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 28, 2024
Adult Health
Daily marijuana use greatly increases risk of heart attack and stroke, study finds
Daily marijuana use is associated with a 42% increased likelihood of stroke and a 25% increased risk of heart attack when compared with people who did not use the drug, a new study published by the American Heart Association found. Even less frequent use of cannabis was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events.February 27, 2024
Mental Health
Nonbinary people have higher rates of eating disorders, underscoring need for inclusive treatment environments
LGBTQ+ people are more likely to be diagnosed with an eating disorder than their cisgender counterparts, research shows. And LGBTQ+ youth who have had eating disorders are nearly four times more likely to attempt suicide than those who have never had an eating disorder. Mental health professionals say safe and inclusive treatment environments are key to helping people recover.February 23, 2024
Adult Health
The physical therapist shortage hurts underserved communities and may worsen the addiction crisis
The nationwide shortages of physical therapists is causing longer wait times for appointments and may be depriving people of a non-pharmaceutical way to manage pain – especially critical as the addiction crisis deepens across the United States. A bill reintroduced to Congress aims to attract more people to the field by reimbursing student loans in return for work in approved underserved and/or rural areas.February 23, 2024
Prevention
Regular lung cancer screenings can help catch other diseases early, too
Temple's Healthy Chest Initiative offers a way for people to get simultaneously screened for various chest conditions during their annual lung cancer screening – to potentially catch multiple diseases early when treatment may still be viable. These conditions include COPD, heart disease, osteoporosis and emphysema.February 21, 2024
Health News
Parents at Port Richmond school receive letter warning of mpox infection
Students at Richmond Elementary School in Philadelphia may have had a low-level exposure to mpox, also known as monkeypox, the city's public health department said. A letter was sent to parents and guardians this week, alerting them of the situation.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.Just In
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