Texan ENT Specialsts - January 2021

Texan ENT Specialsts - January 2021

TexanENT.com

512.550.0321

JANUARY 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’

TEA FOR 2

Why TeaWill Always Remind Me of Renee

J anuary has some pretty big holidays, like New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. But as I was looking at the calendar this month, I couldn’t help but smile when I saw it was also National Hot Tea Month. It’s one of those quirky holidays many of us don’t know about or actively celebrate, but it brought back a great memory of when Renee and I first began dating. It was just before our first Christmas together as a couple, and we decided to go to dinner at this fancy Thai restaurant. The food was great, but what we both enjoyed the most was the tea. In fact, we liked it so much that we asked the restaurant where they purchased it. Turns out it was from a local shop called the Tea Exchange. As Christmas approached, I had this great idea of the perfect gift for Renee. I knew she enjoyed tea just like I do, so I bought her a teapot and some of that very tea we had discovered at the Thai restaurant. I was so excited to give her this thoughtful gift, and as a bonus, it wasn’t that expensive. When we traded gifts that year, I watched as Renee opened her teapot. Her reaction was … less than I had hoped. When I opened her gift, I found out why. She had bought me a $500 gift card to the Apple Store! That’s the day I discovered gift-giving was Renee’s top love language (you know, those love language tests that determine if you feel love from your partner when they do laundry or if they give you an unexpected gift). Since that holiday, I’ve put quite a bit more thought into the gifts I give her each year. I’m proud to say I’ve gotten a little better since “the tea incident,” but Renee has remained a great gift giver. She always knows just what to give people and the perfect way to make them smile with a gift. My most notable gift was that I was able to completely surprise Renee one year on her birthday with a new car. I did my research in the weeks leading up to her birthday, and I surprised her with an Uber ride to the dealership. From there, we drove home in her brand-new vehicle! I earned a few brownie points with that one! Now that we have kids, we’ve settled down on the big, extravagant gifts, but it’s still fun to find ways to surprise one another. We may have more responsibilities, and Audrey and Clare get to be on the receiving end of the big fun gifts these

days, but that doesn’t make our own little gift exchanges between one another any less fun — if not slightly competitive!

And some things don’t change. We still both enjoy a hot cup of tea in the morning or just before bed. We love how tea is healthy for you but is a warm, comforting beverage you can enjoy before bed without the fear of drinking too much caffeine. I’ll never forget my years during my residency when I basically lived off caffeine, and while I do need a cup or two to get going in the morning, I’m happy to stick with tea these days.

In the end, our first Christmas was one to remember, even if it offered me a harsh lesson at the outset of our relationship. But there’s no one else I’d rather try to out-do when it comes to giving gifts or to share a cup of tea with than Renee.

–Dr. Seth Evans

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Just this past October, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to what can only be described as one of the world’s goodest boys — a dog named Foxtrot, known also to his Instagram followers (of which there are nearly 7,000) as humanitarian_pup. While Foxtrot wasn’t responsible for improvements to auction theory (like Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson, who won the Nobel Prize for economics) or for a standout career in writing poetry (like Louise Glück, who won the Nobel Prize for literature), this incredible canine shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the World Food Programme (WFP) for their work in combating world hunger. As the organization’s official mascot, Foxtrot shared in the win with the thousands of other WFP workers worldwide. Foxtrot lives in Bangladesh (one of the most densely populated countries in the world) at a WFP outpost that works to supply one of the world’s largest refugee camps. According to an NPR article that spotlighted Foxtrot and the efforts made by his WFP humans, they worked not only to get food to refugees but also to flatten hillsides to make room for shelters for Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar. Foxtrot himself became part of the effort to combat world hunger during a WFP beach cleanup in his home country. Workers found him as a 4-week-old pup, and after failing to locate his owners, took him in as one of their own. For the past two years, Foxtrot has helped however he can to further the WFP’s efforts to end hunger in Bangladesh. This usually includes accompanying his humans while they work, wearing an adorable custom-made WFP cape, and taking to Instagram to raise awareness about how anyone can join in the WFP’s mission. After learning that he and his humans had won the Nobel Peace Prize, Foxtrot didn’t waste the opportunity to share his excitement with his followers. “Woweee,” the pup said. “I … think it would be even more amazing if we didn’t need any peace prizes because peace was the status quo in our world.”

Let That Fresh Air Fuel You

4 Tips to Make Getting Outside Easier Hunkering down and waiting for the dark and chilly winter season to pass sounds pretty nice. But the reality is, if we deprive ourselves of time outside, we do ourselves a big disservice both mentally and physically. Staying indoors all day affects your energy and mood, which makes it hard to get anything done, so here are four easy tips to make it easier to get a little fresh air. 1. Make it a priority. Getting outside means making the conscious effort to do so. If you want to reap its benefits, you have to decide to make it a priority in your day-to-day schedule. If you make the act important to you, you have more motivation to actually do it. 2. Use mornings effectively. Waking up and getting the day started can be hard. But studies have shown that natural light helps decrease your melatonin production, which means you feel ready to face the day sooner. So, set yourself a second alarm to head outside and take a quick walk around the block just after waking. Don’t even wash your face or grab coffee. Just get out there. 3. Take your work outside. If you’re working from home, take some work outdoors. Phone and virtual meetings are a great outdoor option, especially if you’ll just be an active listener and aren’t required to do any work simultaneously. Attach a note to your meeting reminders to get yourself set up outside five minutes before you start. 4. Create a schedule. It might feel strange to set reminders throughout the day to step outside, but you easily get wrapped up in activities and overlook breaks, and these reminders are exactly what you need. Start with 10-minute blocks three times a day. If you stick to them, soon you won’t need a schedule to get outside anymore. Winter weather may be cold, but even when you’re bundled up under a jacket and scarf, just 5–10 minutes outside can do wonders for your mood and energy for hours.

If Foxtrot and his humans keep up the good work, it seems like that status quo could be within reach.

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Not Just theWinter Sniffles

Types of Allergies in Children

A lot of times when a child feels unwell, they exhibit ear, nose, and throat symptoms, which parents might be quick to link with a winter cold this time of year. However, it’s important to remember that common childhood allergies might also be the culprit.

PEDIATRIC SLEEP ALLERGIES

MIDDLE EAR INFECTIONS

Common sleep allergies include tonsillitis or inflammation of the adenoids. These can lead to sleep disorders, which cause restlessness, snoring, awakening at night, or even sleep apnea. If left untreated, any of these can lead to a loss of cognitive function and difficulty staying awake during the day. After assessing your child, your pediatric ENT may recommend a nasal spray if the allergies are coming from inflammation, or an antibiotic if the swelling is due to a bacterial infection. In some cases, a doctor may recommend removing the tonsils. That typically occurs if a child has had several adenoid or middle ear infections, doesn’t

This is one of the most common medical problems for children. A pediatric ENT can examine your child to see if there is fluid in the middle ear, which may encourage bacterial growth. Antibiotics are commonly prescribed to treat middle ear infections, but follow-up observation is necessary because these infections commonly recur. It’s important to seek treatment as these allergies can cause other complications, such as asthma and pneumonia, if untreated. An ENT specialist can determine which allergies are making your child sick and how severe their allergies are. If your child is exhibiting any of these symptoms, give us a call today. HAVE A LAUGH

PEDIATRIC SINUSITIS

This is when the sinus tissues in the throat become swollen or inflamed. If your child is exposed to allergens, this can cause further swelling and create a dangerous blockage. You may be tempted to buy an over-the-counter decongestant, but it’s best to get a professional diagnosis first. After examining your child’s sinuses, your doctor may recommend a decongestant, saline nasal wash, or antibiotic. KOREAN BEEF RICE BOWLS INSPIRED BY SKINNYTASTE.COM

improve after taking an antibiotic, continues to suffer from chronic airway blockages, or develops obstructive sleeping problems.

Ingredients

• • • • • • •

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

• • • • •

1 tsp fresh ginger, grated

2 tsp light brown sugar

2 tbsp gochujang sauce, or more if desired

1 tsp sesame oil

3 cups cooked brown rice 1 small cucumber, sliced

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes 1 lb lean ground beef

1/2 tbsp sesame seeds, plus more for topping

1/4 cup yellow onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

•

2 scallions, thinly sliced

Directions

1. In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, 2 tbsp water, brown sugar, sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. 2. Spray a deep, nonstick skillet with cooking oil and place over high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks. 3. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger to the meat and cook for 1 minute. 4. Pour sauce over the beef, then cover and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes. 5. Divide rice evenly into four serving bowls. Top each with scant 2/3 cup beef, cucumber slices, sesame seeds, scallions, and gochujang, to taste.

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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 National Hot Tea Month Sparks an Old Memory for Dr. Evans!

Page 2 The First Dog to Win a Nobel Peace Prize

Give Yourself the Boost of Getting Outside

Page 3 How an ENT Can Address Allergies in Children

Korean Beef Rice Bowls

Page 4 A Word From the Westies

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

Basic CanineTrainingTips WHO’S A GOOD DOG?

Hi everyone!

or letting us play with our friends at the dog park are all great ways to help us get some energy out. This is one of the real secrets to having a well-behaved dog: Tire them out. We’re ready for a nap just thinking about all that running around! Puppies are notorious for having accidents in the house, but it can happen to dogs of all ages. DogTipper.com recommends getting to the bottom of your pup’s potty problem. For puppies, good ol’ fashioned potty training is probably the answer. Make sure to reward them after they do their business outside. But if you have an adult dog that has accidents in the house, an underlying health issue, like a urinary infection, might be the culprit. Anxiety or being left home alone for too long could also be the cause. If your pup is getting outside regularly and the problem continues, take them to the vet to make sure they’re okay.

The new year sure makes the humans want to improve themselves! And we’re all for it, especially when it means we get to walk more. When you’re making your goals, don’t forget to set some training goals for your canine companions! Plus, January is National Dog Training Month, so it’s the perfect time to get started or recommit! Training may make you think of tricks like sit, stay, and shake, but it’s also an important tool for addressing behavioral issues. Like most puppies, when we were little, we loved to chew! This is totally normal, but to make sure your pup doesn’t destroy your belongings, redirect them to a chew toy. In fact, make sure to have plenty of toys around for them to sink their teeth into. Some of our dog friends are more active than others. It really depends on the breed, but all dogs need exercise. Playing fetch, going on walks or runs,

engaged and to strengthen your bond. If you want to fast-track your pup’s progress on obedience or behavioral training, hire a professional or take a class. If you just want to add some fun tricks to your repertoire, check out the Kikopup channel on YouTube. Happy New Year and happy training!

Izzy and Emma

Training, whether to teach good behavior or fun tricks, is a great way to keep your dog mentally