Health & Wellness News

News Director Jen Rehill talks with journalists Tom Shortell and Brittany Sweeney.

The Easton Area High School student is under a doctor's care, officials said. Whooping cough, or pertussis, spreads easily from person to person and outbreaks can occur in schools, child care centers and hospitals, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The number of people developing cancer is on the rise, but the survival rate is also going up according to the American Cancer Society. Doctors believe there are two contributing factors.

Pennsylvania's Supreme Court made a ruling pertaining to abortion rights across the state. The issue being disputed is whether government funds should be used for the procedure and if there's a constitutional right to abortions in the state.

St. Luke's officials said Thursday that the family practice on Front Street in Hellertown is "at capacity."

A lack of educators, a retiring generation, and a pandemic that produced stress and burnout all have contributed to the shortage of health care workers, such as nurses. Lehigh Valley Health Network and St. Luke's University Health Network are both focused on attracting new talent.

A local blood bank is urging new donors to give blood and existing donors to increase the number of times they give. Miller Keystone is also encouraging younger and more diverse people to take the time to donate blood.

A ribbon cutting was held for Counseling Solutions of the Lehigh Valley’s new location. The West Tilghman Street location offers bilingual drug and alcohol counseling.

A group of firefighters dressed as superheroes to brighten the day of pediatric patients at St. Luke's University Health Network. The group is called Humble Heroes of the Fire Department of the City of New York.

The cold winter weather can often lead to dry cracked skin. A Lehigh Valley skin care expert has some ways to fight the rough feeling on our outer layer.

Allentown's mayor and police chief are backing Sen. Bob Casey's legislative efforts to stop more fentanyl at the U.S./Mexico border.

And as WLVR’s Tyler Pratt reports, as the state moves to reopen, high rates of cases and deaths remain in the state’s long term-care facilities.

Pennsylvania’s primary election is four weeks from Tuesday, May 5, but many questions remain about how to conduct a “fair and free election” during a pandemic.

Lehigh Valley Doctors are noticing fewer heart attack and stroke patients in their emergency rooms. But the worry is that people who need treatment are scared to visit.

Governor Tom Wolf plans to partially reopen some parts of the state on May 8. But, PA Post’s Ed Mahon, reports that’s not good enough for some GOP state lawmakers.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has been accused of halting inspections at long-term care facilities during the coronavirus outbreak.

Many Lehigh Valley first responders are finding new ways to stay safe and keep working through the pandemic.

With more people working long hours from home, some doctors say there could be negative impacts on your physical health. WLVR’s Staci Inez reports.

The national guard is stepping in to help shore up a staffing shortage at Northampton County’s nursing home following a serious outbreak at the facility.

Pennsylvania hospitals may be able to resume elective procedures and surgeries in the near future.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania's governor is calling for mandated race and ethnicity data collection in COVID-19 cases across the state. That’s because…

Stimulus checks are popping up in mailboxes and bank accounts across the Lehigh Valley. Although some may be tempted to splurge — WLVR’s Brittany Sweeney spoke to a financial expert about smart ways to make it last.

The Lehigh Valley will not be among the first areas of the state to reopen next month. Governor Tom Wolf outlined more details on the plan for Pennsylvania on Wednesday, April 22 and as WLVR’s Tyler Pratt reports, it will move forward in three phases: red, yellow and green.