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.
August 21, 2024
Health News
U.S. fertility rate continued downward trend in 2023, CDC data shows
The U.S. birth rate declined in 2023 compared with the previous year, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday, continuing a downward trend that began in 2007.August 21, 2024
Women's Health
Even smoking once a day shortly before pregnancy increases risk of serious health issues for newborns
There is no safe level of smoking in the months before pregnancy, new research shows. Smoking even one or two cigarettes a day in the months leading up to pregnancy – or during pregnancy – significantly increases the risk of severe health problems in newborns, researchers found.August 20, 2024
Depression
Consuming vinegar each day may help your mood, study finds
Consuming two tablespoons of red wine vinegar twice a day for four weeks significantly improved self-reported depression scores in a group of overweight adults who were otherwise healthy, a new study from the University of Arizona suggests.August 16, 2024
Mental Health
ASMR is still an internet sensation, and studies suggest it may help with anxiety
ASMR, a 'flow-like' mental state that some people say they experience when listening to sounds like whispering, paper crinkling or fingers tapping, has been linked to reduced anxiety and stress. More research on its health benefits are needed, but after nearly two decades, it's clear the trend isn't going away.August 15, 2024
Health Insurance
For the first time, Medicare negotiates prices on 10 drugs that treat diabetes, heart failure and other conditions
Medicare released its first set of negotiated drug prices on Thursday. The new sticker prices on 10 prescriptions medications used for diabetes, heart failure and other health conditions, would have saved the program $6 billion if they were in effect in 2023. They take effect Jan. 1, 2026.August 14, 2024
Children's Health
'Slapped cheek' disease is on the rise. Here's how the seasonal illness spreads and is treated
Parvovirus B19 infections, also known as 'slapped cheek' or fifth disease, are on the rise, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns. The respiratory illness is usually mild, and can cause a facial rash in children. But it can be dangerous for pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.August 13, 2024
Women's Health
Most pregnant women do not drink enough water, study finds
About two-thirds of pregnant women in the United States do not drink the recommended 8 to 12 cups of water per day, a new Penn State University study finds. Most women are unaware of the recommendations, too. Dehydration can lead to serious health conditions, including premature labor and low birth weight.August 13, 2024
Mental Health
FDA's denial of using ecstasy in PTSD treatment means push for therapy may move to states, advocate says
The Food and Drug Administration denied approval of a therapy using MDMA – also known as ecstasy and molly – to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. The decision means momentum for the use of psychedelics in behavioral health may now come from the state level, an expert said.August 2, 2024
Prevention
How to select an effective bug spray – with or without DEET
Choosing a safe and effective insect repellent can be challenging due to the many products on the market. The EPA considers products with DEET safe, if used according to instructions. But there are effective alternatives, including bug sprays containing picaridin and PMD.August 1, 2024
Healthy Eating
Eating processed red meat linked to higher risk for Alzheimer's disease
People who ate 1/4 servings or more of processed red meat daily had a 14% higher risk of dementia than those who ate less than 1/10 of a serving every day, new research found. But swapping out one daily serving of processed red meat for one serving of nuts and legumes was linked to a 20% lower risk of developing dementia.Just In
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