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 22, 2026
Adult Health
Colorectal cancer is now the top cause of cancer death among young adults
Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death among people under 50, a new report finds. Death rates among young adults have been steadily rising for years as deaths from breast cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer and leukemia have fallen among young adults.January 22, 2026
Fitness
Physical activity can extend your life, but varying your exercises is particularly beneficial
People who vary their workouts between different forms of exercise are less likely to die early than people who stick to the same type of physical activity, new research suggests.January 21, 2026
Addiction
Risk of gambling addiction is higher in people whose family members have betting problems
People who have family members or friends with gambling problems are at higher risk of developing a gambling problem, too, new research shows. The findings show that gambling problems run in families, just as alcohol and drug addictions do, the researchers say.January 21, 2026
Senior Health
'Super agers' have genetic advantages against Alzheimer's disease
'Super agers' — people 80 and older whose memories function as if they were decades younger — are less likely to have a gene the increases risk to Alzheimer's disease and more likely to have one that seemingly offers protection, new research from Vanderbilt University shows.January 21, 2026
Prevention
Sweating it out in saunas has a variety of physical and mental health benefits
Sweating it out in saunas offers an array of benefits from improved cardiovascular health to reduced stress. But people who are pregnant or have medical conditions should consult a health care provider before use.January 20, 2026
Illness
Why do colds cause the sniffles in some people and severe illness in others?
Why does the common cold cause a range in health outcomes? An early immune response in the body, rather than the virus itself, causes the common cold to be weak or severe, new research shows.January 15, 2026
Health News
Philly conducts a homeless count each year. Here's why it's held in January, despite some drawbacks
Philadelphia's point-in-time count is held each January, because it offers a fairly precise look at the number of people experiencing homelessness in the city. But it underestimates the number because it does not take into account people who are living in vacant apartments, abandoned buildings and cars, among other factors.January 14, 2026
Depression
Sleeping in on weekends may benefit teenagers' mental health
Teenagers who uses the weekends to catch up on sleep deficits have a lower risk of developing depression, new research shows.January 14, 2026
Health News
New autistic Barbie may help some children feel more included and valued, experts say
Mattel unveiled its new autistic Barbie doll earlier this week. Reaction from advocates and consumers has been mixed, with some praising it as a step toward inclusion and others scrutinizing its accessories.January 14, 2026
Mental Health
Frequent online shopping is tied to higher stress levels, study shows
People who spend more time online shopping and scrolling social media have higher stress levels than those who spend more time reading news online and checking emails, new research shows.Just In
- Joel Embiid out for Sixers-Celtics on Sunday and at least two more games with right oblique strain
- Joel Embiid misses Sixers practice after reporting ‘increased soreness’ in right side
- Picky eating starts in the womb – here's how to expand your child's palate
- Free Library picks 'Our Missing Hearts' for this year's One Book, One Philadelphia reading program
- Voters to weigh in on longstanding rule requiring Philly elected officials to resign before running for a new office
- SEPTA awards contract for residential development at Ambler Station
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