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.
April 11, 2024
Caregiving
High caregiving costs have many Americans claiming their parents as dependents on their tax returns
More than half of adults 25 and older are claiming their parents as dependents on their 2023 tax returns, according to a new survey from Caring.com. Out of the survey respondents, 35% said that they were overwhelmed by their parents' medical expenses or debt. Additionally, 35% said they were supporting their parents financially because their parents couldn't afford senior living or care costs.April 10, 2024
Prevention
Social barriers prevent many women from getting regular mammograms
About one-third of women ages 50-74 facing at least three social barriers do not get regular mammograms, a new CDC study finds. Barriers include social isolation, life dissatisfaction, job loss, a lack of health insurance and transportation limitations. Women are recommended to get a mammogram every other year beginning at age 40.April 10, 2024
Women's Health
A new UTI vaccine shows promise in preventing recurrent infections
A new urinary tract infection vaccine may offer an alternative to antibiotic treatment for recurrent UTIs, according to new research. The oral spray kept more than half of the participants in a study infection-free for nine years. The participants had previously suffered from repeated UTIs.April 9, 2024
Prevention
Blood clots are common and can be deadly, but many Americans don't know enough about the risks
Deep vein thrombosis – a blood clot that occurs in deep veins – can break off and travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, causing a blockage called a pulmonary embolism – which can be fatal. A blood clot prevention bill from U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester aims to raise national awareness about DVT/PE, and create more action and advocacy for its prevention.April 4, 2024
Illness
Eggs are safe to eat during the bird flu outbreak – as long as they're prepared properly
Cal-Maine Foods – the largest egg producer in the United States – detected avian influenza at one of its facilities in Texas. Health agencies say eggs are safe to eat as long as they are properly cooked. Eggs from infected chickens are very unlikely to wind up in the retail market. Proper storage and preparation of eggs further reduces the risk of contracting avian influenza.April 3, 2024
Adult Health
How often should you replace your kitchen sponge? Probably more often than you do
Kitchen sponges provide the perfect environment for bacteria growth. One study found they are among the dirtiest household items, up there with doorknobs and toilets. Health experts recommend replacing them at least once a week and and explain how to sanitize them in between.April 3, 2024
Children's Health
Later bedtimes, irregular sleep habits linked to lower grades for high school students, study finds
High school students who go to bed later – or get up later – have fewer classes in which they earn As, according to a study by Stony Brook University researchers. Those who get up later also are at higher risk of being suspended or expelled. Students with inconsistent sleep patterns have a higher chance of earning Ds than those with consistent sleep patterns. And those who vary the number of hours they sleep a night earn fewer As.April 3, 2024
Adult Health
Temple eye doctor explains the dangers of looking at the sun during an eclipse
An ophthalmology professor at Temple University explains the dangers of looking at the sun without proper safety glasses during an eclipse, saying you could 'end up with a small blind spot where you've burned a hole or burned a scar into the retina.'April 2, 2024
Addiction
Vaping increases risk of heart failure by nearly 20%, study suggests
A new study found that people who used e-cigarettes at any point were 19% more likely to develop heart failure compared to people who had never used them. The research is the latest to suggest that vaping may cause similar effects on lung and cardiovascular function as smoking.March 29, 2024
Health News
Bird flu has infected U.S. dairy cows for the first time, but the risk to the public is low, health officials say
Dairy cows on farms in Kansas, Texas and possibly Kansas have tested positive for avian influenza. It's the first time the virus has been found in cattle in the U.S. but health officials say the risk to the public is low. The milk supply is safe to drink because it is pasteurized. The virus also hasn't changed in a way that makes transmission to humans likely.Just In
- Two Robbers to close the Lodge, its South Philly bar and restaurant
- Camden County bridge closes for 3 months to undergo repairs
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- Assisted living facility in South Jersey evacuated after van crash sparks fire
- Philly's parallel parking contest will showcase drivers' skills. Its organizers hope it also spurs better etiquette
- Report: Phillies trade for lefty reliever Brooks Raley
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