Health and Wellness

COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising across much of the Mountain West and nation. This trend mirrors patterns from previous years, but healthcare experts say the U.S. is well-equipped to handle another surge in infections and emergency room visits.

Despite the near- and long-term health implications of breathing wildfire smoke, few wildland firefighters use any sort of respirator on the fireline. A new survey is seeking to better understand attitudes surrounding such safety devices with an eye toward better protecting firefighter health.

Farmers and ranchers in the West are being pressured by rising production costs, increased workloads and extreme weather. No wonder they face higher levels of stress and mental health issues than other Americans.

As Idahoans adjust to the reality of abortion bans, local and national organizations are offering resources to navigate the state’s new confusing legal landscape. What are the legal ramifications of a patient receiving pills from out-of-state and taking them in the privacy of their own home?

The physical demands on wildland firefighters is comparable to what riders in the Tour de France endure. That’s according to recent articles summarizing years of field research with Hotshots and other fire crews.

Four-year-old Otto Bontempo and his family get to participate in therapy together at Smiling Goat Ranch in Carbondale. Interacting with the farm animals and working together with therapists on a variety of activities helps Otto, who has autism and is nonverbal, communicate with people in his life.

In communities like Aspen, outdoor recreation and a resort economy shape the opioid epidemic. Reporter Caroline Llanes looks at one local's journey with opioids and the unique nature of providing addiction services in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Democrats at the statehouse passed historic protections this year for reproductive healthcare. Now, with an influx of out-of-state patients coming to Colorado for care, lawmakers and advocates are crafting a ballot measure to amend the state constitution.

A new analysis from Climate Central shows that summer temperatures have risen steadily across the United States over the last half century, a trend that’s even sharper in the American West. The report chalks up much of the blame to climate change, but a researcher says that in urban areas the built environment can also play a huge role in temperature jumps.

Protestors want Gov. Jared Polis to sign an executive order banning all guns in the state and implementing a gun buy-back program. Polis said such an order would be unconstitutional.