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.
November 12, 2024
Senior Health
Grandchildren help combat loneliness and improve mental health among older adults
Older adults who frequently see their grandchildren report fewer feelings of isolation and greater mental health, according to the National Poll on Healthy Aging conducted by the University of Michigan. The findings underscore Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy's assertion that relationships can combat the nation's loneliness epidemic.November 7, 2024
Adult Health
Movies are helping scientists map how the brain responds to audio and visual stimulation
Scientists from MIT used movies to better understand how the brain works to recognize faces, process conversations and perform more complex cognitive functions. For the study, researchers used functional MRIs to track the areas of the brain that activated as people watched scenes from 'Home Alone,' 'Inception' and 'The Social Network.'November 7, 2024
Mental Health
Magical thinking is common and often harmless – but it can be problematic, too
Many people experience magical thinking, such as knocking wood to avoid bad luck. But when confusion between thoughts and intentions or actions becomes obsessive, a person should seek help, a Philadelphia mental health expert says. It may be a sign of an anxiety disorder.November 6, 2024
Illness
Nearly 1 in 6 U.S. adults now has diabetes, CDC says
The percentage of U.S. adults with diabetes increased to 16% in 2021-2023 from about 10% in 1990-2000, the CDC says. Most people with diabetes have type 2, a form that can be prevented by eating healthier and exercising more often.November 5, 2024
Healthy Eating
Smoothies can be nutritious, but they also can lead to weight gain
Smoothies are touted as nutritious drinks, but they can be high in calories and added sugars – a recipe for weight gain. The healthiest smoothies have balance protein, fiber and vitamins and limited added sugars and fruits, nutritionists say. Try this recipe for a healthy berry green smoothie.November 5, 2024
Addiction
Menthol cigarette ban would push people toward therapies to quit smoking, study suggests
A menthol cigarette ban would spur many smokers to choose smoking cessation therapies, including nicotine gum and lozenges, new research shows. Menthol cigarette smokers also would be less likely to turn to e-cigarettes, the study found. The FDA has proposed banning menthol cigarettes, but President Joe Biden has not yet acted on it.November 1, 2024
Health Insurance
High deductible health insurance plans have become more popular; here's how to know if one is right for you
High deductible health insurance plans offer lower premiums and can be accompanied by health savings accounts that offer further savings. But the tradeoff is that medical costs tend to be steeper – particularly if unexpected care is needed. One experts says they're best for healthy, wealthy people.October 31, 2024
Children's Health
Teens who get surgery for obesity retain weight-loss reductions 10 years later
Teenagers with obesity who undergo gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy surgeries retain their weight-loss reductions 10 years later, according to study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. They also have a 50% lower incidence of type 2 diabetes.October 31, 2024
Children's Health
At Halloween, CHOP helps families of hospitalized infants celebrate by dressing them in costume
Holidays in the hospital can be hard on families, so CHOP's newborn/infant intensive care unit seeks to bring some joy by helping families mimic the celebrations they would be having at home. At Halloween, the N/IICU dresses babies in costume.October 31, 2024
Mental Health
American voters' tendency to vilify their political opponents is rooted in fear, mental health experts say
Nearly half of American voters view their political opponents as 'downright evil,' Johns Hopkins polling data show. Mental health experts say that sentiment is rooted in fear, distracts from real issues and spurs division between Democrats and Republicans. And it makes respecting someone with a different viewpoint 'nearly impossible.'Just In
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