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.
March 21, 2024
Health News
After a big drop in COVID-19 deaths, U.S. life expectancy rose for the first time in 2 years
Life expectancy in the U.S. rose to 77.5 years in 2022, according to data released by the CDC. The increase followed a two-year decline driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and drug overdose crisis. In 2022, COVID deaths fell by about 55%. Fatal overdoses remained about the same as 2021. The two leading causes of death were heart disease and cancer.March 20, 2024
Addiction
Shortage of alcohol dependency drug threatens many in recovery – at a time when booze sales are up
The shortage of oral naltrexone, a type of medication-assisted treatment for alcohol dependency, has had a destabilizing effect on people in recovery, a Philadelphia-area addiction specialist says. Naltrexone reduces cravings for alcohol and opioids. Pharmaceutical companies indicate the drug is unavailable due to high demand or an ingredient shortage.March 19, 2024
Healthy Eating
Intermittent fasting may be risky for your heart, new research suggests
Intermittent fasting may increase the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, according to a new study of 20,000 people. Researchers found that people who restricted their eating to eight hours a day had a 91% higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared to those who ate across 12-16 hours per day.March 19, 2024
Illness
U.S. health officials warn of rising global measles outbreaks, emphasizing the need for vaccination
U.S. health officials have issued an alert about a rise in measles outbreaks around the world and are advising parents and caregivers to vaccinate young children against the disease if traveling to countries where there are outbreaks.March 14, 2024
Mental Health
Among female veterans, suicide rates outpace those of male counterparts and women, overall
The suicide rate among women who served in the military rose by 24.1% between 2020 and 2021, nearly four times higher than the 6.3% increase among male veterans and greater than the 2.6% increase among non-veteran women. Contributing to this are are issues like military sexual trauma, intimate partner violence, substance use disorders, pregnancy and menopause, a study found.March 14, 2024
Prevention
Flossing is a must for overall health – no matter how much people hate it, medical experts say
People may hate flossing their teeth, but it is necessary for oral and overall health.March 13, 2024
Wellness
Insomnia drugs could lead to driving and cooking while sleeping, FDA warns
A phenomenon known as complex sleep behaviors – including driving, cooking and eating while sleeping – can result from taking prescription insomnia medications, the Food and Drug Administration warns.March 13, 2024
Illness
New clinical trials to examine treatments for long COVID symptoms
Fast heart rate, dizziness and fatigue are three common symptoms that can plague individuals who suffer from long COVID. The National Institutes of Health will test three possible treatments for a condition that can cause these symptoms just from standing up.March 7, 2024
Wellness
The switch to daylight saving time is unpopular – and unhealthy, experts say
Most Americans want to get rid of time changes, a recent Monmouth University polls shows. But not only is switching from standard time to daylight saving time every March unpopular, it's also unhealthy. Research has shown it leads to increased behavioral health issues, cardiovascular events and traffic fatalities.March 7, 2024
Prevention
Staring at a screen for a long time can strain your eyes, but there are ways to protect them
Stare at computers, smartphones and other screen for long periods can leave people with dry, itchy and irritated eyes, health experts say. To prevent eye strain, the American Optometric Association offers several tips. They include the 20-20-20 rule, lighting adjustments, body positioning and annual eye exams.Just In
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