Texan ENT - March 2019

Texan ENT - March 2019

TexanENT.com

512.550.0321

MARCH 2019

Satellite Offices:

601A Leah Avenue San Marcos, TX 78666 Tuesday and Thursday afternoons

1009 W San Antonio Street Lockhart, TX 78644 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month

‘EAR, NEWS, AND THROAT’

The Magic of New Zealand DOWN UNDER … AND A LITTLE TO THE RIGHT

I am fortunate to have traveled a lot in my life. In the year between finishing my residency and moving to Texas, I enjoyed a time frame in which I alternated between working and traveling for a fewmonths. For about three months in early 2011, I spent some time exploring Australia and New Zealand. February of 2011 was spent entirely in New Zealand, and it was one of the best months of my life. When I think of wonderful trips, I think of New Zealand. I flew over from Sydney, Australia, rented a car, and drove all over the North and South Islands. It was summer down in the southern hemisphere, so I was able to hike mountains and go to the beach in February. One of the best sights was Milford Sounds, a fiord in the South Island. And even though it was the middle of their summer, the jagged mountains outside the city of Queenstown —which are literally called The Remarkables —were capped with bright white snow. Everywhere I looked, there was something beautiful to see. New Zealand was isolated from the rest of the world for millions of years, so life looks different there. Yes, you’ll see birds and grass, but you’ll also find plants and animals that are unique to that area. It makes every inch of the country — the trees, the grass, the mountains, even the sand — look magical. There’s a reason Peter Jackson decided to film the Lord of the Rings movies in New Zealand. There are only around 4.9 million people living in New Zealand, meaning there aren’t many massive cities or traffic. Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand, is home to 1.6 million people, more than the entire population of the South Island. For perspective, there are 39 million sheep in New Zealand, outnumbering humans 8 to 1. It’s this small population that makes New Zealand so special. What I loved most about New Zealand was how it felt like driving through an idealized version of 1950’s America. I just drove through untamed wilderness, passing through the occasional small town. Everyone I met in these towns were so nice. I was always welcomed with open arms and got the feeling that everyone really was friends with everyone else.

Most of my New Zealand trip was a magical time, but there was one thing I never hope to experience again. Towards the end of my trip, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake occurred in Christchurch, the city where I happened to be staying. This earthquake became New Zealand’s fifth-deadliest disaster, and I was lucky to have made it out okay. The earthquake and the aftershocks were terrifying, but the evening after the earthquake, I saw something pretty amazing. Everyone in the building I was staying at all gathered together outside just to hang out. I met so many cool people and established relationships I would have never found anywhere else. People bond after going through a disaster together, and I take it as a sign that we can get through anything as long as we remember that we have each other. New Zealand is my favorite place in the world. I haven’t been back since, but I would love to return with my family when Audrey is a little older. If you ever have the opportunity to visit New Zealand, I recommend staying for at least two weeks. That’s the minimum amount of time to justify flying halfway

around the world. And that’s howmuch time you’ll need to explore the islands. Be sure to rent a car and drive around yourself. It’s the best way to soak up all the beauty. Just don’t forget that Kiwis drive on the opposite side of the road. –Dr. Seth Evans

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Spring is in the air, and it’s time to celebrate with another round of spring-cleaning. Banish the clutter and make room in your life for something new! Many charities see a sharp increase in donations as spring-cleaning season starts. Donating your used books, kids’ toys, and gently worn clothing allows your old items to have a second life. However, when filling that donation box, make sure you’re donating each item because it can do good and not just because you feel bad about throwing it away. Charities have a big problemwith well-meaning citizens dropping off items that are better left in the trash. There are many items charities simply cannot handle. Most charities will have lists of items they can and cannot accept on their websites. Some items that you should not donate include: • Expired medications • Old TVs • Cribs • Loose remote controls • Personal care items, like soap, shampoo, or makeup • Mattresses • Carpets • Tangled cords or phone chargers • Any broken, damaged, or dirty items These items may be unsafe to sell, costly to ship, or impossible to refurbish effectively. When a charity regularly receives items they cannot use, they have to spend hours of manpower sorting through things that end up in the trash anyway. This process can be expensive for organizations with already-strained resources. Some local charities spend over $1,000 a year on dumpster and trash removal fees for unusable donations. While charities will have no choice but to throw unusable donations in the trash, there are services you can use to make your spring-cleaning eco-friendly, even for items you can’t donate. For example, if you have torn or stained blue jeans, reach out to Blue Jeans Go Green. This program keeps denim out of landfills by turning it into insulation. And while Goodwill can’t take your batteries or old flip phone, you can check out Call2Recycle.org to learn how to safely recycle your e-waste.

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE ACADEMY AWARDS If you’re a big film buff, then there’s a good chance you set aside one important night each spring to watch the Academy Awards. A great number of memorable moments have happened during the Oscars, such as the 2017 “La La Land” best picture mix-up, the 1974 streaking incident when a naked man ran across the stage, or the 2013 falling accident when Jennifer Lawrence tripped as she walked on stage to receive her award for best actress. The Academy Awards is an event you don’t want to miss out on. Here are three ways you can get the most out of Oscars night. 1. Play Trivia Everyone loves a good trivia challenge. If you and your family watch the ceremony live, you can use the commercial breaks to test your knowledge. Pose questions about the best picture winners over the last 90 years or the actors selected for different categories. You can also find printable Oscars prediction charts and offer prizes to whoever has the highest number of correct answers. 2. Themed Food If you’re throwing an Oscars party, serving some tasty dishes is a must. But why not kick it up a notch and keep your entrees and hors d’oeuvres in line with the blockbuster theme? There are multiple recipes for Oscars-party popcorn online, and you can also use star-shaped cookie cutters for your desserts. For your libations, you can serve cocktails from famous films and make a martini even James Bond would approve of. 3. Tickets Galore! The ticket price for the first motion picture ever shown at the oldest American movie theater cost 15–25 U.S. cents, depending on the location of your seat. Nowadays, the price of watching a film is astronomical. Fortunately, there are ways for you to create the feeling of watching a film premiere or Oscars ceremony from your own home. Find printable tickets online to distribute to your guests before the showing, and encourage them to dress like they are heading to the red carpet. ARE YOU A MOVIE FANATIC?

Your donations can be a big help to local charities. Just don’t “donate” your garbage.

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‘ M I G R A I N E R E S E T ’

A Book to End Your Migraine Troubles

If you or someone you love suffers from migraines, this book can answer all the questions you’ve ever wanted to ask about migraines. These are questions we hear from patients every day:

Over 100 years ago, an ENT doctor named Greenfield Sluder set out to change the way patients deal with migraines. Dr. Sluder discovered that by applying a painkiller to a bundle of nerves located in the back of the nose, he could alleviate his patient’s cluster headache. In Dr. Sluder’s day, this treatment was conducted by coating a long Q-tip with cocaine or lidocaine, sticking it up the patient’s nose, and letting it rest there for 30 minutes. Even though this treatment was effective, it was also uncomfortable and difficult for patients, so it never caught on. Fortunately, modern medicine has come a long way. Today, this migraine cure is virtually painless and takes just five minutes. Officially called “sphenopalatine ganglion block” our patients know this treatment better by the name we use here at the office: The RESET Treatment. Despite being around for over a century, many patients who suffer from chronic migraines still aren’t aware this treatment is available. They reach for pill bottles and put their life on hold for days, unaware that relief could be just minutes away. After years of treating migraines, Dr. Evans decided to write a book to help educate people about the most effective form of migraine relief. We are proud to announce “Migraine Reset: A Simple Method For Relief From Chronic Headaches” is now available!

• How can I tell if I have a headache or a migraine? • Can the migraine medication I use lead to more headaches? • Why do so many people get the wrong treatment for their migraines? • What’s the best way to treat a migraine? • Is it possible to get rid of my migraines forever? Have an appointment coming up? Don’t forget to grab a copy of “Migraine Reset” the next time you’re in the office! If you can’t make it out to our office, you can order a copy or get an instant ebook download on Amazon.com. Just search “Migraine Reset, Dr. Seth Evans.” “Migraine Reset” can help you understand and respond your migraines better, but if you live in fear of another migraine, don’t suffer another day. Give us a call at 512-550-0321 and learn how the RESET Treatment can help you.

LAUGH! HAVE A

Beet, Mint, and Ricotta Hummus

A delicious and healthy take on the classic Levantine spread, this hummus will brighten up your March Madness snack spread.

Ingredients

• • • • •

1 garlic clove, grated

•

1 6-ounce beet (about the size of an adult fist), scrubbed 1 15 1/2-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1 teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander Mint leaves, poppy seeds, and olive oil, for garnish

•

• • •

1/3 cup tahini, well-mixed 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup ricotta cheese

Directions

4. Once beet is cool enough to handle, use a paper towel to remove beet skin. Trim root end and cut into small pieces. Add to blender

1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. Wrap beet tightly in foil. On a foil-lined baking sheet, roast wrapped beet until fork tender, about 60–70 minutes. 3. While beet is roasting, blend chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, ricotta, garlic, salt, pepper, and coriander until smooth.

or food processor, and blend until entire mixture is smooth. Add additional salt if desired.

5. Transfer to a shallow bowl, top with garnishes, and serve.

Inspired by Bon Appétit magazine

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

1180 SETON PARKWAY, SUITE 330 KYLE, TX 78640

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Page 1 The Most Magical Place on Earth

Page 2 Why Charities Hate Spring-Cleaning

Page 2 Make the Most of the Academy Awards

Page 3 Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Migraines

Page 3 Beet, Mint, and Ricotta Hummus

Page 4 AWord From the Westies

Hours: Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A SALUTE TO FREEDOM

Remember K-9Veterans

Sgt. Stubby The greatest war dog ever was Sgt. Stubby. In 1917, this stray pit bull mix fell into the ranks of the 102nd

Hello, everybody!

March 13 is K-9 Veterans Day, which celebrates the founding of the K-9 Corps becoming an official part of the U.S. Armed Forces. This month, we wanted to recognize some of the brave dogs who have been there for their humans during the toughest times. Smoky the Yorkie

Infantry Regiment while they trained at Yale University. When they shipped out to fight in World War II, Stubby was smuggled into France. Stubby became invaluable, sounding the alarm before gas attacks and rescuing wounded soldiers in no man’s land. Once, Stubby even found a German spy hiding in the bushes and mapping American positions. The commanding

Never judge a dog by her size. One of the most heroic dogs in World War II was a little Yorkshire Terrier named Smoky. In 1944,

officer was so impressed, he promoted Stubby on the spot. Stubby was the first dog to officially earn the title of sergeant. These are just a few of the amazing dogs who have served the United States alongside their humans. You can learn more about the role of dogs in the armed forces at Military.com/ veterans-day/k9-veterans-day.html.

Smoky was found by an American soldier in a foxhole in the jungles of New Guinea. Smoky served in the South Pacific, surviving 12 combat missions, 150 air raids, and used her excellent hearing to warn soldiers of incoming artillery shells. Once,

she successfully kept 250 ground crewmen out of harm’s way by pulling telegraph wire through a narrow pipe. After the war, Smoky came to the U.S. with her owner and lived a long, happy life.

Izzy & Emma