Pag. 11
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Rural providers, advocates push Texas Legislature to “rescue” maternal health care system
By Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune
“Rural providers, advocates push Texas Legislature to “rescue” maternal health care system” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Twenty five years ago, the Texas Legislature passed a sweeping set of reforms to resuscitate the state’s collapsing rural health care system.
Now, health care providers, advocates and local leaders are proposing similarly aggressive action to pull the rural maternity care system back from the brink. The Rural Texas Maternal Health Rescue Plan is a package of proposals they’re hoping lawmakers will champion in this upcoming session.
Almost half of all Texas counties offer no maternity care services, and more than a quarter of rural mothers live more than 30 minutes away from the nearest provider. Living in a “maternity care desert” contributes to delayed prenatal care, increased pregnancy complications and worse delivery outcomes. Women living in rural areas are more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes, and infant mortality is also higher.
But despite these sobering statistics, more rural hospitals are closing their labor and delivery units, leaving patients to travel long distances or deliver in under-equipped emergency rooms. Most of those that do still deliver babies lose money in the process, due to low Medicaid payments and too few deliveries to break even on round-the-clock staffing.
“We’re reaching a tipping point where people are frequently more than an hour from routine prenatal care, and more than an hour from a delivering hospital when their water breaks,” said John Henderson, president of the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals. “There’s no way we’re going to get the kind of quality or outcomes we want as a state when that’s the reality.”
“I don’t think anyone thinks that we’re going to be able to restore services at the 20 or 30 rural hospitals that closed or suspended their OB programs,” Henderson said. “But if we don’t do something, we’ll see more go
the same way.”
Last session, the first since the overturn of Roe v. Wade and Texas’ near-total abortion ban, lawmakers extended postpartum Medicaid to a full year and waived sales tax on diapers and menstrual products. Ahead of this session, House Speaker Dade Phelan listed improving access to rural prenatal and obstetrics care as one of his interim priorities.
Strengthening access to rural maternity care would be a bipartisan way to show up for moms and babies in Texas, said Tom Banning, CEO of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
“There’s not a silver bullet to this. We would have done it if there was,” Banning said. “But we just want to bring forward ideas for them to think about as possible legislation or funding strategies. That’s what this report is intended to do, to give them options.”
“Code Red” proposals
Several of the top priorities focus on Medicaid, the largest payer of maternal health services in Texas. Medicaid pays for half of births statewide, but in rural areas, covers between 60% and 90% of births.
Medicaid is primarily federally funded, but states administer the program.
This plan proposes reimbursing rural hospitals based on the actual costs they incur delivering a baby, rather than a set rate, and offering doctors fixed monthly per-patient payments to cover the costs of preventive, primary and maternity care needs. They’re hoping this will make it more financially appealing for hospitals to keep delivering babies, and recruit the health care providers they need to do so.
The state should also make it easier for pregnant women to get on Medicaid, and easier for doctors to start accepting Medicaid, the report says.
Disclosure: Texans Care for Children has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune.
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
Sports
POSTSEASON BOUND: VOLLEYBALL SECURES SPOT IN 2024 NIVC
The UTRGV Department of Intercollegiate Athletics learned on Sunday that the Vaqueros volleyball team is postseason bound after securing a spot in the Women’s National Invitational Championship (NIVC).
Page 10
Local Events
Annual UTRGV Holiday Card Contest
In its 10th year, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Holiday Card Contest has become a tradition where students artfully capture the spirit of the university during the festive season.
Page 4
Annual
Holiday Card Contest
By Matthew Cavazos
In its 10th year, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Holiday Card Contest has become a tradition where students artfully capture the spirit of the university during the festive season.
The annual contest encourages students to showcase their creativity by designing a card that embodies their vision of the university during the holidays. This year, winners were chosen for the official cards for the offices of the university president and provost.
Dr. Guy Bailey, UTRGV president,
and Dr. Luis H. Zayas, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, reviewed 193 submissions and each selected their top three designs. Both said their decisions were challenging due to the wonderful artistic skills displayed by students this year.
“Our students never cease to inspire
me with their creativity, and this year’s Holiday Card Contest is yet another testament to their ingenuity,” Bailey said. “With 193 submissions, each one told a unique story of our university’s festive spirit, making the selection process both challenging and rewarding. I want to thank every participant
Tavangarifard said. “I saw the contest as a unique opportunity to express creativity and share a message of warmth, unity and joy with the UTRGV community.”
“UTRGV is more than just a university; it’s a home and a family for all of us.”
AMY VILLARREAL, from McAllen, a president’s runner-up received a $500 scholarship.
some sweet bread on the tree to show a little bit of our culture.”
“I wanted to show that UTRGV can be fun and add some holiday spirit to the community.”
CHAE RAE, from Richmond, a provost’s runner-up received a $500 scholarship.
to $1,000.
TOP HOLIDAY CARD WINNERS
JANINA BADON, from Harlingen, was awarded first place in the president’s category and received a $1,000 scholarship.
Badon’s card design features a snow globe with bright orange UTRGV letters and palm trees wrapped in lights, all enclosed inside the globe, topped with a cowboy hat donning the UTRGV name on top.
Badon, a marketing major graduating in December, felt inspired to create a card that represent the unique spirit of UTRGV and the Rio Grande Valley as a whole.
“This contest was a meaningful opportunity for me to express my love for our community, share what makes this season so special in our own unique way, and leave behind a piece of my own connection to UTRGV,” she said.
Badon said that UTRGV has provided her with an exceptional education and supportive community, which she wanted to reflect in her design.
“The Valley is where I’ve built meaningful connections, experienced the warmth of its people, and learned to
trees decorated with orange and gray ornaments, highlighted by a main tree on the right topped with an illuminated eight-point star.
“I wanted to capture the magic of the holiday season blended with UTRGV pride,” said Garza, a business management major. “My goal was to create a scene that feels both inviting and joyful, where the warmth of the season and our unique campus spirit come together.”
“I felt that a holiday card could be a way to share warmth and celebrate our school pride with everyone, even if we are not together.”
Villarreal, a biology major, highlights the unique nature and colors of the Rio Grande Valley in her card. featuring a collection of blooming native flowers in the center, with the white UTRGV letters standing out against a dark green background with traditional banners fluttering above and below.
“This contest was a great opportunity to express holiday cheer through art and be part of a tradition at UTRGV that brings everyone together,” Villarreal said. “It can be hard to remember amidst life’s fast pace, but we thrive in harmony, and I think the Valley’s culture and the holidays are a beautiful representation of that.”
HOLIDAY CARD PROVOST RUNNERS-UP
Rae, a doctoral student pursuing her curriculum and instruction degree, had a design that included three hats hung over a burning fireplace in place of stockings with garland resting behind them. Rae explained the hats symbolized the responsibilities in her life, and she is ready to hang up the student hat for the holidays to spend time with family.
“Now that I have a four-year-old, the holiday season is truly magic,” Rae said. “I’m really trying to figure out how to make this so exciting every year. I have made a baker out of my daughter, so we bake cookies, put on pajamas and watch a movie almost every day in December.”
“For me, it’s about being the person that is making the magic rather than experiencing the magic.”
PURCHASING HOLIDAY CARDS
ATENA TAVANGARIFARD, from Tehran, Iran, a president’s runner-up received a $500 scholarship.
Tavangarifard, a finance major, showcased a pair of orange and white boots with cacti scattered across the desert-like background and white stars illuminating the orange sky inside a wreath.
“My card reflects the festive spirit of the holidays, intertwined with the unique cultural beauty of the Valley,”
JOLETTE MARQUEZ, from Port Isabel, a provost’s runner-up received a $500 scholarship.
Marquez, a nutritional science major, illustrated the mascot riding a horse with the night sky behind them, and a tree with lights lighting up the night sky, and the UTRGV logo resting beneath the bucking horse to reflect the fun that can be had in school.
“I wanted to show the UTRGV landmarks like the Bronc on the Edinburg Campus,” Marquez said. “I also put
All winning student-designed holiday cards will be available for purchase online and at campus bookstores on both campuses starting Dec. 3.
Card packages are priced at $12 each and contain 12 total cards, with two of each design. All net proceeds will be donated to the UTRGV Student Food Pantry, which provides food assistance to UTRGV students.
Av. Benito Juárez, 88810 Nuevo Progreso, Tamps.
Meet the new in Congress
By Matthew Choi, The Texas Tribune
“Meet the new Texans in Congress” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
WASHINGTON — Texas will get four new members of the U.S. House in January after this year’s election including one member who is the delegation’s first LGBTQ+ member and another who will be the youngest sitting Republican in the House.
The new members will be replacing some of the longest-serving and senior members of Texas’ congressional delegation.
One other new member, U.S. Rep. Erica Lee Carter, has already started working in the U.S. House. She is the daughter of the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who died of cancer earlier this year, and will finish out her mother’s term which ends in early January.
Texas has the second largest delegation in Congress, with 38 members of the House in addition to its two senators. Texans in Congress have historically wielded considerable power, including leadership posts and chairmanships of some of the most influential committees. But recent turnover among the state’s members has cost the state years of seniority and diluted its sway.
The next Congress will swear in the House after the speaker is elected on Jan. 3.
Craig Goldman - District 12
State Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, promises to bring years of legislative experience to Congress, after spending more than a decade serving in the Texas House. Prior to his congressional win this year, he chaired the Texas House Republican Caucus, serving as a top lieutenant to House Speaker Dade Phelan.
Border security will top much of Goldman’s legislative agenda, specifically ensuring the federal government shoulders
more of Texas’ border hardening expenses under Operation Lone Star. The state has spent over $11 billion to curb migration on the southern border, and Goldman said making the federal government pick up the tab would be his “top priority.”
“We want that line item in the Texas state budget to go away because it’s the federal government’s problem,” Goldman said in an interview with CBS Texas.
He’ll be replacing longtime U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, who has served in Congress since 1997. She is the longest serving Republican in the Texas delegation and had considerable influence in Congress as the top Republican on the House Appropriations Committee. The committee is in charge of allocating funding for federal programs and is one of the most powerful in the House. Granger stepped down from the chairmanship earlier this year.
Like Granger, Goldman will be a voice in Congress for Fort Worth’s business community, which supported his campaign during a competitive Republican primary. Granger
was an ardent supporter of North Texas businesses, particularly the defense sector, using her position on the Appropriations Committee to fund defense interests in the district. Goldman reiterated his commitments to the city’s defense base during a primary debate in April.
Goldman’s win in the Republican primary was seen by some as a rebuke of the cultural far right, which has seen growing influence in Congress and Tarrant County. Goldman voted to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state House last year, earning him the ire of the right wing of the party. Paxton targeted Goldman in the primary and boosted his preferred candidate, business owner John O’Shea.
But Goldman defeated O’Shea with a well funded operation backed by major business donors. Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, who served as a Granger staffer, endorsed Goldman, saying he would continue Granger’s legacy of quiet but serious legislating. U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, a centrist Fort Worth Democrat, said the city was “breathing a sigh of relief” with his nomination.
“Big shoes to fill, and I look forward to doing exactly what [Granger] did and advocating for all the constituents,” Goldman said in a recent interview.
Sylvester Turner - District 18
Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, a Democrat, will replace longtime U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who was one of the longest serving members of the Texas delegation when she died this summer. Turner served as Houston mayor from 2016 to 2024 and as a member of the Texas House from 1989 to 2016.
Turner ran on a message of legislative experience, working with Republicans in both the state House and as mayor, while still advocating progressive values aligned with Jackson Lee’s tenure. One of his final acts as mayor was to secure the 2028 Republican National Convention in the city. He also touted his familiarity with local projects in need of federal funding. Jackson Lee was known for her voracious advocacy for federal money to go toward Houston.
Continuing Jackson Lee’s legacy, Turner said he hopes to someday serve on the House Appropriations Committee, which decides the amount of federal funding that goes to different projects. But he acknowledges that new members hardly ever get assigned to the powerful committee and also is interested in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee or the Homeland
Security Committee, both relevant to Houston’s large international port.
Jackson Lee “was very instrumental in bringing federal resources, federal help, back to the 18th [Congressional District]. I certainly want to continue that,” Turner said. “The district is in need of so much.”
Jackson Lee was a progressive fighter in Congress, an early defender of LGBTQ+ causes and a consistent voice for civil rights. She served as a vice chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Turner stands by many of the same causes of Jackson Lee, but he said he would be joining the more business-focused New Democrat Coalition, which includes moderate members.
Jackson Lee died after the Democratic primary, prompting the Harris County Democratic Party to select her replacement on the ballot. Turner secured the endorsement of Jackson Lee’s family, helping him win the crowded race to run in Jackson Lee’s place in the general election.
Turner promised to serve no more than a couple of terms, allowing a future open primary where voters will have a say in the Democratic nominee. But when asked recently how many terms he plans to serve, Turner diverted, saying “I’m here to serve. I’m going to serve. I’m not going to focus on that.”
“I said I would serve as a bridge, but my focus will be on serving the people in the 18,” Turner said, declining to give a number of terms he plans to be in office. “Then we’ll see what happens as we move forward.”
Brandon Gill - District 26
Brandon Gill is vowing to be President-elect Donald Trump’s biggest supporter in Congress.
Gill replaces longtime U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, who has represented the district since 2003. Burgess is the chair of the House Rules Committee and a high ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, one of the most coveted committee assignments for energy-rich Texas.
In contrast, Gill will be one of the youngest members of Congress and the youngest sitting Republican at 30 years old. He moved to his district only a year before his election, though he grew up in a small town outside Abilene roughly three hours away. He has no experience in elected office.
Still, Gill was able to beat out more experienced candidates in a crowded primary with the endorsement of some of the biggest names in the Republican Party. Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan, Ronny Jackson and Troy Nehls all endorsed him. He proved his loyalty to Trump by running an openly pro-Trump news website and helping produce “2000 Mules,” a debunked documentary that suggested the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. Gill worked on the film with
his father-in-law, Dinesh D’Souza.
Gill has presented himself as the next generation of Republicans who are repelled by political correctness. The Trump campaign made considerable outreach to younger voters this cycle, and Gill sees greater opportunity to grow the momentum.
“Younger voters are looking, more than anything, for sincerity. They’re looking for people who understand what they’re going through,” Gill said in a recent interview with Fox News.
Gill has already shown promise within the Republican Conference. He was elected president of the freshman class, a largely ceremonial role, and he was selected to serve on the Republican Policy Committee, taking a seat previously occupied by U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw. The Republican Policy Committee helps direct the party’s legislative goals.
In terms of Gill’s own policy priorities, Trump will be the guiding light. Gill said he will work in lockstep with the incoming president, advocating his legislative agenda, including hardening the border, executing mass deportations and cutting taxes.
“What I’m most interested in right now is getting as much of the Trump agenda passed as quickly as possible,” Gill said in an interview. “We’ve got a mandate, but it’s a mandate for the Trump agenda. There’s nobody who did more to get us this congressional majority more than President Trump.”
Julie Johnson - District 32
Democratic state Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Farmers Branch, will be the first openly gay member of Congress from a Southern state. She will replace U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, who gave up his comfortably blue seat when he ran and lost against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
Johnson first entered the state House in 2018 beating hardline Republican Rep. Matt Rinaldi, who later went on to chair the Texas Republican Party. She focused her time in the Legislature both resisting Republican bills, including anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, and building coalitions with Republicans on issues such as health care. It’s the kind of fighting spirit Johnson plans to bring to the U.S. House as Republicans maintain their majority next year.
“I have a lot of experience serving in the minority party in the Texas Legislature. I’ve been very effective in that environment,” Johnson said. “I’ll absolutely take that perspective and that experience with me to DC.”
Johnson was endorsed by the business-minded New Democrats. She also secured the endorsement of several prominent members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, including U.S. Reps. Lloyd Doggett of Austin, Becca Balint of Vermont, Robert Garcia of California, Te-
Johnson’s policy priorities focus on both expanding economic opportunity through workforce development and Democratic social policies, including creating a national right to abortion. She credits her focus on kitchen table issues for her strong success in her district, where she won by over 23 points against Republican Darrell Day.
“The fact that I was able to win as strongly as I won as the first openly gay person in the state of Texas to the United States Congress is a testament to our campaign, which was economic-focused, which was business-focused,” Johnson said.
Johnson had the support of several major names in Democratic politics as she entered a crowded primary field to replace Allred, including Allred himself. Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke and former Ambassador Ron Kirk, both Democrats who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in Texas, also endorsed Johnson.
Erica Lee Carter - District 18
Jackson Lee’s daughter, Erica Lee Carter, is filling the 18th Congressional District seat until the end of the current Congress. Carter was elected in a special election to serve out the remainder of her mother’s term and was sworn in earlier this month. Turner will replace Carter when the next Congress is sworn in in January.
Carter previously served on the Harris County Department of Education Board of Trustees and as a policy adviser to Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, focusing on voting rights, budget management and economic equality. She has also worked as a first grade teacher in Houston Independent School District.
Carter’s short time in Congress is slated to be relatively quiet. There are less than
two months left in the current Congress, with breaks scheduled for the holidays. With Democrats preparing to lose control of the Senate and White House and Republicans poised to maintain control of the House, Republicans are incentivized to stall legislation until next year when they will have a better hand in passing their agenda.
Still, Carter sees room to continue her mother’s legacy. She is advocating the bipartisan Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act with Sen. John Cornyn to improve safety for federal judges and the Stop Human Trafficking in School Zones Act with Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, to tackle child trafficking, a major problem in Houston. Both were bills introduced by Jackson Lee this Congress. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries seated Carter on the House Judiciary Committee, which Jackson Lee served on, and Carter plans to continue advocating for community project funding for Houston as Congress negotiates next year’s appropriations.
Carter endorsed Turner in his bid for the 18th district. While she appreciates Turner’s comments months ago that he would only serve a handful of terms, she is not opposed to him continuing to run for reelection.
“I never want to take responsibility away from the voters to decide, because it’s always an opportunity to express where you want your leadership to head,” Carter said.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/texas-newly-elected-congress-brandon-gill-julie-johnson-sylvester-turn/.
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
resa Leger Fernandez of New Mexico and Mark Takano of California.
BY ANDRES OPPENHEIMER
Let’s ban kids from social media, just like Australia did
Australia has just passed a sweeping law prohibiting children under 16 from using social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and X, becoming the first major country to do so. It’s time for other nations to follow its steps.
The new law, which passed both chambers of Parliament on Nov. 28, places full responsibility on social media companies, demanding that they make sure that no children under 16 open accounts or use their platforms. Social media firms will be subject to fines of up to $32 million if they fail to comply with the new age restrictions.
“We know social media is doing social harm,” Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said. “We want Australian children to have a childhood, and we want parents to know that the government is in their corner.”
Other countries, such as France, have passed laws demanding that children get parental consent before they are allowed to open a social media account. However, they do not prohibit children from using social media if their parents consent.
In the United States, Florida passed a state law earlier this year banning children under 14 from creating social media accounts, and mandating companies to close accounts held by children under 14. The Florida law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025, but is expected to be challenged in the courts.
Similar laws in California, Ohio and Arkansas have been blocked by the courts, often over privacy issues. Critics say most of these state laws requiring parental consent
may not be very effective, because many parents may allow their children to create social media accounts.
But the global movement toward regulating kids’ access to social media is bound to grow, no matter how hard tech moguls like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg fight to keep making money at the expense of children’s mental health. There is growing evidence that screen addiction, online bullying and hate content on social media has contributed — if not caused — an epidemic of youth depression across the world.
Jonathan Haidt, the New York University social psychologist who wrote the bestseller “The Anxious Generation,” says parents should hold off on giving smart phones to their children until age 14, and bar them from using social media until 16.
Youth depression, anxiety and even suicide have skyrocketed in most countries since children began using smart phones and started sharing pictures on social media after 2012, Haidt said.
“I argue that children need to develop first in the real world before we let them move their lives into the virtual world,” Haidt told me. “We don’t want them to grow up on TikTok. We want them to grow up playing with each other.”
Girls have been especially hurt by early access to social media. If you are an insecure teen-aged girl and your pictures don’t get any “likes” on Instagram, while your classmates get many “likes,” you are bound to feel bad. And if your classmates make fun of you,
or bully you, it’s even worse, he explained. When I asked Haidt whether it would be hard or not to ban social media for children, when they see their parents using those platforms constantly, he said he doesn’t see that as much of a problem. After all, we set age limits for alcohol consumption, and movies. Haidt said, “It is completely inappropriate to be putting children in contact with strangers all over the world with no identity verification, no age limits. This is insanity.” And the same goes for letting children access social media that may show beheading videos, or hardcore pornography, he added.
Granted, skeptics argue that many children will find a way around any law to prevent them from getting onto social media platforms. That’s why Australia has chosen to put pressure on tech companies, rather than on children and their families, to enforce the law.
“We know some kids will find workarounds, but we’re sending a message to social media companies to clean up their act,” the Australian prime minister said. Well said! It’s time to follow Australia’s steps, and stand up to irresponsible social media tycoons who are making billions by allowing content that contributes to all kinds of children’s mental health problems. Let’s face it — these tech moguls have shown that they can’t be trusted with self-regulation. It’s time to stop them from profiting at the expense of children’s mental health. Australia’s new law should be a wake-up call for the rest of the world.
This improve structive airway disrupted if left disease. for patients tinuous
“The game-changer
sleep
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P. Theivagt, Head
DHR Health first Inspire procedure for sleep apnea Governor Abbott Swears-In
DHR Health Brownsville now offers the Inspire procedure, a groundbreaking treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which was first performed on October 29, 2024, by Dr. Charles P. Theivagt, a specialist in Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery.
This innovative procedure is designed to improve sleep quality for patients with obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that causes airway blockages during sleep, leading to disrupted breathing, sleep deprivation, and, if left untreated, an increased risk of heart disease. Inspire provides a vital alternative for patients who struggle to use CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines.
“The Inspire procedure is a true game-changer for patients with sleep ap-
nea,” said Dr. Theivagt, the first physician to perform the procedure at DHR Health Brownsville and in the Rio Grande Valley.
“By offering a comfortable, effective alternative, we’re helping patients in Cameron County experience a more peaceful, restful sleep.”
The Inspire procedure involves implanting a small device in the neck and chest that gently stimulates a nerve controlling the tongue. This stimulation helps keep the airway open throughout the night, ensuring uninterrupted, restful sleep. Specifically designed for adult patients, including the female patient who underwent the first procedure at DHR Health Brownsville, Inspire supports normal breathing and encourages deeper, more restorative sleep.
Once implanted, patients can control the device with a handheld remote or through the Inspire Sleep app. The device is easily turned on before bed and off in the morning. Inspire also significantly reduces snoring, with 90% of bed partners reporting little to no snoring.
“We’re thrilled to offer the Inspire procedure to our patients at DHR Health Brownsville,” said Aida Coronado Garcia, Chief Operations Officer at DHR Health Brownsville.
“This treatment opens new doors for those struggling with sleep apnea, providing them with a comfortable and effective solution that enhances both their sleep quality and overall well-being.”
The Inspire procedure is another milestone in DHR Health Brownsville’s commitment to providing the latest, patient-centered treatments to the community.
For more information about the Inspire procedure, please call DHR Health Brownsville at (956) 362-1100.
is an honor to swear-in Freeman Martin as the new Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.”
Governor Greg Abbott administered the oath of office for the 14th Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Freeman F. Martin at DPS Headquarters in Austin.
“Freeman Martin brings an extraordinary wealth of experience to this position,” said Governor Abbott. “Beginning as a trooper to becoming a Texas Ranger to eventually becoming the Senior Deputy Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, he has the knowledge at every level and every subject matter that is important to leading this remarkable agency. As much as his experience matters, what matters even more is what lies in the heart of a leader—and what lies in the heart of Freeman Martin is true dedication to the rule of law. He will ensure Texas remains a law-and-order state and safeguard the public safety of Texans. It
“Today, Texas faces the most significant public safety and homeland security threats of our entire lifetime—and addressing those threats is no small task,” said Director Martin. “I thank Governor Abbott and the Public Safety Commission for trusting me and having the confidence in me to lead the premier state agency responsible for protecting Texas. As Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, it’s my job to make Texas safer and make the department better. And with the talent that we have across our state at every level, we will make that happen.”
Director Freeman F. Martin previously served as Senior Deputy Director for DPS, playing a crucial role in planning, directing, managing, and overseeing the department’s wide-ranging activities and operations. Director Martin began his career with DPS in 1990 as a Texas Highway Patrol (THP) trooper in Winnie. Over the last three decades at DPS, he has served as THP Corporal in Lubbock, Narcotics Service Sergeant in Houston, Texas Ranger Sergeant in Houston, Texas Ranger Lieutenant in Austin, and Texas Ranger Captain and Texas Ranger Major in Houston. In 2014, Martin was named Regional Commander for the Central Texas Region. He was appointed Deputy Director of Homeland Security Operations by the Public Safety Commission and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2018.
The Governor was joined at the swearing-in ceremony by Public Safety Commission Chairman Steven Mach, former DPS Director Steve McCraw, and other law enforcement and DPS leaders.
Office of the Texas Governor | Greg Abbott | Press Release
Postseason Bound: Volleyball Secures Spot in 2024 NIVC Fall Season in Review: Women’s Golf
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics learned on Sunday that the Vaqueros volleyball team is postseason bound after securing a spot in the Women’s National Invitational Championship (NIVC).
The Vaqueros (16-11) are heading to Nacogdoches for the first and second rounds of the tournament. UTRGV will face Arkansas State (26-5) in Round 1 on Thursday at 3 p.m. (CT) at host Stephen F. Austin’s Shelton Gym. Jackson State (19-11) will face the hosting Lumberjacks (23-8) at 6 p.m. Thursday. The winners of those matches will face off in the Super 16 match Friday at 6 p.m. at Shelton Gym.
The 2024 NIVC, powered by Triple Crown Sports, is a single-elimination bracket featuring 29 teams. First and second round matches will be played Dec. 4-8 at eight host sites in four-team quads. Great 8 matches will be played at four host sites Dec. 9-12, followed by the Fab 4 matches at two host sites Dec. 12-14. The championship match will be played between Dec. 15-18 and hosted by one of the participating schools.
This will be UTRGV’s third appearance in the NIVC after previously making the tournament in 2021 and 2022. In 2022, the Vaqueros earned the first two postseason wins in program history as they hosted the first two rounds in Edinburg and defeated Houston Christian and South Dakota State to reach the Great 8. This is UTRGV’s fourth postseason trip in program history after making the NCAA Tournament in 2016.
Round 1 and Super 16 Information (in bracket order, all times EST)
First-round byes: Arizona, Virginia, Wright State
Host: Arizona
Friday, Dec. 6
Weber State vs. Pacific, 2 p.m. ET
Saturday, Dec. 7
TBA vs. Arizona, 8 p.m. ET
Host: Wyoming
Thursday, Dec. 5
Utah Valley vs. Washington State, 6 p.m. ET
Idaho State vs. Wyoming, 9 p.m. ET
Friday, Dec. 6
Winners, 8 p.m. ET
Host: Stephen F. Austin
Thursday, Dec. 5
UTRGV vs. Arkansas State, 4 p.m. ET
Jackson State vs. Stephen F. Austin, 7 p.m.
ET
Friday, Dec. 6
Winners, 7 p.m. ET
Host: Georgia Southern
Friday, Dec. 6
Northern Colorado vs. Appalachian State, 3 p.m. ET
Southeastern Missouri State vs. Georgia
Southern, 6 p.m. ET
Saturday, Dec. 7
Winners, 4 p.m. ET
Host: Bowling Green
Wednesday, Dec. 4
Binghamton vs. Bowling Green, 7 p.m. ET
Thursday, Dec. 5
Binghamton/Bowling Green vs. Wright State, 8 p.m. ET
Host: DePaul
Thursday, Dec. 5
Lindenwood vs. Omaha, 5 p.m. ET
Toledo vs. DePaul, 8 p.m. ET
Friday, Dec. 6
Winners, 8 p.m. ET
Host: Virginia
Saturday, Dec. 7
North Carolina A&T vs. St. John’s, 6 p.m. ET
Sunday, Dec. 8
North Carolina A&T/St. John’s vs. Virgina, 6 p.m. ET
Host: East Carolina
Thursday, Dec. 5
UConn vs. Mercer, 3 p.m. ET
Winthrop vs. East Carolina, 6 p.m. ET
Friday, Dec. 6
Winners, 6 p.m. ET
TheUniversity of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women’s golf team finished out the fall season and hopes that momentum carries into the spring.
“I think we ended the fall on a really high note winning the South Texas Showdown match against Corpus Christi,” Novoa said. “I was really proud of the girls on the way they finished. The experiences we got this semester playing in fields that were top-50 in the country every week and seeing the level we are going to rise to in the spring. The future is bright, and I loved the experiences we had and tasting victory is setting us up pretty good for the spring.”
The Vaqueros faced a gauntlet of a schedule in the fall as they competed at the Powercat Invitational (Kansas State), Red Raider Invitational (Texas Tech), and the Diane Thomason Invitational (Iowa) with the courses putting the field through the test.
Not very many teams get to experience a schedule like that, and it definitely showed the Vaqueros the level of play that they want to be in. It also showed them what they need to work on going into the spring.
“The biggest takeaway from the spring is the things we need to work on,” Novoa said. “It’s going to be the short game, discipline and strategy, and understanding our swings better. We have the plan in place and when it is executed, I think the results will get even better and get us into contention for a possible victory or a lot of top-three or topfives like I know we are capable of.”
The Vaqueros had their brightest spots at the end of the fall as sophomore Natalia Rodriguez finished the Clash at Boulder Creek with a two-under 214, which earned her Southland Conference Golfer of the Month. She finished tied for 25th with rounds of 70, 73, and 71.
Then the Vaqueros wrapped up the fall by defeating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
with Camila Herrera, Cristina Galban, and Kieli Saenz coming away with victories. The Vaqueros put it all together at the right time, which is something they want to build on going forward.
“Natalia Rodriguez finishing under par in the last event of the semester and being the Southland Conference Golfer of the Month was a really good sign,” Novoa said. “Kieli Saenz stepping up and playing one and two for us in the first two months of the season got to a place to where she looked comfortable and poised. Jackie Gonzalez came off injury after a year and a half of not playing and slowly working her way back into the lineup and getting her feet wet again. I think she will be a force to be reckoned with in the spring. We are a young team. Camila stepped up and knows what she needs to do, and Cristina Galban finished the semester with her last four rounds not shooting over 73 and showing her talent level that we saw in her a year ago.”
The Vaqueros are not going to be complacent with what they saw to close out the fall. They know they have more to accomplish as they head into the spring.
The work for the spring has already started as the Vaqueros didn’t let off the gas pedal with the completion of their fall schedule. To find success in the spring it will take hard work from up and down the roster.
“It’s going to take discipline and work ethic,” Novoa said. “The girls know what they need to be doing. We are in our eighthour weeks, and I see the work they are doing, and they are still grinding. Our culture is outstanding, and the future is bright. I love the maturity they are showing and the dedication they are showing,” Novoa said. “We are going to keep it consistent going forward.”
The Vaqueros took some good stuff away from the fall and that could mean the spring could bring even brighter.
Lung Cancer Early Detection and Diagnosis
Lung cancer is often called a “silent killer” because it grows unnoticed, showing little to no symptoms until it’s too late. According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that 234,580 new lung cancer cases and 125,070 lung cancer deaths will be expected in the United States in 2024. Lung cancer claims more lives each year than breast, prostate, and colon cancers combined, making it one of the most dangerous cancers.
Unlike other cancers that have seen significant advances in early detection and treatment, lung cancer is frequently diagnosed in its later stages, when survival
rates are much lower and treatment is more difficult. However, early detection is a game changer. By identifying lung cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage, patients have a far better chance of successful outcomes.
“At DHR Health, we are committed to guiding patients through every step of their lung health journey from identifying suspicious lung nodules to delivering precise diagnoses and timely care,” said Dr. Federico Vallejo, DHR Health Pulmonologist. “The best way to fight lung cancer is to catch it early, and low-dose CT scans are a proven tool to do just that. These quick, painless scans take only 15 minutes and can find
lung cancer at its early stages, often before it’s visible on a standard chest x-ray,”
DHR Health is currently offering a $135 Low-Dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening special now through December 31, 2024, making this life-saving service more accessible to the community. The promotion includes the scan and radiologist interpretation.
Lung cancer screenings are recommended for individuals aged 50 to 80. A referral from a healthcare provider is required for this exam. Appointments are available yearround at DHR Health’s imaging facilities across the Rio Grande Valley, from Mission to Brownsville. These low-dose CT lung cancer screenings are also covered by most insurance providers.
If a low-dose CT scan identifies a suspicious lung nodule, DHR Health offers advanced diagnosis options. The Ion robotic-assisted bronchoscopy system allows a
pulmonary specialist to biopsy lung nodules with advanced precision, providing patients with fast and accurate answers. If treatment is needed, this seamless process ensures patients can begin care without unnecessary delays. DHR Health is the only health system south of San Antonio that has the Ion robotic-assisted bronchoscopy system.
“Lung cancer is a serious disease, but early detection and advanced diagnostic technology give patients the best chance for a positive outcome,” added Dr. Vallejo. “With our low-dose CT screenings and Ion system, we can guide patients through every step of their journey—from detection to diagnosis and, if needed, treatment.”
If you need assistance finding a physician for a CT referral, more information, or to schedule your low-dose CT lung screening appointment, please call our Lung Navigation Program at (956) 362- LUNG.
Texas bill would reclassify abortion drugs as controlled substances
By Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune
“Texas bill would reclassify abortion drugs as controlled substances” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
A Louisiana law that reclassified abortion-inducing drugs as controlled substances has made it more difficult for doctors to treat a wide range of gynecological conditions, doctors say.
Now, a similar proposal has been filed in Texas.
Texas Rep. Pat Curry, a freshman Republican from Waco, said the intent of House Bill 1339 is to make it harder for people, especially teenagers, to order mifepristone and misoprostol online to terminate their pregnancies. Doctors in Louisiana say the measure has done little to strengthen the state’s near-total abortion ban, but has increased fear and confusion among doctors, pharmacists and patients.
“There’s no sense in it,” said Dr. Nicole Freehill, an OB/GYN in New Orleans. “Even though we kept trying to tell them how often [these medications] are used for other things and how safe they
are, it didn’t matter. It’s just a backdoor way of restricting abortion more.”
These medications are often used to empty the uterus after a patient has a miscarriage, and are commonly prescribed ahead of inserting an intrauterine device. Misoprostol is also often the best treatment for obstetric hemorrhages, a potentially life-threatening condition in which women can bleed to death in minutes. Since the Louisiana law went into effect, hospitals have taken the medication off their obstetrics carts and put them in locked, password-protected central storage.
One hospital has been running drills
to practice getting the medications to patients in time, and reported, on average, a two minute delay from before the law went into effect, the Louisiana Illuminator reported.
“In obstetrics and gynecology, minutes or even seconds can be the difference between life and death,” Dr. Stella Dantas, president of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, said in a statement after the Louisiana law passed. “Forcing a clinician to jump through administrative hurdles in order to access a safe, effective medicine is not medically justified and is, quite simply, dangerous.”
Curry said these restrictions won’t stop doctors from prescribing these medications when necessary, but will stop the “wide misuse” of the drugs to circumvent the state’s near-total abortion ban.
Curry said he consulted with the author of the Louisiana law, as well as OB/GYNs in Texas to draft the bill. He said the doctors who have criticized the legislation are raising these concerns as a “smokescreen” because they don’t want more restrictions.
“I understand that. We don’t need or want all kinds of regulations,” he said. “Especially as Republicans, regulations should not be high on our list, but in this case it’s a necessary evil given the situation.”
Texas roots for a Louisiana law
In March 2022, Mason Herring, a Houston attorney, spiked his wife’s water with misoprostol to force her to have an abortion. Catherine Herring was pregnant with the couple’s third child, a daughter who was born 10 weeks premature. She survived, but has significant developmental delays, according to the Associated Press.
Mason Herring was charged with felony assault to induce abortion, and pled guilty to injury to a child and assault to a pregnant person. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 10 years of probation.
Catherine Herring’s experience led her brother, Louisiana state Rep. Thom as Pressly, to file a bill that would have made it a crime to coerce someone into having an abortion.
But at the last minute, the bill was amended to also reclassify abortion-in ducing drugs as controlled substances, according to the Louisiana Illuminator, leaving hospitals and doctors scram bling to comply with the new restric tions. The state health department ad vised storing the medication in a locked area on the crash cart, which at least some hospitals have said is not feasible.
“We had to rework how we utilize misoprostol across our hospital sys tems,” Freehill said. “Labor and deliv ery, pharmacy, nursing staff, you name it, they were all involved with figuring out how to stay within the law but still use these medications that we need access to.”
It’s rare for a state to decide on its own to classify a drug as a controlled substance. Most commonly, the federal government decides which medications should be “scheduled,” based on their medical usefulness and the potential for abuse. Schedule I drugs, like heroin, have no medical use and are often used recreationally; Schedule IV and V are medications that are useful but have a potential for abuse, like Xanax or Valium.
There are enhanced penalties for having a controlled substance without a prescription, and increased restrictions on how doctors can dispense them. Pharmacists must report any prescriptions for controlled substances to the state Prescription Monitoring Program, and doctors are required to check the database
before prescribing certain controlled substances. Law enforcement also has access to that database.
Prescription monitoring has been key to combating the opioid epidemic by identifying doctors who were overprescribing and patients who were getting prescriptions from multiple providers. But with so much political attention on mifepristone and misoprostol as abortion-inducing drugs, doctors are worried about scrutiny for frequently prescribing these common medications.
“We had to fix a problem that wasn’t bro
ana health care providers recently filed a lawsuit arguing the law discriminates against people who need mifepristone and misoprostol for other conditions, and challenging whether the last minute amendments to the bill were proper. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has said the new restrictions are clear and should not delay care. Those who “have attempted to sow confusion and doubt,” she said in a statement, “profit from misinformation.”
When the law first went into effect, Anna Legreid Dopp, senior director of government relations for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, told CNN that the group expected other states to consider similar measures.
“Almost immediately, our members raised concern that if this is being done in one state, it can easily be a template for other states to use it,” Dopp said.
Restrictions on medication
Curry, who recently won a special election to fill the seat long held by Republican Rep. Doc Anderson, said Pressly and Herring have offered to come testify in support of his bill this session. He anticipates it getting wide support from his fellow lawmakers.
Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade, conservative groups have turned their attention to restricting access to abortion-inducing medications. A group of anti-abortion doctors filed a lawsuit to revoke the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone, which the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately rejected.
Curry said there are reasons to keep these medications on the market beyond abortion, but they need tighter restrictions.
“You can lie about your age, you can lie about your name, you can lie about your address, there’s no verification whatsoever,” he said, referring to online prescribers. “And it gets shipped to a 15-year-old girl, a 13-year-old girl.” It is already a crime to mail abortion-inducing medications in Texas, and many of the online pharmacies operate in a legal gray area outside U.S jurisdiction. Others are working in states that have “shield laws” that protect doctors’ ability to prescribe and mail pills into states that have banned abortion. None of these interstate and international legal questions have been tested in court with regards to abortion.
Freehill said she would encourage Texas doctors to learn from what has happened in Louisiana as they prepare to advocate against this bill this session.
“There’s a lot of education that needs to be done surrounding what this means and what these drugs are really used for,” she said. “I don’t know that we would have been able to sway people, even with more time, but we can at least educate on why this is completely inappropriate and really governmental overreach.”
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune. org/2024/11/25/abortion-texas-pills-controlled-substance/.
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
After Texas banned puberty blockers and hormones for trans kids, adults lost care, too
By Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune
“After Texas banned puberty blockers and hormones for trans kids, adults lost care, too” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
When the Texas Legislature moved to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors in 2023, Colin Zicko worried about trans teens.
Zicko, 22 at the time, knew what it was like to be a teenager seemingly trapped in the wrong body, desperate to stop the gendered changes brought on by puberty and better align his physical features to the person inside.
He also knew what it was like to be denied that option. Assigned female at birth, Zicko came out as trans when he was a teen. Without his parents’ permission, he couldn’t begin puberty blockers or hormone therapy, ushering in what he calls the “tunnel years,” when darkness closed in, his mental health plummeted and he contemplated suicide.
When he finally started hormone therapy as an adult, it felt like he could breathe again, the constant noise in his head about his body and gender presentation quieting enough to allow him to think. Zicko was angry that legislators were trying to take that peace from teens whose parents supported their transition.
And then he got a call from his doctor.
“The nurse, her voice was broken up and she was trying not to cry,” he remembers.
“She said, ‘I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to stop caring for you.’”
Even though he was an adult, Zicko’s doctor was at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin. In May 2023, all the providers suddenly left the clinic after Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation, citing a video sting by Project Veritas, a right-wing activist group, that claimed the practice provided certain gender-affirming care to patients as young as eight.
Zicko had two months of hormones left. Everywhere he called had monthslong wait lists. As an adult, there is no law preventing Zicko from accessing hormone therapy. But as he and other trans adults are learning, the state’s hostility toward trans-related health care for minors has sharply curtailed their ability to access care as well.
“An attack on any trans person, regardless of their age, is an attack on the entire community,” said Laura Terrill, CEO of Planned Parenthood South Texas, which provides transition care to adults. “While the bans have been focused on minors, which is heart wrenching, the impact that it’s having on adults, trans adults is in shame and stigma, and questions of whether or not they’re going to be able to continue to access the health care that they need and deserve.”
Escaping the tunnel
As a young kid in rural Louisiana, Zicko didn’t think much about gender. All the kids played together, had the same interests and dressed similarly.
Then he moved to suburban Texas to live with his dad.
“All of a sudden, I was told that I needed
to wear a dress. If I wanted to wear jeans, it was only while I was playing. I had to wear pink,” he remembers. “And very immediately, it felt wrong.”
When Zicko was 14, he came out to his family as trans. Confused and frustrated, his dad made him sew and wear a dress to prove he was a girl. Without his dad’s permission to get on hormones, Zicko started binding his breasts, eating foods that he thought might boost his testosterone and rapidly losing weight to try to stave off puberty.
The more his body changed to look like a woman’s, the worse his gender dysphoria, the distress someone can feel when their body doesn’t match their gender identity, became. He started smoking marijuana and disassociated from reality as much as possible, unable to stomach living in a body that felt so foreign.
When he was 19, he finally went to see a gender-affirming gynecologist, who connected him with doctors at Dell Children’s. They offered not just transition-related care but a holistic experience — he met with a dietician who helped him after years of disordered eating, a phlebotomist who kept up with his blood work, and a wide range of other health care providers to help manage his chronic conditions.
Getting on testosterone changed his physical appearance. It also calmed the anxiety and gender-fixation that had plagued him for years. Things that had loomed so large for him, like what he perceived as girlish hands, receded to a normal-sized worry.
“Gender dysphoria is a lying little bitch,” he said.
After years stuck in the tunnel, Zicko came into the light and started living as the trans masculine person he always knew he was. He got a job, found a community and reconnected with his dad. He finally got his dad’s support by framing it as an issue of personal freedom from government oversight, which seemed to do the trick.
Texas tackles trans issues
In the years since Zicko came out, being trans in Texas has gotten both easier and harder. More people are coming out, creating more community, connection and strength in numbers. But the backlash has been fierce, especially from conservative lawmakers in the Texas Legislature.
Texas, like most red states, has primarily focused on legislating what children can do. They’ve restricted what sports teams trans students can play on, tried to limit what they can be taught about gender and sexuality, and banned minors from medically transitioning. Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the state’s child welfare agency to investigate parents of trans kids, and Attorney General Ken Paxton brought investigations and lawsuits against doctors that offered these services.
Even though these efforts targeted trans children, the effects have rippled across age groups. Some doctors left Texas proactively, while others who were targeted for treating minors also treated adults, leaving those patients without providers.
Planned Parenthood South Texas provides gender-affirming care to adults at its clinics in San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley. Demand has quadrupled since 2018, as more people transition with fewer doctors to treat them.
“There’s so much misinformation from patients about what they are still able to access in Texas,” Terrill said. “So much of our work is providing patient reassurance and making sure our patients know their rights.”
When Zicko’s doctors suddenly left Texas in spring 2023, he had two months of testosterone left. He called clinics and gender-affirming gynecologists across the Austin area, each with a waitlist longer than the last. The soonest appointment he could get was October, six months away.
When his medication ran out, the old, familiar darkness returned. His period came back, his voice started to go high again and he felt his body changing, bringing with it crippling physical pain. He was often unable to get out of bed, unable to go to work, unable to imagine things ever getting better.
Desperate, he made another round of calls and was able to get a last-minute appointment with Planned Parenthood, where they refilled his testosterone and set him up with a new care team.
“And thank god, because I got to the point that I could not go another week,” he said. “I wanted to die, not because of my thoughts, but because I was hurting so much.”
Since then, he’s gotten a new job and moved in with his girlfriend. He’s living a life he never could have imagined when he was a teenager. He’s happy.
But he knows the fight isn’t over. Those months without care foreshadowed the pain and suffering trans people may experience if conservatives get their way, he said. The Texas Legislature will return in January, emboldened by incoming President Donald Trump, who has promised to enact an aggressive anti-trans agenda. Zicko knows more restrictions, more hostility, more debates over his right to live his life as he desires are on the horizon.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www. texastribune.org/2024/12/04/texas-trans-adult-care-diminishing/.
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
Benefits of Magnesium for Sleep
Magnesium is gaining attention as a natural remedy for sleep-related issues, thanks to its role in over 300 biochemical processes in the body. From calming the nervous system to alleviating conditions like insomnia and restless leg syndrome (RLS), magnesium supplementation may improve sleep quality and overall well-being. Here’s a closer look at its benefits and applications:
How Magnesium Benefits Sleep
Calming the Nervous System
Magnesium activates gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, which regulate brain activity and promote relaxation. By enhancing GABA and melatonin activity, magnesium helps maintain a balanced circadian rhythm and eases stress.
Reducing Insomnia
Magnesium deficiency has been linked to sleep disturbances. Studies show that supplementation may enhance melatonin production, reduce nighttime awakenings, and improve sleep duration, especially in older adults.
Alleviating Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression, common triggers for insomnia, may be eased with magnesium, which has been shown to reduce related symptoms and improve sleep quality.
Soothing Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
Magnesium’s muscle-relaxing properties may relieve the discomfort of RLS, which often disrupts sleep.
Types of Magnesium for Sleep
Magnesium Glycinate: Known for its calming effects, it promotes relaxation and stress reduction.
Magnesium Oxide: Typically used for magnesium deficiency and may indirectly support sleep.
Magnesium L-Threonate: May enhance cognitive function and address age-related sleep disturbances.
Dosage and Timing
Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA):
Women: 310–320 mg
Men: 400–420 mg
Taking magnesium about an hour before bed may optimize its relaxing effects. Improvement in sleep quality varies by individual, with some noticing benefits within a week.
Who Can Benefit from Magnesium Supplementation?
Older Adults: Magnesium absorption decreases with age.
Individuals with Digestive Disorders: Conditions like Crohn’s disease can impair absorption.
People with Alcohol Use Disorder or Type 2 Diabetes: Both conditions are linked to magnesium depletion.
Those Experiencing Anxiety, Depression, or Insomnia: Magnesium can help alleviate these symptoms for improved sleep.
Final Thoughts
Magnesium supplementation offers a promising, natural approach to improving sleep quality. While most people can meet their magnesium needs through diet, individuals with specific health conditions or sleep challenges may benefit from supplementation. Consult a healthcare provider to determine the appropriate type and dosage for your needs.
