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

• I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• February 18, 2026
• Full Page

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 Do...

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

• I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• February 18, 2026
• Full Page

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 syncytia...

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

• I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• February 18, 2026
• Full Page

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.

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

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• February 18, 2026
• Full Page

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.

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

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• February 18, 2026
• Full Page

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 co...

Pain Drives Postpartum Depression, Review Finds

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• February 18, 2026
• Full Page

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 ...

Shame, Embarrassment Regarding Walking Problems Can Isolate MS Patients

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• February 18, 2026
• Full Page

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...

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

• Deanna Neff HealthDay Reporter
• February 18, 2026
• Full Page

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 Cali...

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

• Deanna Neff HealthDay Reporter
• February 18, 2026
• Full Page

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 expectat...

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

• I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• February 17, 2026
• Full Page

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 Urba...

FDA Expands Tater Tot Recall Tied to Possible Plastic Contamination

• I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• February 17, 2026
• Full Page

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...

A Florida College Has Reported More Than 40 Measles Cases

• I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• February 17, 2026
• Full Page

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 measle...

Baby Food Recalled Nationwide Over Mold Toxin Concern

• I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• February 17, 2026
• Full Page

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...

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

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• February 17, 2026
• Full Page

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 b...

Most Skip Physical Therapy Homework, Slowing Their Recovery

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• February 17, 2026
• Full Page

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 ...

Smartphone App Successfully Supports First-Time Moms

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• February 17, 2026
• Full Page

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 suppor...

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

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• February 17, 2026
• Full Page

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 veget...

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

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• February 17, 2026
• Full Page

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 b...

Teen Sexting Has Surged In U.S.

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• February 17, 2026
• Full Page

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%) ...

Love Sweet Iced Coffee? Thailand Wants You To Drink It With Less Sugar

• I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter
• February 16, 2026
• Full Page

MONDAY, Feb. 16, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Thailand is taking aim at sugary drinks as health officials warn that too much sugar is fueling rising rates of obesity and diabetes.

Earlier this week, nine major coffee chains across the Southeast Asian country agreed to c...