HEALTH Articles

Sleep & Technology: Pros & Cons

HEALTH Magazine, Spring 2026

Published: June 11, 2026

Technology's relationship with sleep is often seen as negative and for good reason. Exposure to blue light from phones, tablets, and other screens late at night can make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. However, when used thoughtfully, ...

Ask a Doctor: Interview with a sleep medicine expert

HEALTH Magazine, Spring 2026

Published: June 11, 2026

HEALTH Magazine recently spoke with Gary Alexander, MD, a pulmonary and sleep medicine specialist at Tanner Clinic in Layton, Utah, and a member of the Davis County Board of Health.HEALTH Magazine: How did you become involved in sleep medicine? Dr. ...

Setting the Stage with Good Sleep Hygiene

HEALTH Magazine, Spring 2026

Published: June 11, 2026

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) define sleep hygiene as "a set of behavioral and environmental recommendations intended to promote healthy sleep."Many of these practices are common sense; others are supported scientifically or are being researched to find out how ...

Sleep & Kids

HEALTH Magazine, Spring 2026

By Mindy Bundy, RN (Clinical Services Director) & Stacie Quartz (Health Educator)

Published: June 11, 2026

Getting enough sleep is crucial for a child's development and overall health. One of our Healthy People 2030 national goals is to ensure that at least 70% of children are getting sufficient sleep, but the latest data puts us at ...

By the Numbers

HEALTH Magazine, Spring 2026

Published: June 11, 2026

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), "there is no precise number of minutes or hours of sleep at night that guarantees you will wake up feeling totally refreshed." That's because the quality of your sleep is ...

The Golden Chain: Why Sleep Is Important

HEALTH Magazine, Spring 2026

By David Heaton, HEALTH Editor

Published: June 10, 2026

Sleep: The Overlooked Pillar of HealthWhen it comes to improving overall health, five daily behaviors stand out for their broad impact: eating enough vegetables and fruits, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking, and getting sufficient sleep. Among these, ...

Sleep to Live Longer

HEALTH Magazine, Spring 2026

By David Blodgett, MD, MPH, SWUPHD Director and Health Officer

Published: June 10, 2026

As an ongoing series, I have been highlighting the top causes of death in Southwest Utah and what we can all do to lessen our risk for each of them. This article discusses the impact that lack of sleep has ...

Between Life & Breath

HEALTH Magazine, Fall 2025

By David A. Blodgett MD, MPH, SWUPHD Health Officer & Director

Published: August 28, 2025

This article continues our focus on the leading causes of death in our area. Paying attention to these reveals much about what each of us can do to lead longer, healthier lives.I’d like to turn your attention to the role ...

Don’t Lose Your Mind

HEALTH Magazine, Fall 2025

By RuthAnne Watt, SWUPHD Administrative Liaison

Published: August 28, 2025

Life, as we know, can get very busy. We seem to feel we are superhuman - that we can do it all, all of the time, and never allow ourselves the breaks we need. That mindset can become overwhelming and ...