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Southwest Utah Public Health Department

HEALTH Articles

PARKS, TRAILS, & GOLF

St. George, Washington County

By David Cordero, Communications & Marketing Director, City of St. George

Published: August 28, 2025

St. George City now has over 70 miles of trails, visited by one million people over the course of last year. The Black Hill Trail now connects to the popular “Dragon’s Tail” staircase at Tech Ridge, which boasts 333 steps ...

Smile!

Oral Health Basics

By Mandy Gibbs, RDH, MSDH

Published: August 28, 2025

Hi, my name is Mandy, and I’ve spent nearly 17 years working in a private dental practice since graduating from Utah Tech University’s dental program back in 2008, where I’m also now an instructor. I’d like to take a moment ...

Bad Belly Ache

Salmonella - Notorious food poisoner - First discovered in hogs - Not named after a fish

By David Heaton, HEALTH Editor

Published: August 25, 2025

In 1885, a young research assistant named Theobald Smith isolated a new species of bacteria. After two years of investigation, he was sure he had found the cause of hog cholera, a highly contagious disease that was deadly to pigs.It ...

Then & Now

History of Public Health

By Nathan Cleverly, SWUPHD Emergency Preparedness Planner

Published: August 22, 2025

Public health can be defined as what we do collectively to improve our health. This idea emphasizes the communal nature of the field - unlike clinical medicine, which focuses on individual treatment. By preventing disease and reducing its spread, public ...

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Preparing for International Travel

By RuthAnne Watt – SWUPHD Administrative Liaison & Anna Fajardo, RN – Travel Nurse

Published: May 20, 2025

Traveling to other countries can be an exciting endeavor. Most travelers enjoy their time abroad without any issues, but there are places in the world where sanitary and environmental conditions are quite different from what you may be used to. ...

WAY TO QUIT!

Break Free From Smoking & Vaping

By Stephanie Ward, SWUPHD Environmental Health Educator

Published: May 20, 2025

Breathing in fresh, clean air—free from smoke or vapor—is one of the best things you can do for your health. Quitting smoking or vaping can feel overwhelming, especially if you've been using tobacco products for years, but it's never too ...

A CLOSER LOOK

Understanding the Leading Causes of Death in Southwest Utah

By David Blodgett, MD, MPH

Published: May 20, 2025

In prior issues of HEALTH Magazine, we’ve examined the root causes of disease, both locally and nationwide. It’s helpful to know what drives unhealthy conditions in order to improve health and wellness.This article introduces the leading causes of death in ...

UNDER PRESSURE

How to Measure and Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure

By Jamie Anderson, SWUPHD Health Educator

Published: May 20, 2025

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to combat heart disease is by monitoring our blood pressure. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a leading cause of death and is often called the "silent killer" because it ...

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?

Environmental Health

By Jeremy Roberts, SWUPHD Environmental Health Director

Published: May 20, 2025

There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes in our communities to help protect our health. For example, water operators work to provide safe, clean water through our taps for drinking and washing. Wastewater operators handle ...

WHO LET THE DOGS IN?

Service Animal Regulations

By Shallen Sterner, SWUPHD Environmental Health Scientist

Published: May 20, 2025

On a trip to the Oregon Coast last year, I snapped a picture of a sign posted at a food establishment I visited, which said:WE HATE to inform you, but unless YOUR DOG is a service animal, it is not ...
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