Health & Wellness News

A comprehensive review by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine of scientific research looked at the health effects of cannabis and its compounds for a range of conditions.

PPL Electric Utilities offers tips to customers designed to keep them safe and warm during the winter season.

The CEO of St. Luke's University Health Network addressed the potential merger of competitor Lehigh Valley Health Network with Jefferson Health. CEO Rick Anderson sent a message to St. Luke's thousands of employees.

Is it COVID-19, RSV, or the flu? Doctors are saying it could be any of the three or even whooping cough. Respiratory illnesses are on the rise following the holiday season and there may not be a reprieve for a while.

January is National Radon Action Month, and officials from the American Lung Association are offering a limited supply of free radon test kits for commonwealth residents, including those in the the Lehigh Valley.

Resources for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren are limited. A Pennsylvania nonprofit is working to change that in the new year.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

The 75,000-square-foot St. Luke’s Sportsplex features more than two dozen indoor courts and almost the same number outside.

The most popular names have been a constant the past few years, according to the major health networks. But one trend that emerged in 2023 in the Lehigh Valley seems to be tied to sports — specifically, the success and popularity of the Philadelphia Phillies. Taylor Swift also may be having an impact.

New therapies for sickle cell disease could be available in the Lehigh Valley next year. The FDA approved the treatments earlier this month for people 12 and older. The disease disproportionately affects people who are Black and of certain other descents.

Lehigh Valley Health Network plans to merge with Jefferson Health, but deals like this are nothing new to the Philadelphia-based system. For nearly a decade, Jefferson has been combining forces with hospitals in two states.

Getting physical and mental health in check is a popular new year resolution. Lehigh Valley health leaders are explaining how they plan to accomplish their goals for 2024.

Health officials are calling it the fall resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Lehigh Valley Restaurant Owners Alliance held a rally Monday afternoon on Main Street Bethlehem in response to the governor's recent veto of legislation to further open up those establishments.

Pennsylvania US Senator Bob Casey says a rushed confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett could impact healthcare for tens of thousands of people in the Lehigh Valley.

State lawmakers are temporarily suspending in-person activities at the Capitol after a Republican lawmaker tested positive for the coronavirus.

New COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Pennsylvania. State Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine says she is nervous about the impacts of COVID-19 in the fall and winter seasons.

The state has completed baseline testing for COVID-19 at nursing homes, and is planning to expand to other groups.

WLVR Community Correspondent Genesis Ortega spoke about the higher risk group disparities with Lehigh Valley Health Network Doctor, Orlando Penaloza.

When schools closed in March many parents became teachers overnight. But for those who have children with special needs, virtual learning presented a real-world challenge.

The Wolf administration is outlining plans and services in place to help families navigate back to school season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pennsylvania Health Department has unveiled the nation’s first statewide COVID-19 mobile testing unit.

If you get a package of seeds in the mail that you didn’t order, take a closer look. According to the state Department of Agriculture, this may be part of a scam known as brushing—and those seeds have the potential to hurt Pennsylvania’s ecosystem.

Beltzville State Park in Carbon County has been a very popular spot this summer. In fact, some would say it’s too popular, as the park has been crowded with visitors from other states in the wake of the pandemic.