Profile

Oct 31, 2023

About

Lauren Portier is a Health and Wellness Reporter for Cleveland 13 News, specializing in making complex medical research accessible and actionable for Northeast Ohio. A frequent collaborator with the Cleveland Clinic, she excels at finding the human angle in health science, from breaking down mental health breakthroughs to investigating the latest in nutrition and longevity. Passionate about evidence-based storytelling, Lauren provides the Cleveland community with the clear, vetted insights they need to take charge of their well-being and live healthier lives.

Recent Stories (52)

Apr 23, 2026 ∙ 3 min

New Theory Suggests Dreams Are the Brain's Defense Against Going Blind

A provocative neuroscience theory argues that dreams are more than strange stories: They may be a nightly defense that keeps the brain’s visual cortex from being “taken over” when darkness shuts down sight. Researchers point to rapid sensory rewiring in blindfolded subjects and patterns across primate REM sleep to suggest dreaming helps protect visual processing power.

Mar 20, 2026 ∙ 2 min

Nearly 90,000 Bottles of Children’s Ibuprofen Recalled Nationwide Due to Foreign Material

Nearly 90,000 bottles of Children’s Ibuprofen Oral Suspension are being recalled after consumers reported finding a gel-like mass and small black particles inside. The FDA has upgraded the action to a Class II recall, citing possible temporary or medically reversible health effects. Parents are urged to check lot numbers and stop using affected bottles.

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Mar 17, 2026 ∙ 2 min

Seven Hills Unveils Renovated Fire Station with Specialized Sleep Quarters

Seven Hills has reopened its renovated fire station, featuring specialized sleeping quarters designed with University Hospitals Parma Sleep Medicine Center standards. City leaders say the upgrades, including expanded locker rooms, a new training room and remodeled kitchen, will modernize the aging facility and support the department’s ability to retain staff while serving roughly 11,000 residents.

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Mar 11, 2026 ∙ 3 min

Cleveland and Shaker Heights Separated by 23-Year Life Expectancy Gap

Cleveland’s younger median age hides a grim reality: many residents are not living long enough to raise the city’s average. Public health data shows life expectancy lagging the nation, with striking gaps by gender and ZIP code. The “Shaker Gap” highlights a 23-year difference just miles apart, shaped by historic redlining and ongoing barriers to healthy food and housing.

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