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.
June 27, 2024
Adult Health
Taking multivitamins does not decrease risk of death, new research shows
A study that analyzed data from nearly 400,000 healthy U.S. adults over a 20-year period found no link between multivitamin use and lower risk of death from any disease, including heart disease and cancer.June 26, 2024
Illness
Dengue fever is a rising threat in the United States, CDC warns
Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness, is a rising threat in the United States, the CDC warned Tuesday. The 9.7 million cases reported in the Americas this year already have doubled the total from all of 2023. Puerto Rico has declared a public health emergency, and the number of cases seen in U.S. travelers is higher than expected.June 26, 2024
Health News
FDA warns Horsham-based Bimbo Bakeries USA to stop 'misbranding' products
The Food and Drug Administration has warned Bimbo Bakeries, a top international bakery company with U.S. headquarters in Horsham, Pennsylvania, to stop using allergen labeling on products when they don't actually contain allergens.June 25, 2024
Health News
U.S. surgeon general declares gun violence a public health crisis. A specialist on child victims weighs in
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy on Tuesday declared gun violence to be a public health emergency. A Philadelphia health advocate hopes that move will lead to more resources for programs that work with child victims of firearm-related violence in the city.June 20, 2024
Addiction
Philly's 'dope' is ever changing, and that poses challenges for health care workers on the front lines
Philadelphia's drug supply is ever changing. 'Dope' bags now contain less fentanyl and greater amounts of xylazine, experts say. These changes create constant challenges for front-line health care workers treating overdoses and managing patients experiencing withdraw or wounds tied to drug use.June 20, 2024
Mental Health
When the weather gets hot, tempers also tend to flare
Heat makes people vulnerable to intense emotions and irritability, which can make them more likely to engage in impulsive behaviors. Heat waves increase anxiety, irritability and aggression, leading to more violence and crime, research shows. But people can take steps to reduce feelings agitated by heat.June 19, 2024
Fitness
When exercising in hot weather, hydration and other precautions are critical to avoiding heat-related illnesses
Exercising in extremely hot weather can lead to heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. To ensure safety and improve athletic performance, a Philadelphia physical therapist advises people to acclimate themselves, hydrate, replenish electrolytes, and cool off afterward.June 18, 2024
Children's Health
To reduce childhood obesity, U.S. task force advises intensive counseling
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends children and adolescents with obesity receive behavioral interventions, including counseling on goal-setting and problem-solving, and supervised exercise sessions. It did not recommend the use of weight-loss drugs like Wegovy, saying more research is needed on their long-term effects.June 13, 2024
Health News
EPA warns of unhealthy air quality levels in Philly region on Friday
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is warning vulnerable groups to limit outdoor activities Friday due to high temperatures and humidity and unhealthy air pollution levels in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties.June 13, 2024
Health Stories
A nurse learned she was pregnant and had MS on the same day. An advanced therapy helps her thrive
Shanel Gamboa, a nurse with Lehigh Valley Health Network, learned she was pregnant and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis on the same day. Doctors used to recommend that women with MS not get pregnant, but new treatments now allow them to safely control the illness while they are expecting.Just In
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