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.
February 27, 2025
Health Stories
Ahead of her Philly show, Kathy Griffin opens up about her battles with cancer, addiction and PTSD
Kathy Griffin has was ostracized, investigated, and lost friends and work after posting a satirical photo of herself with a Donald Trump mask in 2017. She since has beaten lung cancer, been diagnosed with PTSD and gone into recovery for addiction. Now she's back on stage, with a March 15 stop in Philadelphia on her new stand-up tour.February 27, 2025
Adult Health
Traumatic brain injuries may one day be treated with a nasal spray
Immediately treating traumatic brain injuries with a nasal spray could be a game-changer for athletes and other people who suffer head injuries. A nasal spray tested on mice with TBIs improved their motor function, coordination and spatial memory. Its next step is human trials.February 27, 2025
Mental Health
The key to happiness? Don't strive for it
The happiness paradox is that the more people chase happiness, the more unhappy they get. A new study suggests this is because seeking happiness drains the same mental resources as self-control, making people susceptible to self-destructive behavior.February 26, 2025
Parenting
Babies are breastfed longer when their dads take parental leave
Fathers who took two or more weeks of parental leave were 31% more likely to report that their infants were still being breastfed at 8 weeks old, according to a new study. They support breastfeeding by providing hands-on care – feeding babies expressed milk, burping them and rocking them to sleep.February 25, 2025
Children's Health
Most infant formula in the U.S. contains a high amount of added sugars
The majority of infant formula in the United States has high amounts of added sugars. Health experts recommend infants have no added sugar. That means most infant formula is a health risks to infants, a recent study says.February 20, 2025
Wellness
'Detox' foot pads claim to rid the body of toxins, but health experts are skeptical
Many detox foot pad products on the market claim to draw toxins out of the body through the feet, proven by a color change when people take them off. But the darker color is most likely just a reaction between sweat and vinegar, health experts say.February 20, 2025
Adult Health
In Kensington, integrated medical care can have a 'huge' impact on HIV transmission
The Sana Clinic in Kensington integrates HIV treatment and other medical services, offering low-barrier access to people who are homeless and those who use drugs. It has more than 30 patients receiving antiretroviral shots – and all of them now have undetectable viral loads that prevent them from transmitting the virus.February 20, 2025
Mental Health
Suicides by guns are far more prevalent in the U.S. than elsewhere in the world
The United States has the highest number of firearm-related suicides in the world, a new study shows. From 1990 to 2021, 55% of suicides in the U.S. by men were with guns, compared to 10% across the globe. Among women, 31% of suicides in the U.S. involved guns, but only 3% globally did.February 18, 2025
Adult Health
'Smart pajamas' can detect sleep disorder symptoms, researchers say
Smart pajamas with sensors in the fabric track symptoms of common sleep disorders. The data can be uploaded to a smartphone or computer, helping people track their own sleep patterns and allowing them to share the information with health providers.February 13, 2025
Addiction
Weight-loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy help people drink less and smoke fewer cigarettes, new research finds
A new study suggests semaglutide – branded as Ozempic and Wegovy – curbs cravings for alcohol and helps people drink less. People also smoked significantly fewer cigarettes when receiving injections of the weight loss drugs. More research about the potential for semaglutide to treat alcohol use disorder is needed, the researchers said.Just In
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