Brittany Sweeney
Health and wellness reporterI’m LehighValleyNews.com’s health and wellness reporter and also host “Living in the Lehigh Valley,” PBS39's health and wellness show. I have covered health-related topics for Lehigh Valley Public Media, contributing to PBS39 and 91.3 WLVR, since 2018. Winning the 2020 Emmy Award for Video Journalist is something I am proud of accomplishing while working for Lehigh Valley Public Media. I grew up in Montgomery County and I'm passionate about telling compelling stories in my home state of Pennsylvania. I'm a graduate of Temple University (go Owls!) and spent most of my career working as an anchor and reporter for NBC affiliates in Northeast Pennsylvania and Ohio. When I'm not covering news around the Lehigh Valley, I can be found exploring the great outdoors with my family. Contact me at BrittanyS@lehighvalleynews.com or 610-984-8170.
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The inflation Reduction Act went into effect this year, which caps the price of 10 prescription drugs for Medicare recipients at $35 per month. Now, Congresswoman Susan Wild is talking about a few more bills to make medications more affordable. -
Christmas tree, oh dusty Christmas tree: how dirty are those branches and how do you clean it? A pulmonologist settles the debate of whether a real or fake tree is better for your health.
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A medical device component company is expanding in the Lehigh Valley. The Palmer Township operation is opening a new facility and adding more positions.
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The local health systems in the Lehigh Valley say cases of respiratory viruses are on the rise. Doctors are reminding people to get updated vaccinations weeks before holiday gatherings.
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The Lehigh Valley is the focus of the Pennsylvania's health insurance marketplace as open enrollment is underway. According to data, the area is home to a large number of people who are uninsured.
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Share a meal, not a virus: Here's a few ways to stop the spread of disease at your holiday gatheringHoliday season is a time of gathering, but indoor get-togethers can be a place where viruses thrive. The CDC and a local pulmonologist have some tips to keep the air moving in your home and the stop illnesses in their tracks.
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A bake sale in Bethlehem Friday will raise money for children fighting cancer. Proceeds will go to the organization Cookies for Kids' Cancer.
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A new robotics center is now open at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital in Center Valley. The Fleming Center for Robotics in Rehabilitation opened Thursday thanks to a significant gift from the Fleming Foundation.
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Lung cancer screening and prevention was the topic of a health event held by Olympus Corp. of the Americas. The Center Valley-based company partnered with the American Lung Association for the educational engagement.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 98 million people are living with prediabetes and they may not know it. The CDC is launching a campaign called “Be Your Own Hero” to help people determine if they have prediabetes with a one-minute online risk test.
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‘Tis the season for fresh fruits and veggies. This time of year farm stands pop up across the Lehigh Valley, but is there nutritional value to eating locally-grown produce? People from around the area weighed in about the benefits.
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Around 53-hundred mail carriers were attacked by dogs last year, according to the United States Postal Service. Pennsylvania is 4th on the list of top dog bites among postal workers.
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The smoke may be clearing, but anxiety from the eerie event may stick with us. A Lehigh Valley therapist has some ways to get past the uneasy feelings left behind after this week's smoke-filled skies.
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Lehigh Carbon Community College is now offering an accelerated program to get nursing students to a higher degree faster. The program is offered through a partnership with an online institution.
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Smoke from wildfires in Canada can be seen and smelled in much of the northeast, including the Lehigh Valley. Local pulmonologists are weighing in with what to do to avoid too much exposure.
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Those hitting the public pools in Allentown should do so safety says the city’s special events coordinator. Officials there want pool patrons to keep a few things in mind this summer season.
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A local amputee support group continues to connect those who have lost a limb and raise money for other amputees. The Lehigh Valley Amputee Support Group held its 17th Annual Golf Tournament Friday.
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The Burn Prevention Network and Lehigh Valley Health Network educate parents about burn and fire risks to their children. What was once a packet of information will now be a video will be shown to those with newborns.
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The mobile stroke unit at Lehigh Valley Health Network is expanding its reach with a new partnership. The specialized ambulance will now assist first responders in part of Berks County with neurological emergencies.
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A housing facility for inmates with severe mental illness is now open in Northampton County. The Shiloh Restoration Center will have 8-beds and provide mental and behavioral health support.
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A new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General warns of the harmful effects social media can have on the well-being of kids and teens. A psychologist from the University of Pennsylvania has advice for parents.
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A Lehigh Valley author is releasing a new self-help book on anxiety. He said he saw the need for more information on the topic following the pandemic.
