Health & Wellness

United States – October 19, 2026 -- The anonymous messaging app NGL has passed 15 million installs in recent weeks, and a child-safety advisory now urges parents to keep their kids away from such apps.

Anonymous messages have been linked to teen deaths

These apps let users message others without revealing who they are. The advisory says that ability is exploited by people who want to cyberbully, defraud, or molest.

Sixteen-year-old Carson Bride died by suicide on June 23, 2020. Between January 23 and June 22, 2020, he received 105 messages through YOLO, an app for sending anonymous messages on Snapchat. Most were severe harassment, often sexually explicit and threatening. Evidence indicates he tried several times to identify the senders, and his final phone search was for a way to reveal the YOLO username.

Alexandria – October 19, 2026 -- Residents of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties can now book certified personal trainers who arrive at their home, office or neighborhood with professional-grade equipment. GYMGUYZ, which describes itself as the world's largest in-home and on-site personal training franchise, has launched its Northern Virginia location. Its bright-red vehicles carry the gear, so clients skip the commute, the crowded gym and the guesswork.

A retired-minded executive became the franchise owner

The location is owned by Daniel Ward, a longtime government contracting executive who had planned to retire. A former colleague who had moved into franchising prompted him to explore business ownership. He chose GYMGUYZ because it makes professional training more convenient, accessible and personalized for people of all ages and fitness levels.

Novato, Calif. – October 19, 2026 -- More than 31 million Americans live with eczema, and during October the National Eczema Association (NEA) is giving them a free national data report and a set of video stories to see, share and discuss.

Eczema Awareness Month 2026 is built around the theme "State of Eczema." Since Oct. 1, NEA has asked people with eczema and their caregivers a two-part question: what is it like to live with eczema, and what does it take to get good care?

A first national baseline covers all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

On Oct. 1, NEA published its State of Atopic Dermatitis Indicator Report, together with 51 state-level briefs covering all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common form of eczema. According to NEA, the report is the first comprehensive national and state-level baseline on AD diagnosis and care, and it points to gaps across the country.

Taipei – October 19, 2026 -- JUBILEE Biomedical's JUBI Plasma cold plasma skincare device has won the Brands & Retail category at the 2026 COSMETIC 360 Awards in Paris. The Taiwanese company says one mode, running below 40°C, targets nine skincare areas.

Six main-category winners emerged from about 260 exhibitors

COSMETIC VALLEY, a French government-recognized competitiveness cluster, organizes COSMETIC 360 each year at the Carrousel du Louvre. The event connects startups with groups such as L'Oréal, LVMH Research and Estée Lauder. This year's edition drew about 260 exhibitors from more than 20 countries. Only six main-category winners were chosen, roughly 2% of the total.

Tooele – October 19, 2026 -- A routine dental exam does more than look for cavities: according to a HelloNation article featuring Dr. Landon B. Rockwell of Rosewood Family Dentistry in Tooele, Utah, it can catch problems before you notice any symptoms.

Exams check teeth, gums, and surrounding tissues

Dental professionals look for early signs of decay and inflammation. They also check for enamel wear and grinding damage. Enamel is the outer defense against decay and sensitivity, so spotting early wear helps protect it.

Professional cleanings remove what brushing cannot

Decay develops when bacteria feed on sugars and produce acids that weaken enamel. Daily brushing and flossing control bacterial buildup, but only professional cleanings remove hardened plaque. The article stresses that cleanings stay important even for patients with strong home-care habits.

East Setauket – October 19, 2026 -- Cataract patients in Suffolk County can now book with Ana A. Morales, MD, a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist who began seeing patients at OCLI Vision's East Setauket, Patchogue and Port Jefferson offices on October 19, 2026.

She offers premium lenses and laser-assisted cataract surgery

Dr. Morales specializes in advanced cataract surgery. Her services include premium intraocular lenses (IOLs), astigmatism correction and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery. She also provides medical and laser management of glaucoma. When appropriate, she offers minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) alongside cataract surgery.

Syracuse – October 19, 2026 -- Tiny dark specks in your kitchen cabinets may be more than dirt: a new HelloNation article explains that cockroach droppings are often among the first visible signs of an infestation.

The piece draws on insights from Kelly Aldrich of All Pest of Syracuse LLC. Because cockroaches typically hide during the day in dark, secluded areas, homeowners and renters may never see the insects themselves. The evidence they leave behind can offer the first clues.

Droppings look like pepper, coffee grounds, or small pellets

Smaller cockroach species often leave tiny dark specks that resemble black pepper, coffee grounds, or grains of dirt. Larger species may produce small cylindrical pellets. People commonly mistake these for dirt, food particles, or household debris, which can let an infestation continue unnoticed for long periods.

California – October 19, 2026 -- A retinal implant paired with camera-equipped glasses has helped more than 80% of recipients with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) read, do crosswords, and use their phones after training. The PRIMA system was approved in Europe in July and is awaiting FDA clearance in the US.

PRIMA targets geographic atrophy, which affects more than 5 million people

Geographic atrophy is an advanced form of AMD in which retinal cells die off and leave a blind spot in the center of vision. Until now, no treatment could restore that lost sight. Science Corporation, based in California, developed PRIMA for these patients.

Arlington, Texas – October 19, 2026 -- Hundreds of Dallas-Fort Worth residents got health screenings and mammograms, and met Dallas Cowboys legend Drew Pearson, at a community health fair at AT&T Stadium over the weekend.

Pearson headlines the Ambetter health fair

Ambetter from Superior HealthPlan hosted the event, which also offered community resources and family activities. Pearson played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1973 to 1983 and spoke with attendees about the importance of preventive care. He is a Pro Football Hall of Famer, a three-time First Team All-Pro, a Super Bowl XII champion and a member of the Cowboys Ring of Honor.

A mobile unit brings mammograms to the stadium

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a mobile mammography unit provided screenings onsite. Regular mammograms are one of the most effective tools for detecting breast cancer early, when treatment is often most successful.

Gothenburg – October 19, 2026 -- Taking omega-3 does not show where you stand, and a new study of 762,150 dried blood spot samples suggests that a single number may not either. People who followed Zinzino's Balance Concept for at least 120 days had higher omega-3 levels and a lower omega-6:3 ratio than both non-users and people who chose their own omega-3 supplements.

Three supplement habits produced three different blood profiles

Researchers analyzed samples collected between August 2012 and September 2023. Based on questionnaire answers, they sorted them into three groups: no long-term omega-3 use, non-specified omega-3 supplements for at least 120 days, and the Balance Concept for at least 120 days.