Ancient Chinese Practice Lowers Blood Pressure As Well As Medications, Walking Program, Clinical Trial Shows

THURSDAY, Feb. 19, 2026 (HealthDay News) — An ancient Chinese mind-body practice can lower a person’s blood pressure as well as medication or a program of brisk walking, a new study says.

Baduanjin is a widely practiced eight-movement sequence that combines slow, structured movement, deep breathing and meditation.

The pra...

U.S. Parents Report Gaps in Accessing Mental Health Care for Their Child

THURSDAY, Feb. 19, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Despite a growing mental health crisis among America’s youth, the system is still failing a massive number of children, a large study suggests. 

Nearly one-quarter of children who need mental health treatment are not receiving it, according to the analysis led by researchers at th...

Robotic Pets Help Dementia Patients Recover and Return Home

THURSDAY, Feb. 19, 2026 (HealthDay News) — For a person living with dementia, a hospital stay can be a terrifying whirlwind of strange faces, loud noises and confusing tests. 

This disorientation often leads to a condition called delirium, which can slow down recovery and lead to more time spent in medical facilities.

Howe...

Bananas From a Decade-Old Mining Spill Area in Brazil May Be Unsafe, Research Says

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2026 (HealthDay News) — More than a decade after a major mining disaster in Brazil, scientists are still uncovering its health effects, including potential risks from food grown in nearby soil.

A new study suggests that bananas grown near the Doce River estuary may pose health risks for children under 6, due to li...

Mandy Moore Shares Why RSV Protection Became a Priority for Her Family

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2026 (HealthDay News) — When actress and singer/songwriter Mandy Moore talks about RSV, it’s not just as a celebrity, it’s as a mom who’s lived through it.

In 2023, both of Moore’s sons came down with respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, at the same time. The experience, she says, was overw...

NIH Institute Told To Drop ‘Biodefense’ and 'Pandemic Preparedness' Language From Website

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2026 (HealthDay News) — As new infectious threats emerge worldwide, a key U.S. health agency is quietly stepping away from language tied to pandemic planning, a change some experts warn could leave Americans less protected when the next crisis hits.

Staff at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease...

Peanut Butter Sold in 40 States Recalled Over Possible Plastic Contamination

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2026 (HealthDay News) — If you have peanut butter at home, federal health officials say it’s worth taking a closer look.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a recall of more than 20,000 peanut butter products after pieces of plastic were found during the manufacturing process.

The...

Want To Preserve Brain Health? Engage In A Lifetime Pursuit Of Knowledge, Study Says

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2026 (HealthDay News) — “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80,” American entrepreneur Henry Ford once said. “Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”

There’s something to that, a new study says.

People who engage in a lifetime pursuit of learning have a lower ris...

'Smart Clothing' The Next Frontier In Fitness Tracking, Study Says

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Health-conscious folks are used to strapping a Fitbit to their wrist or a step counter to their belt before they start walking or jogging.

But new research is opening the door to “smart clothing” that would count a person’s steps or track their movement without requiring a...

Pain Drives Postpartum Depression, Review Finds

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Pain during pregnancy and after delivery can significantly increase a woman’s risk of postpartum depression, a new evidence review has concluded.

Further, there are specific pain-related risk factors that influence the odds of postpartum depression among women in racial and ethnic min...

Shame, Embarrassment Regarding Walking Problems Can Isolate MS Patients

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A mom with multiple sclerosis (MS) struggled to keep her balance, frustrated by her frequent missteps and stumbles.

But what really hurt was her 6-year-old daughter’s reaction to her plight.

“My daughter told me to stop walking with them basically because it’s embarr...

Heavy Wildfire Smoke During Pregnancy May Be Linked to Increased Autism Risk

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2026 (HealthDay News) — As wildfires become more frequent and severe across the Western United States, new research suggests the thick blankets of smoke they produce may have long-lasting effects on fetal development.

A study of millions of California births has found a link between exposure to intense wildfire sm...

School Stress at Age 15 May Leave Long-Term Mental Health Scars

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 18, 2026 (HealthDay News) — The intense pressure to succeed academically at age 15 may cast a long shadow, increasing the risk of depression and self-harm well into a person's 20s, a new study says.

While many parents and teachers view high expectations as a necessary push toward success, the research suggests that fo...

Couples Who Do This One Thing Feel More Satisfied And Secure Together

TUESDAY, Feb. 17, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Couples who take time to slow down and enjoy the good moments they share may feel closer, argue less and feel more confident their relationship will last, a new study suggests.

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found that couples who regularly pause to appreciate posi...

FDA Expands Tater Tot Recall Tied to Possible Plastic Contamination

TUESDAY, Feb. 17, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A recall of frozen tater tots has expanded after federal officials warned that hundreds of thousands of pounds could contain pieces of plastic.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the expanded recall now covers about 648,000 pounds of frozen tater tots made by McCain Foods at a f...