Courtenay Harris Bond
Courtenay Harris Bond is the staff writer covering health for PhillyVoice. She enjoys writing about behavioral health, maternal health and inequities in the healthcare system, as well as human rights and criminal justice. A veteran daily newspaper reporter, Courtenay has also written for national outlets, including KFF Health News, Undark Magazine and Filter. She was a 2018 Rosalynn Carter Fellow for Mental Health Journalism and has master's degrees from Columbia Journalism School and the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education.
September 11, 2025
Adult Health
People who have trouble sleeping may be at higher risk for dementia, study shows
People with chronic insomnia are 40% more likely to develop dementia than people without insomnia, according to a study published in the journal Neurology.September 10, 2025
Health News
U.S. death rate falls to lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic, CDC report says
The United States death rate in 2024 was the lowest it has been since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to a new CDC report. Heart disease and cancer were the leading causes of death, with suicide replacing COVID as the 10th leading cause of death.September 9, 2025
Mental Health
People with behavioral health disorders often marry spouses with the same conditions, study finds
Couples are likely to share diagnoses for a wide range of behavioral health conditions, including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, substance use disorder and autism, a new study shows.September 9, 2025
Illness
Many people with diabetes don't realize they have it, study shows
An estimated 44% of people ages 15 and older with type 2 diabetes worldwide don't realize they have the disease, a study in The Lancet shows. Diagnosis is key to preventing complications.September 5, 2025
Mental Health
Are the Sunday scaries ruining your weekends? Here's how to cope
Anticipatory anxiety about the coming work week, known as the Sunday scaries, is common. But there are ways to combat this form of anxiety and depression, including meditation and relaxation techniques.September 4, 2025
Children's Health
Nicotine pouch makers should use childproof packaging, FDA advises
The FDA is calling on manufacturers of nicotine pouches to use childproof packaging. Accidental poisonings from nicotine pouch ingestions in young children have spiked in recent years.September 4, 2025
Prevention
Pennsylvania eliminates barrier to getting updated COVID-19 shots, but confusion over vaccine policy persists
Pennsylvania pharmacists no longer need to follow CDC guidelines when administering COVID-19 shots. Instead, the Board of Pharmacy ruled they can rely on guidance from the medical organizations like the AAP, AAFP and AAOG.September 4, 2025
Adult Health
Scrolling on your phone in the bathroom may increase your risk of hemorrhoids
People who use their smartphones while on the toilet are nearly 50% more likely to develop hemorrhoids, new research shows.September 3, 2025
Prevention
An over-the-counter nasal spray may protect against COVID-19, study says
Azelastine nasal spray, commonly used to treat seasonal allergies, also may offer protection against COVID-19, a new study shows. But researchers warn it should not be used as a replacement for vaccination. More studies are needed.September 2, 2025
Mental Health
Most college freshmen feel homesick – recognizing this is the first step toward coping with it
Starting college can stir homesickness and anxiety. Students who show up for events, sign up for activities and stay on campus in the first several weeks have the best chance of overcoming homesickness, experts say.Just In
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