πŸ’š Health & Wellness

May 19th, 2026

Today's top 5 stories, curated by Daily Direct.

Stat News

The latest on Ebola: A travel ban andΒ an old vaccine

A new Ebola travel ban is drawing attention as health officials weigh containment strategies alongside renewed interest in an existing vaccine. The developments come amid a broader set of public health concerns, including proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act. How policymakers balance urgent outbreak response with longer-term healthcare reform will define the coming weeks in health policy.

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Medical Xpress

New cholesterol guidelines aim to stop heart disease earlier

Leading cardiologists are pushing for a fundamental shift in how doctors approach cholesterol management, urging earlier and more aggressive treatment before patients ever experience a cardiac event. The updated 2026 guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association mark a significant departure from the traditional reactive approach to heart disease. With cardiovascular disease still the nation's top killer, the move toward prevention over intervention could reshape how millions of Americans are screened and treated.

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Medical Xpress

Therapy at your fingertips: New study finds AI could transform mental health care

A landmark randomized clinical trial from Reichman University found that an AI conversational platform meaningfully reduced anxiety and depression symptoms while forming genuine therapeutic bonds with users. Published in JAMA Network Open, the study suggests AI could fill critical gaps in mental health access, particularly outside traditional office hours. As demand for mental health services continues to outpace supply, the findings make a compelling case for AI as a legitimate front-line support tool.

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Medical Xpress

BMI alone does not fully capture health risks linked to obesity, new study finds

Researchers from Lund University and AstraZeneca have found that BMI, the standard tool for diagnosing obesity, fails to capture the full picture of obesity-related health risks. Incorporating additional measurements like body fat percentage and waist circumference reveals disease risks that BMI alone overlooks. The findings challenge the medical community to rethink how obesity is assessed and could reshape clinical guidelines for millions of patients.

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Medical Xpress

Long-term trial challenges assumptions about lymph node radiation therapy in breast cancer

Irradiating internal mammary and medial supraclavicular lymph nodes reduces breast cancer mortality, but a landmark EORTC trial spanning over two decades finds it does not translate into improved overall survival. The results complicate long-held assumptions about the benefits of lymph node radiation in breast cancer treatment. For patients with otherwise favorable prognoses, the findings underscore how competing causes of death can obscure survival gains β€” and why cancer trials demand exceptionally long follow-up windows.

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