FDA Clears First Robot That Draws Blood On Its Own

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2026 (HealthDay News) — The next time you roll up your sleeve for a blood test, the hand holding the needle may not be a hand at all.

Federal regulators have authorized the first robot capable of drawing blood from a patient's arm on its own, with no one guiding the needle.

The device is called Aletta. It is cl...

Nearly 8 In 10 Young Adults Are In Early Stages Of Metabolic Disorder, Study Finds

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A surprising number of young adults have early signs of a metabolic disorder that could have a lasting impact on their health, a new study says.

Nearly 8 of 10 people with an average age of 23 had signs of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, otherwise known as CKM syndrome, researchers r...

Diet Quality Versus Cutting Calories: What Matters More For Weight Loss?

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Is weight loss really just about calories in, calories out — or does diet quality make a difference?

A team led by Dr. Thomas Keyserling, a professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, followed 360 adults with obesity for two years.

Half were assigned t...

Psilocybin Safe And Effective Against Mood Disorders, Real-World Data Show

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Oregon’s landmark psilocybin program is showing that the “magic mushroom” chemical can help people manage their mood disorders, a new study says.

People participating in state-regulated psilocybin services reported relief from symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumati...

TikTok Shaping Teens' Appetites, Diet

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2026 (HealthDay News) — TikTok is shaping teenagers’ appetites, a new study suggests.

Teens say what they see on TikTok is prompting hunger, driving their cravings and fueling their interest in trying new food, researchers reported Aug. 19 in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

"Adol...

Self-Driving Cars Might Not Be Safe For Everyone, Study Says

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2026 (HealthDay News) — You might want to steer clear of self-driving vehicles if you have a history of head injuries, a new study warns.

Hockey players who’d suffered repeated concussions were slower to respond when a self-driving car faced a complex traffic situation and needed them to take the wheel, researc...

Personalized Vaccine Helped Melanoma Patients Stay Cancer-Free Longer, Drugmakers Say

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2026 (HealthDay News) — An experimental vaccine kept melanoma from returning or spreading in people at high risk of the skin cancer coming back, drugmakers Moderna and Merck announced Wednesday.

The vaccine is built for one patient at a time. It is designed to match the genetics of that person's own tumor and to te...

Sugary Drinks Linked To Doubled Risk Of Stomach Cancer

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Sugary drinks aren’t just rotting your teeth, a new study says.

Sugar-sweetened beverages might more than double a person’s risk of stomach cancer, researchers reported Aug. 17 in the journal Gastro Hep Advances.

“This is the first study to demonstrate an ass...

Can Antioxidants Help Protect Against Cervical Cancer?

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Could a diet rich in antioxidants help women lower their risk of cervical cancer?

A new study suggests these compounds may play a role in preventing the disease, the fifth-most commonly diagnosed cancer in women globally.

A team led by Maozhu Lang of the Chinese Academy of Medical Scie...

Why You Move Matters When It Comes To Brain Health, Dementia Risk

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2026 (HealthDay News) — It’s been said that regular physical activity can help lower risk of dementia, but a new evidence review suggests that why you move also matters.

Leisure-time exercise like walking, cycling, running, swimming or playing sports is associated with a much lower risk of dementia, researche...

Too Much Caregiving Can Harm Mental Health, Study Finds

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Caregivers who spend more than half a workweek providing unpaid service to others are risking their own mental health, a new study says.

More than 20 hours a week delivering unpaid care increases a caregiver’s risk of depression, anxiety and other mental health problems, researchers re...

Spinal Cord Stimulation Improves Arm Strength, Mobility In Stroke Survivors

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Spinal cord stimulation might help stroke survivors improve their arm strength and hand mobility, a small-scale study has found.

Seven stroke survivors suffering from profound muscle weakness experienced an average 32% increase in arm strength as electrical pulses stimulated their spine, res...

Outshine Frozen Fruit Bars Recalled Over Possible Glass Contamination

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc. is recalling several kinds of Outshine Fruit Bars because they may contain pieces of glass.

The voluntary recall covers Strawberry, Watermelon, Grape, Tangerine and Black Cherry 6-count boxes of 2.5-ounce bars. The Outshine 24-count Variety Pack of 2.5-ounce b...

Photos, Screenshots Degrade People's Memory, Study Says

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Think twice before taking that selfie or saving that screenshot to remember something, researchers warn.

It might help you in the moment, but could harm your memory in the long run, a new study says.

Taking photos or screenshots during an experience has been linked to worse memories o...

Study Raises New Questions About Fluoride Exposure During Pregnancy

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A new study funded by the National Institutes of Health is raising questions about fluoride exposure during pregnancy and children's cognitive development.

"This study addresses an important gap by evaluating prenatal water fluoride and child cognition in a large U.S. sample," said lead aut...

These Jet-Setting Jobs Carry The Highest Risk Of Radiation-Related Cancer Death In The Nation

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Two jet-setting jobs carry the nation’s highest risk of radiation-related cancer death, a new study says.

Out of more than 500 U.S. occupations, flight attendants and pilots are first and second when it comes to cancer deaths caused by radiation exposure, researchers reported Aug. 17 ...

Fingertip Patch Tracks Medication Levels In Parkinson's Patients

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2026 (HealthDay News) — It’s tough to home in on the right dose of drugs for Parkinson’s disease patients.

Too little levodopa — the gold-standard drug for the disease — will leave patients unable to move, while too much triggers severe, uncontrollable jerking motions, researchers said.

Do Dogs Help Teens Cope With Social Stress? It Depends, Researchers Say

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2026 (HealthDay News) — They say a dog is a boy’s or girl’s best friend, but that relationship isn’t always a healthy one for a teenager who struggles with social anxiety, a new study says.

Teens manage their stress in healthier ways if they see a dog as a beloved companion, researchers reported ...

How To Protect Yourself During Wildfire Season

TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Wildfires are on the rise in many parts of the world, bringing with them major health threats.

As bad air days become more and more common, it’s a good idea to learn new ways to keep your lungs and body systems healthy.

Here's some advice to protect yourself and your loved ones wh...

Kindergarten Vaccine Exemptions Hit Record High, New CDC Data Shows

TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 2026 (HealthDay News) — A record share of U.S. kindergartners started school last year without at least one required vaccine, new federal data show.

Exemptions rose to 4.2% during the 2025-2026 school year, up from 3.6% a year earlier, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That amou...