two-times more likely
to be diagnosed with depression than those who have never used e-cigarettes, and the risk for depression increases in
proportion with use. The results suggest that patients suffering from depression and other mental health conditions should
be screened for tobacco dependence. JAMA Network Open, December 2019
Wellness/Prevention: Know the Warning Signs for Stroke. Stroke is a leading cause of death and a significant cause of
disability in the United States. The American Stroke Association list the following warning signs of stroke: face drooping
on one side, arm weakness and/or numbness, and slurred speech. Other symptoms include sudden numbness, confusion,
trouble seeing, difficulty walking, and severe headache. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms,
summon emergency services immediately. American Stroke Association, December 2019
Quote: “Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” ~ H. Jackson Brown Jr.

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