Texan ENT - May 2020

Texan ENT - May 2020

TexanENT.com

512.550.0321

MAY 2020

Satellite Offices:

601 A 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’

SOME GREAT NEWS

Announcing Evans Baby No. 2!

These last fewmonths have been pretty difficult. Everyone has faced challenges, so I’m really glad to have some good news to share. Renee and I are expecting our second baby! We found out on Christmas Eve, and in February, a blood test told us that she will be a girl. Learning that we are going to have another girl was really welcome news. For those keeping score, come September, my household will include me, my wife, my 2-year-old Audrey, our new baby girl, and two girl dogs. I’m going to be extremely outnumbered, but I don’t mind. We’re really excited. So far, everything seems to be going really well. Of course, we’ve been worried about the virus issue, but at the time of writing, it doesn’t look like pregnant women are at any higher risk for COVID-19. Understandably, Renee is still worried, and we’re taking extra precautions to keep her and the baby healthy. Audrey is still pretty young, so I’m not sure howmuch of the situation she really understands. She does understand that there’s a baby in Mama’s belly. When Audrey gives Renee a kiss, Renee will say, “Give baby a kiss,” and Audrey will lean over to kiss her belly. It’s super cute. We’ve told her she’s going to have a little sister, and she seems pretty excited. Audrey will say things like “big sister” and “little sister,” so I think she gets the idea. She’s been around babies a couple of times, and she’s been really interested in helping out with the baby. Audrey’s a sweet little girl, and I think she’s going to be a good sister. We’ve heard from a number of people that your second kid tends to be the total opposite of your first one. Audrey wants what she wants, and she’s not afraid to go for it, so I hope that means our new baby will be a little cuddle bear who just wants to chill. Whatever their personality, our family is getting bigger, and that’s exciting. Everyone on my side of the family has just two kids, and raising two girls sounds like enough to me! After Audrey, I’d like to think we know what we’re doing better this time. Those first few sleepless months will be rough. Newborns are cute, but taking care of them can be tough when you’re sleep deprived. I think kids get easier as they get older. Audrey has gotten easier and easier to care for as time goes on. She can eat by herself and go to the bathroom by herself, and she’s gotten

more independent. Audrey has also been talking more, which is nice. Building that communication has made everything a lot smoother. That said, I imagine things only get easier until kids become teenagers — then things become quite a bit harder for a while.

In this difficult time, it’s a relief to remember there are good things to look forward to. In a fewmonths, I’ll be meeting my new daughter, and I can’t wait. Renee and I have been thinking of names, but —much to my mother’s displeasure —we’re not going to announce anything until the new baby comes. Hopefully when she gets here, everything will be back to normal.

–Dr. Seth Evans

PAGE 2

512.550.0321

TexanENT.com

CAN A DAITH PIERCING REALLY STOP MIGRAINES?

Summertime is synonymous with many childhood experiences: hours splashing in the pool, sleepaway camp, and snow cones, to name a few. A quintessential summer destination that isn’t as common these days is the drive-in theater, yet many childhood memories are built on this little bit of nostalgia. The first drive-in theater opened in 1933 in Camden, New Jersey. At the time, films cost 25 cents per person, plus 25 cents per car, and drive-ins usually got movies in the second run, after they’d shown at indoor theaters. The trend started off slow, but by the ‘50s, Americans had fully embraced the outdoor theater experience. The ‘80s brought a charismatic Michael J. Fox to audiences in “Back to the Future,” and shortly after, “The Sandlot” hit the big screen and gave us lines that we’d quote for the next decade (“You’re killin’ me, Smalls!”). As of 2018, USA Today estimated that only about 330 drive-in theaters still exist in the United States. Fortunately, we still have a wonderful drive-in theater in our area! The Blue Starlite Drive-in Theater in Austin shows everything from childhood favorites to cult classics all year long. Visit BlueStarliteDrivein.com for tickets and showtimes. Not able to make it out to the drive-in? Your family can enjoy the outdoor movie experience without having to leave the backyard. Start with a projector. If you don’t have one, they are readily available to purchase at most big-box stores. For playing the movie, you’ll need a laptop and streaming service or a DVD or Blu-ray player. You’ll connect these devices to your projector through an HDMI port. As long as you’re not broadcasting to the whole neighborhood, stereo or computer speakers should be just fine, but you can also opt for a Bluetooth speaker that will give your audio a big boost. Next, you’ll need a flat surface to display the movie. A plain, white bedsheet makes a good screen, or you can make your own with white fabric from craft stores or online. Cushions, blankets, and outdoor hanging lights add a fun touch to your cinema. Just be sure to turn the lights off before the movie begins — and silence those cellphones! Once your setup is complete, select your movie, get the popcorn popping, and enjoy some movie magic right in your backyard.

What You Need to Know Every 10 seconds in the U.S., someone walks into an emergency room complaining that their head hurts. Often, these people are suffering from a migraine, which is a neurological disorder that causes debilitating headaches, dizziness, and nausea. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, migraines are

the third most prevalent illness in the world, so odds are you’ve either had one or known someone who has.

Migraines can make it hard to hold down a job and keep up family obligations, so people who suffer from them are always on the lookout for new treatments. Often, they turn to holistic medicine like acupuncture, essential oils, and diet changes. In the last few years, another treatment has become more popular: daith piercings. The daith is the smallest fold of cartilage in your ear, located where the outer and inner ear meet. Though daith piercings are tricky to do, they’ve gained traction on social media. According to many acupuncturists, the daith is home to a key pressure point for pain relief. By piercing the daith, the theory goes, migraine sufferers can move beyond acupuncture and get permanent relief. But does this actually work? According to the American Migraine Foundation and Healthline, the scientific evidence is inconclusive. In 2017, Frontiers in Neurology published a case study that found that one patient’s migraines improved after he got a daith piercing. However, the researchers stopped short of recommending the piercing to migraine sufferers because of its potential risk of infection and the possibility that the improvements in this single case were due to a placebo effect. Still, the daith pressure point does exist, and there is a wealth of anecdotal evidence that the piercing helps. Euphoric stories like this one from Keisha Stokes, who shared her experience on a medical blog, give hope to migraine sufferers who have tried everything else: “I have had the piercing for just under 30 days, and I have had one severe migraine since then, but one as opposed to 3–6 is pretty fair in my book. I am not a medical expert by far, but I can say that at this very moment, I wish I had known about this piercing long ago.” If you’re considering a daith piercing, just be sure to weigh the risks before you commit. Photo Credit: Carnivoredaddy, Wikimedia commons

TexanENT.com

512.550.0321

PAGE 3

MOST COMMON REASONS TO SEE A PEDIATRIC ENT PT. 2

At Texan ENT, we treat patients of all ages. Each patient has their own unique needs, but we see some cases more than others. Last month, we covered four reasons why your primary doctor may refer your child to a pediatric ENT. This month, we finish the list with four more health problems parents should be aware of. No. 5: Tonsillitis If your child has been complaining of a chronic, painful sore throat, then they may be suffering from an infection of the tonsils called tonsillitis. This is often caused by bacteria commonly known as “strep.” Most cases of tonsillitis can be treated with antibiotics, but patients must seek care immediately. No. 6: Epistaxis Epistaxis is doctor speak for “nosebleeds.” Children get nosebleeds pretty regularly, usually due to excessive nose picking. However, nosebleeds that last a long time or happen for no apparent reason may be a symptom of a larger problem. No. 7: Hypernasal Speech Children who struggle to pronounce certain sounds, like vowels or the letters S, B, and K, may have hypernasal speech. This is when too much air escapes through the nose while talking because the roof of the mouth and the throat do not seal properly. Hypernasal speech can be caused by any number

of things, including problems with the adenoids and/or the palate. No. 8: Pediatric Sleep Disorders Many children suffer from undiagnosed sleep disorders. This is because the symptoms of these disorders are mistaken for “normal” childhood behaviors. Snoring, waking up frequently, having apnea episodes, and experiencing sleepiness during the day are common symptoms of pediatric sleep disorders. The most common causes of these disorders are enlarged adenoids and/or tonsils, which can be diagnosed by an ENT. All of these conditions sound very scary when they’re happening to your child. Rest assured that Dr. Evans and the team at Texan ENT are trained to make sure your child is comfortable while receiving treatment. If you have any questions about your child’s health, feel free to call 512.550.0321. We’re here to help your family receive the best possible care.

HAVE A LAUGH

Springtime Cacio e Pepe

Nothing is more comforting than a big bowl of cacio e pepe, which is Italian for cheese and pepper. This dish combines a wholesome flavor profile with fresh, seasonal ingredients to satisfy any craving.

Ingredients

•

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 cup baby arugula

• • • •

6 oz multigrain spaghetti

8 oz fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces

• •

1 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp lemon zest

Directions

1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. In a large pot, cook spaghetti until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of water before draining and put spaghetti in a covered pot to keep warm. 3. Line a 15x10-inch baking pan with foil and toss in asparagus and olive oil. 4. Cook asparagus for 5–7 minutes and sprinkle with lemon zest. 5. Add 3/4 cup of the reserved water, Parmesan cheese, and pepper to the spaghetti. Stir until creamy. 6. Toss in asparagus and arugula before serving.

INSPIRED BY EATING WELL

PAGE 4

512.550.0321

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

1180 SETON PARKWAY, SUITE 330 KYLE, TX 78640

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Page 1 A Very Exciting Announcement

Page 2 The Timeless Charm of the Drive-In Movie

Page 2 Can a Daith Piercing Really Stop Migraines?

Page 3 4 More Reasons Your Child Needs an ENT

Page 3 Springtime Cacio e Pepe

Page 4 Word From the Westies

PARENTING LESSONS FROM ELEPHANTS Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Best Moms in the Animal Kingdom

octopus eggs to hatch. In the meantime, they need to be fanned to stay oxygenated so the baby octopuses inside can breathe. A mother octopus will guard and fan her eggs during the full 40 days. When the eggs finally hatch, the mother octopus dies of exhaustion. Someone really needs to tell octopus moms about the importance of self-care. Elephants Elephant mothers aren’t just great at taking care of their own young — they’re also very supportive to other elephant moms. Female elephants will come together and put themselves at risk to protect a baby elephant, even if the baby isn’t their own. Grandmothers, sister, aunts, and even female cousins will lend a trunk to help care for baby elephants. This is called “allomothering,” and it’s why elephants are No. 1 on our list!

Hello, everybody!

We have an important reminder: Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10. All the moms we know are pretty awesome. Renee always takes the best care of baby Audrey! This month, we want to celebrate moms by highlighting the best mothers in the animal kingdom. Orangutans Some parents will really relate to the orangutan. Mother orangutans have to carry their babies everywhere for the first five years of the baby’s life. Baby orangutans are completely dependent on their mothers, often breastfeeding until they’re 8 years old. Once they’re old enough to go out on their own, female orangutans will often come back and visit their moms, which is pretty rare in the animal kingdom. Octopuses A single female octopus can lay thousands of eggs. Talk about a big family! Mama octopuses are so dedicated to making sure their eggs stay safe that they won’t even leave to eat. It takes 40 days for

Here’s to all the great moms out there. Don’t forget to call your mom this Mother’s Day! Izzy & Emma