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With the uncertainty surrounding the Zika virus, which could turn to panic if it reaches epidemic proportions in the U.S., mosquito control may become more important than ever. Although it hasn't been used here since 1972, DDT is creeping into discussions about how to contain the virus. It's unlikely to be used, but in the meantime we ask: What is DDT? And is it really poisonous?

Many competitive speed eaters maintain a steely focus to give themselves the best shot at winning. But some body-prep techniques they use to help clear the path (or more correctly, the throat) to victory, can endanger these champions of chow because they can lose sight of the health dangers inherent to the sport.

Although obesity is linked to a myriad of negative health effects, there are some obese people who still seem to escape these impacts. But a new study from South Korea suggests that there may be hidden health impacts even in these people with so-called "healthy obesity."

Too many pregnant women in America still smoke, with major consequences for their offspring. A new CDC report illustrates the extent of the problem, but says nothing about how to ameliorate it, such as by providing more effective cessation methods.

A large segment of health-conscious Americans avoid foods that are deep fried, for fear that it may clog their arteries or lead to certain cancers. But countering these ideas, some recent studies show that deep frying with olive oil may actually provide health benefits.

The Environmental Working Group -- which has almost single-handedly manufactured the belief that if something sounds like a chemical it must be scary -- will help you be a winner in the organic/natural food marketplace. That is, as long as you pay them.

While public toilet seats can potentially transmit germs and viruses among users, similar health threats can find their way to us when we come into contact with some common objects, both in the bathroom and around the house.

So you have to give up something for lent? Don't pick carbs. If you do, expect flu-like symptoms.

They're sweet, and soft, and gooey and ... unbelievably fattening: paczki are everywhere on Fat Tuesday and that's OK.

The California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, a state-run agency that funds stem cell research, is considering funding research on human embryos using a gene-editing technology known as CRISPR-Cas9. This could potentially allow for cures to be discovered for devastating inherited diseases.

Cesarean-section-born babies miss out on the beneficial bacteria found in the mothers' vaginas. And some hypothesize that this omission makes these infants more susceptible to various ills. A recent study sought to determine if these bacteria could be swabbed on the C-section baby to deliver the missing benefits.

In 2012, an official federal panel designated routine PSA testing a Grade D: don't do it. Since then, doctors across the board have cut back on it. Not urologists, however. Their use of PSAs has not budged. Why? Simply, with more PSAs, abnormal results increase, and more urological procedures are done.

When it comes to taking multivitamins or other dietary additions, supplement industry reps say that the more you take, the better. But nutrition experts and the entire scientific community argue otherwise. So if you're eating bananas, avocados or a host of other foods, you're likely getting enough magnesium.

The Food and Drug Administration recently issued draft guidelines for the regulation of stem cell therapy clinics. They have become part of a booming industry, with many of them run by those with the ethical makeup of snake oil salesmen of yesteryear.

There's been a sharp uptick in the number of hepatitis B cases in the U.S. This isn't unexpected, because since 2010 heroin use has skyrocketed, and with that use, needles are shared more frequently. We're recently seen HIV and Hep C outbreaks from needle sharing. Is this any different? Very unlikely.

Researchers have found that regular spicy-food eaters, especially women, lived longer, and that they had a lower cancer risk than spicy-food avoiders. And foods like chili peppers contain the chemical, capsaicin, which, in terms of the debate on how to stay healthy, appears to be a hot item.

Current medical advice says avoid the sun to minimize the risk of skin cancers, but doing so also minimizes the skin's creation of vitamin D. But a new type of sunscreen being developed may soon allow our bodies to avoid getting skin cancers, while still allowing the sun to promote vitamin D production.

A new study shows the rapid loss of protection against whooping cough among teens vaccinated with a booster shot. This decline, which takes place over less than four years, helps explain the recent outbreaks in California and Minnesota, and shows that a new vaccination approach is needed.

While toe-tourniquet syndrome is not considered a widespread health threat to infants, unsuspecting parents should be aware of the situation in which strands of the mother's hair become accidentally wrapped around a baby's finger, toe or other appendage. If left undetected it can lead to painful consequences.

With Florida in a state of emergency due to nine cases, officials are getting serious about science solutions to stopping the pest that transmits it.

Viruses are all over the news right now. Here's one that is really bad news norovirus. What's it going to do to you? How do you catch it? NBA Hall-of-Famer and wicked wordsmith Walt Frazier explains. Take it away Clyde.

Insurance companies may be able to charge higher premiums for employees with higher body mass indices, should the EEOC adopt this proposal as a rule. Meanwhile, a new study found that nearly half of Americans who are deemed either overweight, or obese based merely on their BMI, are actually healthy.

Some of the top health stories making news over the last 48 hours.

Caffeine-fueled energy drinks can provide a quick pick-me-up, and they're popular among young men in particular. But too much a good thing can be dangerous, and if combined with alcohol they can lead to serious health issues.

California's law was ostensibly crafted to warn the public about potentially toxic substances in products. It has become a tool for predatory lawyers to sue companies for no valid reason and it's about to get worse.