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...

A Florida College Has Reported More Than 40 Measles Cases

TUESDAY, Feb. 17, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A measles outbreak at a private college in southwest Florida is raising new concerns about how quickly the virus can spread.

More than 40 cases have been reported at Ave Maria University, making it one of the largest measles outbreaks recorded on a U.S. college campus.

Experts say the s...

Baby Food Recalled Nationwide Over Mold Toxin Concern

TUESDAY, Feb. 17, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A baby food product sold across most of the United States is being pulled from store shelves after tests found higher-than-expected levels of a toxin linked to mold, federal officials said.

Initiative Foods is recalling one lot of its Tippy Toes Apple Pear Banana fruit puree after the U.S. Fo...

Abortion Restrictions Increase Deaths Among Expecting And New Moms, Researchers Report

TUESDAY, Feb. 17, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Anti-abortion laws are associated with more deaths among expecting and new mothers, a new study says.

Increased numbers of state-level abortion restrictions in the U.S. are linked to a parallel increase in maternal deaths between 2005 and 2023, according to findings presented at a meeting of ...

Most Skip Physical Therapy Homework, Slowing Their Recovery

TUESDAY, Feb. 17, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Most people are skipping some or all their physical therapy homework, potentially stalling or even setting back their recovery, a new survey has found.

More than 3 of 4 patients (76%) assigned physical therapy exercises to perform at home don’t stick with it, according to the survey fro...

Smartphone App Successfully Supports First-Time Moms

TUESDAY, Feb. 17, 2026 (HealthDay News) — First-time moms are facing a potentially overwhelming amount of stress, caring for their new baby while also managing their own recovery from pregnancy and birth.

But a new smartphone app can provide them much-needed support, according to a study presented at a meeting in Las Vegas of the Soc...

Vegetarian Upbringing Not More Likely To Stunt Toddlers' Growth, Study Finds

TUESDAY, Feb. 17, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Babies’ growth isn’t more likely to be stunted if they’re raised on a vegetarian diet, a new study says.

Tracking nearly 1.2 million infants, researchers found that by age 2 those raised in vegan and vegetarian households follow growth trajectories nearly identical to their ...

Brain Implant Can Read Movement Of Parkinson's Patients, Opening Door To More Effective Treatment

TUESDAY, Feb. 17, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A new advance might help doctors improve movement in people with Parkinson’s disease by tracking their gait-related brain waves in real time.

An experimental brain implant can capture the signals of movement-related brain regions while Parkinson’s patients perform daily activities...

Teen Sexting Has Surged In U.S.

TUESDAY, Feb. 17, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Teen “sexting” has surged in the U.S., leaving countless teenagers vulnerable to harassment, exploitation and extortion, a new study says.

Nearly 1 in 3 teens (32%) have received a sext, and almost 1 in 4 (24%) has sent one, researchers reported in the Journal of Adolescent He...