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.
December 27, 2024
Adult Health
Anti-hangover drinks claim to dull the effects of a night out, but there's little evidence they actually work
Drinks that promise to prevent or cure hangovers have proliferated in recent years, but there's little research to suggest these products actually work, says Dr. Caroline McWilliams, medical director of Recovery Centers of America at Devon. She says these products, which don't require FDA approval, may 'do more hard than good'December 25, 2024
Mental Health
A cluttered house increases stress levels; here's how to get your home in order after the holidays
Clutter, which tends to accumulate at the holidays, particularly in the form of gifts, has been linked to increased stress and can impede the brain's ability to focus, among other adverse effects. Decluttering one's home not only streamlines day-to-day life, but also helps people maintain good mental health.December 24, 2024
Healthy Eating
FDA upgrades its definition of 'healthy' food for first time in 3 decades
The Food and Drug Administration has revised its definition of what foods can be labeled as 'healthy' by manufacturers. The changes – the first in 30 years – require foods contain certain amounts of food from essential food groups like fruits, vegetables and whole grains while also limiting saturated fats, added sugars and sodium.December 24, 2024
Wellness
Long, hot showers can damage your skin; here's how to keep it healthy
Cold weather makes it tempting to take long, hot showers, but doing so can damage the skin's protective barrier and make hair brittle, experts say. To avoid dryness, take shorter, lukewarm baths and showers. Moisturize skin immediately after bathing, and use fragrance-free cleansers, dermatologists say.December 23, 2024
Mental Health
Holiday gatherings can be stressful; here are 5 easy hacks to stay calm
Here are five easy exercises to reduce anxiety and calm yourself at the holidays. They include diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, mantras, simple stretches and a countdown exercise.December 19, 2024
Adult Health
Sleep apnea may be linked to brain changes that cause Alzheimer's disease
Sleep apnea may cause brain changes that are linked to Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, new research shows. Researchers found people with lower nighttime blood oxygen levels had more evidence of damage to small blood vessels in the brain, a contributing risk factor to Alzheimer's.December 18, 2024
Volunteering
Abington teen starts 'little library' to help children of people experiencing homelessness and addiction
Amelia Fletcher reads books to children of people experiencing homelessness and addiction in Kensington every Saturday as part of her volunteering efforts with The Everywhere Project, a harm reduction group. She started a 'little library' this fall after observing children waiting in line with adults for food, clothing and harm reduction supplies.December 17, 2024
Addiction
Fewer teens are using alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana than before the pandemic
The percentage of teens who use alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana has dropped significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, the latest Monitoring the Future study shows. The percentage of teens who use e-cigarettes also continues to fall, but the use of nicotine pouches is increasing.December 13, 2024
Addiction
The drop in overdose deaths may be the result of more veterinary tranquilizers – and less fentanyl – in street drugs
Bags of dope in Philadelphia contain a lower percentage of fentanyl and a.higher percentage of animal tranquilizers in recent months. This shift has lead to more intense sedation and withdrawal, and also may account for a decline in drug overdose deaths, people close to the local drug scene say.December 11, 2024
Prevention
Self-testing option for cervical cancer screening endorsed by U.S. health panel
Women 30 and older should be given an option to self-test for cervical cancer, draft recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force say. In July, the FDA approved two tests that allow people to self-collect cervical samples for HPV, an infection responsible for most cervical cancer cases. Women 21 to 29 should still get a Pap smear every three years.Just In
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