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 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
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 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 20, 2025
Wellness
Napping has many health benefits, but only if it is done right
There are many benefits to napping — research shows naps can make up for lost sleep, boost cardiovascular health, help lower blood pressure, increase alertness and improve mood. But sleeping for too long during the day or too late in the afternoon can backfire.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.June 19, 2025
Parenting
How children use screens matters more than how much time they spend on them
The amount of screen time children receive matters less than how they use screens, a new study shows. How children engage with the screens — and whether they show signs of compulsion, distress or loss of control — has a greater impact on mental health outcomes and suicidal behaviors, the research shows.Just In
- Becoming an expert birdwatcher may help protect the brain from aging
- Philly's new youth-run thrift store lets teens use clothing to explore their identities
- Ocean County car crash leaves 3 dead, 1 in hospital
- Numerous people with Philly ties appear in the Epstein files. Here are the ones facing fallout
- Report: Eagles asking price for A.J. Brown is 'too high'
- Joel Embiid out for Sixers-Celtics on Sunday and at least two more games with right oblique strain
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