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

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

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 childre...

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

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

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,...

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

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

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 an...

Peanut Butter Sold in 40 States Recalled Over Possible Plastic Contamination

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

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 manufacturin...

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

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

“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 learn...

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

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

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...

Pain Drives Postpartum Depression, Review Finds

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

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 r...

Shame, Embarrassment Regarding Walking Problems Can Isolate MS Patients

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

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 becau...

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

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

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...

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

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

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 resea...

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

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

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 pa...

FDA Expands Tater Tot Recall Tied to Possible Plastic Contamination

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

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 ...

A Florida College Has Reported More Than 40 Measles Cases

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

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.

Baby Food Recalled Nationwide Over Mold Toxin Concern

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

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 p...

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

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

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 pres...

Most Skip Physical Therapy Homework, Slowing Their Recovery

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

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, accor...

Smartphone App Successfully Supports First-Time Moms

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

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 i...

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

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

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 near...

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

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

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 pe...

Teen Sexting Has Surged In U.S.

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

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 Jo...