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 21, 2024
Mental Health
Does the sound of your partner chewing irritate you? You may have misophonia
Does the sound of someone slurping up cereal or chomping on popcorn send you into a rage or make you want to hide under your bed? Then you may have a condition called misophonia – which literally means hatred of sound.February 20, 2024
Prevention
Why you should clean your cell phone regularly – and how to do it
Cleaning your phone can help keep you free of respiratory illnesses like the flu and the common cold, health experts say. But what's the best way to clean your phone without damaging it? The FCC offers some tips.February 16, 2024
Health News
Caught a cold or the flu? Don't take too much Tylenol, FDA warns
Acetaminophen, commonly branded as Tylenol, can cause liver damage or fatal overdose if people take too much of it, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned earlier this month. Adults should limit themselves to 4,000 milligrams each day. Parents should consult the drug's label for dosing information on children.February 15, 2024
Children's Health
Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 during pregnancy gives infants 6 months of protection, study shows
Women who are vaccinated against COVID-19 while pregnant – or receive a booster – give their infants 6 months of protection from the coronavirus after birth, new research shows. That's long enough to protect their babies until they are eligible to receive their own immunizations at 6 months old.February 15, 2024
Health Stories
Dancing can provide a psychological boost – as this Philly-trained artist attests
New research shows dance programs can provide psychological and cognitive health benefits. Brice Johnson, a Philadelphia-bred dance artist who has performed with Madonna and on 'So You Think You Can Dance,' says it can help people fine hope and purpose – and change the way they think about themselves.February 14, 2024
Senior Health
Erectile dysfunction drugs linked to reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease
Viagra, Cialis and other erectile dysfunction drugs may help reduce the risk Alzheimer's disease in men, a new study from University College of London shows. Researchers say ED medications able to cross the blood-brain barrier and may affect brain cell activity. Increased blood flow to the brain may help reduce risk for the dementia form.February 13, 2024
Nonprofits
With grocery prices soaring, this Kensington nonprofit is working to combat food insecurity in Philly
Philadelphia is the poorest big city in America, and in the state with the fastest rising food costs. The Sunday Love Project opened a grocery store, Greater Goods, in Kensington in 2022 that provides free food, paper goods, cleaning and hygiene products to 100 people per day.February 9, 2024
Prevention
Colorectal cancer is on the rise among younger adults – here's when to get a colonoscopy and how to prep for it
Colorectal cancer rates have been rising steadily among adults under 50 since the mid-1990s. Scientists aren't sure why. But screenings are now recommended for most adults beginning at age 45. Preparing for a colonoscopy involves brief dietary changes, a clear-liquid diet the day before and consuming a laxative drink.February 8, 2024
Opioids
As fentanyl increasingly taints cocaine and other stimulants, drug testing strips are needed to save lives, officials say
Fentanyl has long been mixed with heroin, but the lethal opioid is being increasingly mixed with stimulants like cocaine, crack and methamphetamines, health officials say. They say drug testing strips for fentanyl and xylazine, a veterinary tranq, are critical to preventing fatal overdoses among drug users who do not realize their substances are tainted.February 5, 2024
Mental Health
Mild concussions put kids at greater risk for developing depression, anxiety and ADHD, study finds
Children who sustain even mild traumatic brain injuries have a significantly increased risk of developing new mood disorders, like bipolar and depressive disorders, and behavior disorders like ADHD and OCD, a new study finds. The findings point to the need for continued screenings in the years after concussions and other brain injuries, researchers say.Just In
- Joel Embiid ruled out for Sixers-Celtics Game 3
- New Jersey launches website to show how tax dollars are being spent and what programs are funded
- I-95 and I-76 lanes to close for two weeks for bridge cleaning
- Ticket prices for the Flyers' playoff game Saturday rival the cost to attend last year's Stanley Cup Final
- Eagles Round 1 draft grade roundup: USC WR Makai Lemon
- Rob Mac travels back to the 1700s for Ancestry.com commercial
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