More than 30% of Utah adults are getting less than the ideal seven hours of sleep each night. Utah ranks 16th among states for insufficient sleep, according to the latest America s Health Rankings report. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said lack of sleep is linked to the development of chronic diseases and conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity and depression. .
There aren t many quick fixes for getting a restful night s sleep, but experts say if Texans want to improve their physical and mental health, it s worth the effort. A study from the United Health Foundation has shown that about 33% of Texans don t get the recommended hours of sleep - just above the national average at 32%. Mary Helen Rogers, vice president for marketing and communications at the Better Sleep Council, said it wasn t that many years ago that people bragged about surviving on just a few hours of sleep, but she believes there are consequences. .
A new report found Community Health Centers in New York are closing gaps left in many communities by a nationwide shortage of primary-care physicians. The findings from the National Association of Community Health Centers showed more than 4.2 million people in New York State are considered "medically disenfranchised," and another 5.2 million are "medically underserved." Joe Dunn, senior vice president of public policy and research for the association, said Community Health Centers expand access to primary care in part by not turning anyone away, no matter their ability to pay. "Trying to provide these wraparound services to individuals, I think, provides healthier lives for the individuals," Dunn pointed out. " .
Small-business owners in North Carolina are reaching out to legislators for help, citing hospital mergers as one reason their health-care costs are soaring. The fusion of former hospital competitors has left employers in the state with fewer options for services, as well as higher expenses for both companies and workers, which could ultimately hinder business expansion. State Treasurer Dale Folwell revealed that even at the top levels, they re grappling with challenges such as cost transparency. .
Two Atlanta facilities are the latest hospital closures in Georgia, reflecting a trend for more than a decade that s left tens of thousands of people without access to hospital care, both in rural and urban areas. The New Georgia Project s "My Hospital, My Community campaign" is fighting to reopen the WellStar Health System facilities. At the most recent Level One trauma center that closed, said Kierra Stanford, the campaign s lead organizer, more than half the local population is Black. .