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 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.March 28, 2024
Mental Health
Happiness levels have fallen in the U.S., and though Americans say therapy has benefits, many aren't receiving it
Though most Americans say they would feel comfortable sharing that they were in therapy, and acknowledge its benefits, less than 1 in 4 are currently receiving it, according to a survey commissioned by mental health care provider Thriveworks. The results come after the 2024 World Happiness Report showed happiness levels in the U.S. have dropped.March 28, 2024
Depression
AI can detect depression in white people based on their social media posts – but not in Black people, Penn study finds
Artificial intelligence models developed to detect depression by analyzing the language a person uses on Facebook can accurately identify the mental health condition in white people, but often miss it in Black people, according to the findings of a study conducted by Penn Medicine. The results underscore the need for caution when using the technology in mental health care – so racial disparities are not perpetuated, researchers say.March 27, 2024
Prevention
New drug protects people with weakened immune systems from COVID-19
Pemgarda, a monoclonal antibody infusion therapy intended to protect people who are immunocompromised from COVID-19, has been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The prophylactic treatment is for people who may not develop sufficient resistance to COVID-19 after vaccination because they have medical conditions that weaken their immune system.March 26, 2024
Illness
Hospital patients are commonly misdiagnosed with pneumonia – to the detriment of their health, study finds
As many as 1 in 8 patients treated for pneumonia in hospitals are misdiagnosed, leading to poor medical outcomes and contributing to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, a new study suggests. Researchers say older adults, people with dementia and those with cognitive disorders are most likely to be misdiagnosed.March 21, 2024
Health News
After a big drop in COVID-19 deaths, U.S. life expectancy rose for the first time in 2 years
Life expectancy in the U.S. rose to 77.5 years in 2022, according to data released by the CDC. The increase followed a two-year decline driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and drug overdose crisis. In 2022, COVID deaths fell by about 55%. Fatal overdoses remained about the same as 2021. The two leading causes of death were heart disease and cancer.March 21, 2024
Illness
A common mouth bacteria is linked to colorectal cancer, a new study says
A common type of bacteria found in the mouth can travel to the colon and speed the growth of malignant tumors, according to new research.March 20, 2024
Addiction
Shortage of alcohol dependency drug threatens many in recovery – at a time when booze sales are up
The shortage of oral naltrexone, a type of medication-assisted treatment for alcohol dependency, has had a destabilizing effect on people in recovery, a Philadelphia-area addiction specialist says. Naltrexone reduces cravings for alcohol and opioids. Pharmaceutical companies indicate the drug is unavailable due to high demand or an ingredient shortage.March 19, 2024
Healthy Eating
Intermittent fasting may be risky for your heart, new research suggests
Intermittent fasting may increase the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, according to a new study of 20,000 people. Researchers found that people who restricted their eating to eight hours a day had a 91% higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared to those who ate across 12-16 hours per day.Just In
- For Tattooed Mom to resume live music performances, L&I says it must obtain permits and a license
- Starting this weekend, $5 shuttle bus rides to the shore are available
- FDA approves pill that lowers cholesterol as effectively as more expensive, injectable forms
- Phillies RP Brad Keller will miss the rest of the season with torn UCL
- Phillies announce 2027 schedule
- Strathmere, one of South Jersey's only free beaches, could soon require tags
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