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.
July 3, 2025
Illness
Piled up trash is more than just gross — it's also a public health risk
The piles of trash that are building in Philadelphia — a byproduct of a city workers strike — are not just gross. They're also health risks. Rodents attracted to garbage can spread disease, and breathing gases emitted by rotting plant and animal products can cause respiratory ailments.July 3, 2025
Health News
A couple that tried to get pregnant for 18 years finally conceived with the help of a new AI procedure
An artificial intelligence procedure developed by Columbia University helped a couple conceive after 18 years of trying to get pregnant. The AI program is able to detect viable sperm in the semen of men with azoospermia, a rare type of infertility.July 2, 2025
Adult Health
Don't judge a person's personality based on their tattoos. Research shows you'll likely be wrong
People cannot accurately judge a person's personality based on the content of any tattoos, new research shows. But there is one exception. People with quirky tattoos often are accurately judged as being more open-minded.July 2, 2025
Adult Health
The teeth of many celebrities are bright white and perfectly aligned thanks to veneers
Many celebrities have white, bright, straight teeth in large part thanks to veneers. They are made from porcelain or tooth-colored composite resin and bonded to the front surface of teeth to hide imperfections, including discoloration, chips and gaps. They can cost up to $2,500 per tooth.June 26, 2025
Addiction
Disposable vapes may have higher toxic metal levels than other cigarette products
Flavored disposable vape products are soaring in popularity among young people in the United States, despite being unauthorized. Some of them have higher toxic metal levels than cigarettes and other e-cigarettes, a new study shows.June 26, 2025
Mental Health
Dogs are great for therapy — even when sessions are held virtually
Virtual dog therapy sessions may help reduce stress and may be a way to reach people who are reluctant to seek mental health help in traditional settings, a new study shows. This story also details dog therapy programs in the Philadelphia area.June 25, 2025
Illness
Fewer Americans are dying of heart attacks, but other heart disease fatalities have surged
Heart disease deaths are down overall since the 1970s, a decline spurned by a 90% drop in heart attack fatalities, new research shows. But heart disease remains the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, and other types of heart disease deaths have surged.June 24, 2025
Mental Health
Summertime got you feeling down? Here's how to beat heat-induced blues
Summertime is often associated with happy activities, such as barbecues, beach days and vacations. But some people actually feel more anxious and depressed during the hotter months. They may have summer seasonal affective disorder.June 24, 2025
Adult Health
Nightmares are more than just scary — they may increase the risk of early death
Frequent nightmares are linked to aging faster and premature death, new research suggests. People who have weekly nightmares are more than three times as likely to die before 70. Nightmares also are a stronger predictor of early death than smoking, obesity, lack of exercise and poor diet.June 20, 2025
Adult Health
The way you breathe is unique and can identify you — like your fingerprints
People have unique 'breath prints' that can identify them, much like fingerprints, a new study found. Researchers found they could identify people solely based on their breathing patterns with 97% accuracy. Breathing patterns stay consistent over time and also reveal information about people's physiology.Just In
- Meet Mandy Mango, the second Philly queen to be on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'
- The holidays can mess up the healthiest of habits. Here's how to get back on track
- N.J. bill would write Gov. Murphy's 100% clean electricity goal into law before he leaves office
- In latest World Cup ticket phase, which ends Jan. 13, FIFA says requests are over 30 times higher than supply
- Eagles-Commanders Week 18 injury report, with analysis
- A look ahead at an extremely busy 2026 for sports in Philadelphia
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