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.
January 30, 2025
Addiction
Heavy marijuana use has a 'significant' impact on memory and attention, study finds
Heavy or recent marijuana use hinders the brain's ability to perform tasks that require working memory, new research shows. Researchers found that 63% of heavy users had reduced brain activity when performing a working memory task. The results were similar for 68% of people who had recently used cannabis.January 29, 2025
Illness
Chemotherapy often leaves cancer patients with chronic nerve pain
Stabbing, burning or tingling pain can be chronic in cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy. A new study found that 4 in 10 patients get persistent and severe nerve pain from the cancer treatment.January 29, 2025
Wellness
Laundry stripping removes built-up residue from towels and sheets, but the benefits may not be worth the work
Laundry stripping is labor-intensive, but is effective for heavily-soiled clothes, towels and sheets. But following effective laundry practices should make laundry stripping unnecessary, according to experts.January 28, 2025
Prevention
A new blood test accurately screens for colorectal cancer, researchers say
An experimental blood test for colorectal cancer may be another effective prevention tool, researchers say. The test was more than 80% accurate in detecting colon cancer in people with the disease. If approved, it would be the second blood test for colorectal cancer screening.January 23, 2025
Adult Health
Children whose parents divorce are more likely to have strokes as adults
People whose parents divorced before adulthood are at significantly higher risk for stroke as adults, a new study shows. Americans 65 and older were 61% more likely to have a stroke if their parents had divorced when they were children. Divorce may serve as a catalyst for chronic stress, which elevates risk of stroke.January 23, 2025
Prevention
Winter is the best time to test homes for radon, a natural gas that causes lung cancer
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause lung cancer, and it's particularly prevalent in Pennsylvania due to the high uranium concentration in the soil. People are advised to test the radon levels in their homes. If found at dangerous levels, a mitigation system can be installed.January 22, 2025
Children's Health
Playing sports helps teens perform better in the classroom, study finds
Children who play team sports or participate in artistic sports like dance and gymnastics are more likely to graduate from high school than those who don't, a new study from Canada shows. Boys were 15% more likely to graduate if they played team sports; girls were 7% more likely.January 22, 2025
Adult Health
Ozempic and Wegovy are helping many Americans lose weight, but they also may have other beneficial uses
GLP-1s – weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound and Mounjaro – also may help treat a litany of other health conditions. New research shows they may help reduce the risk of addiction, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, heart disease, psychotic disorders, seizures, and suicide ideation, among other health issues.January 22, 2025
Illness
Philly's first bird flu case is a sick goose, but threat to humans is low, officials say
A snow goose found dead in West Philadelphia on Jan. 11 has tested positive for avian flu. Bird flu is easily transmissible among wild birds and can be contracted by mammals, but the risk to people is low. The current outbreak has caused 67 human cases and one death in the U.S.January 21, 2025
Addiction
New court in Kensington will serve as a pipeline to drug treatment, Mayor Parker says
Philadelphia police now can issue people using drugs in Kensington summary citations. At the Kensington Neighborhood Wellness Court and Wellness Support Center, users who choose treatment will get a medical assessment, be fast-tracked before a judge and diverted to outside programs.Just In
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