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.
July 3, 2024
Prevention
Why doctors recommend sunscreens with SPF 30 or higher
The American Cancer Society recommends people use broad spectrum sunscreens with SPF 30 or higher to prevent skin cancer. Sunscreens with SPF block 97% of ultraviolet rays from reaching the skin. Spending one hour in the sun wearing SPF 30 sunscreen is the same as spending 2 minutes in the sun without sunscreen.July 2, 2024
Prevention
U.S. government awards Moderna $176 million to make bird flu vaccine
Moderna has been awarded $176 million by the U.S. government to develop a bird flu vaccine that can help prevent a pandemic. Avian influenza cases have spread rapidly this spring among dairy cows and also infected three people, officials say. Scientists have long feared a new flu strain sparking a pandemic.July 2, 2024
Depression
Weight gain is a common side effect of antidepressants, but Wellbutrin causes the least, study finds
A study of eight antidepressants found that patients taking Wellbutrin gained the least amount of weight. Those taking Lexapro, Paxil and Cymbalta were more likely to gain at least 5% of their base weight than those using Zoloft, the most commonly prescribed antidepressant.June 27, 2024
Adult Health
Taking multivitamins does not decrease risk of death, new research shows
A study that analyzed data from nearly 400,000 healthy U.S. adults over a 20-year period found no link between multivitamin use and lower risk of death from any disease, including heart disease and cancer.June 26, 2024
Illness
Dengue fever is a rising threat in the United States, CDC warns
Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness, is a rising threat in the United States, the CDC warned Tuesday. The 9.7 million cases reported in the Americas this year already have doubled the total from all of 2023. Puerto Rico has declared a public health emergency, and the number of cases seen in U.S. travelers is higher than expected.June 26, 2024
Health News
FDA warns Horsham-based Bimbo Bakeries USA to stop 'misbranding' products
The Food and Drug Administration has warned Bimbo Bakeries, a top international bakery company with U.S. headquarters in Horsham, Pennsylvania, to stop using allergen labeling on products when they don't actually contain allergens.June 25, 2024
Health News
U.S. surgeon general declares gun violence a public health crisis. A specialist on child victims weighs in
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy on Tuesday declared gun violence to be a public health emergency. A Philadelphia health advocate hopes that move will lead to more resources for programs that work with child victims of firearm-related violence in the city.June 20, 2024
Mental Health
When the weather gets hot, tempers also tend to flare
Heat makes people vulnerable to intense emotions and irritability, which can make them more likely to engage in impulsive behaviors. Heat waves increase anxiety, irritability and aggression, leading to more violence and crime, research shows. But people can take steps to reduce feelings agitated by heat.June 20, 2024
Addiction
Philly's 'dope' is ever changing, and that poses challenges for health care workers on the front lines
Philadelphia's drug supply is ever changing. 'Dope' bags now contain less fentanyl and greater amounts of xylazine, experts say. These changes create constant challenges for front-line health care workers treating overdoses and managing patients experiencing withdraw or wounds tied to drug use.June 19, 2024
Fitness
When exercising in hot weather, hydration and other precautions are critical to avoiding heat-related illnesses
Exercising in extremely hot weather can lead to heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. To ensure safety and improve athletic performance, a Philadelphia physical therapist advises people to acclimate themselves, hydrate, replenish electrolytes, and cool off afterward.Just In
- Ranking the Eagles' 10 best Day 3 picks of the Howie Roseman era
- Pa. Attorney General Dave Sunday signs letter supporting federal PBM transparency rule
- New boozy ice cream shop that's coming to Rittenhouse to offer a spiked water ice sundae
- State awards $2.3 million grant to restore West Fairmount Park's 19th century fountain
- Montgomery County realtor charged with possessing child pornography
- Flyers playoffs: Game 1 vs. Penguins set for Saturday night in Pittsburgh
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