Health & Wellness News

This week, Megan Frank is joined by Allentown reporter Jason Addy and health reporter Brittany Sweeney.

A seizure survivor breaks her self-harm silence to raise awareness, so that others with the condition feel heard.

Drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 4. With the summer season upon us, an Allentown lifeguard instructor is sharing some of the ways they train their team to spot a distressed swimmer as well as an active or passive victim.

Palmer Township has nearly doubled its number of pickleball courts with the opening of six courts at Fairview Park. They're free, lighted and open to the public every day until 10 at night.

The time between Memorial Day to Labor Day is known as the '100 deadliest days,' according to AAA. The traffic safety non-profit says teen driving fatalities increase during that time, especially at night.

The Dup15q Alliance is observing 30 years and raising awareness about the rare condition. A mother and advocate shares her family story in her quest for a cure.

A significant amount of infrastructure needs to be “looked at or rebuilt” to get all the city’s water fountains in working order, said Councilwoman Rachel Leon. Only “five or six” out of 19 are operational.

The ribbon was cut Thursday on the new building at a South Whitehall Township senior living community. The complex added nearly 70 new apartments.

Chris Norton, known for his viral videos and Netflix documentary, will speak at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation in Allentown. The Wednesday evening event is free to the public.

True Motion — a German-engineered running shoe — is available for the first time in the United States through an Allentown-area startup, with Keystone Running Store as the first official retailer.

Both major health networks in the Lehigh Valley are on the receiving end of money for their neonatal ICUs. The donations are from the Lehigh Valley Commercial & Industrial Real Estate Foundation.

The Boutique at the Rink cancer fundraising shopping event kicked off its 48th year on Tuesday afternoon. Proceeds from the new and gently used donated clothing, household goods, antiques, toys, sporting equipment and more benefit three organizations serving cancer patients and their families in the Lehigh Valley.

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.

A measles outbreak in Philadelphia has Lehigh Valley health officials on alert. St. Luke’s University Health Network reports that there are no current cases of measles in the Lehigh Valley, but the virus is very contagious.

Emergency calls for house fires increase in the winter months as people spend more time indoors using supplemental heating sources. Four officials say being prepared and having a family fire plan can be the difference between life and death.

Reporter Brittany Sweeney's dishwasher recently caught fire. She tells how a smoke detector and extinguisher made all the difference

A recently released hospital performance report shows a significant increase in hospital mortality rates from 2017 to 2022. The Pennsylvania Health Care Coalition on Cost Containment releases the report each year.

A Muhlenberg College professor has launched a campaign this month to inform residents about the health risks of radon, as well as improve access to testing and mitigation. The Lehigh Valley is home to the highest radon levels ever recorded in Pennsylvania.

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.