Texan ENT Specialists - June 2021

Texan ENT Specialists - June 2021

TexanENT.com

512.550.0321

JUNE 2021

Main Office:

Satellite Office:

1180 Seton Parkway, Suite 330 Kyle TX 78640

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

‘EAR, NEWS, AND THROAT’

DR. EVANS IS A PHISH HEAD?! A Longtime Musical Love

My favorite band happens to be one of the most polarizing musical acts of all time: Phish. I got into them back when I was in high school, and my love for the band and their four talented members grew in college. June 21 is World Music Day, so I’m taking some time to reflect on just what makes this band so special to me. I really got into Phish the summer before I started college. I heard a song here or there in high school and always thought they sounded cool, but once I bought their double CD live album that summer, I was hooked. I pretty much wore those CDs out, they got played so much. The band really formed the soundtrack of my college days, and as music often does, listening to certain Phish songs brings up memories of that time in my life. While I’m not as devoted as the fans who follow them around the country for every show, I still love them to this day. In fact, I last saw them in 2018 in Austin. Some people are quite surprised to hear me say I love Phish. A lot of people associate Phish fans with pot smoking or other drugs, and while some fans fit that mold, I definitely buck the stereotype! What I love about the band is the versatility and

creativity of the musicians. No two shows are ever the same, and sometimes a given song is altered or lengthened when band members are moved to improvise (which is often and can be quite long). That improvisation is really incredible, especially when their guitarist does it. It’s also the reason I’ll never be able to listen to every song they’ve ever performed even though they’re all at my fingertips in the band’s app, LivePhish. The band has also been really generous with their fans and sharing their music. They’re sometimes compared to the Grateful Dead, a band also notorious for a fan base so devoted that they followed the musicians all around the country. While Phish’s music is quite different, they do follow the legacy of the Grateful Dead in allowing fans to record and share music from their shows. They’ve also been able to create a huge community of fans just like the Grateful Dead. None of us have been able to attend concerts for quite a while now, but even before COVID hit, my attendance at big shows was pretty infrequent. One thing that’s cool about Phish, though, is they are livestreaming more and more of their shows, and

as soon as an hour after a concert wraps, the whole performance is available on their app. Of course, it’s not the same as being there in person. Phish’s live shows are really where they shine. You just never know what to expect or what will happen, and that’s part of the magic. I’ve dabbled in playing guitar, and I was a tuba player when I was in school. I never became one of the greats, but I know how much dedication and practice goes into being a skilled musician. Those guys are on the top of their game, and their skill and talent are unparalleled. Music is such a personal thing. My wife Renee isn’t the biggest Phish fan, and I totally get that. I know Phish isn’t for everyone. But whatever song or band helps you get lost in the music or makes

you nostalgic for a previous time in your life, indulge it this month. And hopefully, we’ll all be able to catch live shows again soon.

–Dr. Seth Evans

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The warm summer sun may be enough to beckon your family outdoors, but lawn games will guarantee hours of fun outside. If you’re handy, there are plenty of great lawn games you can make yourself. If not, buy an off-the-shelf alternative and enjoy the easy setup. Giant Jenga: Easy DIY All you need to build a giant Jenga tower are two-by-fours that are cut to length. If you’re handy with a saw, you can do this at home. If not, ask to have the wood cut at your local lumberyard. Be sure to sand down the edges before stacking the boards to create a classic Jenga tower! For extra fun, pick a few paint colors and paint each board. Visit ABeautifulMess.com/make-this-giant-jenga to see a complete set of instructions. Buy: Skip the project and buy GoSports Giant Wooden Toppling Tower online, which retails for about $70 and stacks over 5 feet high. Classic Horseshoes: Intermediate DIY Tossing horseshoes is a great way to pass an afternoon. To play, you’ll just need to set up two sand pits in your yard. Get a handful of horseshoes, and you’re ready to go! Many DIY plans are available online, including one from HousefulOfHandmade.com/ultimate-diy-horseshoe-pit. Buy: Check out the kid-friendly rubber horseshoe set from Wayfair.com, which requires no installation, can be used indoors or alongside your outdoor game, and is safe for younger children. Cornhole: Advanced DIY The humble beanbag may be the most versatile backyard game piece. It’s used in the popular game commonly known as cornhole. To build your own cornhole set, you’ll need a couple of sheets of 1/2-inch- thick plywood along with two-by-fours, some hardware, and a variety of tools including a drill, jigsaw, and sander. Visit DIYPete.com/cornhole-board-plans to get both written and video instructions.

There’s nothing so trendy as a new superfood or diet, and the “in vogue” ones change constantly. Older readers may remember the Atkins diets and other fads of the early 2000s, but younger ones may not even remember a time before the paleo diet was a thing — and it’s already almost a thing of the past. Many things we associate with these trends, though, are anything but new. We see this most clearly with the grains we turn to in the name of health. Westerners generally wouldn’t be familiar with quinoa, amaranth, teff, or kamut if it weren’t for their presence in the hippest healthy-eating Instagram feeds. Many of these foods hail from Africa or the Far East, so it’s understandable we don’t know them all — but there’s nothing really new about them. People in the Americas and the Old World have eaten quinoa for 3,000–5,000 years. Teff, which is technically a grass seed, was one of the first domesticated plants, emerging thousands of years ago in what is now Ethiopia. Alternate sources of protein and fiber show a similar trend. Seaweed — the perennial favorite of Twitter dieters everywhere — has been consumed in China, Korea, and Japan since before recorded history. If you know anything about recorded history in those regions, then you know that’s a long time! And kale has been cultivated since at least 2,000 B.C. in Greece, Asia Minor, and other parts of the Mediterranean. So, the next time you dig into your favorite health food, take a moment to Google what you are eating. You might be part of a long line of human beings who have turned to that food for sustenance over the millennia! KALE, SEAWEED, AND OTHER NOT-SO-NEW SUPERFOODS

Buy: Ready to play ASAP? Cornhole sets are available from many large retailers

around summertime, or you can order a customized set featuring your favorite team, family name, or characters from your favorite movies by looking at Etsy.com.

Whether you buy or DIY, remember to have fun and always supervise your children while playing outdoors, especially

when it comes to yard games!

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Home Remedies for Headaches

THAT DON’T INVOLVE TAKING PILLS

When your head is hurting, it’s hard to focus on anything else. Healing or soothing a headache doesn’t have to mean you head for the medicine cabinet, though. Here are some do’s and don’ts when you want a home remedy to ease the pain.

smart to refrain from imbibing until your headache goes away. Instead, drink water or a soothing herbal tea. Sometimes a small amount of caffeine can help, so consider a mug of green or black tea. Don’t: Get Dehydrated. This may be more of a preventative measure than a remedy because you need to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and avoid one of the most common headache triggers: dehydration. This is one of the simplest and most effective headache helpers out there. Adding electrolytes to the mix can also help. You can buy powdered electrolytes to add to your water or buy a premade drink like Gatorade. If you’re experiencing regular headaches you can’t seem to get under control, Dr. Evans and the team at Texan ENT can help. Give us a call or visit us online at TexanENT.com.

Do: Sleep well. If it seems like you always hear about how important good sleep is, that’s because it’s one of the basic pillars of good health. Getting the proper nightly rest can help with everything from maintaining a healthy body weight to decreasing your risk of heart disease. When it comes to headaches, studies have shown that people who don’t get enough sleep are more prone to frequent headaches.

amount to your temples. Massaging the oil into your temples can also help alleviate pain.

A hot compress applied to your forehead or back of your neck can relieve tension for certain kinds of headaches as well. Constricted blood vessels can be the source of head pain, and the warmth helps ease constriction and gets the blood flowing. Some patients also find that alternating a hot and cold compress feels good. Don’t: Drink alcohol. We all know that alcohol can trigger headaches. It’s also a diuretic, which can lead to dehydration. But even if drinking didn’t cause your headache, it’s

Do: Try essential oils or a hot/cold compress.

Lavender and peppermint essential oils are both great headache home remedies. Because essential oils are so strong, you only need to apply a small

HAVE A LAUGH

EASY TUNA POKE BOWL

Inspired by TheKitchn.com

This protein-packed recipe is the perfect dinner for two on a hot summer night when you don’t want to turn on the oven.

Ingredients

• • • •

2 tsp soy sauce 1 tsp sesame oil 2 tbsp orange juice

• • • • • •

2 tbsp cilantro leaves, chopped 1 scallion, finely chopped 1 cup rice, cooked and cooled

1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced 10 oz canned tuna, drained

1/4 cup avocado, cubed

4 cherry tomatoes, quartered

•

1 tbsp sesame seeds

Directions

1. First, make the dressing. In a jar, add soy sauce, sesame oil, orange juice, and ginger. Secure the lid and shake until emulsified. 2. In a small bowl, empty the drained tuna and pour the dressing over top. Add the cilantro and scallions and stir until well coated. 3. Divide rice between two serving bowls. Top with the dressed tuna, avocado, tomatoes, and sesame seeds.

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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 Dr. Evans’ Favorite Band May Surprise You

Page 2 DIY or Buy: Lawn Games for Summer Fun

Superfoods Are Not So New ...

Page 3 Home Remedies for Headaches

Easy Tuna Poke Bowl

Page 4 Word From the Westies

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

We All Bark for Ice Cream! YOU SCREAM, I SCREAM

Wow! It’s summer already. I don’t know where all our four-pawed friends are reading this newsletter live, but we’re in Texas,

But we wanted to propose a new summer holiday: The Dog Days of Summer Dog-Friendly Ice Cream Day! We might have to shorten

and it can get really, really hot here. And hot dogs aren’t happy dogs! Humans sweat, which is honestly so weird, but we canines just have to find some shade, drink water, and pant it out to cool down. Sometimes Audrey and Clare will get a frozen sweet treat to help them cool down. June is National Chocolate Ice

the name a bit, but the idea is that you make a special frozen treat just for us. We even found a super easy recipe to share! Put 16 ounces of plain yogurt, one ripe banana, and 1/3 cup of peanut butter (make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol!) in a blender. Blend until smooth and then pour into an ice tray, put it in the freezer for a few hours, and voila! You’ve made bite-size dog-friendly ice cream treats. There

how cute they are because we’ll be focused on how delicious they taste!

Our only request? Skip the cone. We prefer to eat our ice cream out of a bowl. Or better yet, right out of your hand! We hope you have an awesome start to the summer and stay as cool as Emma looks in her sunglasses.

Cream Day, and while the humans may indulge, everyone knows dogs aren’t supposed to have chocolate. Plus, Mom and Dad don’t like to feed us human food. We have our own special food we eat!

are some really cute silicone molds out there you could use, too. Some are in the shape of hearts or dog paws, but to be totally honest, we aren’t going to notice